Just curious, is memory bandwidth the spec to look at while comparing cards?

It's what GPU. In nVidia it's 8000, 9000 series, and now 200 series is the newest. 8800 and 9800 is a performance GPU versus 8600 and 9600 is a mid-range GPU. Don't even think about lower. Ultra is better than GTS, which is better than GT, which is better than GS. When they manufacture the GPUs, they test them and grade them to the above specs. Some cards operate the GPU at faster bandwidths, which makes them faster. Higher memory amounts on the card is better, and it should be DDR3.Without a really good CPU on the motherboard, the GPU on the video card can not reach it's potential. ArtBiostar TF560-A2+, Athlon 64X2-6000+, 4GB RAM, Geforce 8800GTS-320MB, 500W PSU, 250GB HD, FSX(SP1-SP2), Audigy SE sound, Vista Home Premium 32 bit, CH Yoke & Pedals, 22" WS LCD monitor

The reason I ask is because on another forum a member asked a question about a video card, and I said that the 9600GT for $75 is a good can and for max performance you can grab the 8800Ultra at TigerDirect for $200. Then another guy responds that this overclocked BFG 8800GT (for $200 too) could best a 8800 GTX. I know it's flawed thinking, but I went looking at the specs and the OC GT beats the GTX in FLOPS and Texture Fill Rate. Comparing the GT to the Ultra, the GT has a higher Texture Fill Rate number.Then looking at the 9800GTX+ vs 8800Ultra, the 9800GTX+ beats it on FLOPS and Texture Fill Rate.I've got a overclocked 9600GT (670/1000) and comparing it to a stock 9800GT the 9600 will beat it in Memory bandwidth and pixel fill rate, but lots of people say that the 9800 will beat the 9600. I'm just trying to understand what numbers to look at for performance for overclocked cards.As far as FSX is concerned the consensus here is that the GTX 260/280 would be top if the drivers were right, and the 8800 Ultra/GTX are the top dawgs followed by the rest of the 8800 series and the 9800GTX(+). As far as I can see it's the memory bandwidth that's determining which ones are top.I'm aware of the CPU being the bottle neck in FSX, just wanted some clarification on the graphics side.How's that for a mouthful? :)-Kevin

Now I see where you are coming from. I wouldn't think that an overclocked 9600 could outperform a 9800 standard clock. While I have overclocked in the past, my computer creates enough heat without it now. The nVidia listings are here:http://www.nvidia.com/object/graphics_cards_buy_now.htmlYour original statement is probably correct since nVidia lists their GPUs in order of maximum memory bandwidth.ArtBiostar TF560-A2+, Athlon 64X2-6000+, 4GB RAM, Geforce 8800GTS-320MB, 500W PSU, 250GB HD, FSX(SP1-SP2), Audigy SE sound, Vista Home Premium 32 bit, CH Yoke & Pedals, 22" WS LCD monitor

We're seeing 8800GTs with 256 bit memory interfaces run side by side with the GTX280 with that big 512 bit memory interface in FS. Seems that if that Vcard memory interface was a FS improver, we'd see at least some improvement with that - Full - double. One might consider that anything below an 8800GT will hurt. Anything above, won't help.

hi i do have a intel quad 66008gb and samsung hd 500 and 4 g ram ddr2 800 i need to know what mb should i buy and if the asus n force 750i sli nvidia work good and what kind of graphic card should i buy and if 8800gts is good or not (o am looking for best of the best)if i wanna connect 4 moniters what do i need for that plz help i did change 4 cpmuter and i didnt got what i want tanx

Stay away from Nvidia chipset mobos. They are not stable with Intel quads and SLI will not help FS. If a user wants to run 3+ monitors, SLl/Crossfire will be unavailable anyway. For 3+ monitors, the mobo must support 2 Vcards. These Vcards will each drive 2 monitors. Currently, I run 3 monitors from 2 vcards. Works fine. Buy an 8800GT Vcard. That's the best available for FS, however higher Vcards will provide improvements in other games.better. For the second Vcard, buy an 8400GS or the cheapest 8 series card available.

Coming at this as a former 3D graphics programmer, FS9 and FSX are primarily texture mapping programs. They need texture mapping units, a good texture fill rate, and great bandwith in two places, from the texture/fill processor to the frame buffer, and from the PC bus to the graphics card. Pixel mapping, polygon shading, yes the program does some of that, but not as much as lot of other 3D games. In the graphics cards available, once you get up to the maximum number of texture/fill units, and you have a 256 bit or better bus, there is not a whole lot to be gained in FS from more or faster universal shaders; enough is enough. It is really all about getting those texture maps from disk, through the CPU and PCI, into the graphics card, mapped onto the 3D framework, and out to the frame buffer.In the NVidia line, the 8800 GT gets you there. Cards beyond that level are smaller increments of improvement for bigger dollar increments, mostly from everthing being clocked just a little bit faster.Some future version of FSX may use all the additional 3D graphics processing power, current versions aren't there.

