I posted the question in this thread, but... with apologies for the duplicate post... wanted to make sure it didn't get buried.The question in brief - GTX 285 cards seem to be disappearing from the market, I guess to make way for the 300 series. Should I grab an EVGA GTX 285 1mb FTW while I still can, or wait for the 300 series? I understand the 295 was of no value in FSX, so what I'm really wondering is, is the 285 going to be the best FSX card for some time to come? Or will the 300 series provide additional gains. Right now I'm on an EVGA GTX 280 SSC, which has performed well but which is beginning to have heat issues. I'm not sure there's a defect, but if there is, the 285 might serve as insurance.Related to all this - will the 285 FTW provide any kind of performance gain over the 280 SSC? Or should I just hope that I can get the 280 settled out, maybe with better cooling?Thanks in advance for any light you can shed.Alan

As said before by a lot of people: the graphics card in FS(9 or X) doesn't do all together that much when compared to the CPU.I've seen cries for help by simmers that got the most uber-hyped videocard that'll blast you right out of your socks, but still got a poor fps in FS due to a crappy CPU.I've notced myself that juicing up my CPU from 3,1Ghz to 3,7Ghz increased my FPS more that a newer vidcard did.

That all makes sense, and it's consistent with what I've always heard. Since I'm good in the CPU department, I suppose the move from GTX 280 to GTX 285 would produce a marginal advantage at best.Let me ask the question really narrowly, then. If my GTX 280 dies in a couple of months, and I can no longer get a GTX 285, will the 300 series be worse? In other words, forget about performance improvements - but, again, will the 285 be good insurance?Alan

Let me ask the question really narrowly, then. If my GTX 280 dies in a couple of months, and I can no longer get a GTX 285, will the 300 series be worse? In other words, forget about performance improvements - but, again, will the 285 be good insurance?

First I would address your heat issues. If heat is killing the 280 it will the 285. Second, there is no way to tell since the GT300's aren't in existence yet. You should still be able to grab a 285 card for the next 6+ months. Newegg has 11 versions of the 285.After all look at the 9000 series, still available.

First I would address your heat issues. If heat is killing the 280 it will the 285.

Agreed.

You should still be able to grab a 285 card for the next 6+ months. Newegg has 11 versions of the 285.

Good to know - thanks!Alan

At this point, I myself would wait for the 300 series... however that being said, the 300 series will be pretty expensive for the decent cards...

At this point, I myself would wait for the 300 series... however that being said, the 300 series will be pretty expensive for the decent cards...

Thanks, that makes sense.Have been able to address the heating issues - took 10C off the temperature by removing three slot covers and forcing the fan to 100 percent via Rivatuner. So the 280 should be able to hang in there for now.As for the 300 series - as a TripleHead2Go user, I'm also going to keep an eye on the new ATI card (5800?), which apparently has native multi-monitor support. Haven't used ATI in, I don't know, the last three versions of FS at least, but I'm open.Alan

As for the 300 series - as a TripleHead2Go user, I'm also going to keep an eye on the new ATI card (5800?), which apparently has native multi-monitor support. Haven't used ATI in, I don't know, the last three versions of FS at least, but I'm open.

"Evergreen" cards look really nice based on the recent product demo's and initial testing. Plus the GT300's most likely won't be out for a while and may lack the multi-monitor support that the appear to ATI's have. As for ATI's in general, earlier cards had issues with FSX but I ran a 4870 and really liked the results. It took the latest drivers for good results and the performance was right on par with my 260. I have been told the 4890 performs excellent as well. The only issue I had with ATI cards was the early driver support for FSX and heat.