flight sim x graphics card?

Question

i have a dell dimensin E310 i recently installed microsoft flight simulator x on the computer
the graphics are horrible so i want an upgrade my computer only supports pci e x1 and pci not pci x 16 what kind of graphics card below a $100 would be good for me

Answer 1

Unfortunately, in PCI-E x1 there's VERY little to choose.

PCI-E x1 versions of the GeForce 7300GT, Radeon X1300 and Radeon X1550 exist, but good luck finding them in stock. See review of the Nvidia card below.

In plain old PCI there's no shortage of cards, but most of them are horrible performers. Here's the best one (2nd link)

It's ironic because PCI-E x16 cards are not only faster, but also cheaper. You could get a PCI-E x16 Geforce 7600GT for $80 which would outperform either of those.

It might actually be worth looking into replacing your motherboard with one that has a PCI-E x16 slot. Of course you'd need one that fits the E310 case and supports your existing CPU and RAM... If you found one for around $50, that would give you better upgrade options.

Answer 2

Short answer, don't bother. If you want to get any acceptable performance out of flight sim x you need at least a 512Mb graphics card. I'm the editor of Sim Pilot magazine, a free online flight sim magazine, and we're currently doing a poll on FSX performance. People with systems that don't have a high-end card (ie 512Mb+) report that FSX is barely playable, even with SP1 installed.

Answer 3

ProFlightSimulator 120 Airplanes 20000 Airports : http://www.LatestFlightSimulator.com/Assist