Hi, I am contemplating upgrading my graphics card to a 580GTX. I can buy an overclocked card with 1GB of memory or one with the standard clocks and 3GB of memory. Does anynone have any comments or views on the relative merits of these options for FSX specifically?

If I was going to spend that kind of money on a video card, I would go for the 3gig EVGA Classified gtx580 card. It's just a little more and it could prove beneficial.

If I was going to spend that kind of money on a video card, I would go for the 3gig EVGA Classified gtx580 card. It's just a little more and it could prove beneficial.

Thankyou for your reponse. The 3GB card I was referring to was an EVGA I have no problem in spending the extra provided that it will be a better option for FSX than a factory overclocked card with 1GB of memory and who knows about Flight.

I suppose you could buy the stock card and OC it yourself? Of course you're rolling the dice but maybe get the speed and memory? scott s..

I suppose you could buy the stock card and OC it yourself? Of course you're rolling the dice but maybe get the speed and memory? scott s..

True, but no-one has taken on the question is speed or memory better for running FSX. Perhaps it belongs in the "Too hard" basket.

Go for speed rather than VRAM. This is not because you'll get appreciably better performance in FSX with EITHER a faster-clocked vs stock-clocked GTX580 OR larger VRAM. It is because larger VRAM may actually harm FSX performance because of the way Windows maps video memory into system RAM, triggering memory issues: there are long arguments about this over on some of the PMDG forums. Nobody knows for certain about the rights and wrongs of that argument but it chimes with my experience going from a 320MB 8800GTS to a 784MB 8800Ultra years ago. Suddenly I started getting disappearing textures with heavy add-ons. Only the "highmemfix" mended these for me. But even this fix (apparently) does not work for everyone who has bought a 3GB video card. So I would play it safe: for FSX, aim for the lowest possible VRAM on a modern GPU: you'll never get anywhere near using 1.5GB (the usual size for a GTX580) anyway so you certainly won't ever "need" 3GB. BTW, since my 8800Ultra I have had a GTX285 and now a 1.5GB GTX580 "Platinum" from Asus: the move from the Ultra to the 285 brought some benefit but from the 285 to the 580 is barely appreciable IMHO (maybe a bit smoother when in the low FPS though I haven't made a study of it). However, both the 285 and the 580 work fine with the "highmemfix" setting enabled. Tim

CPU speed is the key, especially with FSX. There just isn't a CPU fast enough for FSX to be run at max settings in all conditions. The additional memory could help with other programs, but I seriously doubt that you will see a dramatic improvement when upgrading from a gtx480 to a gtx580, regardless of gpu speed.

Go for speed rather than VRAM. This is not because you'll get appreciably better performance in FSX with EITHER a faster-clocked vs stock-clocked GTX580 OR larger VRAM. It is because larger VRAM may actually harm FSX performance because of the way Windows maps video memory into system RAM, triggering memory issues: there are long arguments about this over on some of the PMDG forums. Nobody knows for certain about the rights and wrongs of that argument but it chimes with my experience going from a 320MB 8800GTS to a 784MB 8800Ultra years ago. Suddenly I started getting disappearing textures with heavy add-ons. Only the "highmemfix" mended these for me. But even this fix (apparently) does not work for everyone who has bought a 3GB video card. So I would play it safe: for FSX, aim for the lowest possible VRAM on a modern GPU: you'll never get anywhere near using 1.5GB (the usual size for a GTX580) anyway so you certainly won't ever "need" 3GB. BTW, since my 8800Ultra I have had a GTX285 and now a 1.5GB GTX580 "Platinum" from Asus: the move from the Ultra to the 285 brought some benefit but from the 285 to the 580 is barely appreciable IMHO (maybe a bit smoother when in the low FPS though I haven't made a study of it). However, both the 285 and the 580 work fine with the "highmemfix" setting enabled. Tim

Very interesting. I thought that I read that somewhere, but it's hard for me to believe that more memory could be detrimental. It's just another reason why FSX needs a serious overhaul.

