You folks who have the 5900 or the 5600 series video cards (especially if it's from MSI), how do you like your cards with FS9?I'm in a bit of a quandry here. I started out with the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 256, but I've had stutter problems from Day 1 big time. Frame rates are spectacular under most conditions, but around airports the stutters get so bad (even when showing my locked 35 fps, which believe me, is conservative for what I can get out of this rig running unlocked) that the aircraft is all but unflyable on approach. This rig is:P4 3.0 GHz 800 FSB H/T1 Gig DDR Kingston RAM (matched)80 Gig Western Digital HD, only about 20 gigs max usedATI Radeon 9800 Pro video 256 MB RAM w/Catalyst 3.6 driversSoundblaster Audigy Gamer cardWindows XP ProI've tried almost every tweak ever presented on the forums here, but while they've helped frame rates, it's done nothing for the stuttering issue. Wide open I can see over 200 fps under the right conditions (but of course, under the same conditions, I can drop to single digits around clouds!).As an experiment then, I updated my video drivers on my old machine that has an NVidia card. The "Old Machine" is:P4 2.28 GHz 533 bus512 MB DDR RAM (Kingston)40 Gig Western Digital HD with 15 Gigs freeMSI GeForce Ti4400 video 128 MB RAM, NVidia Detonator 45.23 (I think) driversSoundblaster Live Value sound cardWindows XP ProI loaded on FS9 (the remaining space on the HD listed above is AFTER FS9 was installed) and set the same settings as I have on the new machine. I have nary a stutter anywhere. The frame rates are dramatically lower of course, but that's with most sliders maxed (again for comparison purposes to the other machine), but unless I really load up with clouds, it's very smooth throughout. The main issue though, as I say, is lack of stutters, and this machine runs FS9 with virtually no stutters at all, even when I get lousy frame rates (which are obvious, but quite different to actual stutters).So, the reason for my original question then (sorry for the "essay" here :-) ), is that I'm considering switching from the ATI to the NVidia on my new machine. The "concern" that I have is that it might not be the video card, but some other piece of hardware instead, but at this point I think it might be worth a try. Thus, before I do this, I'd like to find out how folks who have the 5900 (my first choice) or 5600, like the card, and how well it works with FS9 on their setup. I must admit, the graphics are visibly better with the ATI card, but beautiful graphics don't help if you can't run the sim :-). Other games (the very few) I have run fine on both cards/systems, and to be honest, I've had a few "weird" graphics problems with the ATI card. The NVidia card I've had for much longer has given me absolutely hassle-free service for over a year now. Lastly, the new drivers (Catalyst 3.7) for the ATI card have not made any of the other required fixes for FS9 at all. I have noticed a graphics problem with the NVidia card and FS9 (i.e. the black screen in full screen mode when trying to use the Create a Flight menu), but they are more easily worked around than the stuttering problem.OK, again sorry for the long post, but I figured I'd try to give you the most info possible so that you wouldn't have to come back with questions later :-). Much appreciated guys!Glenn

OK, go figure. I finally (after 6 weeks of solid tweaking) found the source (mostly) of my stutters. It was right in front of me, but not where I expected to find the problem.If anyone gets a chance and they don't already have it, I'd highly recommend a magazine called "Smart Computing" (www.smartcomputing.com). I just got a 2 year subscription to it (it might be a little light for IT guys with lots of experience, but then again sometimes the basics get forgotten in the advanced mode folks like that run in anyway :-) ). Along with it came an add-on mag called "Windows A-Z". In there I read an article on how to tweak your OS. I only got half-way through it when I decided to try the first two suggestions. I had no idea these things sucked the resources like they do, but after trying these ideas, I have virtually eliminated 90% of my stuttering problem! First off, I removed that nice big fancy Autumn picture I have on my desktop and replaced it with nothing. Next I unloaded the Automatic Windows Update feature (I check every couple of days anyway). Then with just those two tweaks, I tried it, and it was like night and day! So, I'm back in business again, and don't have to fork out a whack of cash for a new video card that may or may not have made things that much better.Hope this helps someone else!Glenn

Glenn,Glad to see you didn't make that big mistake you spoke of. :) The one thing I find amazing is how many people look to blame everything on something that really has nothing to do with the problem. I admit that after over 200 machines built I still make basic mistakes Lol. You've found out the source of a lot of wasted resources. One of the first things I check is the MSconfig file. (Unless the machine I'm repairing has 2000 on it) Go to your startup tab. Now don't think just becuase you don't have icons in your start bar there's nothing running. You sound fairly computer competent. Take a stroll over to WWW.Blackviper.Com and download his tutorial on services and tweaks for WinXP. I managed, thanks to his guide to free up almost 50 megs of Ram.Also, what MB are you running in your system?. If it has Onboard sound try something. Remove the Soundblaster and enable your onboard sound and see if you still have stutters. Don't ask me why but sometimes also moving the SC from one PCI slot to another can correct the stuttering issue. I have a very similar setup and experience no stuttering at all. (I know the extra 800Mhz clock speed doesn't hurt but still).The only issue I have is with FS9 the flashing menus. This really doesn't bother me as it doesn't show at 1600x1200x32 which is what I fly at. Try switching to a higher resolution. Also, it would seem that for some there is a bug with the autogen that pops up on approach to airports and when doubling back over recently passed scenery. You may want to do a search under AUTOGEN and see what you come up with.Hope this helpsBobby

Hey, THANK YOU!!!! This is a HUGE help Bobby! Very much appreciate your input here. I'll wander over and get the tutorial you mention there.Yeah, I've had a look at my Processes window in Task Manager :-). It's a wonder any applications can run after everything there is loaded in! I'll for sure have a look at the cfg file as well. As for the RAM, I'm running 1 Gig of Kingston DDR (matched) PC3200. As for the sound issue, I've actually disabled the sound with no change in the stutters to speak of (wierd, I know!).Anyway, I'll have a look at that stuff you mentioned and I should have a fully functional sim shortly :-). Thanks much once again!Glenn