I know FSX is CPU driven but do you think I would see any improvements from upgrading to a 8600 GTS from a 6600 GT? My 6600 GT has DDR3 memory as would the 8600 GTS but the bandwidth on the 8600 is double that on my 6600 GT. The 8600 GTS scored very well on Toms Hardware chart. I can pick it up for around 100.00 and thought it was a good deal. Hear are my system specs:Pentium 805 dual core 2.6 oc to 3.5ghz500w Raidmax PSU2 Gigs RAMWin XP/sp2 tuned up using Nicks guide6600 GT 256mb GPUFSX/SP2 (not acceleration)I now get 15-30 FPS average depending where I am flying. The only tweeks I am using is a Autogen tweek to remove buildings.

Some have posted good luck with the 8600. 15-30 fps is not bad. But as Nick says, you can go just by fps. You may not see a boost in fps, but you may see a better looking sim. Something with 512mb might be even better.Bob

I've got an 8600GTS and it is pretty good... I do wish it had more memory, however... If I could buy today, I'd get an 8800GT 512MB.

Well I went ahead and got it. It is a SSC version (super super clocked). I am getteing a few more frames but the biggest thing I see is that I can now fly with any kind of weather with it set to maximum at the slider settings with little to no performance loss. I am also able to run water at 2x low with no performace loss. This was 90.00 well spent in my books. I absolutly love flying with real world weather and now I can do it and enjoy it also.

I have the evga 9600GT SSC and luv it. Upgraded from a 7900gt.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...EVGA-_-14130334at 150 after rebate you cant go wrong!

I have an 8800 GT Superclocked by EVGA. After overclocking it even more (it's a stupendous overclocker), I'm very happy with it.What ticks me off though is that I got it for $290 (1/8/08). Today you can get it for $210; that used to be the price of the 8600 GTS 512 MB by EVGA a long time ago--or is that just how prices go?