rec.autos.simulators

P3 700/128MB/GFORCE2 MX

As you can see, not really a machine to play it. I'm getting more RAM
(512) and was thinking maybe I could get it run better if I also got
gforce4 card at the same time.

I know I really should buy new machine but I can't affort it right
now. How big difference would that new gforce4 card do? If I now get
20FPS, what could I get with 512MB/gforce4?

In the UK we have online stores that sell the box part of the pc with
XP1600+ type spec and 256 mb ram and a GF4 mx440 for example for 250.

Far better way to spend your money than adding a GF4 and 512mb ram to that
old pc.

Also to move up to 512mb ram in those systems takes it to 295....they are
infinitely configurable,adding and taking away anything you want.

Dont know your exact prices but just my advice.

AD

p.s For example...  http://www.aria.co.uk/systems_CustomBuild.asp

Sorry, but a GF4 mx is a piece of junk. From everything I read about the
GF4mx, I doubt it'd be much better that his current GF2.

Since you're on a budget, I'd go for a GF4 4200 or a Radeon 8500 (this is
the one I have, and I love it!) or 9000. Heck even a GF3 Ti 500 is much,
much better than a GF4 mx.

My $0.02
Fatbob

GF4 MX440 is a total piece of junk i agree 100% ...but i was trying to widen
his psyche as regards raising his fps...

I would specify a GF4 ti4200 with one of those base units and see change out
of 350 in his position.

AD

I built a really cheap PC for my friend, which came to $400 CDN ($250 US).

ECS K7S5A motherboard - it has onboard LAN and Sound. The sound isn't great
or anything, but at least it has sound. Which means that if you ever get the
extra cash, you can put whatever soundcard you want in it later.

AMD 1700+XP CPU - Right now (in Canada anyways), this is one of the cheapest
processors. I think the best bang-for-the-buck is the 2100+, but we tried to
keep the budget down.

RAM - If your old PC has PC133 RAM, take that. The motherboard supports
PC133 -or- DDR. So use what you have if you got no cash. If you do, throw
some DDR in there. For my friend's PC we just scored 256MB of PC133 for
really cheap.

RADEON 9000 - A cheap vidcard ($100 US I think), but it supports directx 8.1
and gets decent scores. 6000 or so I think on 3Dmark. About the same price
as a GF4MX440, but way better in my opinion (and most others).

HARDDRIVE - You should already have one of these :)

CASE/ETC - Maybe you already have an ATX case? If not, there's some with
300W power supplies for $30.

So, right there, you're probably looking at like $200US and you got a PC
that's well equipped to run F12002. Plus, you spent hardly any money on a
platform that is really upgradeable. You can run a killer sound/video card
if you want. 1Gig of DDR or a few hundred gig's of harddrive space :)

Just some basic guidelines I guess, for building a dirt cheap PC that can
perform quite well. But, if ya got more than $200US, you could make an even
better system by upgrading some of this.

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

Don't upgrade that machine (especially the RAM since you won't use it in
another machine).  Money you spend now could be used on a better upgrade
later.

BTW, the 1600/256MBRAM upgrade is a good choice.  I run an AMD 1600/512MB
Ram and the game runs smooooth (40fps with full 35 AI cars).  My video card
is a GF4 Ti4400 but I was nearly as fast with a GF3 Ti 500 (which is much
cheaper these days).  Since $ is an issue, an ATI 8500 is probably the best
video card value right now.  If you pop that in your old rig and wait for
the chip and ram that's better than buying too much video card now and
useless ram.

--
Joe M.

Well if you were in australia i would say:
For $1200AU or 700EURO you could upgrade to P4 2.4, Good Mobo, GF4 Ti4200,
512mb ram. But if thats out of the question, as other people have said go
for a GF4 ti4200 or Raedon 8500. The ram wont really help overall FPS, just
reduce loading and sometimes in-game stuttering.

Luke
-=87=-

Well, I have a P3 700/512MB GEFORCE2 MX, unfortunately I haven't installed
GTR2002 yet (since I have to buy F1 2002 first!). However, if you're planning
to upgrade your video card, in case you're thinking of a GeForce4 *MX*, I've
heard reports that the improvement over the GF2MX isn't too much, better get
a GeForce3 Ti200 (or a Ti500) now that they've become cheaper. Of course,
if you intended to buy a GF4 *Ti4200* or some othe *Ti* model, well, that's
a different story...

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