Go for speed rather than VRAM. This is not because you'll get appreciably better performance in FSX with EITHER a faster-clocked vs stock-clocked GTX580 OR larger VRAM. It is because larger VRAM may actually harm FSX performance because of the way Windows maps video memory into system RAM, triggering memory issues: there are long arguments about this over on some of the PMDG forums. Nobody knows for certain about the rights and wrongs of that argument but it chimes with my experience going from a 320MB 8800GTS to a 784MB 8800Ultra years ago. Suddenly I started getting disappearing textures with heavy add-ons. Only the "highmemfix" mended these for me. But even this fix (apparently) does not work for everyone who has bought a 3GB video card. So I would play it safe: for FSX, aim for the lowest possible VRAM on a modern GPU: you'll never get anywhere near using 1.5GB (the usual size for a GTX580) anyway so you certainly won't ever "need" 3GB. BTW, since my 8800Ultra I have had a GTX285 and now a 1.5GB GTX580 "Platinum" from Asus: the move from the Ultra to the 285 brought some benefit but from the 285 to the 580 is barely appreciable IMHO (maybe a bit smoother when in the low FPS though I haven't made a study of it). However, both the 285 and the 580 work fine with the "highmemfix" setting enabled. Tim

I am considering buying the Asus Platinum GTX 580. That's the card that is stock 816 MHZ, correct? Can you tell me what CPU you have and what type of framerates you get in typical heavy demand areas, such as with a lot of AI aircraft? Thanks.

I am considering buying the Asus Platinum GTX 580.  That's the card that is stock 816 MHZ, correct?  Can you tell me what CPU you have and what type of framerates you get in typical heavy demand areas, such as with a lot of AI aircraft?   Thanks.

12 noon GMT on 30 Sept, Aerosoft EDDF, stand D8, PMDG 737-800 NGX, BA livery, MyTraffic X, UTX Europe, GTX Europe, all scenery sliders to the right except no ground scenery shadows and water effects at Mid 2.x, no lens flare, no light bloom, "Unlimited" fps, DX9 mode (ie NOT DX10 preview), airline traffic 50%, no other traffic, FSX weather theme set to "Gray and rainy", Nvidia settings as per PMDG recommendations, staring straight ahead in the virtual cockpit at 0.7x zoom:~31fps with dips to ~29fps and peaks at ~33fps.Kit: 2600K @ 4.8GHz, 8GB RAM @ 1600-6-7-6-24-N1, GTX580 @ 816MHz.Tim

Thank you for the detailed response.

I have had no problems at all with the 1500 GTX580

Go for speed rather than VRAM.This is not because you'll get appreciably better performance in FSX with EITHER a faster-clocked vs stock-clocked GTX580 OR larger VRAM. It is because larger VRAM may actually harm FSX performance because of the way Windows maps video memory into system RAM, triggering memory issues: there are long arguments about this over on some of the PMDG forums.Nobody knows for certain about the rights and wrongs of that argument but it chimes with my experience going from a 320MB 8800GTS to a 784MB 8800Ultra years ago. Suddenly I started getting disappearing textures with heavy add-ons. Only the "highmemfix" mended these for me. But even this fix (apparently) does not work for everyone who has bought a 3GB video card.So I would play it safe: for FSX, aim for the lowest possible VRAM on a modern GPU: you'll never get anywhere near using 1.5GB (the usual size for a GTX580) anyway so you certainly won't ever "need" 3GB.BTW, since my 8800Ultra I have had a GTX285 and now a 1.5GB GTX580 "Platinum" from Asus: the move from the Ultra to the 285 brought some benefit but from the 285 to the 580 is barely appreciable IMHO (maybe a bit smoother when in the low FPS though I haven't made a study of it). However, both the 285 and the 580 work fine with the "highmemfix" setting enabled.Tim

HiMy Setup I wonna connect to the card is:Matrox THGO2 3x22" at 5080x1050 and I just wondering if I need 3GB or it just enough with 1,5GB memory?Best Fredrik

If one was running each monitor @ 2560 x 1400 x 3 x 27" monitors, would 2 x 3GB GTX 580 be worth it vs the 1.5 GB? Just a quick question, maybe someday get that set up.

HiI will buy the: Asus Geforce GTX 580 DirectCU II 1,5GB because the cooler that the card have and the quality of the card. I can also buy it for about EUR350!Best Fredrik