>Instead of being "impatient" you should invest more time and>read this forum more carefully. I distinctly recall that>Robert made numerous comments within the last couple of months>(since release of SP1) about the hardware and what seems to>work better (for the beta testers). They also promised to>eventually provide more concrete benchmarks what user might>expect on some platforms.>>Michael J.Michael- I appreciate loyalty as much as anyone- and rest assurred am still a fervent PMDG supporter- but tell me where or what I can read on this forum to answer my question? I have poured over the postings, visited PMDG Ops and still I am unsure. I have devoted a lot of time to this issue, checking various sites and still the bottom line is that my primary interest is and will be the PMDG 400X performance on my system. Surely asking the BETA team to comment (which would take only a couple of minutes) is not unjustified after hours of research on my part. If this was simply a matter of checking various forums I would not hesitate to expend additional effort- it is not. No one, other than the BETA team and the repainters has any experience with the FSX/400X combination- hence my continuing pleas! But-thanks for the advice- impatience is surely not a virtue, and the team is very busy preparing for the release......I shall keep hoping someone will have a spare minute and a moment of pity.Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

>but tell me where>or what I can read on this forum to answer my question? Read this 6 weeks old thread, particulary Robert's bottom reply. Don't know if this answers your question but certianly provides ample hints. Also please consider that at the moment thay may not have data to answer it fully.http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...ing_type=searchMichael J.

Thanks Michael- I had read that already. STILL waiting on a member of the BETA/re-paint team's opinions.....thanks!Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

>Thanks Michael- I had read that already. STILL waiting on a>member of the BETA/re-paint team's opinions.....thanks!I'm not a member of PMDG at all, or even the beta team, but after glancing back through this topic I can't quite figure out what exactly it is you wish to know. What is your question?

I guess the question was lost in all the rhetoric- so HERE IT IS- if only people able to answer were so inclined- my only technical advice so far has been from Sam (and for that I am most grateful). Not one member of the BETA/re-paint team has had the time (or perhaps the inclination) to respond.>I just bought this:>>Product number >GC674AA>Introduction date >29-May-2007>Country/region sold in: >US>Canada>Hardware>Base processor >Core 2 Quad E6600 (K) 2.4 GHz>1066 MHz front side bus>Socket 775>Chipset >Intel P965>Motherboard >Manufacturer: Asus>Motherboard Name: P5BW-LA>HP/Compaq motherboard name: Basswood3G-UL8E>Memory >Component Attributes >Memory Installed 3 GB >Maximum allowed 8 GB (4 x 2 GB) (64-bit OS) >>4 GB* (4 x 1 GB) (32-bit OS) >>*Actual available memory may be less >Speed supported PC2-5300 MB/sec >Type 240 pin, DDR2 SDRAM >>Hard drive >640 GB (2 x 320) SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)>7200 rpm>16X DVD(+/-)R/RW 12X RAM (+/-)R DL LightScribe SATA drive >>I know that OEM systems are not great for overclocking- but>I'm hoping not to (or at the most some light ClockGen stuff)>and I got a good deal and didn't want to wait any longer. I>am using my nVIDIA 7900GS from my old computer (A 64 4000+ at>2.4GHz) and will try to run FS9 on Vista until the DX10 cards>are out, or PMDG releases the 400X and MD11- at which time I will go to FSX(thoughts.......?).>>Ryan and Lefteris (and others with knowledge in this area),>could you PLEASE review and advise if it will suffice for FSX>(747400X/MD11/737NX). I plan on upgrading the Video Card soon>(waiting on DX10 2nd generation). Also, the power supply, and MAYBE the memory (currently 3 GIGs of PC2-5300 but the Asus board>supports PC800 memory). [THIS MEMORY ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED BY SAM]>Also, the drives (2 x 320) are SATA3 and RAID 0 compatible. >Any TANGIBLE bentfit to RAID 0 or just put FS on the second>drive? [ALSO ADDRESSED BY SAM].>>I will look over all the Vista and FSX knowledge bases in OPS>but again, planning on FS9 until the 400X is released (at>least :)>>Thanks- and sorry for the rambling.Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

