Video Card for FSX

Guys

I am sure this has been talked about a thousand times but I could not find a definitive answer when I searched the forum.

I bought FSX and like some of you have found my current computer does not have the processing capability to run it at a decent rate. So, I am going to upgrade my computer. I do not want to spend a ton of money but would like to end up with a system that will serve my needs for a few years. I have read that Intel is the best choice for FSX.

Here is what I am planning so far.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHz
4G DDR2 RAM
Asus P35 mother board
Video ?

I do know I want a board that is ready for DirectX 10 but could use some suggestions of brand and performance.

Thanks
Dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DaveC3

Guys

I am sure this has been talked about a thousand times but I could not find a definitive answer when I searched the forum.

I bought FSX and like some of you have found my current computer does not have the processing capability to run it at a decent rate. So, I am going to upgrade my computer. I do not want to spend a ton of money but would like to end up with a system that will serve my needs for a few years. I have read that Intel is the best choice for FSX.

Here is what I am planning so far.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHz
4G DDR2 RAM
Asus P35 mother board
Video ?

I do know I want a board that is ready for DirectX 10 but could use some suggestions of brand and performance. Thanks
Dave

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If you want DX 10 ability Dave, you wil have to go to the 8800 series or the ATI equivlent. And, they ain't cheap! Rest of you specs look good. Just remember, no computer afordable by the common man will be able to run FSX with all the sliders to the right.

The AVSIM forum has several threads on computer specs. If I remember correctly, FSX can only use 2 gigs of the 4 gig RAM. However, other programs my be able to use some of the remainder.

Good luck!

Thanks John

I will take a look at that card.

Dave

I found this article - Somthing to think about

DX10 hardware is already obsolete ?



http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=41577

The great thing about the above issue is that FSX is NOT going to be using 10.1 either. This means when the the service pack for vista comes out and 10.1 is the new api, all the current dx10 cards now will drop in price big time.

My advice is to wait until MS release the service pack for vista before you buy your new card. Noone knows how much the current top cards will drop too but they will probably be less than half than what they cost now. For more info you can look at the FSX forum over at Avsim.com Phil Taylor the project manager of Flightsim posts in there regularly.

Gary

Very interesting David... Makes you wonder, what was Vista all about, and is the upgrade worth it.

Certainly would like to hear more of this topic and lot's of opinions.

I personally have not made up my mind.... :roll:

No Kidding hey

All I know is that Im going to wait until the dx10 patch for fsx comes out...wait it out until those problems are ironed out and hardware catches up. Soooo Id say Ill still keep running FS9 for another 2 years :-) Just kidding. Im looking fwd to what FSX has to offer once it gets to stage that FS9 is now.

Gary

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MattO

Very interesting David... Makes you wonder, what was Vista all about, and is the upgrade worth it.

Certainly would like to hear more of this topic and lot's of opinions.

I personally have not made up my mind.... :roll:

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I run Vista on my office pc and from what I've seen there's nothing in it that we really needed that could'nt have been released as a service pack for XP.

I guess the only reason for Vista is that MS need more sales.

XP is a very complete os. That's why it lasted so long and I guess it will be around for many years yet. BTW I read somewhere that the English version of sp3 has leaked and is available on the net.

I have no plans to change. I have read too many bad things about Vista. I will let it mature for a while.

Thanks for all the comments. Well I made the plunge, I ended up with the following setup.

ASUS P5KC MB
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.7 GHz processor
2 Gig DDR2 Ram
ASUS video nVidia GeForce 8600GT

I had to do a clean install on the HD so I lost all my previous settings. Had to start over :(.

FSX runs (without tweaks) very smooth :p
FS9 runs faster than I have ever seen. :D

A couple of thing to work out. I have a CH Yoke and rudders (non USB). The new MB has built in sound and I added back my old Sound Blaster card with game port. My system will not see the yoke and rudder. May need to get a USB to game card adapter, still working on it.

The MB has only one PATA connector and I do not have any SATA drives. May need to get a PATA to SATA adapter or new drives (down the road).

Well here is my 2 cents.......I have Vista on this machine. Runs ok there are a number of things I do not like about it, but there are a number of things I do. If you are even thinking about DX10 Vista is your only option as DX10 will not be coming out for XP. That said, if you are running FS9 and do not plan on switching to 10 right away then Vista is not needed. There are still some compatibility issues with Vista that they will get ironed out eventually. The thing that drives me the most nuts is the security that is built into Vista.. Gotta click too many allow boxes... Yes just like the commercial! I have FS9 working on Vista but I am not ready to switch my sim over..... Just too early to tell if it will be worth the trouble just yet.