Nearly bought FS2004 today but...

[Zaphod]

I very nearly purchased FS2004 today but would like some advice first.
I gather from other postings that it is ok to have fs2004 as well as 2002 on the same system? I have plenty of room on my hard drive, over 60GB, so I don't think that should be a problem.
I have the excellent VFR photographic senery from "Just Flight" installed for FS2002. I have heard that it is compatable with 2004 but how do you share the files or do I need to install it again in 2004?
Also, is the installation of 2004 straightforward, because if something can go wrong you can bet your life it will?
I have had some very poor frame rates in the past, possibly due to the add on scenery and also I believe some of the downloaded aircraft and panels slow things down a lot. Is 2004 more resource hungry than 2002?

Any help would be most appreciated.

My system specs are; P4 3.06ghz processor, 512mb Ram, G4 MX440 SE 128MB Video. 80GB hard disc.

All the best.

Zaphod.

[4_Series_Scania]

Basically, two different programs, thus, two installs, and most likely, you'll have to have respective installs of each add-on for each sim.

For example, I have Just Flights Dambusters add on for CFS2 & FS2002, its installed twice, once for each sim.

I don't advise trying to share files, Hagar is the one to ask on that subject, I suspect its a big no- no.

Zaphod, Your frame rates are down to one thing and one thing only.

G4 MX440 SE 128MB

Your doing the equivalent of Buying a Ferrari Enzo and trying to get cheap budget tyres to give you expemsive tyre road-holding.... In short, it ain't gonna happen!

The Geforce 4 MX series are very much an entry level graphics card (Don't be fooled by the name GeForce 4, these cards are closer to GeForce2 in terms of performance and Direct X support) You have an excellent CPU, 512MB of RAM is very good, although if you run XP, I'd get another 512MB in that machine as soon as possible....

Back to your Video,
Replace the MX as soon as possible with something like an Asus V9570TD GeForce FX 5700 256MB which will set you back about 140 pounds sterling, your enjoyment of FS2004 I almost certainly guarantee!

FS2004 is more demanding than FS2002 certainly, with add-ons most definately!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Asus_nvidia_graphics_cards.html
Take a look, you'll notice the Geforce 4MX at the top (cheaper) end of the page.

If you want to really dig deep, then the Asus V9980 GeForce FX 5950 Ultra 256MB (about 300 Pounds Sterling) will more than handle FS2004 with all the eye candy, combined with your processor etc.

In Short, if you just buy FS2004, it won't look very good nor perform too well, spend another few hundred pounds on your pc and then try find something that it can't run well.....  ;)

[Zaphod]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply!
You confirmed something I already suspected,that my graphics card wasn't as good as I originally thought. I must admit that when I saw "GeForce4 128mb" I thought I had a good card. A little more research was called for
Looks as though a bit of saving up is called for also. Watch this space.
Cheers again.
Zaphod.

[destaggerwing]

howdy! i'm running fs 2002 and 2004 on a 550mhz pent 3, with 386mb mem with a g-force fx 5200 agp w/128mb ddr video card and have great graphics. no prpblems so far on this old dinosaur

[paulb]

Hi

It is best to install the aircraft separately for each sim. Often you will find that there are different aircraft configs and airfiles available for FS2002 and FS2004. So you might as well take advantage of them.

Also FSDSV1 aircraft - which work fine in FS2002, will not display animations in FS2004.

Cheers Paul

[J41]

Just go for it asap!!!

[Zaphod]

When I started this thread I was blissfully unaware of the shortcomings of my 8 month old PC (Advent 3316). Thanks to some great help here and on the hardware forum (thanks again Congo) I now know that dispite the fact that my video card is rated at 8xAGP, the motherboard will only support 4xAGP. So much for being a Ferrari!!. It beggars belief that a major PC retailer (you know the one) can use as a selling point an Nvidia GeForce4 MX440SE 128MB etc etc graphics card knowing full well that it will never perform at its best due to the motherboard. Perhaps I'm over reacting ?
Destaggerwing, do you know what AGP speed your vidio card is running at? I've discovered by trial and error that turning off the Anti Aliasing in the Graphics hardware options does make a big improvement to frame rates. Not sure i can put up with all those jagged edges though!

All the best.
Zaphod.

[destaggerwing]

howdy Zaphod, the video card is running 4x.  I tried to install FS 2000 the other night and voila! i now have all three , 2000, 2002, and 2004  up and running on demand.  this old compaq is a 550mhz presario 5852 and has been reliable, am having my son build me a new system soon. this one has only a 20gb hd and is really doing well for it's age(like me) lol..

[Daz]

8 month old and they stick a 4x agp board in it? thats disgraceful it requires a lot of research before buying a pre packaged PC from a company for the following reasons

1. they put old parts in and just advertise some of the newer parts ie your CPU they will boast that

2. they are often more expensive to buy than building a complete system on which you know what is going in there

3. they throw in a load of old rubbish like 20 quid scanners and whatever printers they have lying in their warehouse

i for one have never bought one of these pc's but i have seen the result of so many unhappy victims....when they could have paid someone to build their machine from the parts that they have researched and are happy with.. a good start would be these very forums for advice

more often than not aswell they will throw in a warranty or "bring it back and we will fix it" they are very crafty and can fix the thing in a matter of seconds and explain a big long reason why it wont work when they could have explained it over the phone

i always advise to look it up thoroughly first

i suppose this reply is for the people out there who were thinking about buying such a pc to just be careful

regards
daz

ps sorry about lenght of all that just needed to get it off my chest - cheers

[Gary R.]

Wow, a guy can learn a lot about 'puters around here.  I just got my new system last week. Modest, its AMD 2800+, with 512, ATI 64 DDR, and a 60 gig hard drive with XP.  This system was built to my specs at a local shop and I traded my old dell p-3.  I have learned though that even though my clock speed is around 2.75 times faster than my old system, my actual performance is only around 1-1.25 times faster than my old system.  The 512 meg of ram that worked so well on a P3 733 running 98 only just makes it on this X
P machine. My young nephew and his friends always say, "just stick more ram in it"  thats their solution and I believe they have something there.  Soon as I can I'm buying 512 more of ram.