SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:35 am Post subject: My future FSX rig?

Hi all,

Given the arrival of fsx in a few weeks, me and my brother are looking forward to buy a new pc configuration. I've configured us a rig which would come at about 900€ here in belgium and contains the following hardware and runs on XP Home SP2.

ASUS M2V-TVM (AM2 socket)
2GB RAM 667Mhz
AMD 64X2 4200+
Maxtor 160GB SATA2 (7200rpm 8mb cache)
LG DVD RW Double Layer
ANTEC Life Style Sonata 450W
+ GeForce 7600 GT 256MB PCI-e OR GeForce 7900 GT 256MB PCI

If we decide to go for the 7900, one should add about 125€, but I don't know if it'll be worth it. We don't want to wait for Vista and those dx10 cards to be released Wink

What do you guys think of this system? Will it run fsx with acceptable framerates? Thanks very much for your opinion. If you would advize to swap a given part for another (more expensive) one, please take into account that we'd have to cut somewhere else, because our budget is limited. e.g. if we take the 7900gt instead of the 7600gt, I'd have to drop 1 gig of ram. I'm sure you can tell me what's the best, but personaly i'd go for more ram instead of a faster gpu.

Thanks!

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject:

I don't really know how much better the 4000 series of the AMD 64X2 is compared to the Intel Core 2 Duo E6700. Personally, I still think computer builders should stay with Intel, until AMD comes up with another type of processor architecture that crushes that of Intel, performance-wise.

Other than the processor, everything else should run FSX fine. The 7600GT is good for FSX. but if you want optimal graphics, go for the 7900GT. With 2GB of RAM, you should get acceptable framerates.

Yes, I agree with you on the fact that it will take a while until DirectX 10 video cards become stable. The new ones won't be very stable or reliable, according to RD. If one is desperate about building a computer soon, I would suggest focusing on today's technology.

Hope this helps.

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject:

I say AMD is always better than Intel.(MY OPINOIN) They do have a 5000+ sereis, FYI. The cpu will run FSX wonderfully (AMD). BTW: AMD already crushes Intel.

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:16 am Post subject:

Intel is also good if you get the DUO it is almnost the sam as amd amd is better but if you look on the price tag it can be quite pricy

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:01 am Post subject:

Actually, I disagree.

This topic has charts I posted the other day. It consists of benchmarks from today's leading processors, including the AMD FX-60 (or FX-62 can't remember), Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Core 2 Extreme, and Intel Pentium D. By looking at these charts, it is obvious that Intel wins.

Not saying that AMD is gone forever. Intel will lead for quite a while before AMD creates a much better processor. In fact, they are already thinking about it. It is all competition. But it's your choice, not mine. If you prefer AMD, go ahead.

Here's the link: http://forums.surclaro.com/ftopic7925-0-asc-15.html

make sure to go to page 2 for the charts

Hope this helps.

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

The Intel probably beats it beacuse of it's 4mb L2 cache vs. the 2x1mb on the amd, i'll always choose amd though.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/best_worst/best1.html
look at the 9th one.
http://www.amdcompare.com/techoutlook/
that one shows a 3 year outlook for amd.
Getting off subject now, I think i might switch to ATI in the future now that they're working with AMD, or so i heard...

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:01 pm Post subject:

I am going to do a Norton Ghost image of my present C drive. Then instal another blank C drive of 200MB. Then do a Ghost recover to the blank drive and install FSX on it and see how it works with my present system.

The main thing is to check the operation of my favorite planes. Will scenery work, will my USB addons work ok, will add on gauges work?

There is always a flaky stage with new MS software until they get the patches out...

If things don't work well. Then I will reinstall the orginal C drive.

Then start looking for a new system for FSX. Intel or AMD both are about the same. I go for price.... A 500 watt or better power supply is a must. And probably a compatable graphics card with 250+ memory with a cooler for heat...

In the meantime I can still fly my FS9 with minimum downtime...

Tj

Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject:

I also recommend the Intel Core 2 Duo. It offers excellent performance at a lower power consumption than comparable AMD processors and especially against Intel's power-hungry Pentium 4/Pentium D series. Also you will not want to be fooled by the fact that the Core 2's operate at lower clock speed than P4s. Core 2's operate more efficiently per hertz through improvements such as executing more instructions simultaneously and benefitting from a significantly shorter execution pipeline. If your into overclocking, the Core 2 Extreme has an already unlocked clock multiplier and can be overclocked even with air cooling.

Also, if you are willing to wait till towards the end of this year, Intel plans to release a new version of the Core 2 Extreme which will have 4 cores.

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:19 am Post subject:

Hi, and welcome to surclaro.
Just a ? wouldn't the 4 core cpu be named the Intl core 4 extreme, that would be logical, right. LOL

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:43 am Post subject:

WOW!!!!

JUST WHAT I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR!!!!!! A 4-core Core 4 Extreme edition!! Very Happy

I've been drooling over this processor for months now... and then now a 4-core would be PERFECT Shocked

... lol

Captain El Very Happy

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject:

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:53 am Post subject:

Hi people!

thanks for the many replies, but my initial questions remains more or less unanswered, so I would kindly like to ask you to check out the specs in the starting post, and tell me if it will run fsx with a decent framerate.

Those intel core duo's are way to expensive here in belgium, and the amd5000+ isn't available yet at my local pc part dealer.

Many thx!
Uncle Vito

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:39 am Post subject:

I think it will run FSX perfectly fine... except you will not see dazzling details as you would if you get a DX10 card... Otherwise, I might think that you will get framerates that are just about above average Very Happy

Captian El

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:24 pm Post subject:

I just have one comment to make... and that is:

Get a DX10 card.

You will not regret it later, since you will have A HUGE advantage over most people who stick with the "normal" DX9 cards

Captain El

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:10 pm Post subject:

Well, the rigs have been built. I'll be getting fsx or tomorow or upcomming sunday. www.simw.com is having an weekend-simulation event this weekend here in brussels, so we'll likely be heading there to check it out, and buy fsx there!