Computer guru's inside

[tiffo60]

I want to pick up the microsoft flight simulator X game. I have a PC that just has windows xp and nothing else installed on it and the game is the only thing I ever plan on running on it. What do I need to upgrade on my machine to make it where I can run the game to its potential and and not have any hicuups?

The desktop I have sitting at my house is a Dell Dimension 4550. I know this is an old computer and probabally completely out of date, but if it is possible to upgrade this machine with in reason I would rather do that than buy a whole new PC just to play this one game.

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/dell-dimension-4550-pentium/4507-3118_7-20478986.html

[BC Lightning]

I want to pick up the microsoft flight simulator X game. I have a PC that just has windows xp and nothing else installed on it and the game is the only thing I ever plan on running on it. What do I need to upgrade on my machine to make it where I can run the game to its potential and and not have any hicuups?

The desktop I have sitting at my house is a Dell Dimension 4550. I know this is an old computer and probabally completely out of date, but if it is possible to upgrade this machine with in reason I would rather do that than buy a whole new PC just to play this one game.

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/dell-dimension-4550-pentium/4507-3118_7-20478986.html

Video Card, memory, hard drive, processor, mother board

I just re-built mine because I downloaded Microsoft SP3 and it corrupted my computer, turns out the type of motherboard I had is the only kind that wont work with service pack 3 :hammer:

[wesman]

What does the game say are the minimum requirements? Every PC game I've ever played has had minimums, I'd start there.

If your PC is "stock", you need to start with the memory....add at least 1G and likely need to upgrade the graphics card.

--wes

[wesman]

Video Card, memory, hard drive, processor, mother board

I just re-built mine because I downloaded Microsoft SP3 and it corrupted my computer, turns out the type of motherboard I had is the only kind that wont work with service pack 3 :hammer:

HD doesn't really matter in this scenario, I also think the motherboard and proc should be fine....if anything just overclock the proc a bit.

--wes

[tiffo60]

What does the game say are the minimum requirements? Every PC game I've ever played has had minimums, I'd start there.

If your PC is "stock", you need to start with the memory....add at least 1G and likely need to upgrade the graphics card.

--wes

it meets the minimum requirements, but there requirements usually tell you what it takes to run the game on the low resolution settings. I would like to be able to run on the high settings if possible with this machine

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8054026&type=product&tab=2&id=1158316224275#productdetail

[tiffo60]

HD doesn't really matter in this scenario, I also think the motherboard and proc should be fine....if anything just overclock the proc a bit.

--wes

how do you overclock the proc a bit?







I know nothing about computer programming:hammer:

[wesman]

Buy a gig or two of memory and see where that gets you....should be cheap...can get 2G of memory for ~$200 these days.


--wes


it meets the minimum requirements, but there requirements usually tell you what it takes to run the game on the low resolution settings. I would like to be able to run on the high settings if possible with this machine

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8054026&type=product&tab=2&id=1158316224275#productdetail

[tiffo60]

Buy a gig or two of memory and see where that gets you....should be cheap...can get 2G of memory for ~$200 these days.


--wes

something like this?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5489394&type=product&id=1051826244183

I think my machine only has 2 slots for memory sticks(if thats what the called) so does that mean I can only get 1gig of memory out of it?

[wesman]

how do you overclock the proc a bit?







I know nothing about computer programming:hammer:


Depends on the motherboard really...some you can do it in the BIOS, others via jumpers...search Google for your particular MB and you'll likely find a step by step process to do it. You may even find that it's not worth the trouble.

I'd start with RAM and then look at proc/video card

--wes

[BC Lightning]

something like this?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5489394&type=product&id=1051826244183

I think my machine only has 2 slots for memory sticks(if thats what the called) so does that mean I can only get 1gig of memory out of it?

go on outpost.com

its frys online shop, they have a better selection of comp upgrades

[wesman]

something like this?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=5489394&type=product&id=1051826244183

I think my machine only has 2 slots for memory sticks(if thats what the called) so does that mean I can only get 1gig of memory out of it?

you can buy it in 1G sticks as well....best is to take out your memory and see if it has a sticker on it. The sticker generally has the info to tell you what kind of memory you have. You may be able to search online and find out as well.

If your PC only has two slots you could do 2/512=1G or go 2/1G for 2G total. Also be aware that sometimes they have to be done in pairs....ie you can't buy 1g stick and then move your existing 256k stock to the second slot.

Read up online and I bet you can find pretty much everything you need to know.

--wes

[tiffo60]

you can buy it in 1G sticks as well....best is to take out your memory and see if it has a sticker on it. The sticker generally has the info to tell you what kind of memory you have. You may be able to search online and find out as well.

If your PC only has two slots you could do 2/512=1G or go 2/1G for 2G total. Also be aware that sometimes they have to be done in pairs....ie you can't buy 1g stick and then move your existing 256k stock to the second slot.

Read up online and I bet you can find pretty much everything you need to know.

--wes

will do:tu:

[Silver_2000]

you can buy it in 1G sticks as well....best is to take out your memory and see if it has a sticker on it. The sticker generally has the info to tell you what kind of memory you have. You may be able to search online and find out as well.

If your PC only has two slots you could do 2/512=1G or go 2/1G for 2G total. Also be aware that sometimes they have to be done in pairs....ie you can't buy 1g stick and then move your existing 256k stock to the second slot.

