Can YOU find me a PC?

[MentorMan]

Hi,

In August this year, I will hopefully be getting a brand new PC - yes I'm throwing away this laptop Exclamation This new PC (whatever it will be) must:

1. Be one that can run FSX very well - meaning smoothly, with no stutter.
2. Deliver good graphics - I want to actually experience good graphics for once. I have had my far share of jaggies in the past with FS9 believe me.
3. Must not give me 10 minute loading times for sceneries to appear!! I want my scenery in FSX to be swift and very fast in terms of loading times.

I think so far you've probably managed to get the picture of what I'm looking for in my new PC. And now for the price range - possibly around £600-£700 or $1200 to $1400 in US dollars.

I really have no clue as to how much a 'good' PC is these days but I think £700 is really the highest I can afford...unless of course one of you guys wish to donate your old PC to me?

P.S Can you try and choose from a UK Based website like www.pcworld.co.uk or www.currys.co.uk or www.amazon.co.uk

Thanks for your time!

[HardCorePawn]

As a business analyst, when doing requirements gathering for a new project, there is a fundamental truth... its the TCQ Triangle:

Code: Select all

      Time
      / \
     /   \
    /     \
Cost ---- Quality


You get to pick any two...

- You can have it not take too long and not cost a lot, but the quality will suffer
- You can have it awesome quality and not cost a lot, but it will take ages
- You can have it awesome quality and fast, but it will cost a lot

The same sort of priniciple applies to computers...

Assuming that you could actually buy a computer that will run FSX OK, you are looking at $$$$$ So you either need to lower your expectations of performance, or increase you budget, or wait (this will give you time to see what SP1 does and/or lower prices)...

[firefly]

Hi,

I too am looking at getting a new PC, but am holding off till I see what the SP1 for FSX is going to do to performance/overall for FSX. Generally, as I see it anyhow, at least 1GB of ram (perhaps 2gb for vista), and one of the core duos for a processor. Not sure on the graphics card, but just do a google search and there are heaps of sites recommending systems for FSX.

If your looking at doing the deal in August, I would hold fire looking till then as prices will move.

Hope thats of some help.

[Zöltuger]

alrighty then, do you plan to build the PC yourself from parts, or do you want it to be pre-built?

i agreee with firefly, you should be looking at a Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, Geforce 8xxx graphics card and windows Vista as a minimum

[MentorMan]

Ok Thanks guys for the info. What is this SP1 (excuse my knowledge of PCs here). Don't worry I won't be buying until the end of August.

[MentorMan]

alrighty then, do you plan to build the PC yourself from parts, or do you want it to be pre-built?

I would like it to be pre built

[HardCorePawn]

Ok Thanks guys for the info. What is this SP1 (excuse my knowledge of PCs here). Don't worry I won't be buying until the end of August.

Service Pack 1

aka. stuff that MS should have put in FSX before they released it.

[ZK-LGD]

Okay, here's my (rather jaundiced) take on things ...

You are going to need at LEAST a 3.8MHz processor with the highest bus speed possible; at LEAST a 526Mb video card (712Mb would be better); at LEAST 4Gb of RAM; at LEAST a one Tb hard drive (heck, get a second HD with another Tb as well; FSX weighs in at 14Gb and if you get worldwide 75m Global Terrain Mesh that's another 12Gb, plus scenery, plus aircraft ... you get my drift).

Oh, and forget Dual Processing, FSX doesn't use it.

Of course, if you go with a proprietory brand name rig, that will come pre-loaded with MS Vista. Shudder!

If you do a price check on the above mentioned individual items, you might see that 600-700 pounds might not even come close to achieving reasonable performance from FSX.

Heck, think I'll just buy an XBox 360 or PS3 and keep on flying FS9.

[Timmo]

A good SATA hard drive would also help loading times....but as mentioned, basically anything to make your computer run faster is going to cost more.

At least shopping to a budget you have a set limit.....otherwise things would add up very quickly.

[Charl]

OK, from one who has just been the route...
Only unexpected thing I did for now is stick to XP as it's a bit faster.
Follow the story here

[Zöltuger]

You are going to need at LEAST a 3.8MHz processor with the highest bus speed possible; at LEAST a 526Mb video card (712Mb would be better); at LEAST 4Gb of RAM; at LEAST a one Tb hard drive (heck, get a second HD with another Tb as well; FSX weighs in at 14Gb and if you get worldwide 75m Global Terrain Mesh that's another 12Gb, plus scenery, plus aircraft ... you get my drift).

Oh, and forget Dual Processing, FSX doesn't use it.

Of course, if you go with a proprietory brand name rig, that will come pre-loaded with MS Vista. Shudder!

If you do a price check on the above mentioned individual items, you might see that 600-700 pounds might not even come close to achieving reasonable performance from FSX.

ok firstly you'll want at least a 3.8MHz processor, since even my Gameboy has a 6MHz processor

whilst your post was taking the p!ss, you should be aware that SP1 will bring performance upgrades that will make running FSX under Vista far more palatable, before you even add in the extra effects that the DX10 patch will (hopefully) bring.

also I think that Jon's PC (for example) runs FSX pretty nicely, as does Charl's and that's before SP1... there is hope

[ZK-LGD]

whilst your post was taking the p!ss

Ah, but was I? B)

I do contend however, that a high speed video card with at least 526Mb is a definate given. Remember, FSX is going to be around for a few more years yet, and 3rd party designers are sure to push things to the limit. Get a good card now and it won't be redundant for at least the immediate future.

[JonARNZ]

If you are serious about FSX go dual core, its been made very clear SP1 will fix this oversight in the original FSX release and utilise this technology.

Having said that, wait a few more weeks to see what improvements SP1 will provide, we may all be more surprised than we think