General FSX Disappointment Rant

[Mattace64]

Okay y'all, thanks for all the feedback... some nice screenshots in there too!  I'm happy to announce that I picked up a Nvidia GeForce 8400GS, it's nothing to high end but better than the standard built-in Intel thing I had before.  What really thru me off was that they both have the same video memory, but the GeForce is way better...  Then I installed acceleration, and as far as I can tell so far everything is running tip top...  I've tested most of the problem areas, and they're no longer problems (even the audio stuff).  I'll add that I've got my scenery, traffic, framerates, etc... all set pretty high... not quite maxed but close... runs about as smooth as FS9 did!

Surprisingly no power issues either!  I was mildy frustrated there for a while, but in trying to fix the problem I discovered this site, which is cool... so it worked out... Now if you'll excuse me I have a 727 to land in a blizzard in my native Buffalo-Niagara.

[congo]

the only image I have ever seen is that crazy pig in you avatar.

Looks can be deceiving, the avatar might be a more accurate representation

[Mattace64]

And seriously I take it all back... troublesome install, but damn they did make some nice improvements...   I really like the dynamics in the sound, directional now, also a realistic rolling sound when on the ground, a little doppler effect (for those tower flybys), and also a reflecting effect off the runway when landing!  

Anyone want to add... maybe theres some improvements ive missed!

[congo]

Glad you got a video card, better yet that you are satisfied with it. I wouldn't have considered that an 8400 would be sufficient, but there you go!

[Xyn_Air]

First and most importantly, welcome to our own little special world of aviation insanity here at SimV!  It is always awesome to have new members!  And, I am glad you have FSX working now.  I know that when I first used FSX I hated it, too, and for many of the same reasons.  A bit of upgrade and tinkering later, and I am in love, heh.  Anyway, welcome!

As for FSX and hardware issues in genereal, it's probably waaay to late to be throwing in my 2-yen now . . . but that never stopped me before!



There are three main points I want to make:

1) CURSE YOU, DECEPTIVE MICROSOFT!
While FSX is a beaut' of a simulator, the way MS packaged it IS utter BS.  If you did not already know the problems or experiences people have had in getting their hardware to run FSX with any decent quality, it is easy to understand how you could be fooled into believing the "computer specifications" MS lists on the outside of the FSX box.  On that note, when someone comes to this forum or another wondering WTF FSX doesn't work, let's give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe, just maybe, they don't know that what MS told them would run FSX is utter bullox.  It would be nice if we can advise people on their hardware/FSX problems without being too elitist or assuming they are idiots.  I mean, hey, it's not like there are a lack of people who have had one pulled over on them by MS (and I actually like their products, but for a handful of oddities like ME and Vista).

2) SOME PEOPLE HAVE BRAND NEW BOEING'S, SOME HAVE KIT PLANES
You can affordably upgrade cheap systems into decent (not great, I said "decent"!) gaming systems.  What is terribly important is knowing what kind of motherboard and processor you are buying.  I got a complete POS computer here in Japan for under $600, but it did have a rather nice Athlon processor, and it had RAM slots and a PCIe x16 slot to spare.  $100 for 2GB of RAM and $120 for an Nvidia 7600 with 512MB later, and I have a machine that, while not knocking anyone's socks off, does run FSX (and a number of other games) admirably well for under $900.  In other words, it is possible to get good performance without selling your soul, so long as you are able to do a little digging and know what you are getting.  Oh, yeah!  And wait for parts sales!  Last year's hot, hot, hot hardware will be this year's bargain bin sale.

3) A USED CESSNA CAN BE AS FUN TO FLY AS A NEW BOEING
I really do honestly envy everyone with a powerful system.  I would love to be able to run FSX in such a way that it makes reality blush with embarrassment.  But, I have college loans and credit card bills to pay off, two kids and a third on the way, and a serious need to look for a new house; I just cannot afford the same system that others have.  However, I am happy with what I have and what I can do with it.  Please, when you give advice on what to buy or put in a computer, stop referring to everything that isn't really top of the line as crap; that just isn't true.  One of the best articles I have read here in SimV on buying hardware gave great advice for finding the video card that was right for me.  The author (can't remember who it was at this moment) didn't just immediately say that I had to have the BEST VIDEO CARD EVER OR THINGS WILL JUST SUCK!  They instead mentioned which cards were the cheapest yet still gave good performance for FSX.  And then they said, going from that point buy whatever you can afford from that baseline or on up in video cards.  It was excellent advice, because it gave me not only useful knowledge in picking out video cards, but it also gave me the confidence in knowing that even if I couldn't go buy some $300 monstrosity, I could still buy something that would do better and make me happy.

OK, I know this was a bit of a rant.  But, I have kind of seen a number of threads where advice going out tends to be, um, rather extreme.  And that just worries me!  I don't want us to scare anyone off.  FSX has some steep requirements, but not so steep as to be inaccessible to a broad range of users.  I really want to grow our community, and I even want to include people who need help on getting the most out of their poor, ol' systems - just like I had!  Also, it must come as a horrible shock to some people (I know it did to me) that FSX may not actually run on their system the same way they see it running in the FSX commercials.  In that state of shock, whether expressed through angry rants or tears of anguish, I think we can afford a bit of compassion.

That's why I ranted this, not to squish toes but to encourage.  Because, you know, not everyone flies a Boeing, some people putter around in a Cessna.

OK, let the rebuttals and rebukes commence!



With my propensity for yapping, there needs to be a 'duck for cover' emote,
Darrin

[Hagar]

With my propensity for yapping, there needs to be a 'duck for cover' emote,
Darrin

Will this one do? [smiley=door.gif]

[Xyn_Air]

With my propensity for yapping, there needs to be a 'duck for cover' emote,
Darrin

Will this one do? [smiley=door.gif]

Heh, well, yeah, if you are reading my rants and need to run away before I build up any ranting momentum.  I meant a duck for cover emote for when people start throwing things at me!



Still, I gotta show that one to my sweety and my dad; they'll love it!

Darrin

[Fr. Bill]

With my propensity for yapping, there needs to be a 'duck for cover' emote,
Darrin