Read up online and I bet you can find pretty much everything you need to know.

--wes
get the service tag off the back and go to dell.com

you can get all the details there - what processor it has - how much memory - what the max is etc etc

I bet that pc has an "integrated video card " which means NO performance

there is no way flight sim will run well on a integrated card

Doug

[tiffo60]

get the service tag off the back and go to dell.com

you can get all the details there - what processor it has - how much memory - what the max is etc etc

I bet that pc has an "integrated video card " which means NO performance

there is no way flight sim will run well on a integrated card

Doug

went to dell and here's what i found
11W393PROCESSOR..., 80532, 2.53, 512K, 533, SOCKET N..., C11M0321CARD (CIRCUIT)..., PLANAR (MOTHERBOARD)..., DIM4550, NETWORK INTERFACE CARD/CONTROLLERS..., EPPID17N242KEYBOARD..., 104, UNITED STATES..., SILITEK..., LOW COST..., MIDNIGHT GRAY...16U220KIT..., MOUSE..., PERSONAL SYSTEM 2..., S69, LOGITECH...18T914DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE..., 256, 333M, 32X64, 8K, 18415W416MODEM..., V.92, DATA FAX..., INTERNAL..., ALUMINUM..., DELL AMERICAS ORGANIZATION...10R533CARD (CIRCUIT)..., MULTI-MEDIA..., AUDIO..., SB020312X480COMPACT DISK READ WRITE..., 680M, I, 5.25" FORM FACTOR..., 48X, SAMSUNG..., CHASSIS 2001...13W978KIT..., SPEAKER..., 120V, ADA745, DELL AMERICAS ORGANIZATION...14W500DIGITAL VIDEO DISK DRIVE..., 680M, 16, I, 5.25" FORM FACTOR..., SD616T, REVISION..., CHASSIS 2001...14R426CARD (CIRCUIT)..., GRAPHICS..., RAGE, ULTRA, FULL HEIGHT..., THIRD...15W540DISPLAY..., FLAT PANEL DISPLAY..., 17, DUAL..., E171FPB, MIDNIGHT GRAY..., DELL AMERICAS ORGANIZATION...15R212FLOPPY DRIVE..., 1.44M, 3.5" FORM FACTOR..., 3MD, NO BEZEL..., NEC CORPORATION..., CHASSIS 2001...12W936HARD DRIVE..., 60GB, I, 7.2K, 60G/P, Seagate-Avalache...10E784KIT..., SOFTWARE..., OFCXPSB, ENGLAND/ENGLISH..., ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MFGR....18P472KIT..., SOFTWARE..., OFCXP-SP1, ENGLAND/ENGLISH...16W678KIT..., SOFTWARE..., OVERPACK..., WXPHSP1, COMPACT DISKETTE W/DOCUMENTATION..., ENGLAND/ENGLISH...1D0837KIT..., DOCUMENTATON ON FLOPPY DISK..., SOFTWARE..., DIGITAL VIDEO DISK DRIVE..., CYBERLINK..., 4.13C

[tiffo60]

so what do I need to buy to run this game Doug?

[Silver_2000]

i found this


Publishers Minimum System
What is this?
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1000 MHz /
Display Card!: 32MB DirectX 9 compatible /
Memory: 256MB
Free Disk Space: 15GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP with SP 2 or Vista

Publishers Recommended System
What is this?
Processor: 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium IV or equivalent /
Display Card!: 256MB nVidia GeForce 6800 series or better /
Memory: 1024MB
Free Disk Space: 15GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP with SP 2 or Vista

YouGamers Minimum System
What is this?
Processor:
Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz processor
Intel Pentium 4 3000
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 128MB
Memory: 512MB
Free Disk Space: 15GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP 2


YouGamers Recommended System
Intel Pentium 4 3200 MHz /
VIDIA GeForce 7900 GS 256MB /
Memory: 1024MB
Free Disk Space: 15GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP 2

[Silver_2000]

look in device manager for this
GRAPHICS..., RAGE, ULTRA, or something similar
and post what it says

what did dell site say about max memory ?

can you post the service tag

Its nearly impossible to read the jumble of text from dell

[tiffo60]

i found this under display

rage 128 pro ultra GL AGP

[tiffo60]

service tag is 8xrwm21

max memory is 1gig via the site

[Silver_2000]

purchased 3/31/2004
came with 256 mb ram
60 gb drive

Maximum Memory: 1024
Number Of Slots: 2
yet they sell 1 gb sticks - makes no sense
512 mb is $40
you need 2

rage pro may work - but no way will you be able to crank up the resolution

check and make sure the video is DirectX 9 compatible

[tiffo60]

purchased 3/31/2004
came with 256 mb ram
60 gb drive

Maximum Memory: 1024
Number Of Slots: 2
yet they sell 1 gb sticks - makes no sense
512 mb is $40
you need 2

rage pro may work - but no way will you be able to crank up the resolution

check and make sure the video is DirectX 9 compatible

shows it is, so if i buy the 1g of memory, and a new graphics card will i be able to crank the resolution up? If so what card?

[Silver_2000]

I would just get the memory and try it
Then see how high you can run the res and have acceptable frame rate
The issue is the relation ship between frame rate and resolution -

You can always get a better card - due to dells system its tough to tell what kind of video slot your machine has - I would open the case and see what slots are there and then if you want to upgrade there are tons of options