Best Video Card for FSX Gold

[flyboymickey]

Hi all. Just starting up a flight sim and I am wondering what is the best video card for FSX Gold with PMDG 737 NG add ons?
Cheers

[remcosol]

Hi and welkom, id say go for a nvidia 680 , preferably with 4gb of memory . I tried a lot of different cards and always used to have ATI cards . My last one was the 7970 with 3 gb overclocked edition . It was a big letdown with 3 screens . The card is great but not with fsx and certainly not with 3 screens in fsx . A lot of stutter problems because of vertical sync issues . All driver related . Nvidia has far superior drivers for fsx with adaptive vertical sync . Together with nv inspector and all my stutter days are over !

best regards Remco

[CO735]

I've been watching this as I am beginning to build out the main sim computer. I've ordered all the parts already with the exception of the video cards because I just am not sure which way to go.

The current frontrunner for this is 2 NVidia 670 card's SLI'd together - each with 4gb of memory each. Part of me wonders if this is "overkill" - another part says one can never have enough processing power with it comes to video!

I have heard for years now that NVidia cards just work better with FS for some reason. I have tried both ATI and NVidia cards and it does "feel" like the NVidia is smoother - but just cannot put my finger on what/why.

Note: These cards would be expected to drive only 3 front screens. 1 or 2 other computers will drive the monitors in the MIP (3) - which as I understand it, do not have heavy graphics requirements.

[remcosol]

With ONE !!!!! 680 you can drive 3+1 screen , take the 4gb version it works great ! No sli issues . ATI cards and one screen work fine the issue is with three screens and vertical sync it causes a lot of stutters . Run the 680 with 1/2 refresh rate (60hz) and lock fps at 30 in fsx together with nv inspector and it runs great !

[Matt Olieman]

Thanks for the info Remco. Could you be more specific to what model card you got, perhaps a link. Seems quite a few variations of the 680 are available.

Matt Olieman

[CO735]

With ONE !!!!! 680 you can drive 3+1 screen , take the 4gb version it works great ! No sli issues . ATI cards and one screen work fine the issue is with three screens and vertical sync it causes a lot of stutters . Run the 680 with 1/2 refresh rate (60hz) and lock fps at 30 in fsx together with nv inspector and it runs great !

Thanks Remco: This is exactly what I was wondering! Love the community and how we come together!

On Newegg.com, there seems to be 7 options (in stock) for GT680 NVidia cards with 4GB of memory. Prices range $490-$570 USD. Main difference I see (other than Brand) is the clock speed. The faster the clock speed, the better it should be (I think).

Some Links:

Newegg.com - EVGA 04G-P4-3687-KR GeForce GTX 680 FTW+ w/Backplate 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130794) - This one appears to be the fastest, but all are *very* close to each other.

Newegg.com - EVGA 04G-P4-3685-KR GeForce GTX 680 FTW Standard, w/Backplate 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130798)

Newegg.com - EVGA 04G-P4-2686-KR GeForce GTX 680 w/ Backplate 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130799)

Newegg.com - MSI N680GTX Twin Frozr 4GD5/OC GeForce GTX 680 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127695)

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-N680OC-4GD GeForce GTX 680 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125448)

Newegg.com - Galaxy 68NQH6DN6DXZ GeForce GTX 680 GC 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162105)

Newegg.com - Zotac ZT-60103-10P Geforce gtx680 4gb gddr5 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0FU0F75028)

It seems that the eVGA brand is the most popular.

Just a note: These cards all use PCIE 3.0 x16 tech - so may not work for everyone depending on their motherboard's specifications.

Matt

[remcosol]

Hi !,

this is a link to the evga gtx 680 I have : EVGA | Products | EVGA GeForce GTX 680+ 4GB w/Backplate | 04G-P4-2686-KR (http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=04G-P4-2686-KR)

Its not cheap but you only need one so its cheaper then two cards . You can run 3 + 1 , I'm running just 3 but I'd like to run an instructor station on the other screen ( fourth) .

As said you need nv inspector to have the correct vertical sync usage . I'll make a picture of my settings soon and post it here .

For one screen you do need an active display port adapter to be able to use the 3 screen surround bit . Just like ati . Or 3 display port adapter screens if you have them .

The 4 gb's are nice when using the 3 or 4 screens . 1 gb per screen is a good thing.

The nvidia drivers are just so much better! I always used ati because you could run 3 screens with one card but the world has changed with the 680 ( fsx wise ;) )

The other issue I always had was the crashing of the display port screen with ati . Tried new adapters screens cards etc . But it didn't work . The evga card has no issues with that !

hope this helps .

best regards Remco

[remcosol]

These cards will also work on pcie 2.0 without any problems !

[Matt Olieman]

Excellent info. Remco!!! :) :) :)

Matt Olieman

[remcosol]

Thanks , just glad to be of help !

[flyboymickey]

Thank you so much for your help. Will try it out.
cheers
Mick