Stephen, you are absolutely right about time is up :( Buuut I have some issues to get better IQ than with 5870. Means that neither nhancer nor Nvidia control panel seams to work correct with GeForce 197.41. I have to fix this first, then I take care about my responsability :( Buuut I will not say, that I haven't tried out some things already:What do you think about it? --> I love it already (smoother than 5870, quiet (FSX), not so hot (75C FSX), can maxed out settings, eats REX for breakfast)How well does it work with FSX? --> So far, very very good!How would you compare it to previous cards? --> IQ = don't know yet, much smoother, see comments aboveAre you happy, ambivalent or disappointed with it? --> HAPPY!!What is the performance like maxed out with *******' texture fix and other common tweaks? --> Much better than with GTX285 and 5870 (I don't talk about FPS, only about smoothness)Here is my first video with the new GTX480: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfnLL8ZhSDIcheers!

Have installed a parallel Windows 7 and there nhancer works perfect.On the old installation I have removed all the ATI-Stuff via safe mode and driver cleaner. I know after change some hardware a fresh installation is always the best way, but...I wont reinstall all the stuff. You all know how time intensive this is...

Have installed a parallel Windows 7 and there nhancer works perfect.On the old installation I have removed all the ATI-Stuff via safe mode and driver cleaner. I know after change some hardware a fresh installation is always the best way, but...I wont reinstall all the stuff. You all know how time intensive this is...

I know, the whole hobby non-flying part is time intensive! Can you imagine how much time it could take if there was anytime spent in actually flying! Anyway, my 480 GTX was not shipped when it was supposed to, and I don't know if the reason given is credible, so I ordered a 470 GTX (again) from someone else. Maybe, or maybe not, I will have a Fermi. This is harder than pulling hen's teeth.Stephen

Stephen, you are absolutely right about time is up :( Buuut I have some issues to get better IQ than with 5870. Means that neither nhancer nor Nvidia control panel seams to work correct with GeForce 197.41. I have to fix this first, then I take care about my responsability :( Buuut I will not say, that I haven't tried out some things already:What do you think about it? --> I love it already (smoother than 5870, quiet (FSX), not so hot (75C FSX), can maxed out settings, eats REX for breakfast)How well does it work with FSX? --> So far, very very good!How would you compare it to previous cards? --> IQ = don't know yet, much smoother, see comments aboveAre you happy, ambivalent or disappointed with it? --> HAPPY!!What is the performance like maxed out with *******' texture fix and other common tweaks? --> Much better than with GTX285 and 5870 (I don't talk about FPS, only about smoothness)Here is my first video with the new GTX480: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfnLL8ZhSDIcheers!Watched your video, and was wondering if the stuttering I saw was in fsx or just the video?ThanksBob G

Hi Bob,I still get some minor stutters, thats true. I'm working on it. It seams that it is related to Subsystem (Disk, PCIE, Memory --> I/O). When I start FRAPS I loose 10-15 FPS. UT2 kills also 6-10FPS. Thats not normal.

Alrighty, finally got the i7 980x stable at 4.41 GHz with 1.51 volts at it (very high, I know). Stress testing it with linpack puts it at 80 degrees C, but you won't really ever hit those temps under FSX. Hottest it gets with FSX is 60 - 65, which is quite a lot cooler than my i7 920 at 4.2 GHz.The chip works well, overclocking about 4.3 was really difficult. I think I got 3.8 or so on stock voltage, but to get .6 GHz more, you can see I had to bump a crap load of volts in to the thing. This is all with HT on and 12 GBs of RAM runing at 9 - 9 - 9 - 24 @around 1760 MHz.The chip is very fast. VERY FAST. And high quality. I was expecting the thing to blow up with so much juice at it, but it seems to be very stable. However, I won't be leaving the computer on 24/7 like this as I used to with my 920. Just want to be safe.Anywho, it flies in FSX very nicely. I tried with the 63 affinity mask, and I got too much stuttering. Took it out and it was gone. Frame rates are up 3 - 10 FPS in heavily dense areas which is very nice. Makes it flyable in New York with max settings and max airline traffic. I want to try overclocking my 480 to see if that might help, however, I don't think that will do much as the card loves the autogen enough and causes no slowdowns no matter what setting it's on.great chip, great GPU.

