How many low-end PC owners are NOT upgrading for FS2004?

[Ironstar]

By low-end PC owners I mean anybody that hasn’t upgraded there processor, or motherboard, since they bought FS2002.

I keep seeing all these post asking if their PC will run FS2004 or asking if what should I change on my PC? I’m wondering if I’m the only one not upgrading for it. I was planing to but do to circumstances upgrading will not be possible any time soon or in the immediate future.

I have been using the same old (now anyway) one since I started with FS2000 (not a misprint FS2000) and the only changes I have done to it is I increased the Ram from 128Mb to 384Mb, increased my hard-drive to 40Gigs 7200rpm, and changed my sound card because one channel died on me with the old one.

My Computer Specs.

DELL XPS-T500
OS-Windows 98SE
CPU-Pentium 3 500MHz
RAM-384MB SDRAM
Monitor-Dell P780 17" (Sony Trinitron)
Video-Diamond Viper V770D Ultra NVIDA 32MB
Audio-Philips Seismic Edge
Hard Drive-Maxtor Diamond Plus 40GB 7200-RPM
Joystick-Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro (1st version)


[font color="purple" size="1" face="Tahoma"][/1]
[Center]http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3ee958500ab1676c.jpg [Center]
[Center]Mach Speed (760 mph) at sea level.

The earth rotates on its axis at a rate of a little more than Mach 1.3 at the equator.
The earth revolves around the sun at the rate of approximately Mach 59
The Milky Way galaxy is traveling at Mach 1,776.[Center]

[Center]The Blues Had a Baby and They Called It Rock N' Roll
by McKinley Morganfield
a.k.a. Muddy Waters[Center]

[M2B880]

i'm not, i personally don't see the point in spending several hundred dollars to make a 50 dollar game run better. The MOST i might do is upgrade RAM to 512....maybe...if i can get the cash.

I'm not one of those computer tekkies so here is what i think i should put here for my system specs.....

HP Pavillion....P3
Win98
127MB ram
Intel 810 graphics card (atleast thats what FS says i have, and it sucks)

I just dont have the money right now to spend several hundred bucks on one of those fancy shmancy video cards, i wish i could but i'm sure i can run FSACOF with little difficulty, i may not get the performance that is ideal but i will sure as hell will buy the game.

Mike
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3de7ab50345481e3.jpg

[Atmosphere5]

Im not upgrading either. I bought my dell last year with the specific purpose for AUTO Cad...(though on the side i didnt tell my parents it was REALLY ALL ABOUT The FS2002! LOL).. college student here...not much cash in the back. If I could buy a better graphics card then yeah I would but as if 200 bucks isn't worth it. I like your philosophy on the matter that it is a $50 est. piece of good software...so it isn't worth the over cost for upgrade.

What im Truly stoked about in FS2004 is the FACT That there's one version which means we get ALL the planes and Turboprobs dynamics finally! for the Standard price(assuming one chose not to buy the Proffessional FS2002). I AM SO HAPPY ...i am SO ready to drag over the files to FS2002 LOL (if FS2004 doesn't run smoothely) . I pray that Fs2004 isn't FS2000 ...aka "The LabRat Experiment" where i live.

I require at least 20fps constant to run my game.
Oh ummm a tip in FS2002, i just realized yesterday that it is better to turn on Anistropic Filtering (2x) and Anti-Aliasing (2x or more) VIA your Graphics Card menu and NOT the FS2002 menu. for my Nvidia GeForce 4 MX420 with the latest drivers i get 22fps constant with them ON...but if i use the FS2002 menue for some odd reason i get like 10fps! ! ???? wierd huh.



Dell Dimension 8200
2.53 Ghz P4
80Gb 7200rpm
Nvidia GeForce4 MX420
256Mb DDRAM
Fs2002 - 30Fps Constant, anywhere all sliders full, default traffic full, reflections too (contact me if you dont get reflections with your card, ill forward you the method to get it).

[Ironstar]

Mike at least I know that I’m not the only one. I think that if it looks like I’m not going to upgrade for a long time. I might even increase my ram also. When I got my sound card I didn’t go for the latest and greatest either I thought fifty bucks was enough.

I think that there are a lot of people that don’t have bottomless pockets and can’t or wont upgrade to the latest and greatest hardware and software every time something new comes out.

We just learn to adapt and except what we have and make do with what we have. I think I will like FS2004 just the same as FS2002 or even more, most likely more.


[font color="purple" size="1" face="Tahoma"][/1]
[Center]http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3ee958500ab1676c.jpg [Center]
[Center]Mach Speed (760 mph) at sea level.

The earth rotates on its axis at a rate of a little more than Mach 1.3 at the equator.
The earth revolves around the sun at the rate of approximately Mach 59
The Milky Way galaxy is traveling at Mach 1,776.[Center]

[Center]The Blues Had a Baby and They Called It Rock N' Roll
by McKinley Morganfield
a.k.a. Muddy Waters[Center]

[sirecks]

I won't be upgrading unless the money bag fairy leaves one of her bags of money on my front step.

