>>...and you are not following your own advice. :) :)>>>RhettNope, I'm not. But, I have my reasons (FSX!). I've been putting off a much needed upgrade so I can go all out for FSX. If the DX10 patch is slow in coming, I may skimp on the video card for now. But, if the DX10 patch comes out sooner than later, I'll be enjoying a brand spanking new DX10 video card in the system.You can wait your whole life. But, if you don't really need all that power, or don't need all the new shaders, then a current gen DX9 card will last you a while. In a year or so, after more and more addon's slow down your system, and you want the better visuals... Then your DX10 card choices are a lot wider, they have cheaper mainstream versions, and you can get a steal on the last gen's cards (still DX10). If it weren't for FSX, I'd upgrade now and get a nice DX9 card.Most users will be happy with a DX9 card for quite some time. But, right now, I'm at the stage for a major upgrade (I'm running a P4 3.4 Prescott 32bit, AGP video card, DDR RAM). When I upgrade, I'll be needing a new socket (motherboard), CPU (Core Duo 2), Video Card (PCI-E), RAM (DDR2), and (hopefully!) Vista 64-Bit.... So, I'm going to hold off until FSX so I can pick up everything I need at the lowest cost for the software I'm building the computer around.This is the first time I'm actually building the computer based on a piece of software. Well, FSX and Crysis... ;)

DX9 is still as good as it gets right now and it'll stay that way at least for another 6 months, if not a year after FSX hits the streets. DX10 functionality does not mean that it is available for all titles right away, because ACES will have to code, test and release it as well.First we have to get the hardware, which is nowhere in sight at this point, then we need to get Vista, which is also not 100% confirmed to be released in Q1 2007 and then we need to get a FSX patch.So, we have still a long way to go and who knows what top processor, chipset, mainboard, GPU we'll see in 12 months.Pat

>>Thanks for the info. I'm sure I'm going to want a new>video>>card to take advantage of all that, but I just spent $400 on>>this card not all that long ago and am going to have trouble>>making that kind of expense again so soon.>>KP>>$400 for a 6800GT? You can get those now for $170. Um.>Yea, I know they're $170 now, but you couldn't get one for that when I bought it. I bought one right after they came out. It is a BFG Tech 6800GT Overclocked. I guess my version of "not that long ago" doesn't apply to computer equipment ;)KP

Quad core. :) But, like I said before: I need a major upgrade, and I usually only upgrade once every couple years (except for RAM and minor upgrades, which I can do piecemeal). I'm saving my money until the release of FSX, then going all out. I know I won't get all the benefits of waiting... But, I can wait until next year for the next big thing... Wait again for Octo-cores and DDR3, and DX10b hardware... And again. So, this time, I'm upgrade to the latest and greatest upon the release of FSX. The DX10 patch release date is pretty much my upgrade date for DX10 video card. If it's early in 2007, then I'll upgrade my video card then... If it's later, then I'll wait and get a mid-range DX9 card. Might as well get as much as I can when I need it! FSX is the main reason I'm upgrading. I'm building around that. Oct-Nov'ish for the new system build. Whatever is the best, that's what I'm going with. I put off the upgrade last winter, so I've got a few more $$ to spend on it. DX10 is still early next year, hopefully. Still no word from NVIDIA or ATI on the new cards... Vista will ship with the software support of DX10, just need the hardware. Basically, I don't want to keep waiting and waiting... I need the upgrade, and I'm doing it balls-out this time. >DX9 is still as good as it gets right now and it'll stay that>way at least for another 6 months, if not a year after FSX>hits the streets. DX10 functionality does not mean that it is>available for all titles right away, because ACES will have to>code, test and release it as well.>>First we have to get the hardware, which is nowhere in sight>at this point, then we need to get Vista, which is also not>100% confirmed to be released in Q1 2007 and then we need to>get a FSX patch.>>So, we have still a long way to go and who knows what top>processor, chipset, mainboard, GPU we'll see in 12 months.>>Pat

