Help Chosing Video Card!

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skyrider123

n00b
Joined
Jul 1, 2007
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Hi everyone, I have a clients PC. They are wishing to play Flight Simulator X (FSX) on HIGH settings @ 1280x768 on their monitor. At the moment the PC Spec is:
2.8GHz Pentium D
1 x 1GB RAM
128MB on board Video (Ridiculous for FSX)

I was wondering what sort of video card would be suitable... :confused:

I have been looking at:
8800GTS 320MB Sparkle (500/800MHz/1600Mhz)
8800GTS_F.jpg

The 320MB SKU of the 8800GTS by Sparkle
Shop Link

OR

8800GTS 640MB Sparkle (500/1600GHz)
8800GTS_F.jpg

The original 8800GTS by Sparkle.
Shop Link

I don't mind either card but having never played FSX I can't really judge which would be better. At the end of the day I need it to work on HIGH settings.

Thanks, Jacob ;)
 
I don't play FS X, but it doesn't have high system requirements, so either card would probably be fine.

Generally, the difference in performance between a 8800 GTS 320 and 640 comes into play when dealing with AA or large textures, things that eat up VRAM and I don't think that even setting 4x AA at your target resolution would be a problem for an 8800 GTS 320, Otherwise, similarly clocked 320's and 640's tend to perform the same.
 
ok, well i was considering the 8600GTS but i think the 8800GTS would do a better job. Thanks for your reply any others are welcome! :D
 
An 8600 will flat out /choke/ on FSX on high, even at that fairly low resolution. Nothing below an 8800GTS should even be considered.
 
thats what i've have realised form various reviews.
an 8800GTX is out of the budget sort of and now i looking at the 8800GTS.
would 320mb b enough or should i just go to the 640m to be safe? either would be acceptable.
 
320MB should be fine at 1280x768. If there is a good chance they'll be getting a new monitor any time soon I'd get the 640MB card in order to leave higher resolutions an option. Above 1280x1024 or so (a bit higher than that, but not much) the 320MB starts to show its limitations. Anything 1680x1050/1600x1200 (widescreen and standard aspect, respectively) or higher you're going to want the 640MB card. Anything lower, the 320MB is usually fine.
 
ok great thanks for your help! :)
looks like the 320 is a winner at the moment.
i would just like to clarify 2 things:

1> The cards are both 24cm long am i correct?

2> Both cards only need 1 (6 Pin) PCI-e Power cable?
 
I think a reference 8800 GTS is only 22cm, and yes, only one PCI-e power line.
 
Yes on both counts. All 8800GTSs are the same length and require one PCIe power connector, which is mounted on the end of the card. GTXs/Ultras are longer and require two 6 pin PCIe power connectors, which are mounted on the top edge of the card near the end.

Also...

Keep in mind that FSX (like most simulators) is a very CPU-intensive game. A Pentium D may hold things back considerably, even with a fairly high end card like an 8800.
 
ok yeah CPU may hold the game back... mmm, but a new GPU like the 320 will make a HUGE difference over the intel graphics.

im probably going to get him the 320 unlwess he would like to spend more than that.

thankyou everyone!
 
uhhg... just realised i'm going to have to upgrade PSU to a 500-600w...

+ another $100-150

ok im just going to get the 320 + new PSU

i can always rely on this website for the best help thanks everyone!
 
dont believe everything people say about the 320 in low resolution.

Saying the 320 is only good below 1280x768 is pure bullocks.
I run my at 1680x1050 for everything without issue. Im sure if you went higher then that, your going to slow down alot, but until that, your fine. Yes, the 640 will do better, but reviews have shown that a factory overclocked 320(my BFG OC card was cheaper then a stock clock ASUS), can run toe to toe with the 640.

Its funny how a few months ago, the 320 was good for gaming 1650x1050, 1900x1600 and lower....now, somehow, thats been exaggerated to 1280x768.

If it comes down to price, the 320 will d you fine.
Yes, the 640 will be better, but it boils down to price@ performance
Judging from the rest of your system, which is outdated, going with the 320 would be fine since it probably wont be bottlenecked as much as other cards.
 
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