New gfx card

Yes, probably.

I have heard you should upgrade components in this order:

1. CPU
2. RAM
3. Video card

It is listed in order of what would give you better performance. So therefore, if possible, you should get a new CPU, then get more RAM, and lastly you should get a better video card.

Hope this helps.

-Orion

Your old card is AGP (8X) as far as I can see you would have to be sure before you buy a new one.

Here are that two you picked out.
If you search more you might find them cheaper than I did.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2571839&CatId=28

Amazon, free shipping and maybe no tax, they don't charge my state tax.
http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Radeon-X1650-Graphics-100-437809/dp/B000IXZ3R4/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-3452636-3262400?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1183858744&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Stealth-256MB-Video-S9250PCI256/dp/B000B74H10

you 'heard' 😀
lolz

Can AGP fit in a PCI slot??

to sum it up

Can this card increase my performance, the 512mb one
just the card.

and can AGP fit in a regular PCI slot not pci xpress?

slicer81 wrote:

to sum it up

Can this card increase my performance, the 512mb one
just the card.

and can AGP fit in a regular PCI slot not pci xpress?

Yes it will render textures faster and give you better FPS but your CPU will hold you back, it to a great extent is the engine that drives the Sim.

PCI, AGP, PCIe, read this, click the Wiki links and look at the gifs on the mobo's to see what you have .
I think you have AGP but can't be sure.
No, PCI will not hold AGP, different slots on the board.

http://www.flightsimulationforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=1054

gif's ????

GIF=Graphic Interchange Format.

Big words for a particular picture format on computers. Takes up less space than JPEG or BMP formats.

But no, PCI cards, AGP cards and PCI-Express are three different animals and not interchangeable at all. So, if it won't fit in the motherboard, it won't increase performance.

If your motherboard really is PCI, your system is just about dead-ended as far as upgrading goes.

mdaskalos

how can i tell if it isnt all pci with out taking it apart?

slicer81 wrote:

how can i tell if it isnt all pci with out taking it apart?

Run this, if you can't tell what it is then paste the results here.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

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It looks to me as if you have an AGP.

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeon9200/radeon9200/specs.html

The only way to be 100% would be to open the case (you should clean that at least every 3 months) and see if you have a brown slot next to the white slots.
The brown is the AGP.

Are you that far out of date with your Windows updates.
Without them, SP1 for XP and the latest .Net you won't be able to run FSX properly.

i just re did my comp, what updates would i need?

Did you see this.

Microsoft Security Updates
Alert!
70 missing

Ok, i will look for them, but will security updates really help my game play?

Radarman, thanks for your patience as i am not computer orientated to well.

I may have a few more Q's but that's about it 🙂

I took my comp apart, i do have AGP, the little brown next to the 2 whites. about the same length. And its a bit up higher on my mobo then my PCI's Correct??
😀 😉

slicer81 wrote:

Ok, i will look for them, but will security updates really help my game play?

Radarman, thanks for your patience as i am not computer orientated to well.

I may have a few more Q's but that's about it 🙂

If it's working now how can updates harm it.

SO radarman if my gfx card right now is 25%(25% fsx play-able) 256mb, and i upgraded to the 512mb what percent would that raise it to?

Prolly the last question.

slicer81 wrote:

SO radarman if my gfx card right now is 25%(25% fsx play-able) 256mb, and i upgraded to the 512mb what percent would that raise it to?

Prolly the last question.

You can't figure it that way. Nothing increases by percentage, either it's much better or it's not.
That will be.

In the machine I had like yours, I went from a 64mb to a 128mb and the difference was amazing, both in FPS and sharpness of the scenery.

Beside putting it in the slot your now using for the other this one has it's own fan and needs to be hooked up to the power supply.
They'll give you very simple instructions on how to do that.
Yes you have extra (wires) plugs coming off the power supply for that.

so its easy to install, and this will be amazing boom for me? 😀

security updates = less spyware/viruses = faster computer = faster gameplay

slicer81 wrote:

so its easy to install, and this will be amazing boom for me? 😀

It will make a big difference, Don't expect miracles with that CPU you have. I speak from experience.

Slicer:

Check out your computer a bit more thoroughly before you head to Best Buy:

#1) In my experience, Compaqs are HORRIBLE to upgrades (all the stuff packed in the case really tight, no room to install a new component, teeeenie power supplies, etc. You need to not only check out the AGP slot as you have, but make really sure that there is enough room around it forthe rest of the card.

#2) I'm a bit surprised that none of us chipping in so far in the is thread (including me) have brought this up yet, but: You need to be sure the power supply in your computer can take the additional load the X1650 Pro will place on it. The way Compaq builds systems, there is a high likelihood you will be smelling smoke (and seeing it) shortly after you have the new card in.

#3) If you can order on-line, avoid Best Buy for that card. You can get an X1650 Pro in AGP for about $90.00 less from Newegg.com, or if you really want to spend around $200, X1950 Pros (about the fastest card available in AGP) are available, and will still leave you some of the $200 left in your pocket.

#4) Upgrading an AGP system is essentially a dead-ended path right now. I think all of the card manufacturers have ceased producing faster generations of AGP cards. Now in truth, that has been said before, and then the industry came out and produced some faster AGP cards, realizing that the user base of AGP was pretty large, and that there was a market for the cards, but sooner or later, there will be no such thing as "a faster AGP card".

mdaskalos

i didnt have to hook up a power supply to my last card, and it had a fan O.o

could i get a link from circuit city, compusa, or bestbuy cuse i cant buy of internet atm.

For that x1900 card or w/e.

x1950 pro is 256mb and im looking at a 512 for cheaper.

slicer81 wrote:

could i get a link from circuit city, compusa, or bestbuy cuse i cant buy of internet atm.

For that x1900 card or w/e.

Your going to spend more at the stores you mention than with an Internet store.
They have to have overhead (brick&mortar) to contend with, newegg, Tigerdirect etc just have a warehouse in the boondocks.
Go to each, price that same card and see what you can do.
I already gave you the price at Amazon.
I would add a fan (blowing out) in the rear of the computer also ($20) very simple to add and it'll keep your machine nice and cool.

can i have a fan blowing in?

slicer81 wrote:

can i have a fan blowing in?

Blow in from the front, blow out from the back...in your type of case.
If you build a computer yourself you can have fans on top, side, front and back.

Wait what? i have a fan blow in the front of the comp? there arent many holes the air can get through...

slicer81 wrote:

Wait what? i have a fan blow in the front of the comp? there arent many holes the air can get through...

If your case is made for it do it.
You asked I answered, you don't blow air in from the back.
My case is made for that and has one in the front and back.
I had a case similar to yours and put one in the back to take hot air out.
The holes in the front let cool air in, the fan in the back pull more cool air in from the front holes.

i mean a actual fan like that you plug into the wall sitting in front of my comp, i have a few holes for it to go through.

slicer81 wrote:

i mean a actual fan like that you plug into the wall sitting in front of my comp, i have a few holes for it to go through.

A fan in the back will suck cool air in from the front over the board and all the components cooling them and pushing the hot air out.
Very easy to install on the rear grid.