computer question

[andy_richmond]

hi everyone,

im running realflight g4.5, i also have Microsoft Flight Sim X acceleration, this is my current system, would adding more ram help smoother gameplay and allow me to use better graphics options or would i have to go for a better graphics card

Acer Aspire x3300
Processor AMD Athlon II X3 425 2.70gHz
3Gb ram
windows 7 64 bit
NVIDIA geforce 9200

[danch]

hi everyone,

im running realflight g4.5, i also have Microsoft Flight Sim X acceleration, this is my current system, would adding more ram help smoother gameplay and allow me to use better graphics options or would i have to go for a better graphics card

Acer Aspire x3300
Processor AMD Athlon II X3 425 2.70gHz
3Gb ram
windows 7 64 bit
NVIDIA geforce 9200

Generally 3gb is quite alright (but more never hurts having 64bit means you should be able to utilise it) although I think the real benefit would com from a graphics card for upgrade.

Dan

Dan

[Mark_T]

This is a low end graphics card, especially given the power of the rest of your system and should be replaced.

Adding more memory will not fix this, yes, your computer can make use of it as you are running 64-bit W7, but I'm not sure that the software you are running is natively 64-bit so unless you are doing a lot of multi-tasking, memory is not your problem.

[andy_richmond]

sounds like a graphics card i need, any recommendations, not wanting to spend a shed load, was looking at a gts250, its a 1gb, i assume mines a 512mb

[Mark_T]

Do you have a budget in mind for this?

I ask as in the ever changing world of video cards, even the 250 is a generation behind the current cards so knowing what you want to spend could help deliver a better solution.

[andy_richmond]

around the 100 mark, a bit more or less doesnt matter

[Mark_T]

Hmm... you may have a problem.

I just took a closer look at the X3300 and some sites list it as only accepting low-profile graphics cards.

Can you take a closer look at the expansion slots and see if that is true?

Also that 9200 is probably not a real card, just a chipset on the motherboard so the PCI-E slot should be empty at the moment.

Also may want to check the PSU while the case is open as I see reports that it is only 250W which will be another serious limitation.

[R1stu]

THe Acer X series is slimline just a bit bigger than a wii, so a lowprofile card is required.

[andy_richmond]

it is a chipset, a GPU, there are 2 slots at the top of the tower, im not that computer minded, dont really want to take it apart just yet, another Geforce that comes with the x3300 is the 7100, but if its a chipset il have to go down the PCI-E route, trying to find anything on google, even a pic of the inside or the back would be good

[andy_richmond]

ok, io found a pic, the top two filled slots are empty on mine, i assume the very top one is the graphics PCI-E

Acer Aspire X3300 Test Desktop-Computer

[Dedcalm]

The half height slot is going to limit you gfx card choice dramatically... i was going to suggest ati rather than nvidia as they have kicked them into touch WRT performance with the latest chip sets... cooling may well also be a problem in such a small case...

Just seen that powercolor have just produced (not sure on availability as yet) a Radion 5770 in half height with would be very good for gaming / sim (probably overkill for sim TBH), its a double width card though so be sure it would fit prior to purchase...

There are lower power solutions though, but you do need to be sure the PSU is capable of powering the cards.
e.g. (In ascending price and power order)

5450

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/198817

or a 5550

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/235134

or 5570

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/198821

[Mark_T]

There are lower power solutions though, but you do need to be sure the PSU is capable of powering the cards.
e.g. (In ascending price and power order)

If it is a 250W PSU I'm not sure it is going to cope with very much at all unfortunately.

[Dedcalm]

If it is a 250W PSU I'm not sure it is going to cope with very much at all unfortunately.

Indeed, this is likely to be an issue - didnt check the PSU spec TBH. The 5550 requires 400W I believe...

[andy_richmond]

thanks for the help guys, il look into it further

[serpent887]

Buy CCL Choice GeForce GT220 1GB*1GBGT220CCLValue from CCL - Awarded PCPro Best Online Retailer 3 years running for laptops, desktops and computer hardware

In my machine it runs Real Flight G5 at ~80 fps at near maximum graphics settings.