Newbie...New Build... Some advice please?

[Stuart Holmes]

Hi,

I'm Stuart, a new simmer, based in the Falkland Islands.

I'm returning to flight sim after a long layoff. I have copies of both FS9 and FSX, but believe, from reading the forum, that I'm unlikely to be able to run at high framerates on FSX with modest computer specifications.

I've listed (below) the specs for my new build - please can you tell me what type of performance to expect on either FS9 or FSX.

Any advice would be appreciated - My last FS PC had 512Mb RAM and a 32Mb Video Card!

New Specs:

XFX nForce 780i - Motherboard - ATX - nForce 780i SLI - LGA775 Socket

Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad Processor - 2.40 GHz, 8MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB

8Gb (4x2Gb) Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 CL4 240-pin DIMM

BFG GeForce 9800GTX+ OC 512MB PCI-E  GRAPHICS CARD

Western Digital Caviar Blue  640GB SATAII  16MB Cache

GIGABYTE GE-S550A-D1 ODIN GT 550W Modular SLI ready PSU

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium - 64-bit Edition SP1

I'll be running 3x17" LCD's (3840x1024), via a Matrox TripleHead2Go box for the VC/Outdoor views and a single 21" 16:9 (1680x1050) LCD for instruments. Additional components are the Saitek Yoke/Throttle Quadrant/Rudder Pedals and Switch Panel.

I hope this is enough information.

Many thanks in advance.

Stuart

[garymbuska]

With fs9 you can probably set

[GreenMtn]

I have a very similar setup, including Vista. I have no problems running everything with ultra high resolution and have installed new scenery.

I did find one very valuable lesson. Always run FS9 as Administrator. If you load new textures they will not be visible without. I found the easiest way is to find FS9.exe, right click then go to Properties, the Compatibility tab and check the box at the bottom. You will have to Allow the Program to run when starting it, but once going it runs great.

I have given up on FSX. I love the scenery, but there are too many things that go wrong, especially when you are trying to fly new aircraft with special textures.

[Stuart Holmes]

I have a very similar setup, including Vista. I have no problems running everything with ultra high resolution and have installed new scenery.

I did find one very valuable lesson. Always run FS9 as Administrator. If you load new textures they will not be visible without. I found the easiest way is to find FS9.exe, right click then go to Properties, the Compatibility tab and check the box at the bottom. You will have to Allow the Program to run when starting it, but once going it runs great.

I have given up on FSX. I love the scenery, but there are too many things that go wrong, especially when you are trying to fly new aircraft with special textures.

Thanks very much. All sounding good for FS9. If I get reasonable performance on FSX - all well and good, but FS9 is enough for me.

I'm out of the loop when it comes to Windows - I migrated to Mac for most of my computing duties a couple of years ago. I guess dipping my toe back into the PC hardware market was a bit of a shock and, had I been more patient, I should have possibly gone for something with either i7 or DDR3, but hey - it's still a massive improvement on the rig I currently have.