Looking for a GeForce 9800 GT

I'm looking for a GeForce 9800 GT with 512MB for use with FSX (MS
Flight Simulator) as advised by the discussion group. Am doing 18-24 fps
with moderate setting. What brand and model of 9800 would be a solid
performer and a good value? BFG? PNY? other? What about a single slot
vs a dual width card? Heat exhausted into the box or outside? I'd like a
relatively efficient, low power consumption unit if possible.

Also.. the machine has the default ATI v3100 card with 128MB which
can't do AA or shadowing very well at all, and it likely contributes to
the stuttering and slow frame rates. Will going to the 9800 improve
framerates? or will it present a bigger load or aperture to the already
CPU limited FSX?

-ed

If you believe your CPU is fast enough for the game, then the video
card could definitely use an upgrade. The 9800GT would certainly be a
massive boost in speed over the default card. You may want to see if
FSX can take advantage of 1GB RAM cards and maybe invest the few extra
bucks in one of those.

On Mar 21, 12:41*pm, wrote:
I'm looking for a GeForce 9800 GT with 512MB for use with FSX (MS
Flight Simulator) as advised by the discussion group. Am doing 18-24 fps
with moderate setting. What brand and model of 9800 would be a solid
performer and a good value? BFG? PNY? other? What about a single slot
vs a dual width card? Heat exhausted into the box or outside? I'd like a
relatively efficient, low power consumption unit if possible.

Also.. the machine has the default ATI v3100 card with 128MB which
can't do AA or shadowing very well at all, and it likely contributes to
the stuttering and slow frame rates. Will going to the 9800 improve
framerates? or will it present a bigger load or aperture to the already
CPU limited FSX?

* *-ed

On Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:01:35 -0700 (PDT), "S.SubZero"
brought the following to our attention:

Thanks.. good advise. You're a step ahead as I was going to ask about
1GB of video RAM vs 512MB. Is that going to increase performance or
create a bigger `space´ for FSX to fill?

Have run some trials with a complex aircraft, moving the sliders around
and found the CPUs are adequate. Cannot do shadows, sun reflections
off water, or AA yet.. but hoping the 9800GT will solve that.

-Ed

If you believe your CPU is fast enough for the game, then the video
card could definitely use an upgrade. The 9800GT would certainly be a
massive boost in speed over the default card. You may want to see if
FSX can take advantage of 1GB RAM cards and maybe invest the few
extra bucks in one of those.

On Mar 21, 12:41*pm, wrote:
I'm looking for a GeForce 9800 GT with 512MB for use with FSX (MS
Flight Simulator) as advised by the discussion group. Am doing 18-24 fps
with moderate setting. What brand and model of 9800 would be a solid
performer and a good value? BFG? PNY? other? What about a single slot
vs a dual width card? Heat exhausted into the box or outside? I'd like a
relatively efficient, low power consumption unit if possible.

Also.. the machine has the default ATI v3100 card with 128MB which
can't do AA or shadowing very well at all, and it likely contributes to
the stuttering and slow frame rates. Will going to the 9800 improve
framerates? or will it present a bigger load or aperture to the already
CPU limited FSX?

* *-ed

The game needs to understand and utilize the additional RAM on the
graphics card.

The 9800GT should be able to do everything FSX offers. It's even a
DX10 card, should you be using Vista and decide to use that
functionality.

On Mar 21, 3:55*pm, wrote:
On Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:01:35 -0700 (PDT), "S.SubZero"
brought the following to our attention:

Thanks.. good advise. You're a step ahead as I was going to ask about
1GB of video RAM vs 512MB. Is that going to increase performance or
create a bigger `space´ for FSX to fill?

Have run some trials with a complex aircraft, moving the sliders around
and found the CPUs are adequate. Cannot do shadows, sun reflections
off water, or AA yet.. but hoping the 9800GT will solve that.

* * *-Ed

If you believe your CPU is fast enough for the game, then the video
card could definitely use an upgrade. *The 9800GT would certainly be a
massive boost in speed over the default card. *You may want to see if
FSX can take advantage of 1GB RAM cards and maybe invest the few
extra bucks in one of those.