Alrighty, finally got the i7 980x stable at 4.41 GHz with 1.51 volts at it (very high, I know). Stress testing it with linpack puts it at 80 degrees C, but you won't really ever hit those temps under FSX. Hottest it gets with FSX is 60 - 65, which is quite a lot cooler than my i7 920 at 4.2 GHz.The chip works well, overclocking about 4.3 was really difficult. I think I got 3.8 or so on stock voltage, but to get .6 GHz more, you can see I had to bump a crap load of volts in to the thing. This is all with HT on and 12 GBs of RAM runing at 9 - 9 - 9 - 24 @around 1760 MHz.The chip is very fast. VERY FAST. And high quality. I was expecting the thing to blow up with so much juice at it, but it seems to be very stable. However, I won't be leaving the computer on 24/7 like this as I used to with my 920. Just want to be safe.Anywho, it flies in FSX very nicely. I tried with the 63 affinity mask, and I got too much stuttering. Took it out and it was gone. Frame rates are up 3 - 10 FPS in heavily dense areas which is very nice. Makes it flyable in New York with max settings and max airline traffic. I want to try overclocking my 480 to see if that might help, however, I don't think that will do much as the card loves the autogen enough and causes no slowdowns no matter what setting it's on.great chip, great GPU.

I was able to clock the 980x to 4.5gHz at 1.35v - you should really check your settings.

Chips do have variation, especially when overclocking. Chip a may need significantly more volts than chip b at the same speed, it's just the nature of silicon transistors.

Yup yup...I got a horrible chip. lol.I've read numerous threads with discrepancies in vcore like this. I honestly don't know where to go next with my chip. I drop the vcore down a notch and it's not stable. I drop VTT down and its not stable. Tried playing with other voltages a bit, but not too sure it had much if any effect as I can't get over 4.41 without a lot more voltage.I'll probably end up buying a cherry chip off someone and selling this one. I was really hoping for a 4.5 OC on air.

Chips do have variation, especially when overclocking. Chip a may need significantly more volts than chip b at the same speed, it's just the nature of silicon transistors.

Yup yup...I got a horrible chip. lol.I've read numerous threads with discrepancies in vcore like this. I honestly don't know where to go next with my chip. I drop the vcore down a notch and it's not stable. I drop VTT down and its not stable. Tried playing with other voltages a bit, but not too sure it had much if any effect as I can't get over 4.41 without a lot more voltage.I'll probably end up buying a cherry chip off someone and selling this one. I was really hoping for a 4.5 OC on air.

Here are my settings in case you wanted to try.Cpu Ratio = 21xBclk Freq = 215cpu volt = 1.35cpu pll = 1.81QPI/Dram = 1.35IOH volt = 1.16ICH volt = 1.12cpu differential amp = 800mV

Here are my settings in case you wanted to try.Cpu Ratio = 21xBclk Freq = 215cpu volt = 1.35cpu pll = 1.81QPI/Dram = 1.35IOH volt = 1.16ICH volt = 1.12cpu differential amp = 800mV

Those settings are ridiculous man. 215 BCLK!!!?? WHAT!? And at only 1.35v. This makes me so sad.I tried 1.375v, couldn't get into windows.1.4, 1.425, 1.45, 1.475, 1.5... nothing.Where can I buy your chip at. Freakin' crazy awesome.

Those settings are ridiculous man. 215 BCLK!!!?? WHAT!? And at only 1.35v. This makes me so sad.I tried 1.375v, couldn't get into windows.1.4, 1.425, 1.45, 1.475, 1.5... nothing.Where can I buy your chip at. Freakin' crazy awesome.

Got mine at newegg....CPUInfo....Family = 6Model = CStepping = 2Ext. Family = 6Ext Model = 2CRevision = B1

How is your cooling? I just got the H50 Corsair and really like the results.BTW - my EVGA gtx480 will arrive on Monday - can't wait to pair these two.

Got mine at newegg....CPUInfo....Family = 6Model = CStepping = 2Ext. Family = 6Ext Model = 2CRevision = B1

Same here... bad luck of the draw then. My chip was probably cut from the outer circle of the wafer. Lame sauce.Even with 1.5v going through, I don't hit 80C on stress tests. I keep the side of my case of with a fan blowing on it and air on in the room though. Thailand is just too hot. No decent water cooling setups available here, so I'd have to order from America. Venomous X is apparently one of the best air coolers though, better than the H50 or so the benchmarks say.

Same here... bad luck of the draw then. My chip was probably cut from the outer circle of the wafer. Lame sauce.Even with 1.5v going through, I don't hit 80C on stress tests. I keep the side of my case of with a fan blowing on it and air on in the room though. Thailand is just too hot. No decent water cooling setups available here, so I'd have to order from America. Venomous X is apparently one of the best air coolers though, better than the H50 or so the benchmarks say.

I like my Venomous X/Scythe Ultra Kaze 3000rpm combo. With my i7 920 @ 4.2Ghz and 1.4 vcore, my temp maxes out at 70c during the OCCT Linpack test, which is suppose to generate maximum heat.