Everyone hear realizes that doing your upgrade now for FSX, you will have to stick it on WinXP. For those saying, "when DX10 comes out, I'll just run out and grab me one of them thar DX10 cards and put it on my computer and off I go" will have to do much more than that. You will have to reformat your computer getting rid of XP and install Vista. So every change/addon you had will also need to be reinstalled as well. The longer Vista takes to come out, the more stuff you know your going to load into FSX and thus more stuff to reconfigure/reinstall! Nevermind that buying Vista not-preloaded on a new computer will set you back at least 200 dollars if not more.

As you can see, vista ultimate will run quite well on DX9 hardware. DX9 capabilities are required for all but the vista basic, which provide the new desktop that is drawn in directx rather than gdi. It remains to be seen whether or not DX9 multi-GPU hardware will berform better in vista and of course, FSX. I assume vista RC1 will be out by the time FSX is released. I will install FSX in vista before WinXP.scott s..http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/152957.jpg

That third picture is a horrible looking Photoshop version. I think I would rather run DX9 if 10 looked like that.

I'm actually running Vista b2 on a 1.8ghz box with 1gig ram and a Geforce mx200/400 32mb class card. No aero gui but Vista runs great!Just read over at Tom's Hardware that DX10 may not be included in the basic Vista version and the DX10 cards that come to market are gonna need a power supply capable of lighting a small town!Here's the article:http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/21/the...e_of_the_union/

it sounds more and more that i dont really need Vista (for DirectX10) or a dx10 GPU, i think i will stick to DirectX9 until the Generation 2 direct10 cards are affordable on the market,i guess in 2 years time.

Yup. Expecting a re-format anyway. When Vista comes out, I'm doing a complete reinstall, not an upgrade. I don't mind reinstalling things. I do that quite often as it is. $200 for Vista is fine. And I'm not expecting plug and play with DX10 hardware. It's going to require software, thus upgrading when FSX DX10 patch is released or close to release. And Crysis.If I wanted top of the line hardware with little to no software support, I'd go out and buy a Physx card. :DI'm getting all excited just thinking it's just a few months away! :) >Everyone hear realizes that doing your upgrade now for FSX,>you will have to stick it on WinXP. For those saying, "when>DX10 comes out, I'll just run out and grab me one of them thar>DX10 cards and put it on my computer and off I go" will have>to do much more than that. You will have to reformat your>computer getting rid of XP and install Vista. So every>change/addon you had will also need to be reinstalled as well.>The longer Vista takes to come out, the more stuff you know>your going to load into FSX and thus more stuff to>reconfigure/reinstall! Nevermind that buying Vista>not-preloaded on a new computer will set you back at least 200>dollars if not more.

Bad choice. It will be better if you save all the money now and get Vista and a DX10 card. Sure you'll get ripped off when you buy it, but your going to need it to run the game. DX9 will be running too slow.

are you sure wingnut? it will run slow?i thought it will run at acceptable levels in directx9.

If you plan on moving the sliders right, then I think it will struggle alot. I don't know why you upgrade in 2 years? If you upgrade at the start of the cycle your system should be fast enough up until the next version.

I'm going to buy (already saving for a long time now) a brand new Vista/DX10 computer when the DX10 patch will be released. FS X-DX10 will blow FS X-DX9 out of this world. It won't be comparable. It will look and run so much better! I want the FULL FS X experience! Buying hardware NOW specially for FS X isn't wise imho... I don't mind waiting a year or so: i'm not going to thow away money now to upgrade anything!

You and I think exactly alike! That is exactly what I am going to do. Buy a new computer with Vista/DX10 already in it. This Sept marks 3 years on my current rig and only upgrade has been a graphic card..she has served me well. I don't think it will be a year...I am thinking Spring 07. A nice new rig with liquid cooling, vista/dx10 and at least 2 gigs of RAM if not more....ahhhhh....FSX nirvana!