The underlying premise of these descriptions are that: 1) The PMDG MD11 a video game (addon).2) Hardware capability applies to running video games.3) The best hardware will run video games the best. At this point we, we don't have to know a thing about the MD11 addon. We only have to examine the range of hardware capabilities. Therefore, this is not a subjective analysis of what hardware will run the MD11 addon. That is entirely unnecessary. This explains the relationship between what you already own and the maximum (applicable) hardware capabilities will be occurring over the next 2 years. Your "request to assess" a computer's ability to run the MD11 could simply follow. Let's give it a try. For instance, your Q6600 at 2.4 Ghz (standard clock) is within 10% of the fastest CPU available today. It's performance will remain within 20% of anything that will be available for the next 2 years.Standard clocked, you will have to spend a huge wad (an additional $1000?) for a 2.9ghz Q6800 to gain additional MD11 performance. A computer system's last 10% performance bump will always be wildly expensive, but that's your call. Overclocked to 3.6ghz, your CPU is 20% faster than anything available today. Your CPU's performance will remain 10% beyond anything that will be available for the next 2 years.Overclocked, the Q6600 will run the MD11 20% better than any standard clocked CPU today. You will enjoy 10% better performance than any (non O/C-ed) CPU available for the next 2 years. You will have to wait 2 years to be able to a purchase better standard clocked CPU. Again, that's your call. VCard: The Nvidia 8800s are the best Vcards available today. Nvidia's G90 will be coming out in the Fall. The G90 may provide 3X the performance of any current 8800. Run your 7900 now and wait for he G92 in the Fall.All other component in your system are will provide optimum performance ( ~ 10%) for the next 2 years. Very reasonably, PMDG might find it ill-advised to make even subjective hardware recommendations. However, we can take a very well-reasoned 'wild guess 'based on the initial premise, "The best hardware will run the game the best." I doubt that words of comfort will be forth coming.

>>could you PLEASE review and advise if it will suffice for>FSX(747400X/MD11/737NX).This type of question is impossible to answer. What is "suffice"? It is like asking if $1,000,000 would suffice, do you need perhaps $2,000,000? I am surprised that you obviously having been around computer games and flight simulation and could manage to come up with a question like this. Phil Taylor from ACES team chuckles at questions like that. Michael J.

Sam- once again, thank you for your clear and logical explanations. I appreciate the time and effort it took and feel comforted in my decision to purchase this system. There will always be faster and better but this system should allow for a couple of years of simming. I activated Vista's Media Player (I believe version 11) and not there are several additional processes (not services :) ) running. Perhaps when you have a moment we can discuss how this is best managed? I am available at [email protected] .Michael- I am at somewhat of a loss to respond to you appropriately. Perhaps my best answer is and should be- thank you as well for your time- I'm sure your efforts are well intentioned and equally sure Mr. Taylor would rather speak for himself.Finally, if the Team has been advised NOT to provide specific system information, a simple explanation would have avoided a great deal of anxiety and concern on my part- perhaps that could be considered for future postings? The silence, amidst strict moderating is a bit disconcerting.Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

Don't worry about these services. Those FS-auto-starters that unload services are for systems that are below minimum ram requirements. If a simmer has 256 megs of ram, it's not about optimizing a system, it's about getting the sim to run at all. Services only sit there and horde ram, that is until they are called on to run. Then they use CPU horsepower too. For instance, if a simmer wants to watch a movie while FS is running, the preloaded WMP services will run. Watch the Processes in task manager for CPU activity. This will tell you what Services are running during gameplay. Look at the CPU column to monitor activity. "00" means they are not running and are incurring No effect . . on anything.If a simmer has 2-3 gigs of ram, the service's use of ram is entirely insignificant to game play. If there is no activity, don't worry about it. Even if there is, those extra 3 cores at 2.4 ghz will take care of it. Three C2D cores at 2.4 ghz are the same as 15ghz of old P4 Hyperthreaded, Netburst CPU power. That ought to handle a couple of arrant processes without effecting game play, one might hope. A quad core CPU is CPU horsepower beyond what we are even used to considering. Relax. You got da juice. Not to say this is all entirely insignificant. Peace of mind is significant too, it will just have nothing to do with gameplay. A hardware analysis was unnecessary from an entirely and reasonably implied additional premise, "This is NoT an addon that will crash the best hardware available today. It will run the best on the best hardware available. You have have best hardware. What more can we do?" It may just have been concluded that this premise was so clearly implicant as to be entirely unnecessary to restate.

