Hi Guys I have a Gforce 4600Ti 128m (AGP) on my P4 2.4 right now. A lot has happened with video cards since mine was hot stuff. Any opinions on a good value upgrade for FS9?

If you're considering staying with AGP and not making the switch to PCI, I've heard good things about the GeForce 6600GT. Maybe not as hot as the 6800s or the Radeon Xs, but could be a good card for the $$ you spend...http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20041119/index.html

My advice would be: keep the card you've got until you are ready to buy a 4+ Gig CPU. As you can see from other posts, the 56.72 drivers work particularly well with that family of cards...

have to second that...6600GT very good AGP $$$ card!

I never have seen the 6600GT in action. From what i hear, it does have its pro's and cons. Price is great, between 200 and 250, performance is pretty good, but i have heard several times the 6600 is being recalled by NVidia for defects or something like that. I was looking at the card, but then i heard it was being recalled, i didnt want to take the chance. I was having a custom pc made and that was the card i wanted, but after hearing that, (NVidia 6XXX series and the 59XX series were the only nvidia cards i was looking at )i turned my focus to ATI. I actually went with the ATI 9600XT 128MB, and i love the card. In the skies, with sliders full right, with nice big cotton ball texture like clouds, i can get about 30-37FPS, in the big cities, with full scenery, etc etc, i will range from 23-31. Depends. I was flying into LAX yesterday, and only had a 2-4FPS drop. I was above 30FPS the whole time while i was near LA. Never got below 30 on that flight. Flying into JFK, again, nice clouds, etc etc, i did drop more than i wanted and was around 25-30. Only time i am around 20ish, is when i fly online, and i then lower my settings just a little, reduce scenery from very dense, to dense, bring clouds down in the distance, and reduce vis to around 110. and ill lock at 22 on average. And i normally wont drop at all.If i was you, i would check the NVidia 9600XT for around 200, 250 for the all in wonder. Then i would also think about the 9800pro 128MB for about 240, 299 for all in wonder. Great cards. If you have a higher budget, check the X800. Starts at 399. If you have the PS of 430 or 450 or more, check the 6800 series NVidia. Start at around 399 for the 256MB. There is also a 128MB version just over 300.ATI cards are more for DirectX games, such as FS, While NVidia is better in OpenGL.Both are great cards. I would focus more on ATI, and i can back that they have great performance. The NVidia 5900, is a little lower than my 9600XT, but is supposed to be a good mid-range card. The main NVidia i would focus on if budget allows, is the 6800 series.ATI is the one i would think about the most. Starting at the 9600XT, then the 9800Pro 128MB, then the X800 cards.Long post, but i hope this helped a little.Happy Holidays! :-wave

>I never have seen the 6600GT in action. From what i hear, it>does have its pro's and cons. Price is great, between 200 and>250,Most are $180 performance is pretty good, but i have heard several>times the 6600 is being recalled by NVidia for defects or>something like that. Recall? Sorry my source at Nvidia says there are no issues no vendor recalls whatsoever, what is the source of your statement?There are plentiful supply of 6600GT's for sale everywhere.>my focus to ATI. I actually went with the ATI 9600XT 128MB6600GT has almost double the performance of 9600XT in many DX titles including FS9 when using AA and AF and again is $180 (try pricewatch.com )>If i was you, i would check the NVidia 9600XT for around 200,>250 for the all in wonder. Then i would also think about the>9800pro 128MB for about 240, 299 for all in wonder. Great>cards. If you have a higher budget, check the X800. Starts at>399. If you have the PS of 430 or 450 or more, check the 6800>series NVidia. Start at around 399 for the 256MB. There is>also a 128MB version just over 300.6600GT>ATI cards are more for DirectX games, such as FS, While NVidia>is better in OpenGL.That is incorrect to say one way OR the other.>Both are great cards. I would focus more on ATI, and i can>back that they have great performance. The NVidia 5900, is a>little lower than my 9600XT, but is supposed to be a good>mid-range card. The main NVidia i would focus on if budget>allows, is the 6800 series.Stay away fron any FX card, budget card is 6600 check prices VS. performance before you make claims 6800 are $$$$$on premium cards ATI and NV are neck and Neck on budget there is nothing close to a 6600GT @ $180