New Video Card?

[ech0sh4y]

I bought MFS2004 about 2 months ago. I was all excited and ripped it open
and installed it. Put the graphics on full, and set the AI to full. I also
have 2002Pro and I can do this with the current set up on my computer. I
get about 20 FPS on full everything. I have to have every option set on
ultra low in MFS2004 to get 20 fps. I didn't understand why this was
happening. So I researhced it and found out that it might be due to a poor
video card. So I've been trying to figure out what one to go for. My
current set up is listed below:

CPU - AMD Athlon XP 2000+
RAM - 2x 512DDR (stick)
HDD - 80GB(1) & 40GB(1)
Video - GeForce 4 440 Ti
Audio - Audigy Gamer & 5.1 Creative Speakers

This current set up isn't good enough to handle 2004!? I was looking at a
ATI 9700 Pro 126MB video card. Do you think this would make MF2004 run
smoothly on a Higher setting of graphics? Or do I need a faster CPU? Please help!

Thanks,
Brian

[ahmedmumeni]

Your current video card should suffice ... I personally would upgrade the CPU first, and then the video card or both at once if you have the $$$. Good luck!

[kc10]

Yeah, that vid card pretty good. It's the cpu you need. What motherboard do you have, and what is your ram speed (ddr 266,333,etc?)
To choose a cpu, need to know your motherboard's fsb capabilty.Then get the biggest mac daddy AMD you can, and be happy :-) You can get a xp 2800/333fsb for about $130!
Of course,none of this explains why your fps vary so drastically,but...more important than high fps, is getting rid of the Low fps.

[Bigshot]

One stop shopping:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0157390

:+ :+