FX5200 256mb hindering my Dad's P4 3.2Ghz HT 800Mhz?

[McGraw]

My Dad's rig is as above with one stick of 512mb DDR.

He plays MS Train Simulator.

On max detail with 2x AA and AF his frame rates are poor (15). Without AA etc, they are still not great (20).

I reckon that his 5200 is toilet and he should upgrade it.

The question is, what should he go for? I'm thinking approx 100 quid.

Also, would he benefit from another 512 stick?

Thanks a lot. I only need chipsets, not exact models.

[MovedGoalPosts]

Dunno about the graphics, but 512MB RAM is probably minimum spec these days for that PC. Given the cost of RAM, I'd bump it up to the GB, especially if the MB allows any sort of dual channel mode.

Is he running the processor in HT mode. M$ simulator might not like that

Try to get hold of a radeon 9800pro think this will be a good card for the price,not the newest range but high spec of the day
Imo most budget fx cards and lower spec ati cards are bilge until you get a minimum 9600xt or 5700
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Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Dunno about the graphics, but 512MB RAM is probably minimum spec these days for that PC. Given the cost of RAM, I'd bump it up to the GB, especially if the MB allows any sort of dual channel mode.

Is he running the processor in HT mode. M$ simulator might not like that

To change to/from hyperthreading will require in the least a repair of xp

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by McGraw

My Dad's rig is as above with one stick of 512mb DDR.

He plays MS Train Simulator.

On max detail with 2x AA and AF his frame rates are poor (15). Without AA etc, they are still not great (20).

I reckon that his 5200 is toilet and he should upgrade it.

The question is, what should he go for? I'm thinking approx 100 quid.

Also, would he benefit from another 512 stick?

Thanks a lot. I only need chipsets, not exact models.

I used to run MSTS on a 9700 pro a few years ago, full detail with AA and AF enabled, you can pick one of these up new for £82 inc. vat or a 9800 Pro for around £93 inc. vat (overclockers.co.uk), also, if he's into MSTS tell him to try this too, far less bugs, http://www.auran.com/TRS2004/default.htm

[bmxbandit]

Originally Posted by McGraw

I reckon that his 5200 is toilet and he should upgrade it.

The question is, what should he go for? I'm thinking approx 100 quid.

it will almost certainly be the bottleneck of the system. try running the game in as low a resolution as possible, if the frame rate shoots up then it's definitely the root of the problem!

something 9800 based would be a good bet, might get a pro for that money.

Originally Posted by McGraw

Also, would he benefit from another 512 stick?

yes, but the effect would be far less noticable. you could maybe just about get both for £100, if you shop around

[Gareth]

Yeah, you can get a 9800Pro for a few pence over £100 at ebuyer... if you're prepared to take the risk of buying from them
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just checked again, and it's £99.99 today...

Connect3d ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB DDR DVI TV-Out Retail Box

Quickfind code: 63700
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...or how about this one for £80 incl VAT

Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9800 PRO 128 MB DDR 8x AGP DVi & TV-Out - Retail Box lite
Quickfind code: 47511

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

To change to/from hyperthreading will require in the least a repair of xp

When I changed to HT setup in the BIOS on a few of my office PCs as teh PC rebooted, Win XP Pro detected the new procesor setup and configured automatically.

I stand corrected,my response was manual based