BMIFlyer From UK - England, joined Feb 2004, 8810 posts, RR: 62 Posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 4844 times:
Hello all,
I will shortly be swapping my laptop for a new PC. My current spec on the laptop is a Compaq Presario 2100 with AMD Athlon XP 2600+ processor, 512MB RAM, ATI Radeon IGP 320M 64MB graphics - for FS2002 it works fine, but for FS2004, I feel I need a bit more 'power'
Anyway, I've been looking at the PC's available from DELL, and I've seen a few good machines that caught my eye.
Anyway, here's a spec I found that I need info on:-
*DELL Dimension 5000
*Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 530 with HT Technology (3.00GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB)
*Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
*1024MB RAM
*15" Analogue Flat Panel Monitor
*160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
*16x DVD+/-RW Drive
*128MB PCI-Express ATI Radeon X300SE
*Dell Stereo Speakers
Price - £629
My questions are:-
1) Is this any good for a smooth run of FS2004??
2) Im not much of a 'buff' when it comes to selecting graphics cards either, so is the above one any good?
3) HT Technology - is it worth spending that bit extra to get it? From what I've heard, it really boosts performance.
NorthStarDC4M From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 2804 posts, RR: 40 Reply 1, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 4817 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
My questions are:-
1) Is this any good for a smooth run of FS2004??
...Probably... though read next for more info
2) Im not much of a 'buff' when it comes to selecting graphics cards either, so is the above one any good?
As a matter of principle, i avoid anything that ends in SE in the computer hardware field. SE normally (and in this case DOES) mean its the bargain basement version. Also for FS, id look at the X600 or better still X800 families, they are designed for the heavy graphics demands of 3d gaming, the X300 is aimed more at the surf 'n mail/office market.
3) HT Technology - is it worth spending that bit extra to get it? From what I've heard, it really boosts performance.
HyperThreading Technology works, though its impact varies depending on the software in question. I'd get it if you are going to buy a new Pentium IV.
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Dreamer From Norway, joined Jul 2004, 374 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 4833 times:
I agree, get the better video card. I have the specs you mentioned.
I have a P4 HT 3 Ghz, 1 Gb ram, ATI radon x600 pro with 256 Mb, Dual optic drives and dual harddrives (2 x 160 Gb) 23" widescreen running 1920x1200 resolution (absolutely fantastic gives a really great feeling, just like being in a plane) pluss tons of other goodies.
So far I haven't seen my FS use more than a little over 512 Mb ram, nor is it able to take advantage of the Hyper Threading ( think ), however I only use the standard FS software with two addon-on, no add-on planes, just airports and scenery around them. I can see that my cpu runs at approx. 58% busy.
having two hardrives speeds up performance also.
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From UK - England, joined Feb 2004, 8810 posts, 
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From Norway, joined Jul 2004, 374 posts, 
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