1. Unless you're doing very specific work, you are unlikely to need 8gb RAM. Get 4gb instead.
2. In my opinion, buy a computer from a computer store, not a HP, DELL, or whatever. Computer stores generally have a similar price, but are much better quality than HP / Dell. In my own experience they put weak power supplies which are OK unless you upgrade other components. They also have RAM with crap timings, motherboards that lack features, upgradability, and BIOS settings. Generally the cases are really terrible plastic fantastic cases. We have three computers in the house, all from a local computer store made using brand-name components (that I chose in two of them) - and the difference in quality to the old Dells is simply stunning.
3. Radeon 5870 or GTX 285. The 5870 is faster in most things. From what I hear they're equal in FSX.
1. I had Vista 64 and went from 4GB to 8GB and did notice a difference. I'm not sure if there is that much a difference on vista vs win 7 (as I stayed with 8GB since), but I noticed that it was faster. I think vista may have been a bigger resource hog than 7, not too sure about that, but vista used 1.5 GB all by itself! BUSY OS. Even though there aren't any programs out there that would use all the remaining 2.5 GB, for me I just thought it would be better to have a little headroom. If that system comes with 8GB, don't change it. I would say this: don't get it
specifically for that reason, but it can't hurt unless it does have a small PSU, or slow timings, or something.
2. Totally agree. That's where I got the first system from, and quickly found how little could be done with it, once I started to get into it. Your best bet is to get someone to build you one, or do it yourself! The components available to you if you assemble your own are FAR superior to the ones that an electronics store are likely to supply you with in a system
they built. If you build it yourself, you'll get a better idea how to make it go
zzooooomm!!!!3. YEAH, BABY! ATi has the rockin card out right now, but beware! Nvidia is not going to take that one laying down. They are definitely working on an answer to that one right now! I'd wait a couple of months on a card to see what Nvidia puts out. Something to note, however: Hardware Tessellation is the hot new buzzword for GPU manufacturers, in that they will all be using this feature soon. This feature helps the CPU draw more triangles and make better, sharper terrain features, and all kinds of goodies. Look that one up! All versions will soon be supporting this, and it would be good to see how they compete. I like ATi, but I like a fair fight, as well. When Nvidia's new one comes out, I'll be better to see how they stack up. FSX uses DX9.0c, I think, and that won't really matter, as that is a DX11 feature. However, one can imagine that if they're going to be doing this, how fast and good could it make FSX run?
