'Adequate' Graphics Cards, Direct 3D & fps minima

[hairy_kiwi]

Heelp, please.

I need a 2D/3D video card that will run 1024x768, 16 bit colour at such a fps rate that will be pleasing i.e. no jerkiness - well maybe one or two per hour but no more.
(Any links to sites discussing fps? I know the FAA insist on 20 fps min for PC ATD sims but is 20 really acceptable?)

Preferably, this card will cost very little ;)
(Yes I am a tight b'stard. Anything with a g400 or TNT2 in its pedigree is out, unless of course that's what it'll take to keep me happy :)

I have inherited a 12Mb Voodoo2 3D accel. but this doesn't like the Direct 3D RTS Pro requires. I don't play Quake or Doom etc, so I don't really need an open GL optimised card. (That can wiat till I'm properly employed... IR loan repayed... mortgage repayed... kids graduated from uni... retired and sitting pretty... )

To conclude, I see little point in paying for the latest when something a year or even 18 months old will do.

Any advice gratefully received.

regards,
h_k

[spannersatcx]

http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/special/simmers_guide.htm try this rview of fs2000 hardware guide.

You should find a tnt2 would suffice try http://dabs.com http://www.insight.com/uk/ for a price guide.

try http://www.tomshardware.com http://www.tweak3d.net
for guides.
At the end of the day you get what you pay for, with the graphics card market being very fluid things like a tnt 2 which was the bees knees 12 months ago should be reasonably cheapish.
You also need to make sure your harddrive is regularly defragged, as plugging one bottleneck i.e. graphics card, will not complete the job, i.e. sufficient RAM CPU speed etc.

[This message has been edited by spannersatcx (edited 20 February 2000).]

[hairy_kiwi]

Cheers spannersatcx,

Thanks for the links, I'll have a look at them. Thanks for the other tips too.

(Wouldn't it be nice to see a (long) page of bargraph type benchmark comparisions of all graphics cards in the various categories, (Direct3D GLide, OpenGL) for the various resolutions, instead we're forced to wade through all manner of reviews to get to the essence.)

Regards,
h_k