help with getting a graphics card
Discussion
After spending some time at my Dad's over Christmas I've got into the whole flight sim thing on the pc - Problem is, although my PC is relatively new(ish) my graphics card is not upto the job. Can anyone who plays these types of PC games offer any advice as to what i should be looking for as an upgrade - I also have my pc linked to a 42" plasma so would be playing it on that most of the time.
First thing you need to do is find out what graphics card your motherboard will support (probably AGP 8x if the PC is at least a Pentium 4) . Then pretty much pick the card with the biggest memory - (the graphics card I mentioned on another thread was 8x AGP 256 meg Nividia thingy, cost £36) . Essentially any card that supports DirectX 9.0c should improve things.
^^ 
^^
Grab the manual for the motherboard and have a look at the sockets. It will have either: 1) 8x AGP, 2) 16x PCI-Express, 3) PCI only.
If it's the 1st option then any high end AGP video card will be good.
If it's the 2nd option than look around the various on-line stores for a PCI-E card.
If it's the 3rd option your stuffed.
^^ Grab the manual for the motherboard and have a look at the sockets. It will have either: 1) 8x AGP, 2) 16x PCI-Express, 3) PCI only.
If it's the 1st option then any high end AGP video card will be good.
If it's the 2nd option than look around the various on-line stores for a PCI-E card.
If it's the 3rd option your stuffed.
If you can give some more information about your PC, we can probably advise you better. What is the game called as well? There is no point buying an expensive card if the rest of the system isn't up to the job. It's best to get a card that matches your existing components in performance terms.
Useful to know:
a) Processor
b) How much ram you have
c) Like the others said, what type of graphics card the motherboard takes
If its a recent PC, it's likely to have a PCI-E slot - but make sure!
These are pretty good value:
www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-033-BG
www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HT
Another thing to bear in mind is that Direct X 10 is emerging. The most expensive cards support this, but currently they are stupidly expensive. I'm a little hazy myself on the Direct X 10 situation though, maybe someone else can fill in the gaps!
Useful to know:
a) Processor
b) How much ram you have
c) Like the others said, what type of graphics card the motherboard takes
If its a recent PC, it's likely to have a PCI-E slot - but make sure!
These are pretty good value:
www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-033-BG
www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HT
Another thing to bear in mind is that Direct X 10 is emerging. The most expensive cards support this, but currently they are stupidly expensive. I'm a little hazy myself on the Direct X 10 situation though, maybe someone else can fill in the gaps!
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