What is the cheapest video card that will work with g3.5?

[karatepig64]

Okay, I am looking for a cheap video card that will enable RealFlight G3.5 to be run on my personal computer. The family computer has a low frame rate as it is (between 10 and 20 usually, and that is at a photofield!) So I am not used to a really high level of performance. As long as it works, I'll be happy.

[Norton]

AGP, PCI, PCI-E? A little more info on the computer would help....

[karatepig64]

Yes of course, how silly of me.

HP e-PC 42
hide (x)Specifications

Manufacturer:
HP
Part number:
A7655T#ABA

General

Type
Personal computer
Recommended Use
Small business, Corporate business
Product Form Factor
Tower
Width
3.7 in
Depth
11 in
Height
9.8 in
Weight
10.6 lbs

Processor

Type
Intel Pentium 4 1.7 GHz
Installed Qty
1
Max processors supported
1
Upgradability
Upgradable

Cache Memory

Type
L2 cache
Installed Size
256 KB (installed) / 256 KB (max)
Cache Per Processor
256 KB

Mainboard

Chipset type
Intel 845
Data bus speed
400 MHz

RAM

Installed Size
256 MB / 1 GB (max)
Technology
SDRAM - Non-ECC
Memory speed
133 MHz
RAM form factor
DIMM 168-pin
Upgrade rule (RAM)
Max 512 MB module

Environmental Parameters

Min operating temperature
50 °F
Max operating temperature
95 °F
Operating humidity range
15 - 80%
Sound emission
25 dB

Storage Controller

Type
1 x IDE - Integrated - PCI
Controller interface type
ATA-100
Storage controller interface channel qty
2
RAID level
None

Storage Controller (2nd)

Type
None

Storage

Floppy drive type
None
Hard Drive
1 x 40 GB - Standard - ATA-100 - 7200 rpm
Hard Drive (2nd)
None.

Optical Storage

Type
CD-ROM - IDE
CD / DVD read speed
24x
CD / DVD write speed
N/A
CD / DVD rewrite speed
N/A
Storage:Media Load Type
Tray

Optical Storage (2nd)

Type
None

Storage Removable

Type
None

Monitor

Monitor Type
None.

Graphics Controller

Type
AGP 4x - Integrated
Graphics Processor / Vendor
ATI RAGE 128 PRO
Video Memory
DDR SDRAM
Installed Size
16 MB / 16 MB (max)
Video Output Supported
None
Digital Video Standard
None

Audio Output

Type
Sound card - Integrated
Sound output mode
Stereo
Max sample rate
48 KHz
Audio output compliant standards
AC '97
Speaker(s)
None

Input Device

Type
Mouse, Keyboard

Audio Input

Type
None

Telecom

Modem
None

Cluster

Cluster Storage Controller
None

Networking

Networking
Network adapter - PCI - Integrated
Data Link Protocol
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
Remote Management Protocol
DMI 2.0
Compliant Standards
WfM 2.0, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u

Printer

Type
None

Expansion / Connectivity

Expansion Bays Total (Free)
1 ( 0 ) x Front accessible - 5.25" x 1/6H (Slim Line), 1 ( 0 ) x Internal - 3.5" x 1/3H
Expansion Slots Total (Free)
1 ( 0 ) x Processor - Socket 478, 2 ( 1 ) x Memory - DIMM 168-pin
Interfaces
1 x Parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), 1 x Serial - RS-232 - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), 1 x Mouse - Generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 1 x Keyboard - Generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 4 x USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Audio - Line-in - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - Line-out - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone mono 3.5 mm, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45

Miscellaneous

Features
Flash ROM lock, System password, USB port control, Keyboard password, Power-on password, Diskette I/O control, Boot sequence control, Administrator password, Hard drive I/O control, Serial port I/O control, Parallel port I/O control, Chassis intrusion detection, Boot without keyboard or mouse

Power

Power device type
Power adapter
Voltage Required
AC 110/220 V ± 10%
Operational power consumption
120 Watt
Compliant standards
CUL, EPA Energy Star

Operating System / Software

OS Provided
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Certified
SuSe Linux, TurboLinux, Red Hat Linux, Caldera OpenLinux, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
Software
HP TopTOOLS, HP e-Diag Tools, Drivers & Utilities

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support
3 years warranty
Service & Support Details
Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years - On-site - response time: 1 day(s)
That is pulled from cnet. I don't actually have the computer yet, it should arrive in the , mail tomorrow or the day after.

