MickH

As far as I can tell the problem is just with the R9 290 reference cards, as of yet there are no 3rd party cooler models. Also some issues were in Win8.1, not Win 7. No other R9 models are having problems and bench quite respectable numbers in relation to NVidia counterparts.

The problem with software, and videogames, nowadays is that people are much too forgiving of faults. Some people even buy unfinished products; DCS sells the Huey as a Beta version and some FSX aircraft are sold as unfinished products. Its an unhealthy trend that appears to be growing.

The thing is if I absolutely knew that getting something like a 780 would be the be all and end all, and would allow me to run P3D fully with add-ons etc I'd get one, but at the moment I don't and its expensive. That's the thing its a moving target at the moment, I could get a 780 and then find that with complex add-one, sceneries etc you still blow through your VRAM limit or it's just not sufficient. I'll keep my 660 for the time being, if I don't see any improvement in another 53 days i'll cash in and purchase when cards, and P3D, have improved sufficiently, probably.

No Kidding, people may actually go to FSX to get decent frame rates :blink: Talk about irony! The problem with P3D is it doesn't actually appear to have been Beta tested at all, or maybe we're the Beta team? who knows. I expected, I know its a daft idea, that Lockheed Martin, a huge contractor in the aviation field, would have thoroughly tested their program and had it working 'out of the box' properly. It feels to some degree, though not as bad, like FSX again. Like I said, I've got 60days but so have LM.

I've sort of got to the 'hmmm' stage now really. I am trying to stay optimistic and will hold onto my purchase, at least for now, but I have to say I sort of hoped it would have been...well, tested. Just had a little fly around EGCC in FSX with the Airbus X and had it FPS locked with that DXTory app and I have to say it was pleasantly smooth about getting about 25 ish and that's with a AMD 8350 / 660GTX. I really hope LM get their act together quickly as i'm not sure how long I can stay optimistic and I bought the pro version, so £125 ain't chicken feed.

What are your PC specs?

Whilst I've got an Nvidia myself, due to having used FSX, it's not exactly a 'fair fight' as the 780 is miles ahead in performance against the 6970 so you're not exactly making a true comparison. Maybe you should compare a 780 and a 290x?

Technically P3D is Lockheed Martin's baby, based on the same initial code as FSX is, so MS can't really do anything with P3D as it's not theirs. LM are 'releasing' P3D to the gaming community, you just need to open your wallet.

I bet you're a joy at parties. ^_^

The Academic version is identical to the Pro version, as i understand it, apart from the watermark on the screen.

LM have already said that an R9 or a 770/780 is highly recommended. I've a feeling alot will change in P3D from how we're used to having MSFS. :rolleyes:

The difference is that P3D wont rely anywhere so heavily on the CPU, meaning any frame loss can be easily rectified by turning down the settings or getting out your wallet and buying a more meaty GPU. You're not going to run it flat out on something like a 6000 ATI or a 560Ti Nvidia thats for sure.

With the CPU now mostly unshackled from the burden that it had to endure under FSX, i doubt either an AMD 8 Series or an Intel I5/7 Quad will actually break a sweat now. Lets also hope overclocking, unless its your thing, is behind us too,

IF P3D v2 lives up to expectations i'll be looking at one of them to upgrade from my 660. Though here in blighty, that's the UK, they're about £250, thats $375 equivalent. :(

Personally I doubt there will be. The problem is that the rendering, at heart, is basically 10years old and things have moved on in that time.