Help me <=0 (sad face, not body part!)

[Joker Boy]

I have an old PC (got it 3 years ago, going on 4) and I have this awesome game (Microsoft Flight Sim X) which plays really slowly on it and it always lags and the graphics are not good and crap. What should I do? Should I get a better graphics card or whatever it is or get more ram or just go with a whole new system?

I am kinda on a budget here. By budget I mean xmas money which I haven't exactly gotten yet.

Thanks! :biggrin:

 

[Livewire]

In all honesty, if it's 3-4 years old you're probably better off building a pc on a budget.

Then again, what are the specs on your current system? If you already meet some of the recommended specs for Flight Simulator X (

• Microsoft® Windows® XP SP2 / Vista
• PC with 1 GHz equivalent or higher processor
• 256 MB of system RAM for Windows XP SP2 / 512 MB Vista
• 14 GB available hard disk space
• DVD-ROM drive
• 32 MB DirectX 9 compatible video card required
• Sound card, speakers or headphones required for audio
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
• 56.6 Kbps or better modem for online play), then I'd say upgrade.

Example: This pc is a 1.67ghz amd sempron, 1gb ram, 16gb hd space available, 64mb video card and onboard sound. All I need is the hd space - Upgrade.

My moms old pc is a 700mhz amd k7, 256mb ram and 8mb video card. No HD anymore, burned that up last week (never trust an hd that makes noises like a floppy drive). Best option? New pc. I'd spend as much as I would on a new pc just trying to make that one run that game.


Then again, I dunno what your $$$ situation is (that is, how much you're getting for christmas). You might be hard pressed to get a new pc with it, in which case the best option is upgrade what you can...


Kinda comes down to what pc you're running and how much you get for christmas. It might be possible to get a new pc, but if you end up getting $100, you're gunna be in a tight spot for starting over :S


Edit: Forgot option three - get the last version of Flight Simulator, FS2004. Specs for that one:
* Microsoft® Windows® 98/Me/XP/2000
* PC with 450 MHz equivalent or higher processor
* 128 MB of system RAM for 2000/XP, 64 MB RAM for 98/Me
* 1.8 GB available hard disk space
* 4x speed or faster CD-ROM drive
* 8 MB video card required
* Sound card, speakers or headphones required for audio
* Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
* 56.6 Kbps or better modem for online play

That's basically to run it - anything extra adds more detail basically. Not the best option, but it's probably a heck of alot cheaper than upgrading your pc (especially if you can find a way to take FSX back)

 

[mattyranks]

If you really want Flight Simulator X then i would go with a new PC.

It is specially designed for the latest hardware and will only run well on hardware maybe 1-1.5 years old

 

[Joker Boy]

k, thx guys. I'm just gonna go with a new PC. Now the question is...get the newest one that is out now? Or wait a few more weeks for Vista?

 

[Zenax]

Erm i reckon go for latest version now then upgrade to vista at later date

 

[Joker Boy]

mkay... I'm not exactly computer savvy so if I need any help I may need sum1 to walk me through this... I mean updating to vista

 

[Cubeform]

Steps for upgrading to Vista:

1. Buy Windows Vista (upgrade)
2. Put the install disc into your CD drive
3. Follow the instructions

 

[Joker Boy]

lol thats it? Will that upgrade the graphics and speed of the computer or will it just modify the settings and add new features?

 

[Bonekhan]

On a system that old, a new system would be your best bet, as you don't run the risk of screwing something up (trying to do it yourself) , and it'll probably be cheaper.

 

[brittain]

Yello im can run fsx ultra high through out but to be honest ide downgrade to Fs2004 then wait untill u can buy a massive pc then buying little pc`s umm ive got a 7500 LE graphics card up for sale it can run fsx on high through out but its your ram that really matters if you have a mediam card i have 8600gts in sli