Graphics card recomendations for FSX build

[Elfmaze]

Just picked up a new motherboard a MSI K9N6SGM-V V2

motherboard specs:
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K9N6SGM-V_V2&class=mb


I have an AMD 64 X2 5000 (black edition?) 2.6ghz processor, 4 gigs of ram.

The mother board has a built in GeForce 6100 Graphic.

I have A PCI express slot and two PCI slots to work with.

I have a triple screen display. and i would like to use for the front view and add a smaller screen for the instruments. what would be the best way to configure this for good frame rate with the three screens?

[Elfmaze]

I'm guessing the three outside display screens should be powered by the same quality card? then possibly running the instrument stack off the onboard video?


For the outside displays would i be better getting a Matrox Triple screen card or going for the more mainstream two head feature packed cards, getting one in pci-e and another in PCI or PCIE x1?

[Elfmaze]

Also i have concidered a single powerfull card and then using TH2G from Matrox. But i have concerns how the display will work when not in a game.

Ie. Photoshopping, surfing the web in one screen looking for reference shots. while working in the center screen and using the last screen for photoshop tools.


I would think all the monitors working as a a single display would make windows tasks not as organized and it would be more work having to constantly resize windows instead of draging them to the screen you want and hitting fullscreen.

[Elfmaze]

ok... looking at gtx 9800 for price. or gtx 285 for power. do i need the bigger card for the 15'' screens? anyone?

[fweinrebe]

15'' screens nowadays are considered small. I think the entry level is 15'' and even 17'' screens so both cards should me more than enough. TH2G from Matrox works well for gaming as well as working in any other Windows program.

For the rest of your questions I suggest that you search for the answers in the rest of the MyCockpit.org forum. These has been discussed earlier, I am sure you'll find your answers there. :) Especially for the TH2G versus multiple cards question.

I recently bough a motherboard with 3 x PCI-e 16 slots. I got a quote here in Windhoek and was quoted US$450-00 for a TH2G (They cost US$300+- in the USA). I can almost buy a new PC for US$450-00. So I am also considering the multiple card option.

[Elfmaze]

Over the past week i have learned that the one card is pretty much my only option given my slots. Only one pci-e. And if i get one of these cards most are double slot for the air cooling unless i can adapt it into my water cooling system. so i would be left with one pci slot.

I think i will go with the gtx 9800 just because of the price. ~100-150 in the US. Vs the $300 for the 285. Next year i can upgrade when the 285 is cheap.

I can't do much about the TH2G price. They are unrivaled in the market and they know it :(

[BHawthorne]

Shoot for 20 or 22" LCDs that are 1680x1050 and capable of locking 57hz. Go GTX260, for around $180-200. It's 85-90% the performance of the 280/285, but much cheaper. 9800 is very old tech now. It's based on the G80/G92 chip design, which is years old. Make sure you get the TH2G Digital edition, not analog if you go widescreen. If you're merely going to go 19" 1280x1024 though you can get the analog edition. I can actually sell you my spare analog if you wish.

[Elfmaze]

i already have a 3X15" Set i've had for five years. So far its still running strong. I'll get them bigger someday when one of the screens fail.

I would be interested in the Th2G analog you have. So i'll move that to PM's