Hello!My current system: Asus A7N8X2 mobo; AMD XP 2800; 1 GB RAM (Corsair); ATI 9700 Pro; running FS9 on WinXP Pro with FSautoStart.This produces poor performance, even in window mode - stuttering frame rates, stammering on ATC at times, poor autogen refresh rates bad jaggy graphics. I've tried all the tweaks and conclude that AMD, XP Pro, and ATI don't get on..So I plan to build a new machine mainly for FS9. I've had little luck with ATI products so this time I'm probably going to Nvidia. Can anyone advise which of these will produce the best overall performance, and secondly the best value performance. Speed and graphics quality are equally important.1.Nvidia 6800 GT on AGP platform; Intel or AMD CPU? RAM?2.Nvidia 6800 GT on PCI - extreme platform; Intel or AMD CPU? RAM?I cannot afford the 6800 Ultra. Other suggestions will be gratefully received - I don't want to make the same mistake again!Thanks.John B.

Maybe you are doing something wrong building your PCs - hence the problems.I recently purchased a system with AMD-64 3500, ATI X800 Pro and FS9 flies on it! I let someone else build it specially that the end cost is exactly the same - I can recommend https://progresssystemsinccom.secure.powweb.com - they will build you screaming gaming system whatever your fancy.Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2

Theres definetly a problem, a system like that should still do very well. Have you tried a format and reinstall of Windows? Also are you sure you have the newest and correct chipset drivers installed for MOBO? That can be a big cause of performance problems right there.

Thanks guys!I've built numerous PCs over the years without problems. Trouble is that I've never been able to get FS9 to run anywhere near as well as FS2002. I hate having to use windows mode in FS9 - this was never necessary with FS2002. However, am in danger of going off-topic...I've installed the newest, latest Nvidia chipset drivers and get the impression that things are better - a little. However, this pic was taken after the new chipset drivers were installed. Its in real weather at 3500 ft using simple clouds. The high ground pokes thru the cloud base in a very unrealistic way. I've tried tweaking display settings and the FSUIPC settings. I've installed the latest ATI drivers from omegacorner. None of this makes any difference. If I use complex clouds the frame rate nose dives!Maybe I expect too much. Or maybe I have missed something obvious.

Have you turned off your onboard sound card and gotten yourself a separate card with it's own sound processor?That will help a great deal with pauses and stutters.RH

>I recently purchased a system with AMD-64 3500, ATI X800 Pro>and FS9 flies on it! I let someone else build it specially>that the end cost is exactly the same - I can recommend>https://progresssystemsinccom.secure.powweb.com - they will>build you screaming gaming system whatever your fancy.Thanks Michael, I enquired but they don't ship to UK.

You said it! Absolutely fantastic! Wow! Whooooppeeeeeee!! :-yellow1Thanks a bunch, RH, best tip I've had in 20 years flight simming. Next time you're in England I owe ya.. But why do the mobo mfrs go to all the trouble? On board audio was obviously not up to it. Maybe it was an Nvidia/ATI conflict?

Hi Betel,this has been a ''thing'' for years, some have had no problems, but a lot did with on-beard sound, I bought myself a nice Hercules Digifire 7.1 and haven't looked back since,it's the way to go.and, on another personal note, I was an avid Nvidia fan too . . but now that I have had my first experiances with an ATI card, I will be sticking with them.and I'm now thinking of going over to PCI-Express too.

Hi Betel -- I am glad it worked for you. Now your CPU can grind out framerates rather than sound processes. BTW- I will be in England between June 20th and July 4th. My wife and I will be flying into Norwich by way of Amsterdam and will venture into London for a couple of days during our trip. What part of England do you live?Go Norwich City F.C.!!!RH