Simviation Forums

im wondering if i should buy the pmdg 747 the one thing that takes me away from the idea is the performance needed to run it

Mininimum - 3GHz or multi-core processor, 1GB RAM, WinXP SP2/Vista
Best Performance - Dual or Quad Core Processor, 2GB RAM, 512MB Gfx Card, WinXP SP2
MS FSX with Service Pack 1 (or later) installed


here are my computer specs


AMD ATHLON 4000 + CLKED @ 220
2GB RAM
8800GTS NVIDEA

VISTA SP1
FSX SP1 - SP2
SP1 INSTALLED ATM

Simple answer: no.

Yeah your system may meet some of the recommended specs but even on the recommended specs its very resource heavy. Should you get it be ready to lower settings in the game

I have Captain Sim 757-200. I also have UT2 (Traffic 59%). On international airports my FPS are around 14 (locked at 30 with default AC). Not good at all. So, how is PMDG 747 on framerates? Does anybody have both.. Captain Sim 757 and PMDG 747... what's the comparison in FPS?

The PMDG is hard on FPS unless you have a very high end system. 

The other thing is that you SHOULD NOT get it if you just want to occasionally fly around in it.  It is too complex and in depth for that. 

747's are long haulers.  If that's the kind of sim flying you like to do great.  If on the other hand like many of us, you only have a couple hours a day that are free, I would save your money and get something a little less complex that you can do shorter flights with.

I've had it for a long time.  I can't remember the last time I booted it to go fly it.  It's another payware hanger queen on my setup.

Nothing wrong with the product, it's a 9.5/10, but not something the casual simmer should get IMO.

Wish I could sell you my copy.

Get a faster computer IMO.

That, or the PMDG Md-11 which is less intensive on the frames compared to the 747.

Faster computer? Do you see my signiture? You can't get it much faster.. which component would you change to get better performance in my case? Just curious...
BTW.. I have Ultimate traffic 2.. this one eats frames for breakfast.

An SSD would be nice.



No seriously, I was talking to the OP.



Last time I ran PMDG MD-11 on my Q6600 @ 3.0 I was getting >20fps in almost all scenarios on the same settings I fly with default aircraft at 26fps lock. An i7 @ 4.0 would fare much better with the MD-11. The 747 is more heavy so I don't know how much that would lower the frames.

Sorry, my bad

Sorry to burst your bubbles, but I have the captain sim 757 and the PMDG 747. My specs are garbage. Which runs ALOT better than the other? Simple. PMDG I have a simple vista desktop, and to be honest the 747 I have no problems with at all (FS2004 Ofcourse), mean while the 757 from captain sim I believe was only designed to eat frame rates. Unless you have a high end CPU, go for PMDG

Precision Manuals tend to overstate their system requirements for their add-on aircraft; at least, this has been the case in my experience.  Your RAM and graphics card certainly appear to fit the requirements, and the only thing that is slowing you down is your processor.  In my humble opinion, I believe the PMDG should run okay on your system.  Perhaps even smoothly depending on what your settings are.  I would not necessarily recommend it, but if your really keen on buying the product, I would say it could possibly pass. 

Think of it this way:  I used to run the PMDG 737 (FS9) on a 700 mhz system with 256 megs of ram and Geforce FX5200.  The minimum requirement for that product is a 1.4 ghz processor with recommended 2.5 GHZ.  Not the smoothest sim experience, but playable enough that I can land the crate by hand.  Was getting roughly 10-17ish fps on medium graphics settings. 

I also used to run the PMDG 747 (also FS9) on my 1.7 ghz single core laptop with only 512 megs of ram and 256 meg Geforce 6200.  The recommended system requirements for that was 3.0 ghz, 2GB of RAM, and 512 meg graphics card.  I was able to run it at a decent 15-20 fps on almost full graphics. 

Undoubtedly, FSX is a bit more system intensive, but I do not think it is totally hopeless for you to fly this bird.  Not to lead you into any false hopes or anything, but this has been my experience with their products. 

And yes, the PMDG birds typically runs better than Captain Sim birds.  The latter have more complex visual models: both exterior and interior.