I'm basically in your same position. Been picking peoples mind on the best OS. Don't matter how much you spend, your system will never get top running frame rates!. However, the more money you spend, the BETTER frame rates you will get. I looked at sytems ranging from 1900.00 usd all the way up to a 18000,00 usd. I researched alienware, Dell, HP, Velocity, VOODOO, Falcon Northwest and Gateway. All have there own claim to fame, so I based it on customer support for their products. That's where it becomes important. I crash computers like there's no tomorrow, and with all the recent updates trying to debug Windows Vista, I'll be leaning more on the support side. Talk to the sales reps at these computer shops and let them know what you want the computer for. It's their job to sell you a computer and should take the time to educate you on the best OS and bang for the buck. Especially for FSX!!. I've been on the phone for the past few weeks and made my decision. Good luck,Chris

Sorry Chris- but my budget will not and can not support a $18,000 gaming machine, or $18,000 of just about anything else that isn't directly related to housing or transportation ;). I just spent about $1,500 for my upgrade and I'd like to think that with all the data out there on FS9 at least, there is a commonality in the parameters used by the majority of PMDG users; that would result in the best compromise between visuals and frame-rates.Sure, GA enthusiasts cruising at 3,000 and 180kts all day have different needs; as do bush pilots or helicopter crews flying to oil-derricks. We here, in this forum however, are all operating a very select few a/c types (737 and variants, 747-400 and 400F), mostly all operating from fairly detailed airports, flying SIDs, known routes (usually above FL280), flying STARs and ILS approaches, again to fairly detailed airports.As such, our needs are fairly common- good cockpit detail and refresh, good a/c detail, good runway and airport environment. The subtle nuances of a fijord or glacier, the rolling terrain of the Cotswalds or the wheat fields of Kansas, are mostly lost from FL330.Can there not then be a common set of FS9 settings that result in maximum performance for the PMGD types? In my case I also run WideClient and SB3- as I imagine do a lot of others who fly online. Yes, every system is different, but at some point there has to be a pattern that becomes evident- and establishing that pattern to assist us, and all those who come to this hallowed developer after us cannot happen without input.I feel like a stuck record, asking for the same information over and over again- but imagine the benefit to our newer members and future PMDG devotees. Imagine a PMDG Ops page with all this information readily available so that someone would have a definite place to start from. Yes, the tweaks are available; yes, the nVidia settings are available- but there are no guidelines for the detailed in-program settings that would provide the best experience for our a/c of choice- for most.Hopefully there is enough merit in this for people to devote some of their precious time- and thus create a ready-reference to assist us collectively, now and in the future.Best-Carl

I was just commenting on the price range of computers that I've seen on the internet. You would laugh if you seen my HP A430N with 2gigs of ram, a 6200oc nvidia card on a AMD system. I'm lucky to get 20 fps on good days and 12 on better, if you get my point. I updated my system with 500.00 usd and didn't make much difference, just opened and closed my OS faster. I'm a heavy metal driver most of the time, looking for realistic cloud cover, and overall airport scenery. I have to take the good with the bad when it does come down to frame rates. However, the jerky motion that I get taxing to the runway is tollerable considering the beautiful skies and busy taxiways. The system that I hopefully will be purchasing is around 3,000.00 usd, and from a scale from 1-5, 5 being the best, it will be about a mid level 3. As far as a commonality for us high flyers, it would be nice to see what the designers are using to get the best results for game play. However, with that being said, you would have to have a top of the line gaming computer to put all programs through it's paces. I believe that the majority of flight sim/PMDG captains have your basic off the shelf computer from best buy or some other major chain store trying like me to squeeze every last ounce of power from the system that it wasn't designed for. Maybe one day we can all put on a pair of 3D glasses and fly around the world laughing at once was.Chris

Chris:I remember back to the first Microsoft FS on my Apple IIc. I "flew" over squares on a battle field, split by a river at a blistering 1-2 frames per second. Thinking back, yes, I can laugh when I think of that. Now I fly a scheduled flight from Heathrow to Innsbruck- under full ATC control from Ground to Center, using real world weather through SB3, using ultra realistic FMC procedures including current SIDs and STARs. I run 22" of LCD at 1600 X 1050 in 32bit color and glorious detail. I break out on top in severe clear with WONDERFUL sky sets from Cielosim, manage step climbs to squeeze every last seat mile out of the tanks, perform an arc calculated ATC commanded step descent. Plunge into IMC mimimums with RVRs that defy belief, and then flare over the numbers on a full REIL system.We have indeed come a long way- and yes, the future is full of promise.....now- BACK TO OUR SETTINGS QUEST!!!!Best-Carl F. Avari-Cooper BAW0225http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpg