Flight Simulator X

[Arcex]

I know there was just a post about this so I apologize for making a dup thread but I can't find the original post so...


My friend wants me to build him a decent FSX rig. Originally he wanted one that would be able to play the game with the settings maxed, but now I know that with today's technology that's just not possible, but can anyone give me some advice on a setup that can play it well with a budget of $700 (not including monitor, peripherals, or operating system)?

As a rule I tend to prefer Intel but I'll go AMD if my friend will get more bang for his buck. Also I'd like to do SLI but I'm told FSX doesn't support SLI currently, are there plans to make it SLI compatible in a future update? Thanks in advance.

 

[Oyeve]

I dont think there is HW powerful enough to play FSX to its full capacity!

 

[xitshsif]

$700 isn't going to get you close.

You'd need a CPU (prolly Core 2 Duo), beefy video card, PSU, RAM, motherboard, hard drive, optical drive, case.

Raise the budget, or save the money and wait until you can.

 

[AMCRambler]

I think limit right now is the video hardware. Although the 8800GT's are pretty powerful. I'm wondering if two 8800GT's in SLI would do it. I believe that game supports Direct X 10 though. So I dunno. That might be too much.

EDIT: Definitely won't be able to go that route on 700 bucks though. Sorry, missed that.

 

[mcurphy]

Here's a link to the other thread you were looking for Text

Some good info there that might answer some of your questions.

 

[Nocturnal]

I will be watching this thread. I downloaded the demo and let me say that my system was raped! I mean it lagged beyond belief! Can't wait to see what you pick up!

 

[BurnItDwn]

My Sytmem, x1800xt, Athlon x2 4200+, and 2GB DDR can't even come close to handling FS X at anywhere close to max settings. I think I had settings about 1/2 way up. That being said I run at 1920x1200 ... so perhaps at a lowwer resolution it would run better, but I don't care to find out.

Best system for $700 for FS X or games in general, would probably be an athlon x2 with a dirt cheap mobo and 1gb of ram, and then then an 8800gts ....
That being said, overall .. going with a better mobo and a nice core 2 duo, with a downgrade to a less expensive video card, will provide a better all around system.

 

[Arcex]

Thanks for the info all, I'll see what my friend wants to do.

If we raised the amount to an even $1000 would we be able to pull it off? I'm not talking about playing FSX with anything close to max settings, he just wants a system that will play it well and look decent.

 

[zikronix]

I use an MSI k8 neo4 plat x2 4600 @ 3GHZ 4GB of 2-3-2-5 - 2T, x800 pro oc'd, Western digital raptor (OS) and 5 300 Gig drives in a raid 5...and that game rapes my machine like its no other...and for the most part i think my machine is prety good. except the video card.

 

[brikis98]

what monitor does he have - or, more specifically, what resolution is he playing at? anything even remotely high will make that game tough to run on a $700 budget. $1000 budget might be doable, but again, nowhere near max settings. some basic recommendations:

* Intel c2d E6300: $190
* ZALMAN CNPS7700-CU 120mm HSF: $35
* Geil 2x1GB DDR2-800: $205
* Gigabyte GA-965P motherboard: $109
* eVGA GeForce 8800GTS: $370
* Seagate 7200.10 250GB 16mb cache SATA HD: $75
* Enhance 5150gh 500W PSU: $70

Total: $1054

This system still needs a case (your choice) and sound card (if he has good enough speakers that onboard sound wouldn't cut it)... you'll def. want to OC the hell out of the e6300 and get it up to the 3.0ghz range. this will be a screaming system that can handle almost any game at any resolution, and FSX at a moderate resolution. remember, these aren't "amazing" deals, so if you really search around and compromise a bit, you'll prob be able to bring it within his budget.

 

[Oyeve]

Most of the reputable reviews of FSX say that while its a great sim, it's 2 years ahead of it's time.

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: Arcex
I know there was just a post about this so I apologize for making a dup thread but I can't find the original post so...


My friend wants me to build him a decent FSX rig. Originally he wanted one that would be able to play the game with the settings maxed, but now I know that with today's technology that's just not possible, but can anyone give me some advice on a setup that can play it well with a budget of $700 (not including monitor, peripherals, or operating system)?

As a rule I tend to prefer Intel but I'll go AMD if my friend will get more bang for his buck. Also I'd like to do SLI but I'm told FSX doesn't support SLI currently, are there plans to make it SLI compatible in a future update? Thanks in advance.

Tell your friend to tripple that amount then he may have a chance.
My rig (see sig), with the 7900GTO barely sctartches the surface on this game.
In fact I've given up flying the game until I get some cash flow to upgrade it to may be the 8880gtx later on.

 

[Arcex]

The resolution he was aiming for was 1280x1024, also he was hoping to go with a 7950 instead of an 8800, but from what I'm hearing that just isn't practical.

I guess what this means is for $1000 I could build him a kickass rig that would probably handle pretty much everything out there... except FSX.



Anyone wanna spot me the cash to build a nice Core 2 Extreme QX6700 rig with SLI and a couple BFG 8800GTX's? Any takers?

 

[Chadder007]

I would think at least a Core2Duo / 2 Gig of RAM / Nvidia 8800 video card. This game was premade for DX10 and it will run a lot better under it in Windows Vista.

 

[zikronix]

Kinda funny this game is so hard core. Its like...oh will it run the latest game...yes this rig is awesome...will it run fsx...no....will anything...LOL

I can see it now that will be the new bench mark...

Reviewer:

We are pushing 8 gigs of ram. and quince 1,000,000 GTX Sli super fast cobra nitro cracked out meth edition cards

and with fsx settings on low we get 30FPS

 

[Smartazz]

Maybe you should wait until DX10 comes out and get a DX10 card because I think that FSX will be a DX10 game too.

 

[Philippine Mango]

HAHAHAHA! GL buddy.

No seriously though, you can't build rig to play FSX in its full glory as it's too demanding for current hardware.

 

[grohl]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
HAHAHAHA! GL buddy.

No seriously though, you can't build rig to play FSX in its full glory as it's too demanding for current hardware.

man that is sad

 

[zikronix]

Originally posted by: grohl

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
HAHAHAHA! GL buddy.

No seriously though, you can't build rig to play FSX in its full glory as it's too demanding for current hardware.

man that is sad

yea its is kinda crazy to think about.