Quote:I'm running an old graphics card, 7900GS I think it is, but it runs fsx quite well for the most part. My CPU is a intel dual core, 2.2Ghz I believe, again, decent.
short answer: CPU
really really long answer:
What kind of dual core is it? I ask because dual core processors that are 2.2 ghz can vary in performance significantly depending on what design they are. Core 2 Duo, Pentium D? etc.. The fastest of those is the Core 2 Duo and it's the most common, so I'll assume that's what you have.
In my opinion your system is too old and you will probably not get very good performance out of it in FSX if you just change the CPU or videocard. The entire thing needs an overhaul to get good performance. Upgrade both, or even better buy an entirely new system. But if you want me to answer anyway, then I'll try:
I did not notice a huge difference between two very different videocards - a Radeon 5770 and a GTX 570 OC (which is 2.5 times as fast as the 5770 in general gaming) in FSX. I would therefore
expect a newer CPU to make a bigger difference in your case, but I am not sure. The only intel 2.4 ghz quad core that I know of is the Q6600 which although is a decent processor even today if overclocked (I should know, I have one running at 3.4ghz), is not in production anymore and as far as I know, the only way to get it is second hand. What motherboard do you have? It is unusual for them to only support a 2.4ghz quad core, max. What's the fastest dual core it can support?
A Q6600 is about $100 second hand. My opinion is that it's poor value because AMD Quad cores that are >2.8ghz are available, new, for the same price. But that would likely require a new motherboard. :\ And a midrange (by todays standards) new videocard should be about $100 new. Consider getting an entirely new computer, but getting both a new CPU (like a Q6600) and videocard (GTX 460) is the next best option (and the next best option after that is a new CPU like Q6600 only). Before buying a videocard, please verify your power supply is good enough for the job and that your motherboard supports the CPU. If you need any help doing that I can help.
In general gaming though, it would be best to upgrade the videocard and OC the CPU.
I don't have much money either, but here's how I try and cope:
I like to incrementally upgrade one part of my system every 6 months or so. That way although the computer as a whole is never top-end, I always have something that is fairly fast. And since I always have something fairly fast, I can wait months for the right deal to pop up on ebay and some bargain websites (ozbargain). I bought a $300 videocard 1 week old for $240 second-hand (it ended up defective and I returned it to MSI and got a $375 videocard back, lol). The RAM is second hand. The power supply is second hand. Laptop at the time cost $700 new, I bought one a month old still in original packaging for $480. All my hard disks were bought when they were on sale. In 6 months when I have enough spare cash then I'm changing out the CPU, motherboard, and RAM preferably in a combo deal or when they're on special, to save more money. All old hardware of mine is sold. Consider following my model.
Quote:P.S. As a side question, if I have DDR2 Ram, is it recommended to upgrade from 3Gb to 4Gb due to DDR2 being dual channel, thus utilizing it more effectively? (been advised this by my cousin).
Dual channel only works when you have two or four identical matching RAM DIMMs (which are also known as sticks). If you have one memory slot filled, then to get it into dual channel you will need another stick of same capacity (and speed). If you have two slots of memory filled then you are already in dual channel (unless they're not matching pairs like one is a 512mb and one is a 1024mb).
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