On Mar 21, 12:41*pm, wrote:
I'm looking for a GeForce 9800 GT with 512MB for use with FSX (MS
Flight Simulator) as advised by the discussion group. Am doing 18-24 fps
with moderate setting. What brand and model of 9800 would be a solid
performer and a good value? BFG? PNY? other? What about a single slot
vs a dual width card? Heat exhausted into the box or outside? I'd like a
relatively efficient, low power consumption unit if possible.

Also.. the machine has the default ATI v3100 card with 128MB which
can't do AA or shadowing very well at all, and it likely contributes to
the stuttering and slow frame rates. Will going to the 9800 improve
framerates? or will it present a bigger load or aperture to the already
CPU limited FSX?

* *-ed

On Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:59:56 -0700 (PDT), "S.SubZero"
brought the following to our attention:

The game needs to understand and utilize the additional RAM on the
graphics card.

The 9800GT should be able to do everything FSX offers. It's even a
DX10 card, should you be using Vista and decide to use that functionality.

One thing good about Newegg is the ability to sort by rating. Here's a
list of their 9800GT cards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...d&Pagesize=100

I need to decide what video outputs to specify, find out how much power
the various cards dissipate, and if the heat is blown inside the box or
out the back. Also a 2x wide video card would block the only PCI slot.
Is that a problem? What about the PCIX slots? See MB diagram below:

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/abtmetr8.jpg

-ed

I have a 9800GX2 in my machine and FSX runs very slow for some reason, about
10fps. It has an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.5ghz processor and 8 gig of DDR3
PC10666 1333 ram and Vista Ultimate 64bit. I cannot get this sim to run
smoothly at all even with basic graphics settings and the latest drivers.
"S.SubZero" wrote in message
...
If you believe your CPU is fast enough for the game, then the video
card could definitely use an upgrade. The 9800GT would certainly be a
massive boost in speed over the default card. You may want to see if
FSX can take advantage of 1GB RAM cards and maybe invest the few extra
bucks in one of those.

On Mar 21, 12:41 pm, wrote:
I'm looking for a GeForce 9800 GT with 512MB for use with FSX (MS
Flight Simulator) as advised by the discussion group. Am doing 18-24 fps
with moderate setting. What brand and model of 9800 would be a solid
performer and a good value? BFG? PNY? other? What about a single slot
vs a dual width card? Heat exhausted into the box or outside? I'd like a
relatively efficient, low power consumption unit if possible.

Also.. the machine has the default ATI v3100 card with 128MB which
can't do AA or shadowing very well at all, and it likely contributes to
the stuttering and slow frame rates. Will going to the 9800 improve
framerates? or will it present a bigger load or aperture to the already
CPU limited FSX?

-ed

On Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:32:17 -0000, "timelord"
brought the following to our attention:

If you believe your CPU is fast enough for the game, then the video
card could definitely use an upgrade. The 9800GT would certainly be a
massive boost in speed over the default card. You may want to see if
FSX can take advantage of 1GB RAM cards and maybe invest the few extra
bucks in one of those.

I'd rather not get too large with the video `aperture´ and other FSX
users have stated that 512MB is the sweet spot for video memory.

-ed

-ed wrote:
I'd rather not get too large with the video `aperture´ and other FSX
users have stated that 512MB is the sweet spot for video memory.

What are your system specs-- got a model number or link? Is your
power supply adequate to even add a video card and does it have the
required power connectors? What resolution are you running?

Here are some dated charts:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ew,1800-4.html

This is on a system with a Core 2 Quad running at 3 GHz. This game is
highly CPU dependent. You may as well be looking at a GTS 250, which
is the same as a 9800 GTX+, but reflects current pricing as opposed to
non-adjusted old pricing. As for the decision of 1GB vs. 512MB, I imagine
that would be resolution dependent. Single slot vs. two? Only you can
decide if you need that space. It is an advantage to vent a hot video
card to the outside and I imagine a Dell probably doesn't have the most
well ventilated cases in the interest of quietness. Double slot cooling is
often quieter, but not always.