# Upgrading My Graphics Card

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-my-graphics-card/573740>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [March 7, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-my-graphics-card/573740 "2011-03-07T03:36:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-my-graphics-card/573740/1 "2011-03-07T03:36:30Z")

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To: NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 1GB

From: 512MB GeForce 9600 GT (EVGA)

I play Warcraft on:

Operating System  
MS Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP2  
CPU  
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 47 °C  
Brisbane 65nm Technology  
RAM  
4.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 387MHz (5-5-5-18)  
Motherboard  
ASUSTeK Computer INC. M2A-VM (Socket AM2 )  
Graphics  
LCD TV (1024x768@60Hz)  
512MB GeForce 9600 GT (EVGA) 49 °C  
Hard Drives  
488GB Hitachi Hitachi HDP725050GLA360 ATA Device (SATA) 31 °C  
Optical Drives  
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S202H ATA Device  
Optiarc DVD-ROM DDU1675A ATA Device  
Audio  
C-Media CM106 Like Sound Device

Can y’all tell me what differences in performance I can expect from this upgrade?

I really have no complaints about the 512 Mb one, but just added Flight Sim X and would like the b est possible scenery I can get.

Thanks

Quasi

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**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-my-graphics-card/573740/2 "2011-03-07T04:19:31Z")

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Basically none. You’re CPU bound. While the 450 GTS is a solid 30 - 50% bump in performance, it doesn’t matter in FSX. That game destroys CPUs. Barely stresses the GPU.

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**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-my-graphics-card/573740/3 "2011-03-07T04:37:29Z")

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Yep, FSX is caught in time really. It was ahead of the curve in terms of CPU needs but did it do much at all to take advantage of multiple core CPUs.

It’s not going to like your CPU.

Still, that card upgrade will help. I expect it to run at 30 fps on medium settings (at yorresolution at least), which still looks great btw. Not only that but you can run in DX 10 mode which runs faster than 9.

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**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrading-my-graphics-card/573740/4 "2011-03-07T04:44:19Z")

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The 9600GT is already Dx10. 30 fps is way too low. Probably closer to 60 on ultra.