Newbie Getting Started - Again

[twodaend]

I have been wanting to get FSX for almost a year now and I think I'm ready to go ahead and do so.  I have not played a FS game since FS98 and ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighters), so you can tell it has been a while.  I remember those games like it was yesterday and really enjoyed playing so I know the new games will really wow me.

I plan on purchasing the Deluxe version, but I'm not sure which joystick to get.  I have been looking at the Saitek X52 or the X52 Pro.  From some reason I'm leaning toward the X52 Pro, but I'm not sure if this will be over kill.  Back when I did play years ago, I had a simple joystick with a trigger and 2 buttons.  Later on, I'm looking to buy a fighter game, so I'm looking for a joystick that I can use for fighter jets, as well as for civilian plans in FSX.

Thanks for all the help.

[Wii]

First of all, Welcome to SimV!
Second, let's see your system specifications before you go purchase FSX because you may want to get FS2004. If the X52 has what you want then get it, if the X52 Pro has more features that you don't need then you may want to go with the nonpro. If it were me, I would get the pro. Saitek is very reliable so the X52 would probably be the best for what you want to do.

[twodaend]

Sorry forgot to mention that.  I have an AMD 4800+ (overclocked to 2.7), 2GB Ram, and a AGP 7600GS.

[Wii]

I don't know much about the "7" Series so I can't tell how FSX will perform...

[Sovien]

[quote]I have been wanting to get FSX for almost a year now and I think I'm ready to go ahead and do so.

[twodaend]

Sovien

Thanks for the suggestion and tips.  I'll defiantly look into FS2004, especially since it is cheaper too.  I may upgrade my GPU, but since I'm using an Abit AV8, I'm stuck using an AGP board.  My next built will be PCI, but I'm holding off on that until maybe this time next year.

[Sovien]

[quote]Sovien

Thanks for the suggestion and tips.

[twodaend]

I downloaded the trial/demo version of the FSX and to me it look pretty good to me considering my last experience with a Flight Sim was nearly 10 years ago.  I had the graphic turned all the way up and so far so good.  I think I can even live with turning it down a bit.  I'll keep playing with the trail/demo to see what else I do/don't like, but so far so good.

I defiantly need a joystick.  Using the keyboard for everything is a pain.

Sorry I did mean PCI-E.  I've been a fan of Abit boards for years, so when the time comes, I'll probably be looking there first.

[Sovien]

[quote]I downloaded the trial/demo version of the FSX and to me it look pretty good to me considering my last experience with a Flight Sim was nearly 10 years ago.

[2fst4u]

sorry to hijack, but i have one quick question about the x52/pro. what the #%*$ are three hat switches going to be used for? someone must have some good ideas

[Wii]

[quote]I downloaded the trial/demo version of the FSX and to me it look pretty good to me considering my last experience with a Flight Sim was nearly 10 years ago.

[Sovien]

sorry to hijack, but i have one quick question about the x52/pro. what the #%*$ are three hat switches going to be used for? someone must have some good ideas

LOL I'm not really sure what'd I'd use them for in Flight Simulator, but of the people I know who fly Falcon 4.0:AF, and who also utilize the X52/X53 Pro, they tend to find uses for them with the radar and other systems modeled in that simulator.