I just bought a GTX 260 (w/216 stream processors), still unopened, and now I'm thinking maybe I should've gotten the GTX 280 for a couple hundred bucks more ($449). Would the 280 be overkill for FSX or should I go for it. It's not like I have mucho bucks to blow, but if there is a big difference in performance over the 260 I might go for it.Thanks for any input.Jeff

What are you paring that with Jeff?CPU, CPU speed, Memory, memory speed and motherboard in use would help make that callThe 280 would probably serve you better if you are running the faster/better components.. At the same time, what are you upgrading from?

Based on this review at Tom's Hardware between the 260/280, I don't think you made a mistake and would recommend you keep the 260:http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-gtx-280,1953.htmlFSX is CPU dependent rather than GPU dependent so I don't think you'll see any difference between the two video cards in FSX. FS11 might be a different story...Best regards,Jim

Thanks, Nick. I was just getting ready to edit my post to include that info. Sorry. I'm planning on using either a Q9650 or i7 940, 4G Mushkin 1066 memory, and either a P5Q (not sure which version) or a Gigabyte GA-X48-DS5 (or similar) motherboard if I go with the Q9650 which is most likely. Not sure of a motherboard for the i7. I'm upgrading my whole system from an AMD Athlon 64 3200 (2.2GHz.) and a Radeon 9800 Pro video card. This is an almost 5 yr.-old system.Jeff

If you are going to go i7, do the 280I have been playing with 965 i7 @ 4GHz and if I designed GEX autogen on this tower those running very clocked quads would drop perf like a rockwell worth the price as long as you buy at least the 940 the 965 is pricy but its the most simplistic clock I have ever set upthe 940 will clock too but it requires a bit more to accomplish without the multiplier. And Toms.. lol wont go thereThe 260 will do ok, but I would go the 280 in your case from the parts you listedComing from the AMD system do yourself a favor and go i7. You deserve to skip everyone elses pain in between and see the beginning of the promised landhttp://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/Ya...?num=1227245381Rampage II motherboard is what I am on with the 965http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131352The PT6 I understand is a good board, never used it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131351go with 3x2GB DDR3 CAS 7 1333 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227366or 3x2GB DDR3 CAS 8 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820145224Nice Rebate on the OCZ 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227365you will spend a bit more but you wont be cussing an upgrade in 6 months, or less

Thanks Nick and Jim. While I was waiting for your reply I was reading Techspot comparison between the Q9650 and i7 processors and had almost come to the conclusion I should go ahead and get the i7 for the long haul. And within that comparison they mentioned that the GTX 280 was almost at its limit on a quad processor when using high graphic settings. So, I guess, here we go with the wallet. But, as you can see I'm not one to be changing things every 3 months so I believe I'm doing the right thing by going with the i7 940/GTX280 combo.Jeff