Effect of CPU speed on FPS

[ft]

My question is: Does the physics engine run at a more or less constant (CPU speed independent) number of iterations per time unit?

The reason for me asking is that if it does, every bit of CPU power added to my slow system would go towards smoother framerates. As I'm sitting with a P166/V2 and a P200 could probably be found real cheap this could be great for me. No major upgrades possible until after xmas, student's budget...

To put it even shorter: What would the effect  on my FPS be if I upgraded from P166/v2 to P200/V2?

Right now I'm getting 4-5 FPS right when I need smooth framerates the best - when I have an enemy plane in my sights. That's enough to manouever, but not enough for effective gunnery.  

[SMERSH]

Sheesh, P166, that's not good.
What motherboard do you have?
If it supports it, a P233 cpu will be the logical way to go if you're on a very very low budget. I bet a P233 cpu should not be more than 75 bucks or so. Heh, believe me I've had to deal with very tight budgets on computer stuff before  

Lots of little computer stores around here that sell old hardware like older cpus for really low prices.
4 or 5 fps under any circumstances is quite unnacceptable by any gamer's standards.

[aircat]

cpu and video card decide your frame rates... for you having a 166 you dont even use most of your voodoo2..... a voodoo 1 is good up to about a 200... so right now YES a new cpu would do you wonders... like SMERSH said... they can be found relitively cheap... especialy used...if I was you though for little more then a simple chip I would try and get your self three things...
1: celeron 300 PPGA
2: a decent motherboard and a slotkit adapter
3: some dimm ram (atleast 64 megs)
you would see tremenous jump in frame rates... you will be a little behind on most sim requirements, but atleast you wont be left quite so far behind.

[aircat]

oops just reliesed lots of time you can find a celeron 400 PPGA for less then a 300 (a real bargin for the speed)

[ft]

MB onl goes to 200 I'm afraid. And yes, I will go for a complete upgrade after Xmas sometime, as I said. But I'd like to get at least workable framerates sooner, thus the 200. I think I can get one even cheaper than the prices suggested so it might just be worth it just to have a faster system 'til then.

Thanks.