Of course, that money may find its way to my '98 Cobra, my real flying, or a new car for my wife first.

Seriously though, from what I read, it seems that ACOF runs as well as 2002 does on these Beta tester systems. I don't have 2002 maxed out, and I enjoy it thoroughly, so I am expecting to still be able to enjoy 2004 without maxing it out.

I will be at the store the day it is out, and I am going home to load it on my dinasour or a system. But, I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3e74bd275813ea24.jpg
SSgt. Adam Sereika
Flying Crew Chief - C-17A
1.0 GHz Processor/MSI GeForce 4 Ti4200 128MB/PC133 - 768 RAM
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3ef44a2a1ff99ec1.gif http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3ef44a76204bcd96.gif

[M2B880]

yea, i'm a senior in highschool...i have car payments..600 every month, i pay for 1/2 of my flight lessons....college....ehhhh.

Maybe the Powerball gods will give me some luck....:-lol

Mike
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3de7ab50345481e3.jpg

[RyanbATC]

I've had this one since FS2002 (but only because of the aviation department here in college requiring me to have an "aerospace laptop," which is a P3-m 1.2 Ghz, 256 MB ram, intel 16 mb vid card. My old computer which I used for FS98/FS2000/FS2002 was a Intel celeron 533 Mhz, 256 mb ram, and a Geforce 2 mx PCI card. FS2002 worked ok on that one, but it got a little slow after using some of the intense payware planes such as the flight one golden eagle. I haven't "upgraded" for any flight sim that I've ever played. I just had to get this laptop for school.

I might not buy FS2004, but I'm certainly not going to upgrade this laptop (which isn't even mine - its leased from University of North Dakota Aerospace).

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3eb4054f4e80de81.jpg

[johnster]

Im not upgrading and checking out all fs2004 info thats around the web I don't think It will cause too many problems. Did a longhaul flight yesterday/Today (Melbourne to London via Singapore). I used Project Opensky 747, real weather and had a few Ai traffic and I had a constant FPS of 22-27. The pics look great and there seems to be so many improvements. This summer is gonna be a good one, finishing my A lEVELS on TUESDAY!! :) And when flight sim comes out my parents will be away for a week so computer all to myself :)

[evh347]

Ryan,
Didn't you also say you weren't going to buy UT as well? ;-)

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3eb019150436a827.jpg

[obkw28]

I don't think my AMD Athlon XP2700+, 512Mb RAM, and a Ti4200 will be fast enough.

Oh well, americas army still runs great.

[Swoose]

Dell Pentium III 700mhz
684MB RAM
GeForce3 Ti200 64MB Video Card
Sound Blaster Audigy Sound Card
Windows XP Home Edition

From the specs above I certainly qualify as a low end user. As much as I'd like to get a new Dell XPS gaming rig, I won't be upgrading for FS2004. Cost is certainly a factor because I'm married with two kids and I'm in the process of changing careers. The timing just isn't right. I'm able to run IL-2: Forgotten Battles decently on the old dinosaur. I definitely WILL upgrade when Oleg Maddox comes out with his next sim (Mediteranean/North Africa Theater of Operations I hope) which I'd guess would be in late 2004 or in 2005.

FS2004 will be my first civilian flight sim. I'm very interested in it because it will feature a stock flyable DC-3, my favorite civilian plane. As long as I can fly the Dakota with toned down graphics and acceptable frame rates I'll be a happy camper.

[dpc]

Your system should be fast enough

[RyanbATC]

I did, but returned it, couldnt run well on my setup....;-)

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3eb4054f4e80de81.jpg

[JeffB]

I will upgrade to the P4 2.53 gig soon enough and won't have a problem running FS2004.

[facted]

I just bought my new laptop and rumor has it that this should run fine :) (gets about 8000 on 3dmark 2001 se)
1.4 P4-M
Ati Radeon 9000 Mobility 64MB
512 DDR (266mHZ)
30 GB HD (4200 rpm)

The HD is the only part i'm worried about :(

[southerndandy12]

I'm just like you but I don't have a wife or a 98' cobra lol. I got my computer a year before FS2002 came out so its really on its last legs, but thank ##### my birthday is in the middle of August when I can get a new gateway anf FS2004 at the same time lol

[newguy]

i won't be upgrading right away...i will see how it runs...later down the road, probably around X-mas will i buy myself a new machine.

"Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue."

[bigal1977uk]

Nah im not upgrading straight away for fs2004, im gonna see how my rig performs first and if i need to upgrade it'll proberbly be around xmas time.
Only thing im worried about is what ive heard about it not being supported for win98. hope it still works with this O/S.

Ill be damnd if im gonna pay £120 for M$ winXP.


Alan.



