We all know how important a very fast CPU is for this software, and of course GPU processing is also important, but I want to know how much.With the new GT200 Nvidia offering coming later this year, which is supposed to have nearly 3x the performance of an 8800GTX (which I have now) I'm wondering if this will actually translate into performance gains in FSX. The big performance killer, it appears, is autogen and traffic. Is it because they are tied to GPU limitations or CPU limitations?What will the benefits of getting the new GT200 chipset?

FSX is CPU bound plain and simple. Which means a more efficient and faster processor is the ticket to better performance. A new GPU will not alleviate a bottlenecked CPU.The GT200 is still a rumor and nothing specific has been said regarding the chip or its supposed release date (all rumors to date).

HmmmmmmmmmWell.. I agree that FSX is CPU bound but i do not agree the user must throw a massive amount of money at the CPU to get the job doneAlthough, its better to be running the fastest quad possible, even with that the problem with FSX is it taxes parts of the system FS9 didn't, at least no where near as much as FS9 or past MSFS releases. Consider for a moment that you could recover many of the cycles most systems waste, and that FSX places on a system to through storage limits and apply those cycles where they belong. In that, even a P4 on a 256MB video card can handle FSX, UTX and other add-ons with reasonable results.http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...&mesg_id=436868If you are on XP pro SP2, try this... http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...&mesg_id=436619I also recommend the use of Nhancer and it set up correctly with FSX display settings to match.. http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=25186 11th post down and continue reading that post and the thread from thereI will be posting a VISTA list but it is still in the works. With the SP1 release I am forced to make some changes and I must make sure everything is safe for people to use and the results are linear before I post a list like that.

Nick,I'm in agreement with the above statemnts 100%. The point that I was trying to make is that if you have a system with CPU "A" in it along with an 8800GTX and upgrade the 8800GTX in the system to a more powerful GPU. Do not not expect much of a performance incerease if any just because you upgraded the GPU (which is gonna be pretty expensive at the time of release).

Understood.. And from a standpoint of harware alone, you are absolutely correct and were in the first post too.. I was just pointing out that without addressing the issues FSX places on a system by tuning, one must throw money at the proc to compensate.I run a QX6700 clocked to 3.6gig on DDR3 2000 and a FSB of 500, and, a very modified GTX even with my optimize list which is one of the reasons I do not see the performance issues others do. That requires knowing how to clock and mod... those who dont are unfortunately forced to accept what the hardware will provideand you are right.. the faster the proc, (and memory bus) the better!:)

I'm wondering what settings make it CPU bound.Bloom is most likely NOT a CPU issue, it's a frame redraw that definitely is tied to the GPU. How about mesh and texture resolution? Aircraft & scenery details (and shadows?) We know that drawing these are GPU functions, but how much of the CPU is required to know when to draw it?AI, ATC, Weather, and Physics are all CPU issues.I'm at the upper limit of my processor, a C2D running at 4Ghz. I'd love to see more support for quad processors, but that is most likely years out. Until then, MHZ > Cores.Yes, the GT200 is mostly rumor, but the roadmap Nvidia is on points that it will be a reality this year sometime. Regardless, the 9800GTX may also offer a significant GPU processing boost.

AFAIK, bloom and 2x water are still more cpu dependant than gpu dependant, Im not sure why, but they are. I cant run bloom and 2x water at the same time, bloom being the worst hit, and thats with an 8800gt. The way to test if something is gpu bound is to bring the resolution down, my fps do not change at all with a lower resolution, fsx is severly cpu bound. However with the dx10 enhacements more of the load may have shifted to the gpu with bloom and water, I cant vouch for that however, because I havent been able to use dx10 mode.

>AFAIK, bloom and 2x water are still more cpu dependant than>gpu dependant, Im not sure why, but they are. I cant run>bloom and 2x water at the same time, bloom being the worst>hit, and thats with an 8800gt. The way to test if something>is gpu bound is to bring the resolution down, my fps do not>change at all with a lower resolution, fsx is severly cpu>bound. However with the dx10 enhacements more of the load may>have shifted to the gpu with bloom and water, I cant vouch for>that however, because I havent been able to use dx10 mode.Interesting. I started with Bloom and 2x water on, I think I'll turn off bloom and see if I can move some sliders up in its place. I've got my FPS cap at 35, and when I reach altitude (5500 MSL) I'm usually well into the mid 20s.