Another Satisfied FSX + SP2 Convert...

[Fr. Bill]

After hearing about Ron Hamilton's (my boss!) experience, I finally broke down and went shopping myself...

Day before yesterday I got really lucky when I went into Best Buy. I went looking for the same computer that Ron bought last week, but wound up with a spanking brand-new computer that they only received the day before... I think I got a pretty good deal, so I thought I'd share what it is with everyone...

Acer Aspire M5630-U5209A
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
2 GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400
500 GB SATA
Blu-ray/HD DVD Drive (Read/Write)
ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 Shader 4.0
USB Optical Mouse | USD Keyboard | USB Speakers

This was on sale at the same price as last year's model.
The only differences were that the "old model" had an Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 w/3 GB DDR2, no BluRay reader/burner...

I added an "open box" 22" GE LCD Widescreen monitor to the purchase...

Both the saleman and I were astonished that the simple addition of a monitor automatically gave me an instant $84 off the computer price, and an additional $36 off the monitor! Woo-Hoo!!!

Computer: $749.99 - $84 = $665.99
Monitor: $199.99 - $36 = $163.99

Total with 8.25% tax = $898.45

Considering that the MSRP is $3000US ($1999AU), I'd say I got a "good deal!"

I wanted to experience for myself what "Joe Average" would encounter with a new computer and FSX untweaked on this sytem.

FSX installed and registered with absolutely no drama whatsoever.
FSX SP1 installed likewise, drama free
FSX SP2 installed with no issues...

The only "modification" I made was to add the magic lines to the fsx.cfg file to display the low-average-high-variance on the Shift-Z display.

Loading on Rwy 30 at KGYY (just east of Chicago), at 1680x1050x32 resolution, full screen:

Low 12 - Avg 27 - High 96 - v3% (locked at 28) with the default Baron 58. Just for fun I installed the Piper Twin Comanche and noticed no difference in fps or variance.

I noticed no autogen "popping" at all, and flying over downtown Chicago, I noticed very little change in average fps...

All four processors are pumping away, with 2-4 doing all the "scenery loading."

This ATI video card, even though it has only 256MB onboard, is ripping out the frames wonderfully.

I even had a try with the DX10 Preview enabled, and noticed absolutely NO anamolies, like those the nVidia folks are suffering... IOW, no flashing runway textures, etc.

I definitely want another GB of DDR2 PC6400 to go in this machine though. I really think it will improve performance more.

I'll have some fun over the next few days getting Vista optimized and doing some modest sim tweaking, but things should only get better!

[Solid]

Hi Bill.............So Happy you got off so well. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!, you don

[NickN]

Great to hear Bill

Now you can get busy and double your work output

[Fr. Bill]

[quote]
Great to hear Bill

Now you can get busy and double your work output

[NickN]

LOL!

I was just kidding  

We expect you to pump out at least 2 new FSX compliant aircraft a month now since you have a new system    ;D    :o      

[vgbaron]

I dunno, Bill - you're starting to sound like a MS fanboy to me!



Vic