AMD 1900xp
M810 LR motherboard
512MB sdram
win 98se
gforce4 ti4200 64mb ddr
sidwinder FF2
1280 x 1024 x 32
3D marks 7795

[GreenMachine]

I sure am! Not just for COF though. We're moving in the fall so I will probably be able to spend a bit more for an "expensive" computer as this one is a lil outdated for modern games and I can give this one to my sister.
P3 850mhz
384 DDR SDRAM
40gig HD
GeForce 2 MX400 64MB PCI

NEW SPECS:(Still deciding on things to keep cost low)
AMD® Athlon™XP Barton 2800+(2.08GHz) w/333Mhz FSB 512K Box

Asus A7N8X-Deluxe nForce2 Chipset 5PCI/1AGP8x/3DDR w/Sound Dual Lan SATA Raid USB 2.0 Socket A & ATA-133

Maxtor 80.0GB HD 7200rpm 8MB (Ultra ATA-133)

Sony 40x16x DVD ROM drive

Asus v9480-TVD GF4 Ti4800SE 128MB DDR 8xAGP w/VIVO Retail

Logitech Z-560 400W 4 Speakers w/subwoofer

Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy Digital 5.1 OEM w/IEEE 1394

LG Goldstar 19" E900B .25 1600x1200 E-Z Flat

Two: 256MB PC2700 333Mhz 184pin DDR (Infineon)

Anyone see any real problems with that rig? It's estimated cost would be a little under $2000 canadian.

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CYYJ[/b]

[bigal1977uk]

Only problem i see, well not really a problem, but on the graphics card side if you are gonna be spending that sort of money then why not go for a radeon 9700pro or even a 9800.

One of those cards with that machine would certainly kick some #####, easy enough to handle fs2004.


Alan.

AMD 1900xp
M810 LR motherboard
512MB sdram
win 98se
gforce4 ti4200 64mb ddr
sidwinder FF2
1280 x 1024 x 32
3D marks 7795

[CCairns10]

I'm not going to upgrade yet until I try it out. I'm going to use some low settings for it first, like:

1. 640x480x16 resolution (this setting does increase frame rates)
2. sliders set to halfway
3. not using any addons, payware or freeware

my specs:

AMD Athlon XP 1700+
512 MB SDRAM
64 MB RAM Hercules Prophet graphics card
WinXP

If the above is not satisfactory then its an upgrade to the AMD Athlon XP 2400+.

Chris

[jcmissionary]

With the A7N8X, if you're getting a Soundblaster Audigy, you may as well get the regular one instead of the deluxe. All the deluxe has that the regular doesn't is the onboard 5.1 audio. And the Audigy will take care of that for you.

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PPL-ASEL
Instrument Rated
CPL Student

[scit106]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-22-03 AT 10:36PM (EDT)[p]All I'm going to up grade is adding more ram. I hope it helps.

[rmurdoch]

Actually, the Intel 810 is an integrated graphics engine (chip) built-in to the motherboard. You may want to check your bios settings if you can disable it, and actually put an inexpensive 32Mb (even some 64Mb cards are under 50 bones now) AGP card, assuming you even have an AGP slot. If not, you can still get some good, mid-level PCI vid cards that will really wake up your system. Of course, cramming as much RAM as you can handle will do wonders too.

[GreenMachine]

Alan, mainly because of the price:
$429CAD ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128MB DDR AGP8X w/S-Video & DVI-I Box

$239CAD Asus v9480-TVD GF4 Ti4800SE 128MB DDR 8xAGP w/VIVO Retail

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CYYJ[/b]

[jacdan]

I won't be upgrading anytime soon, unless the job market explodes with decent paying jobs. I used to program, but the market dried up for that, so now I'm looking for anything but anything is hard to find and pays hardly anything.

I'm currently running a 933mhz with 256mb RAM and a Voodoo 4 with 32mb of memory. FS2002 runs ok on it, so hopefully FS2004 will do the same, when I can buy it.


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[Wichita]

>I won't be upgrading anytime soon,
>unless the job market explodes
>with decent paying jobs. I
>used to program, but the
>market dried up for that,
>so now I'm looking for
>anything but anything is hard
>to find and pays hardly
>anything.

Not to get to far off subject but you should see the conditions in Wichita. Over 11,000 aircraft workers who made ##### good money are out of a job,many thousands of others lost their jobs to cutbacks.

A new fancy theater just opened in restored "old town" part of downtown Wichita and they had nearly 700 applications just for ticket takers and other jobs around the theater.

David

[piano]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-03 AT 09:36AM (EDT)[p]I hope to upgrade this fall.

Currently run an AMD 500 (Slot A) CPU with 320 mb PC133 RAM.
Diamond V770 w/16mb video RAM.
21" Futura monitor.
FS2002 runs okay with most sliders set about half. Can not run
any AI, which sucks.

Hope to get an AMD XP2500 Barton and 512mb 3200 DDR RAM with at
least a G4 TI4200 128mb video card.

My old system will not keep me from buying FSCOF.

Regards, Al