Thanks Sam- you're the best! I really appreciate all the time and effort you have expended to help me. The reason I was concerned was that last night while flying, when I turned final at EGLL the computer froze- nothing would work until Ctl Alt Del. I was concerned that one of the newly activated/installed processed was causing a conflict, or that a process was running (maybe a system scan or update download or media sharing even though I thought I disabled this- I wanted to be able to get more information to then ask an intelligent question- rather than just the novice- "my computer froze".On inspection tonight I have 50 processes running (51 last night I think)- as you surmised nearly all have the 00, iexplore.exe bounces between 00 and 01, and System Idle Process bounces between 98 and 99. I have two entries for csrss.exe and two for avgrssvc.exe.......? CPU usage is bouncing between 1-4% at idle (only IE running- no FS9).From what you are saying, I gather that I should not worry about the 00 processes- should I at least shut down AVG and Defender. BTW I did download that Spybot program you suggested and even on a 1 week install it was able to remove 12 items.From years of simming only AFTER trimming all the fat from Windows- ie shutting down everything non-necessary for FS- I am unsure how to proceed with Vista.Again, please accept my fervent thanks for your willingness to explain the ins and outs of Vista- she's a whole new beast!Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

BTW flew the exact flight again last night, turning final same DME and no issues! The only programs shut down were AVG and Defender. Despite it being completly non-usual I left everything else alone. FR were locked at 25 initially. I read somewhere that all of Koorby's .cfg tweaks, coupled with Unlimited frame rates works in Vista (perhaps due to the way it manages memory and resources differently, and perhaps due to a better prefetch)? I tried it and it definitely seemed way, way smoother not that there were pauses at 25, just that it seemed FLUID. It was a feeling of cutting loose a leash and floating- quite wonderful- no tearing, no sudden stops or other resource management issues....is this ok or will continuing to use this then cause different problems later? Took some lovely screenies of G-CIVA- my fav transport a/c and the one I fly on most of my BA route schedules,except when flying my other transport favorite- Rick Piper's freeware HS 748 Budgie on domestic routes. The 3D modeling using Tabs nTune fix is truly something to behold- thanks Ryan it made a HUGE difference. Sam, do you use texture blending, extended terrain, sun glare and lens flare? I have everything except sun glare unchecked. ATC, dynamic scenery and AI are all off as I do almost 100% of my flying online- but WideFS and FSUIPC and SquakBox are on. I do run SquakBox and ServInfo as well as the BAV ACARS on a networked laptop. Also, no autogen (and renamed the folder to .BAK). Sight distance is 30, clouds at 40 and detailed clouds at 50%. I am using the Cielosim Flight Environment textures for clouds, sky sets, lighting and reflections- lovely! I bounce around mostly in the 30s and 40s with the lowest figure I have seen being 21 only for a second or so. I have seen a FEW 50s and 60s- keep in mind I use 100% detail and massive textures as well as running a 22" LCD at 1600x 1050 32bit color and fly mostly EGLL, EGLC, EGCC, EGBB, KATL, KORD, KJFK, VAHH, VAHX and LOWI. I do have a freeware update for EGLC and Holgers LOWI. The other defaults are pretty detailed- so that's not too bad IMHO. Will using scenery addons (if I research who does a good job with frame rates, and leaving all the dynamic scenery off work ok- do you have any specific recommendations to use with PMDG's 747 and eventually the 747X?Thanks to those who have answered and especially to SAM (btw I've loved Staggerwings for years too)- it has been a godsend to have someone knowledgeable enough AND WILLING TO help.Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

Our software setups are as unique as the hardware environments in which they operate, Your software/network mix is especially unique. As with any pioneer, the trail underfoot and then 'round the corner may very well be "where no man has gone before." In other words, your system's performance might be a bit difficult to forecast. But keep blazing that trail . . . and let us know what you find out there.

