OK. I'm all set up and have everything working. I know I don't have a 'great' card or PC, but am hoping to at least be able to get a reasonable experience out of CFS3.

I get the level 2 graphics by default when I boot up CFS3. But if I bump it up to 3 and cut the refections and (something else there), I still get about 15fps (by all accounts, not to shabby).

Not knowing anything about Graphics cards or overclocking or anything to do with the CFS3 tweaks, I'm wondering if someone can at least get me started on getting this set going as best it can. There's all these adjustments I can make with the card (which I've never had before), and I have no idea where to start.

I'll install the patch (I know that much) and the 'No CD' thing, but that's about all I know how (and what) to do with CFS3.

System:
P4 1.7 Gb
512 RD Ram
nVidia GF FX5200 128Mb 128 bit
Soundblaster Live
17.5" Monitor
Sidewinder Joystick

Thanks

Quote:


You're not kidding. I reckon every person who has bought a copy of CFS3 has, at some stage, upgraded their graphics card, when they wouldn't have done so otherwise.

I have to admit to considering CFS3 in my decision to replace the Ge Force 2 MX that came with the PC. It ate up CFS2 and spat it out, with frame rates of 60 - 75 fps with heaps of AI. So I only really needed the bigger card for CFS3.

I always said that MS should have been made to pay in some way, even if it was just with very bad publicity etc, for duping so many people into buying a Sim that, at the time, very few people had the resources to use.

They should have been forced to recall the game (for those willing to give it up) and refund full purchase price. I consider it to be the worst case of 'false advertising' I have ever seen - Look at the min. specs on the box!!!!!!!! It's ridiculous.

I know the GF 2 MX that I had is a pissy liitle thing (32mb) compared to what's needed for CFS3, but it is more than enough for virtually anything else I would wish to use, sim or not. It's certainly more than most system packages are supplied with, unless you choose a special graphics option. Yet, it isn't even listed on the CFS3 config. So it won't even boot the Sim. You get an error message "your graphics card is not powerful enough to support this......"

But, having used it a little in the last few days, it is a very good sim (AND THE ENGINE SOUNDS ARE GREAT!!). (But CFS2 still has it's appeal for me, even if the graphics are less 'realistic', they are far better than most.

Runs lovely on my machine 

The explosions still hit FPS a bit though maybe its as I just maxxed it all.  Could probably sacrifice somthing to reduce the FPS drops with explosions.  It only drops to about 13 though so not too bad.

My old GF4 ti4600 ran it OK'ish.  I had it on level 3 I think @1280x1024 and it seemed ok there with no low FPS