[Jimmy Newton]

Ati 9600 xp is dirt cheap and will run your RF on both photo and 3d fields. Just don't turn up all the eye candy.

[karatepig64]

Where can i find one? I just checked ebay, no luck. And how cheap is dirt cheap?

[opjose]

ATI 9600/9700 chipsets are fairly antiquated.

They are basically DX8 parts, not DX9.

I'd suggest an Nvidia 8600 GT or 8800 GT at the least, which can be had for phenomenal prices if you get the "generic" onces... e.g. pny or other manufacturers...

Check prices on www.newegg.com

[karatepig64]

I would really appreciate some direct links to these products. Thanks.
Edit: Opjose, if I found the right thing, then what you are suggesting (over 100 dollars) is way too much.

[opjose]

Set your sights HIGHER...

Around 160-180.00 is DIRT CHEAP for one of the 8800 GT boards.

I purchased my 6800 Ultra for over $540.00 and then spent the same amount on one of the first 8800's.

Now you can pick up an 8800 with 256 - 512mb of ram for about 170.00.

It's a bargain!

Don't short change yourself with a cheaper card, not only will performance be poor, but you'll regret the decision later.

[karatepig64]

Originally Posted by opjose

Set your sights HIGHER...

Around 160-180.00 is DIRT CHEAP for one of the 8800 GT boards.

I purchased my 6800 Ultra for over $540.00 and then spent the same amount on one of the first 8800's.

Now you can pick up an 8800 with 256 - 512mb of ram for about 170.00.

It's a bargain!

Don't short change yourself with a cheaper card, not only will performance be poor, but you'll regret the decision later.

I really can't make more money just appear out of nowhere. Like I said, as long as the thing works, I will be happy. The one the computer has right now would work if it was just directx 9 compatible.

[opjose]

Unless someone knows otherwise, you are not going to do better than about $150.00 or so.

Once you go below that, you are basically purchasing repacked DX8 chipsets.

[Zelatio]

opjose! Pick me, Pick me!

If the Mobo is PCI-E, which I'm guessing it's not due to the PC's age, look at this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/eVGA-GeForce-790...QQcmdZViewItem

$40 + shipping. It will burn holes through G3.5. It's used, but looks in fine condition.

If you have only AGP, it may be a little harder finding something.

If it is AGP, look at the 7600 AGP card. It's actually more expensive, but it is new.

http://cgi.ebay.com/512MB-nVIDIA-Gef...QQcmdZViewItem

And yes, I have run G3 on a system worse than yours, so it is possible. This card should make it run on photfields pretty well but 3D fields might be tough. I ran G3 on a PC with 1.4ghz P4, 128MB RAM, GeForce Ti 4600(Which kicked ass back in the day I might add), and a 40GB hard drive.

[opjose]

Yup both would work ( assuming bus compatibility ) and definitely meet the price point... though I'm always a bit wary of buying computer electronics on E-bay.

On the other hand the low price may be a stock closeout too, so it may be alright.

[Sidewinder89]

Well, if you have pci express this card would be good-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...671&CatId=1560

Of this if just pci-
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...1409&CatId=319

[Josh 0987]

I wouldn't go bare minimum, the 8800GT is a great card and for a steal of only $160...

[Vikingwarrior]

don't aim low aim high, the higher your card is, the longer it will still be useable for newer games.