>Our software setups are as unique as the hardware>environments in which they operate, Your software/network mix>is especially unique. As with any pioneer, the trail underfoot>and then 'round the corner may very well be "where no man has>gone before." In other words, your system's performance might>be a bit difficult to forecast. But keep blazing that trail .>. . and let us know what you find out there. All- I am trying to blaze that trail, but surely it is one that has been traveled before by others as well- in trying to optimize my installation and performance I would ask that if you have experience with optimizing FS9 under a Vista OS and are getting better performance you would please comment-I read somewhere that all of Koorby's .cfg tweaks, coupled with Unlimited frame rates works in Vista (perhaps due to the way it manages memory and resources differently, and perhaps due to a better prefetch)? I tried it and it definitely seemed way, way smoother not that there were pauses at 25, just that it seemed FLUID. It was a feeling of cutting loose a leash and floating- quite wonderful- no tearing, no sudden stops or other resource management issues....is this ok or will continuing to use this then cause different problems later? BTW the 3D modeling using Tabs nTune fix is truly something to behold- thanks Ryan it made a HUGE difference. Is there benefit in the Unlimited, 30FPS or 25FPS setting with the TextureMaxLoad tweak? Is there a danger in using the Unlimited setting? On one load I got almost no/crappy detail in the ground scenery- is this because FS9 had nothing left to draw with. A reboot and restart and it seemed crisp again.....???Do do you use texture blending, extended terrain, sun glare and lens flare? I have everything except sun glare unchecked. ATC, dynamic scenery and AI are all off as I do almost 100% of my flying online- but WideFS and FSUIPC and SquakBox are on. I do run SquakBox and ServInfo as well as the BAV ACARS on a networked laptop. Also, no autogen (and renamed the folder to .BAK)- could this be changed with minimal FPS impact? Sight distance is 30, clouds at 40 and detailed clouds at 40%. I am using the Cielosim Flight Environment textures for clouds, sky sets, lighting and reflections- lovely! I bounce around mostly in the 30s and 40s with the lowest figure I have seen being 21 only for a second or so. I have seen a FEW 50s and 60s- keep in mind I use 100% detail and massive textures as well as running a 22" LCD at 1600x 1050 32bit color and fly mostly EGLL, EGLC, EGCC, EGBB, KATL, KORD, KJFK, VAHH, VAHX and LOWI. I do have a freeware update for EGLC and Holgers LOWI. The other default airports are pretty detailed- so I guess that's not too bad? Will using scenery addons (if I research who does a good job with frame rates, and leaving all the dynamic scenery off work ok- do you have any specific recommendations to use with PMDG's 747 and eventually the 747X?I keep reading posters that say they are running FS9 with UT GEPRO AI etc, etc, sliders right and getting awesome performance. Are they all using XP and not Vista, what else is/could be the issue? Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

Anyone-Why is it so difficult to get answers about settings- I realize they are highly individual but surely there are some commonalities as well? Is everyone else getting something I am missing here? Is everyone else totally happy with their performance and done with and uninterested in this issue?Is 25FPS without autogen, without AI, without DYnamic Scenery, without UT, GEPro the best systems do? I'm hoping not! Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg

It's very difficult to remark on every setting on the computer and/or sim. I'm okay with my performance, but I'm looking to upgrade next month or so. I get about 25 FPS with some autogen, some AI, and medium to high settings everywhere else. Ge Pro won't hurt your performance because it's the same size textures. They might look blurry at times, but you shouldn't get lower frames. UT seems to really only cause blurries for a lot of systems too, but not that much of a reduction of FPS overall. The night UT lights are what sometimes kill FPS. As far as daytime goes though, very little impact should be seen in the FPS department, but video cards don't like the detail with UT and GE Pro.In most top computers however, you will always suffer setbacks when trying to manage 3D clouds, AI traffic, and all the eye candy. Then adding 3rd party planes to it and your system will choke. These sims don't seem to utilize the hardware as efficiently as they probably could, but also the amount of code and detail going on with a program like this is enormous. Having what we have is pretty good when you look at how it was 10 years ago.