Need hepl/opinions on upgrade for race sims

Well the old race car just isnt going to cut it on the track anymore with the new sims, so its time to replace the engine to get back up to speed. So I'll tell you what I have and what I plan on going to, and ask for your constructive opinions on the hardware. Keep in mind that I want to run some of the older sims too, so compatibility is a concern. Sims running now: GPL N3/N4 Nascar Heat SCGT Dirt Track Racing/Sprint Cars Rally Masters Sims I want to be able to run (and bleeding edge high speed low drag graphics is not so much an issue) NR2003 F12K2/Challenge MS Flight Simulator 2002/4 Current System Abit BH6 motherboard 300 mhz Celeron 128 meg ram Voodoo 3 card Upgrade System Abit NF7-s motherboard AMD xp2400 processor Nvidia based ti4200 or fx5200 graphics card Now here is the one problem I have run into. On the graphics cards, there are so many different manufacuturers using the same chips, its kind of hard to sort out if PNY is better than Gainward is better than Leadtek is better than Abit is better than other board makers. So any opinions and insight you might have to help me upgrade is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! See you on the track! Jeff

> Now here is the one problem I have run into. On the graphics cards, thereare > so many different manufacuturers using the same chips, its kind of hardto > sort out if PNY is better than Gainward is better than Leadtek is betterthan > Abit is better than other board makers. I would stay away from Abit, every motherboard I've dealt with from them has failed. Also, I had a Leadtek video card that came with bad memory, so avoid them too. I dont know much about the others.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (J L) writes: >Current System >Abit BH6 motherboard >300 mhz Celeron >128 meg ram >Voodoo 3 card Whoa - you ran N3, N4 and GPL with *that* system?!? You're a lot better at optimizing system performance that I am, then. I had issues with those games even with an Athlon 1.2 and a V5... Eldred -- Help find missing child: Tatianna Ashley Chillcutt from Michigan(info on my homepage) Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

"J L" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Now here is the one problem I have run into. On the graphics cards, thereare > so many different manufacuturers using the same chips, its kind of hardto > sort out if PNY is better than Gainward is better than Leadtek is betterthan

Quoted text (11 lines)

> Abit is better than other board makers. > > So any opinions and insight you might have to help me upgrade is greatly > appreciated. > > Thanks in advance! > > > See you on the track! > > Jeff

I've had 3 PNY card and no problems right out of the box. -- Tim http://www.schwans.com

[email hidden] (EldredP) wrote in <[email hidden]>:

Quoted text (14 lines)

>In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (J L) >writes: > >>Current System >>Abit BH6 motherboard >>300 mhz Celeron >>128 meg ram >>Voodoo 3 card > >Whoa - you ran N3, N4 and GPL with *that* system?!? You're a lot better >at optimizing system performance that I am, then. I had issues with >those games even with an Athlon 1.2 and a V5... > >Eldred

Yep, still running it as we speak. Did a lot of research on tweaking, and Im not running with all the eye candy on, but enough detail to be able to hit my turn in and braking points. And for running online, having a cable modem is a major part of that. Downloaded the demo for NR2003 and it wasnt a slideshow, but framerates werent what I would be comfortable running online with. Hope to get enough info on doing the upgrade in the next month or so cause I want to be ready to run the Bullrun 1000 at the pits this fall. Jeff

> Abit NF7-s motherboard > AMD xp2400 processor Get the barton 2500+ instead. Also get 512meg PC3200 or PC3500 ram, and a good hsf, like the slk900+92mm ystech. These will allow you to reach 3500+ performance levels by simply changing bios settings. Make sure your power supply is a newer 'P4-ready' model, 350w or better, or you WILL have problems. > Nvidia based ti4200 or fx5200 graphics card These are poor choices. A 9600pro or a 9700non-pro (can be flashed to a pro) are minimum videocards for action games. It sounds like you are trying to low-ball your new system -- don't do this, you'll regret not spending a few more bucks. rms

[email hidden] (J L) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted text (12 lines)

> Upgrade System > Abit NF7-s motherboard > AMD xp2400 processor > Nvidia based ti4200 or fx5200 graphics card > > Now here is the one problem I have run into. On the graphics cards, there are > so many different manufacuturers using the same chips, its kind of hard to > sort out if PNY is better than Gainward is better than Leadtek is better than > Abit is better than other board makers. > > So any opinions and insight you might have to help me upgrade is greatly > appreciated.

As far as graphics cards go, most of them follow the reference design provided by the chipset manufacturer. The big differences usually come in the freebie software that the card manufacturers throw in to entice you to pick their essentially identical product over someone else's. Tom's Hardware, Anandtech and other sites have graphics cards roundups periodically. Motherboards come in many many variations, and are the foundation for the rest of your system. This is where you need to do the most homework. The AMD Motherboard forums (http://www.amdforums.com/) is a good place to get information for these. My general advice is to buy all items from places that make it easy for you to return things that may not play nicely with other hardware. And by all means, go with WinXP in a clean install. Good luck, Gerald

> Nvidia based ti4200 or fx5200 graphics card The FX 5200 is a budget replacement for the GF4 MX range. I wouldn't go there (although it will still be a lot better than you have right now). The GF4 Ti is fine, but it doesn't support DX9. The FX 5600 is the GF4 Ti replacement which does support DX9, so I would recommend that. As for varying graphics card manufacturers, the actual cards are pretty much the same. You get what you pay for, at the end of the day, but the only real difference is bundled games.

"Nick" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<beeus9$4de5p$[email hidden]>... > > Nvidia based ti4200 or fx5200 graphics card Don't buy a FX 5800 Ultra. I just got one. It's so noisy it drives my family out of the room. The noise is unfathomable until you actually hear the dustbuster fire up. It fires up for ALL D3D GAMES!, reguardless of temperature! If a D3D game is running, the dustbuster is running. If someone would have ever told me that, I'd have never bought it. It's super fast, but not worth the noise <did I mention is so loud you can't believe it without hearing it?>! By an ATI! Hammer ps - did I mention it was loud? I've been going crazy from noise lately, so I can't remember.

[email hidden] > Hammer > > ps - did I mention it was loud? I've been going crazy from noise > lately, so I can't remember. The 5800 series is not only loud, it's not much of an improvement on the ATI 9700pro. However, the 5900 cards are much quieter and faster but HUGELY more expensive. dave henrie