Hi,Well, ATI finally put out their RADEON HD 3870X2 PCIE 1GB video board. I can finally dump my two XFX Nvidia 8800GTX video boards.I will have my two used (3 months old) XFX Nvidia 8800GTX video boards up for sale on E-bay if anyone is interested.

If it fixes the lights in DX10, I'm seriously considering dumping my 8800 ultra.B]

Could you elaborate on your reasons?Would be useful to know for those of us in currently evaluating components for building a new PC...Many thanks!

Hi,I have had nothing but problems with both of these XFX 8800GTX video boards and it does not matter if I run them in SLI or not. I have tried numerous drivers and I have been unable to find a set that will allow me to drop out of FS9/FS2004 (Full Screen Mode) and return to the sim without locking up my flight simulator. With these boards I am unable to use FS9/FS2004 and Radar Contact, every flight (happens randomly sometime during the flight) ends up with a FS9/FS2004 black screen that I am unable to correct. FS9/FS2004 is not locked up, I can hear changes in thrust when applied, I just have a black screen that is not correctable and FS9/FS2004 needs to be restarted.FS9/FS2004 ends in a black screen with the mouse/hourglass flashing when I try to go from Full Screen Mode to Windowed Mode within FS9/FS2004.I have had lockup after lockup while trying to use two monitors when using FS9/FS2004 and FS Commander (Non SLI Mode).I'm just sick and tired of fighting a losing battle with these God awful video boards.I have been an Nvidia buying customer since day one, that is about to change. I've had it with Nvidia!!!.I have just ordered my first ATI video board, the ATI RADEON HD 3870 X2 that has just been released.Maybe now I will be able to get back to enjoying my flight simulator.

Yikes! Sounds like quite a horror story!I'm looking at the ATI 3870 X2's myself, so I appreciate your comments.Cheers,Andrew.PS: Nice checklist, BTW!

Are you going to add those boards to your signature? :)

Mike do you fly FSX at all? I'd be interested to know how this new ATI board performs with FSX under Vista64...to be specific... :)RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

Hi,I have FSX installed in my computer and will give it a try with the new video board. I really don't think it will make a difference as far as performance is concerned. I just hope my FS9/FS2004 black screen/Lockup problems are gone.The card will be here tomorrow, I'll let you know. I uninstalled Windows Vista and I'm running Windows XP Pro so I really can't help you much in regards to Vista 64, sorry.

Mike,I am looking forward to your report on how the ATI works with FSX. I used to use ATI in the past and I thought the Image Quality was much better than Nvidia in FS9. I switched back to nvidia because I was running FS9 in windowed mode, and the ATI 1900xt card had separate clocks for 2d and 3d. Windowed Mode would use 2d clocks, so performance was not up to snuff. There were some 3rd party utilities to control the clocks, but I preferred not to use them. I now use FSX in full screen, so the clock issue if it still exists should not be a problem.P.S. I really like the checklists that you are putting out. Keep up the good work!Kylehttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpg

Hi KimChoc,Any reason for your post other than to maybe increase your total number of post here at AVSIM? :)

i too am curious as to the new ATI card with FSX... Building later this year, was looking at the 8800gtx, but if ATI offers better... i'll go with them for sure! I didn't see any problems you have with 8800 and FSX, are your problems with the 8800 only with FS9?

I'm also curious has to how that board is performing with FSX. This Mobo I have is Crossfire ready.......ya got me thinking about dual 3870X2's. :)

>ATI finally put out their RADEON HD 3870X2 PCIE 1GB>video board.Who loses the 1 GBy: Win XP or FSX?Remember, Win XP + FSX + VideoRAM <= 4 GBy!-jahman

>Mike,>>I am looking forward to your report on how the ATI works with>FSX. I used to use ATI in the past and I thought the Image>Quality was much better than Nvidia in FS9. I switched back>to nvidia because I was running FS9 in windowed mode, and the>ATI 1900xt card had separate clocks for 2d and 3d. Windowed>Mode would use 2d clocks, so performance was not up to snuff. >There were some 3rd party utilities to control the clocks, but>I preferred not to use them. I now use FSX in full screen, so>the clock issue if it still exists should not be a problem.>>P.S. I really like the checklists that you are putting out. >Keep up the good work!>>Kyle>>http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpgKyle for what it's worth I was using an x1950Pro AGP recently and this guy had no problems with windowed mode--in FS9, but that shouldn't matter as to the issue you present. I was using the ATI tray utility. Great card, tho I still believe the ATI driver can get involved in deeper areas of the OS that the nV drivers can steer clear of, and that seems a good thing.QX9650 @ 4.0GHz/1.285 vCore / 8GB PC-800 Mushkin (cheap!) / evga 8800GT @ 660Mhz / 2xSATA 2 drives /

Hi jahman,I have no idea what you are trying to say.For Everyone ElseWell, I'm still playing with the new board. So far I'm so impressed I may be moving up to FSX and removing FS9/FS2004 from my system.I'll get some screen captures up sometime today, along with my FSX settings.Bye Bye Nvidia!!!