Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support | ATI or nVidia

DVA10274
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP

Joined on October 24 2011
Online Quadruple Century Club
DVA Five-Year Anniversary
Everett 250 Club
Six Century Club
Million Mile Club

West Jordan, UT

623 legs, 2,427.1 hours
483 legs, 1,679.9 hours online
619 legs, 2,380.7 hours ACARS
5 legs, 12.7 hours event

Posted onPost created on February 18 2012 11:45 ET by Kris Greenough

I am in the process of buying a new graphic card for my setup. I am very interested in running 3-5 monitors (3 for the screen and 2 others for gauges). Now I have been doing flight sim for a very long time and have been mostly an nVidia guy. In the past I have tried ATI cards and have never been completely satisfied with them (at least as far as FS goes). However, the new line of ATI cards feature the eyefinity technology that lets you do up to 6 monitors on one card, which is huge if it works as advertised. Can anyone tell me what their experience is with the current version of ATI cards and if they are worth it. Also, if anyone can tell me if nVidia has a competing eyefinity like product.

Thanks in advance

Kris Greenough

Senior Captain, B777-200

DVA5255
First Officer, A330-300

Joined on November 17 2007

Western United States

31 legs, 54.8 hours
15 legs, 18.7 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on February 18 2012 15:15 ET by Louis Vanbelkum

How much are you looking to spend on a card, and what are your other computer specs? If you are not already running 3-5 monitors its not only the graphics card that will make the difference your fps will really take a hit.

DVA9352
Captain, B777-200

Joined on January 11 2011
50 State Club
Globetrotter
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Everett 500 Club
Nine Century Club

"GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!"
Taylor, AR

911 legs, 3,934.3 hours
4 legs, 9.0 hours online
911 legs, 3,934.3 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on February 18 2012 16:31 ET by Michael Martin

I have had both over the years, I like Nvidia the most, I have 2 GTX 580's in my system bridged together. running 4 monitors, fsx screams. the card is still expensive but my roommate has the GTX560 and he has 3 cards, it runs fsx like a dream.

Michael Martin

Captain, B777-200

DVA5255
First Officer, A330-300

Joined on November 17 2007

Western United States

31 legs, 54.8 hours
15 legs, 18.7 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on February 18 2012 17:28 ET by Louis Vanbelkum

The gtx 560 is limited to 2 way sli i thought?

DVA7016
Senior Captain, B767-300

Joined on February 14 2009
B757 100 Club
Everett 250 Club
Triple Century Club
DVA Five-Year Anniversary

"I5 2500K - 560GTX - 8GB Ripjaw"
Essex GB

385 legs, 1,090.6 hours
384 legs, 1,089.6 hours ACARS
1,821 legs, 4,442.9 hours total

Posted onPost created on February 18 2012 19:37 ET by Alan Barber

I have found that Nvidia cards handle anti-aliasing in FS better than ATI, especially in clouds.

Heres some thoughts on SLI http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ptaylor/archive/2007/03/03/fsx-more-on-sli-and-multi-core.aspx

Alan Barber

Senior Captain, B767-300

Posted onPost created on February 18 2012 20:32 ET by Kris Greenough

Louis Vanbelkum wrote:

How much are you looking to spend on a card, and what are your other computer specs? If you are not already running 3-5 monitors its not only the graphics card that will make the difference your fps will really take a hit.

I am looking to spend around $1000-$2000 in the long run. I plan on having a complete overhaul of my FSX system. Current specs are weak and over 3 yrs old. core 2 duo 2.8 ghz. intel mobo, 4gb ram. The only catch is that the mobo has only 1 pci 2.0 slot! That will change when I build my new system, but I need a starting point which is why I am here. Also I will be running multiple computers.

Also, any other comments on the eyefinity product line? Is anyone using that, and if so how well does it work?

Kris Greenough

Senior Captain, B777-200

DVA5255
First Officer, A330-300

Joined on November 17 2007

Western United States

31 legs, 54.8 hours
15 legs, 18.7 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on February 18 2012 21:23 ET by Louis Vanbelkum

I have heard good reviews about eyefinity, but I am not sure what could really be bad about it. It looks like its just the use of multiple ports. I have seen nivida cards with the same thing example 4 or 5 display ports out with support for ___ number of monitors. Not all eyefinity cards will support the same amount of ports. In my opinion I would save your money and do a whole rebuild all at once. Any card good enough to handle what you want will also require a larger psu.

I can set up an example build if you would like, but as I said above building a new card now will do little.

Posted onPost created on February 19 2012 09:05 ET by Kris Greenough

Right I understand about the new card. My current CPU is way too weak. So let me just explain my long term plans. I got the OK from the wife and I am going to build a cockpit in the basement. It's going t have 3 42" TV screens for the outside view, and 3-4 other small monitors for my guages, FMC, etc. I have the triple monitor setup right now on my computer, but have never got it to work on a wide screen because of my hardware limitations. I wanted to get a mid-range eyefinity just to test the 3 screen setup to make sure it works and runs ok. In the long term as I learn more I think I might just end up doing a dual FSX rig with the screens all syncd up with either wideview or TH2GO or something. I am still learning.

Kris Greenough

Senior Captain, B777-200

DVA5255
First Officer, A330-300

Joined on November 17 2007

Western United States

31 legs, 54.8 hours
15 legs, 18.7 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on February 19 2012 12:53 ET by Louis Vanbelkum

Then I would suggest this card because it only ask for a 500watt psu which is almost the same as my gtx 560 which is a lower mid range card. It also has the eyefinity, and 3gigs of mem which will help with multiple displays.

hhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102961

its on the high end, but this is about the best performing card out right now and is the newest generation from AMD nivida did not even release theres yet....

here is a gtx 580 support for 4 displays
needs 600watt psu

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