My mind is creeping dangerously close to a decision to upgrade my computer. I currently have a p4 1.9 (428 pin socket), an nvidia ti 4200 and over 700 megs of ram. My question, though, is this: are even the new 3 gig machines enough for MSFS?The reason for this question is that weather brings my system to a screeching halt. My frames in cruise at 20,000 feet in the IK DC-9 are about 20-23 - locked at 23. When entering partly cloudy skies, I am down to single digits. I have the clouds set at a very low level, and most of the other sliders at medium to high. I also have FS Genesis mesh installed. So, if I increase my CPU by 58%, I am guessing that my performance in the clouds will go from 8 or 9 fps, to, say, 12 or 13 fps. That doesn't seem like a lot of gain for a $1,500 to $2,000 machine. Thoughts?Colin

Colin your actually only increasing your cpu about 33 %. Your current 2 gig for arguments sake is 2/3 of a 3 gig. Although your currently running on probably a 400 MHZ system bus.Wait for the new P4C w the 800 MHZ FSB at 3 Ghz. Pair this up w a new Intel based board and some XMS400 from corsiar and you should be able to nearly triple your in cloud framerate as long as you throw a 9700 in there also. And believe it or not if your running AA and or AF your 4200 is the weak link also when it comes to framerates.Want to try something even better? Drop about $350 bucks on a 9700 and see what it does for your framerates. Also, that little 1.9 of yours is more than capable of running at around 2.4 Rock stable w the right motherboard and RAM. Just a thought.Bobby

Actually, it is about 57% - 11 is 57% of 19, so the delta is a nearly 60% increase over what I am driving now. But this is not important. How is the chip you describe different from the new 3 gig chip with P4 with the 800 mhz sb with hyper threading that has been out about a month now? Also, I have a dell system so I'm a bit leary of overclocking. Note also this is the old 428 pin chip. Thanks for your advice. Looking forward to your reply on the p4C

I have similar questions but I will never upgrade before the game is out and there are tons of reports how it runs and what it takes to run it well. And I am definitely waiting until the 4-th quarter when both Intel's Prescott and AMD's 64-bit desktop will be available. I too hope that hyperthreading may give significant performance advantage in FS2004.Michael J.http://hifi.avsim.net/activesky/images/wxrebeta.jpg

I sorta have to laugh at your post (please don't take offense).3 GIG Enough? Since it's about the latest thing out there (and offered a couple of years after FS2002 was released) I should certainly hope so!I'm running a 1.4Gig Celeron2 with 256Meg PC100 memory (motherboard max) on a 100Mhz buss. I have a GeForce2 MX400 64Meg video card. All are running on Win98 (not SE!).Hey, I run FSGenesis mesh and the "addon" clouds and ActiveWeather going and I can get what you claim at Terrain level 86% and cloud density at 65% and other sliders maxed or next to max.The only time I consistently get "low" numbers is around SimFlyers KDFW (my home airport).I do keep my framerates locked at 16fps for higher graphic quality. I could lock no problem at 20-25 if I backed off the other sliders a tad, but I'm very happy with this dinasaur of a motherboard and processor (at least for now, on my budget).I'd settle for a decent motherboard with a 2.4Gig processor/512Meg memory and a GeForce Ti4200 now! Anyone want to give me a deal on their "old and sorry" machine?Of course, my age (54) has taught me that the latest and greatest specs don't often equate to value and enjoyment.Bottom line......"Don't Worry.....Be Happy" (until the next raise comes in)gwillmot

>Actually, it is about 57% - 11 is 57% of 19, so the delta is>a nearly 60% increase over what I am driving now. But this is>not important.Actually, going by numbers its not. You gurrently have 2 ghz of a possible 3 so in my math thats about 66% of the 3Ghz. But it's all a mute point. Your running on a 400Mhz bus. Even a switch to a 478 Pin P4 of 2-2.2 Ghz would show an impressive gain. But you seem stuck on numbers so my point here is done. >>How is the chip you describe different from the new 3 gig chip>with P4 with the 800 mhz sb with hyper threading that has been>out about a month now? It doesnt, If you notice I said it's the new P4 w the 800Mhz FSB and it's only been out a week for retail sale. >>Also, I have a dell system so I'm a bit leary of overclocking.> Note also this is the old 428 pin chip.This brings up my point of stating ALL system specs when posting a question about problems/upgrading. Your stuck. The only thing you may be able to do is add a larger HD and or Video Card. You don't state what type of ram your running but that would seem to need and updating also. Especially if it's anything less than PC2100 DDR >>Thanks for your advice. Looking forward to your reply on the>p4CYour welcome :)My only question is...What would you have done if we said it wasn't enough..LOLWant my advice..Stick with everything you have except add a 9700Pro like I said. That system should have little problems running FS2K2 or Cof w no problems at all.Bobby