go for the radeon...fast,cheap ,but there's still the "flickering"-problem in FS 2004. but nothing to be concerned about.

Sorry, I just read your computer setup at the bottom of your post. Nice setup, looks like you made the right choice.

Brfore investing a bunch of money in a new video card.... I'd go back through ALL the threads (to the July release date) about the NVidea based cards and also the ATI Radeon cards. 

There is a lot of info there to digest....but it is likley worth the reading.  Bottom line .........like most stuff....... the most expensive stuff seems to give the best performance (there are a couple of exceptions).

So from that viewpoint, can you afford about $450-$500 USD for a video card?

From reading all the stuff...... you'll find that apparently NEITHER card is "lilly white" as far as FS2004 goes.  Which sort of points a bit toward Microsoft's code  .

best,

.................john

Toms Hardware Guide has several tests of current NVIDIA and ATI cards.  Worth reviewing.
On MS and 2004 code causing graphics card problems:
Maybe.
THG major controversy last several months has been that both NVIDIA and ATI optimize drivers for tests.  Tests use benchmarks and popular games.  If you own one of those games; then the driver is customized.  Until recently flight sims were not included in the tests.
My guess is that the flight sims are at the lower end of the games and sims population and that they get less attention by the card makers.  It's a matter of $ and priority.  It is likely a very difficult proposition to write driver code which satisfies gamers and simers given the wide array of products.  MS has made DX a standard but how much impact it has on design of specific drivers isn't known.  In a prior e-mail re 2004, MS was clearly miffed at ATI for drivers.  NVDIA and ATI have pledged to write driver code which isn't targeted at graphics card test results. We shall see.

See Toms Hardware Guide for graphics card reviews.

Six years from a computer with current technology?  Unlikely!  Value will fall faster than the resale price of a Ford Taurus.

You could have done much better by scaling back performance and planning a buy in 3-5 years.

If I did what you did I'd be sitting on the curb with my few posessions.

You guys must learn how to put a pc together. I went to www.zipzoomfly.com , it´s a pc store and for US$ 3000 I got a better system.

P4 3.2 Ghz FSB 800 HT
MSI  865PE NEO2
1GB DDR500 dual-channel
MSI Geforce FX 5900 256mb
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS platinum
250GB serial ATA 7200rpm HD
Sony dvd+/- RW
MSI cd-rw 52-32-52x
Nice pc case
Logitech cordless mx duo elite keyboard and mouse
480w power supply
win XP pro full
19in samsung lcd monitor
No speakers because there was no 7.1 available

Everyone has there preferences, as far as how to go about putting a PC together.

As I said before, and I'm sure most people agree, going the way of the 'pre-assembled Package' is definitely a no-no.

My Mrs went this way only three years ago. She went and bought a Compaq Pressario. At the time it was pretty much 'state of the art' as far as size,power and speed went, with 800 mb P3 and  128 mb Ram and a 20 gig HD. (it cost $A1899-00)
I didn't know much about PC's then. Don't know much now! But I knew enough then to tell her to go to the local PC shop man and get the same (which may not be as 'spiffy' looking, but would be better in the long run).

Within 6 months we learnt that the case (moulded) was too small to take any really worthwhile upgrade, Compaq were going broke (HP took them over, I believe?) and the Ram strips that were used were still the old style (double sided) which were, even then, out of date and hard to get in the 256 size (it only has 2 Ram ports).

My local PC shop man is a nice bloke and a friend - but not to the point where I'd get any great discount - just free, honest advice.
He said to me 2 months ago, that he would build me a very good  'Flight Sim' tailored CPU (just the Case and content) no monitors or attachments for around $800 - $1000 (Aust dollar is about 0.66 US).

He was offering this (I still have it in his handwriting on the back of an Invoice for some Ram).

2.2 - 2.5 GB P4 (depending on brand)
512 Dual Channel DDR (2 x 256)
40 GB HD
400 watt Power Supply
CD rewrite (No speeds or anything listed)
10/100 lan connection
128 mb Graphics card (depending on brand)

Obviously, items such as the graphics card and Processor are the ones that will decide if it's closer to $800 or $1000, but I think that's a pretty good set up for general simming (and any of my Business office needs too )

I know many people wouldn't be happy with this, but for the price (and the fact that I'm going to try and build it myself for around $600-00, using some bits I already have), it'll do me for a good while.

I wouldn't expect it to last me much more than a couple of years before I had to consider updating to the next 'BIG' advancement in processor or graphics etc. Let's face it, who knows what great leap may be made in the next year or two!)

I'm wondering, Mav, if you're not paying alot more than you normally would for equal performance, for the Dell name and their particular components, rather than 'generic' components that may be half the price.

But once again, each to his own. Everyone likes a nice new, shiny, really modern looking setup on thier PC desk, but that particular 'novelty' wears off after a short while. I (just me personally) can't see where there is $3000 value in any PC, especially from a company that 'specialises' in Packages, as such. I just couldn't trust them. 
I just think the local PC shop man has to rely on your return business and your referrals to other people. He can't afford to 'take you for a ride' like Compaq, HP et al.

P.S. One thing about the Mrs mistake! I've got all the software I'll need to make my new one work well for me. All I need is Norton Antivirus 2003.
It also showed me how much better Windows Me is than all the other 'silly' Op's ......................lol