PC Requirements?

[tomohawk46]

Hey Guys,

I am new to the simming community and although I work at Auckland Airport and am completing my cpl and instrument rating in real life I need More! I need to buy a PC to start simming on properly.
I think you guys will have a good idea on what i need to support FSX properly with all the usual addons and stuff, Also if anyone has a suitable PC for sale please offer away.

[ardypilot]

Hi Tom (?), and welcome to NZFF!

The minimum system requirementsfor FSX are:

- Windows XP SP2 with 256 Mb RAM
or
- Windows Vista with 512 Mb RAM
- 1.0 GHz Processor
- DirectX 9.0c compliant Video Card with 32Mb RAM
- 15 Gb Hard Drive Space
- DVD Drive

The recommended system requirements are:
- Windows XP SP2 with 1024 Mb RAM
or
- Windows Vista with 1024 Mb RAM
- 2.0 GHz+ Processor
- DirectX 9.0c compliant Video Card with 256Mb RAM
- 15 Gb Hard Drive Space
- DVD Drive

However most people require at least 2GB of RAM and a top end graphics card to achieve smooth gameplay. Read more info here: http://www.pcaviatornetwork.com/FSXFAQ.htm

[Alex]

My system runs FSX fairly well, with frames not falling below 15 really (although I make no guarantee you'll get the same if you have the same specs; FSX can be fickle about this...):

Windows XP Pro SP2
Intel Pentium 4 HT @ 3.4GHz
2.5Gb DDR2 RAM
Western Digital 160Gb Hard Drive: 1.5Gb/s
Nvidia GeForce 7950GT w/ 512Mb onboard video RAM: 1.4GHz RAM speed, 550MHz core clock speed

If you were getting a custom-made PC, it would be worthwhile getting a decent dual (or quad) core processor, with an 8 series Nvidia card or ATI equivalent.

Alex

[tomohawk46]

Hey thanks Trolly,

Yep Tom is the name I go by and I started work in the same intake as your dad! (Top fella by the way)

Thanks for that info, as soon as I have some money i'll be purchasing a nice system.

[gokanru]

For a reasonable system to run FSX I think you have to decide which system you intend to run,whether it be XP or Vista.If XP then you will need to run it with SP2.Personably I Have no intention of running Vista,So i have XP with SP2,2Gig of DDR2@533 ram,256meg PCI express x16 video card,250gig sata hd,cpu is a core 2duo @2.13gig,motherboard is a gigabyte although I do prefer an Abit or Asus.Power supply is 450watt.Do a clean install of FSX the add SP1 and the add SP2 then, and very important.Defrag your drive.My frame rate drops to about 15-18 around airports,but usually run anywhere between 35-65 elsewhere,your mileage may vary.If you have the funds I would suggest a a bigger video card but With the CPu either go to a core 2duo or quad core.I don't think AMD have a processor yet that can perform better than the pentium core 2 or quad core,But I may be wrong and if so then I stand corrected

[ardypilot]

Word on the street is that Tom is now officialy a fully qualified private pilot- Congrats