FSX - Best PC Build?

Elric · 28 Apr 2010 at 11:46

A question for all you budding Top Guns.

A friend is after a new pc build to play FSX with as much eye candy on as possible. He's going to be running this on a 30" Monitor. I know the game is supposed to be CPU limited, so what's the best.

I7-920/930 with HyperThread, giving 8 cpu's

OR

AMD Hex core giving 6 real cores.

'Wes · 28 Apr 2010 at 11:48

picnic · 28 Apr 2010 at 12:56

Unless there is some frig out there FSX only uses real cores, it will not use the HyterThreading ones. However even being multicore enabled now FSX doesn't use the extra cores 100% all the time. I'd go for the i7 too.

Supertaff · 28 Apr 2010 at 13:44

I use i7 920 with my eyefinity set up, running it over 4 screens.

I works well with it and my res is 6016 * 1200 (bezel compensated)

While I can't comment on the AMD processor, you wont go far wrong with the i7

Taff

Elric · 28 Apr 2010 at 16:45

which ATi card are you running, a 5970 or a 5870?

Edit: What about disk setup for this Sim?

Soya · 28 Apr 2010 at 17:13

Alas FSX is not programmed for the current multicore market, it was made before that time. Although other programs running alongside FSX may use the other cores, FSX certainly won't. It loves to eat CPU cycles so the more Ghz the main processor can handle the better it is. In other words, find the cheapest chip that you can clock the hell out of it. I got it running on a E8600 OC'd to 4Ghz. Graphics card wise, no need for an uba card, FSX like most of the Nvidia range, even the 8800 series runs FSX well. ATI is pretty good too but they have a hard time with the cloud shaders in FSX, although I heard the ATI 5870HD does a very good job in fact some are saying the best card all round inc FSX.

There is lots more to consider then just CPU & GFX, I suggest reading this link very carefully: http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=29041

Good luck.

Supertaff · 28 Apr 2010 at 18:58

I'm using two gfx cards

I use a 5970 to run the triple 24" Dells in Eyefinity mode at 6016 * 1200. On this I have the main FSX cockpit view

Then I have a 3450 running my 42" LG LCD at 1920 * 1080. Which I place the GPS Map, Traffic Control screen and any other screens I want to use as I see fit.

As for the comment from Soya, FSX didn't used to use multi cores, but with the release of Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 it then started to use them.

Service Pack 1

Microsoft released Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Flight Simulator X on May 15, 2007. It addresses the following problems:

* Activation and installation issues
* Performance enhancements, including multithreading of texture synthesis and autogen to provide modest performance improvements on multi-core computers
* Third-party add-on issues
* Content issues[11]

[edit] Service Pack 2

Microsoft released another service pack for Flight Simulator X about the same time as its expansion pack (below). The update is primarily for Vista users that have DirectX 10 (DX10) compatible graphics adapters. The DX10 version takes advantage of DX10's improved shader model and more pixel pipelines and increased performance for Vista, approaching overall FSX performance on XP. It also adds the capability for players who do not have the expansion pack to participate in multiplayer activities with users of the expansion pack, along with support for multi-core processors.[12] [13] FSX-SP2 also fixes some more bugs over Flight Simulator X. SP1 is not compatible with SP2 or Acceleration in Multiplayer. People with SP1 cannot enter a session with players who have SP2 or Acceleration in Multiplayer. According to the documentation you are required to install Service Pack 1 before installing Service Pack 2.

Though I would agree the more Ghz you can throw at it the better.

Once you get into it it can be an expensive business. Apart from the basic cost of FSX, I've probably spent around £250 on add-ons - real scenery, airport enhancements, weather enhancements, traffic enhancements and aircraft.

Unsure of what you mean by disk set up. But I've installed all of FSX and add-ons onto my 600gb Raid 1 (2 * 300gb Velociraptors) as I use this as my gaming drive.

Taff

siege2 · 28 Apr 2010 at 18:58

I have ran it on a E8500 uses both cores, having 6gb Memory with windows 7 and a GTX280 Runs great.

Now Running I7 at 3.5GHZ 6GB Memory now dual GTX280 all on a 27inch Dell. runs Great.

Get a SSD to load up the game, or use a raid 0 HD for the game Big difference.

Hamoodii · 28 Apr 2010 at 18:58

Soya said:
Alas FSX is not programmed for the current multicore market, it was made before that time. Although other programs running alongside FSX may use the other cores, FSX certainly won't. It loves to eat CPU cycles so the more Ghz the main processor can handle the better it is. In other words, find the cheapest chip that you can clock the hell out of it. I got it running on a E8600 OC'd to 4Ghz. Graphics card wise, no need for an uba card, FSX like most of the Nvidia range, even the 8800 series runs FSX well. ATI is pretty good too but they have a hard time with the cloud shaders in FSX, although I heard the ATI 5870HD does a very good job in fact some are saying the best card all round inc FSX.

There is lots more to consider then just CPU & GFX, I suggest reading this link very carefully: http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=29041

Good luck.

Wasn't a 7600GT on par with an 8800GTX with this game?