So I've got a 2500k @ 5.0 stable (for several months now) and a GTX 480 w/1.5g or VRAM. I have a question though. When Im flying into YMML and I look at the airport (FTX YMML) my FPS will be around say 22FPS, when I look away towards the fields for instance my FPS jump to like 45 FPS. Here's the question; has already been loaded my my CPU into FSX (obviously I can see it infront of me), and the surround terrain has been loaded in FSX by my CPU, so when I look at YMML (highly detailed) and my FPS drop a little doesn't that mean what is slowing the performance down is my GTX 480 and not my CPU? Is it posilbe that my 480 could be a bottle neck with a CPU as fast as mine?I do use pretty high AA and like it that way and intend to keep it, I dont want to change any of my setttings because they are perfect but if I was to get a GTX 580 with 3G or VRAM would I get a little jump in performance when Im looking at this extreme detailed airports? I know FSX is CPU intenstive, but obviously that GPU has to play a part in it too. So do my FPS slow down do to my CPU or GPU when looking at these airports, and second; would I benefit from a GPU upgarde at this point?Cheers

So I've got a 2500k @ 5.0 stable (for several months now) and a GTX 480 w/1.5g or VRAM. I have a question though. When Im flying into YMML and I look at the airport (FTX YMML) my FPS will be around say 22FPS, when I look away towards the fields for instance my FPS jump to like 45 FPS. Here's the question; has already been loaded my my CPU into FSX (obviously I can see it infront of me), and the surround terrain has been loaded in FSX by my CPU, so when I look at YMML (highly detailed) and my FPS drop a little doesn't that mean what is slowing the performance down is my GTX 480 and not my CPU?

Yes.

Is it posilbe that my 480 could be a bottle neck with a CPU as fast as mine?

Yes.

I do use pretty high AA and like it that way and intend to keep it, I dont want to change any of my setttings because they are perfect but if I was to get a GTX 580 with 3G or VRAM would I get a little jump in performance when Im looking at this extreme detailed airports?

Yes.

I know FSX is CPU intenstive, but obviously that GPU has to play a part in it too. So do my FPS slow down do to my CPU or GPU when looking at these airports,

GPU.

and second; would I benefit from a GPU upgarde at this point?

Yes. You exhibit good technical knowledge given the systematic nature of your questions. You're on the right track! Try to reduce tour AA and see if you get an increase in FPS when looking at the airport. If you do, it would confirm the GPU is the bottleneck. Use your knowledge (theory) to design a test, then test to confirm your theory. With FSX, if you're lucky, you'll also get to do some flying in-between! :Big Grin: Cheers, - jahman.

FSX likes bandwidth and the 580 has approx. 8% more. Not sure of the difference it will make my guess a couple of frames. Every couple helps.

THanks so much guys, I'll use a lower AA and see if that gives me a FPS boost. The problem is, a lot of the 580 are literraly identical to my 480 just with a little fast memory clock and more VRAM. Its a big investment so maybe I can sell my GTX 480 for like a couple hundred bucks or something, thanks for the replies though!

ORBX YMML? it's a CPU bottleneck for suretry with no CPU overclock and you will see 15 FPS instead of 22