GTX 260/285 if NickN has time...

[kdub]

NickN and anyone who might know:

I have an 8800 GTX.  I'm running a Q6600@3.52, DDR2 @440 mHZ with 4-4-4-12 timings.  FSX works well except in weather into KSEA, where stutters are pronounced.  I thought you said a GTX 285 is too much for this CPU and a GTX 260 is no better than my 8800 GTX, but some say a GTX 285 will do me good.  What do you think?  I can run 3.6, but the increase in vcore required from 1.36 to 1.45 doesn't seem to be worth the small increase in speed.  I saw a 285 for $270 this past weekend, but I held off on it.

[NickN]

Will it help.. most likely... will it be limited by the CPU in use, yes

is it worth it to you? I cant answer that.

It will make a difference however I cant judge how much of a difference to value the purchase

[kdub]

Thanks for the response.  I'm going to try a 216 core GTX 260 slightly OC'd to see if it makes a difference...maybe this is better balanced with a Q6600?  I'm only 36000 on 3DMark Vantage CPU.  I am sure that a 285 is too much.

[NickN]

you know what..
a 8800GTX 768 is a good card

Your situation is the CPU and memory being you are on DDR2 more than the video card.

Give it a try

[Plugpennyshadow]

I miss my 8800GTX on this old system...They dont bounce well, I can tell you.  I guess those little bits that flew under the frige were important.  Sigh...

[kdub]

I bought an OC'd GTX 260 for $150 and tried it.  It does make a difference.  No faster in frames, but takeoff rolls are now stutter-free.  It is also stutter-free on approaches into Seattle, KSEA or KBFI.  There is still a very slight "chop" when making turns over Seattle at low altitude, but I think this is about as good as the Q6600 can do.  The F1 Mustang stutters big time when taxiing around complex airports, but even on takeoff roll it is smooth.  I am satisfied with the value I received for my $150.  It would require about 8X that to get an i940 system put together, so this is it for at least a year.