Great explanation, thanks Tom.-Kevin

dear d17stanx for replying i wanna run fsx not fs2004 and i wanna have the higher graphic u are saying that i must buy the 8800gt but let me ask u is the 8800gt better then other higher cards? like 9800gtx and 8800gts?let me know plz and if i wanna run 4 monitors i should have 2 cards i have a 8600gt can i use it as second card or it is not gonna work good?. what about the monitors that have a usb port , i saw once on youtube that u can connect 6 monitors from the usb port without having second card

i wanna take ur advise so plz help.the intel motherboard g35 gonna work good or not with quad 2.4 quad 66008g?if not plz give some choisesthanx manbest of regards

I went from an 8800GT to a 9800GTX and saw no difference in FSX. The 8800GT is all the Vcard FSX can use. However, other games like Crysis, DOOM,etc can use the better cards. The 8600GT will work fine for the second Vcard. Just get yourself the 8800GT to go with it and you'll be fine. I've seen some chatter about using USB ports to drive monitors. Don't Go There! That's just someone's science project. 4 monitors is all you can drive from 2 vcards. However there is a $300 box that will split each output to drive 3 monitors. It's called TripeHeadToGo. That's a way to spread FS across 3 monitors with only a single output from a single Vcard. Some like it. I just bought a 42" monitor and run FS from that single. It's a Lot simpler.The intel P35 mobo is what you want. It Must have 2 PCI-e slots. Asus, Gigibite are fine. I have a P5K-e that is driving 3 monitor from 2 vcards. Runs great with a Q6600 O/C's to 3.6Ghz. FSX default airplanes run like a dream. The PMDG MD11 airplane is its typical PMDG self.

dear d17s thanx a lot about ur great informations here some motherboards in my country: http://www.miditech.ps/index.php?action=sh...itemID=51&cat=6http://www.miditech.ps/index.php?action=sh...itemID=52&cat=6http://www.miditech.ps/index.php?action=sh...itemID=21&cat=9http://www.miditech.ps/index.php?action=sh...itemID=18&cat=7http://www.miditech.ps/index.php?action=sh...itemID=16&cat=7just tell me which one should i buy cuz in my country we have those mobo i want u to pick up for me the best of th best onebest regards

The best card for FSX is the 8800GTX 768MB Ultra or the GTX 280The GT has 1/2 the bandwidth of the Ultra and although it comes with a newer core design which helps it quite a bit and is the best card for cost to performance ratio, to chew through weather and scenery the Ultra will top the GT, hands down as Phil Taylor explained herehttp://blogs.msdn.com/ptaylor/archive/2008...d-consumer.aspxThe Ultra is still available for 199.00 at some retailers but is limited. The 768MB 384bit cards are being phased out so getting one is harder and harder. They are still the best card for FSXToms explanation is probably one of the best ones I have seen posted here,... its not all about the video card.. its about the hard drive, the hard drive interface, the CPU and memory sub system speed and ability and last, the balance of that to the video cardRaptor, overclocked CPU, preferably a newer quad @ 3.6-4Ghz on DDR3 memory running a 8800GTX Ultra 768MB or a GTX 280 which ios getting better with drivers is going to be the FSX king right now. In that if DDR3 is not possible due to cost then the fastest DDR2 @ 2x2GB (4GB) you can get on the lowest timing and clock it till it screams (correctly)and the right maintenance and setup approach to deliver those textures across the system is the key.When Next gen Intel is released that will be left behind and anyone who purchased DDR3 will be able to transfer their memory into the new platform, with the exception of the motherboard and CPU, along with all other support components working just fine. I suspect the cards like the 280 will also be showing much better results with that new platform.The 280 does much better in other game titles and part of that is driver development. Getting a 280 will not net very much (some, but not a miracle change) over a 8800GTX Ultra and will run other games much better than the Ultra due to its later design. FSX is actually quite a dinosaur when it comes to game tech as Tom pointed out and the best way to run it is on the TRex of video cards.. the 8800 UltraThe 280 will run about the same as the Ultra and would provide better support for other newer titles So that is also an option here.Good Luck

One other thing... and I have to chuckle when I see this postedYou may read that putting money into the right parts will only net you a single slider 'tick' and its not worth the priceI sometimes wonder how I can get another slider 'tick' when I am already running 100% autogen, 100% texture resolution, 100% Mesh complexity, 100% scenery complexity and 100% LOD radius on 60% DEFAULT AI traffic and 5m mesh resolution for Promesh productsyou gott'a wonder what other peoples sims 'really' look like when they say things like thatalthough the images are gone, this may help to clear up what someone else is seeing on the budget hardware http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...210&mode=#37293and does not see what myself and others do http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...id=43931&page=2on the right parts and clocking methodsFSX is all about the system, not just the video card.. its important to mate the right card with the right system. If you purchase the budget memory, motherboard, etc and do not clock it right, the 8800GT will work fine as it will provide the best budget cost to performance ratio, no argument there. If you are looking for the best you can get out of FSX, there is much more to it than the video card.good luck

guys plz as i said i have a quad 6600/8gb/2.4 what graphic card should i buy 8800 ultra or 8800 gt or 8800gtsand what mobo intel G SERIES WILL BE GOOD SHOULD I GO FOR G 35 OR HIGHER