Hey thanks for your time, I'm looking forward to installing FS 2004 but the PC I have now won't even come close to running it. FS 2002 works ok but the settings are scaled down. What system do you run CPU and type, RAM, Video card and anything else you can think of.... I would like it to also work like a computer..... I have around 500 hours of flying with FS 98, 2000 and 2002. Thanks again for your help, Scot

Your question is too open ended. There are hundreds of computers that are the "best" for running FS2004.The thing it comes down to, is how many $, Euros, Pesos, etc. you have to spend on a new/upgrade computer system.Some things to stay away from:Shared Memory - you will see this with inexpensive systems. They share the memory with an on-board graphics chip, modem, etc.On-board graphics - Usually a downsized graphics chip. See shared memory above.On-board sound - This may or may not be a big show stopper. I have a CMedia 8738 On-board sound chip and it works well. Some others may not.On-board NIC/modem - This may or may not be a big show stopper.Since you ran FS2002 with your present system, you know how it ran with your present CPU speed, GPU, RAM etc. Todays CPUs are running about 2.4-3.0+GHz.W. Sieffert

For CPU's you need speed. AMD processors are cheaper but Intel is winning the GHz race. If you do go the Intel route get the 800FSB model. For intel motherboards the 865 chipset is much cheaper than the 875. If you decide to go with AMD, get the NForce. For motherboard manufacturers I like Abit, Asus, and MSI. Memory I would recommend getting 3200 CAS 2. At least 512MB.Video there's ATI and Nvidia. That's a personal call I tend to have better luck with Nvidia products myself. 5600 is about $200, the 5900 is the best but $400+

Relatively easy question:- Motherboard w/875P Intel support chipset and 800 front-side-bus support- Pentium 4 3.2 ghz with hyper-threading technology (HTT) (there should be up to 3.6 by the end of the year but with the same architecture)- 2 equal-size memory chips, either 512 each or 1 gigabyte each, totalling 1 or 2 gig. Make sure the 2 memory chips are equal in size and from the same manufacturer. This is to take maximum advantage of hyperthreading. Should be PC3200/DDR400 memory, or faster if available. It appears that more memory on the graphics card is much more helpful than going from 1 to 2 gig of main memory.- Serial ATA, 7200 RPM hard drive. Make sure it has an 8 megabyte cache on it, no smaller. Get as large of a drive as you need, or two drives.- ATI Radeon 9800Pro 256mb. This one is my preference but the nVidia 5900 Ultra 256mb is roughly equivalent. Just make sure you get the 256mb card and not the 128mb. For me, it makes quite a difference. ATI will have a 9900Pro by the end of the year but it's basically just an overclocked 9800.- SoundBlaster Audigy2 sound card. There's a couple of souped up versions of this card but it's up to you whether you need the additional feaures (check CreativeLabs.com web site for specs. I'm pretty sure the regular Audigy2 is all FS9 needs. As someone already said, if you need to save money, this might be a place, i.e. use the motherboard's built-in sound capability.- As nice of a monitor as you can afford. For me, I'd rather have a larger CRT than a smaller flat-panel for the same money.- Up to you on rudders/stick. I'm generally happy with Microsoft's ForceFeedback2's stick.- CD, DVD, DVD+RW, DVD-RW. No advice here...whatever! Just amke sure the cd-rom portion reads fast (52x, I think).- WindowsXP Pro. Make sure you update it to current right away, before you install FS9.- 300W or higher power supply. No smaller.Good luck and let me and/or the forum know if you have questions. Do not scrimp on anything above except the sound card and the size of hard drive.sj- all opinions expressed herein are my own -

>Relatively easy question:>- Motherboard w/875P Intel support chipset and 800>front-side-bus supportOr save a couple of bucks and go with the 865 Chipset which has shown to benchmark even w and at times exceed the 875 for less money. :)>- Pentium 4 3.2 ghz with hyper-threading technology (HTT)>(there should be up to 3.6 by the end of the year but with the>same architecture)If money is no object than yeah go for it but there is no need. A 2.4C will run FS2K4 fine and dandy thank you, is a third the cost and when paired w good memory and a motherboard will see the high side of 2.8 Ghz OC'ed w stock HSF and 100% stability.You will probably not see a 3.6 based on the P4C. 3.2 is rumored to be the end of the bin for the C chips. Now the prescott is a different story.>- 2 equal-size memory chips, either 512 each or 1 gigabyte>each, totalling 1 or 2 gig. Make sure the 2 memory chips are>equal in size and from the same manufacturer. This is to take>maximum advantage of hyperthreading. Should be PC3200/DDR400>memory, or faster if available. It appears that more memory>on the graphics card is much more helpful than going from 1 to>2 gig of main memory.Size, type, maker has nothing to do with Hyperthreading! Also, 2 Gig is absolute overkill. At the most 2 sticks of either 256/512 Corsair XMS 400 or OCZ PC 32-3500 will be fine again at about 1/2 the cost.>- Serial ATA, 7200 RPM hard drive. Make sure it has an 8>megabyte cache on it, no smaller. Get as large of a drive as>you need, or two drives.Tend to agree but Serial is still not that much faster than reg IDE drives. Until the price drops it's a 50/50 choice>- ATI Radeon 9800Pro 256mb. This one is my preference but the>nVidia 5900 Ultra 256mb is roughly equivalent. Just make sure>you get the 256mb card and not the 128mb. For me, it makes>quite a difference. ATI will have a 9900Pro by the end of the>year but it's basically just an overclocked 9800.If you want image quality the ATI Radeon 9800Pro 256 is hard to beat. Flat out speed the 5900 is currently the king although it depends on the benchmark used. Winner here?? A TIE>- SoundBlaster Audigy2 sound card. There's a couple of souped>up versions of this card but it's up to you whether you need>the additional feaures (check CreativeLabs.com web site for>specs. I'm pretty sure the regular Audigy2 is all FS9 needs. >As someone already said, if you need to save money, this might>be a place, i.e. use the motherboard's built-in sound>capability.Regular AudigyII is fine. If your looking to save money don't do it by using onboard sound. The quality is not as good and it has been proven that it eats more CPU cycles than a PCI card. Scrimp somewhere else.>- As nice of a monitor as you can afford. For me, I'd rather>have a larger CRT than a smaller flat-panel for the same>money.Hey we finally agree on something !! :)>- Up to you on rudders/stick. I'm generally happy with>Microsoft's ForceFeedback2's stick.Saitek X-45 for me :)>- CD, DVD, DVD+RW, DVD-RW. No advice here...whatever! Just>amke sure the cd-rom portion reads fast (52x, I think).Lite-On 48x24x48x16 Combo drive. Kills 3 birds w one stone for less than 60 bucks :)>- WindowsXP Pro. Make sure you update it to current right>away, before you install FS9.>- 300W or higher power supply. No smaller.Minimum 350 if your running a P4C. Preferrably a 400. Personally swear by the Antec Truepower line in every clients machine I build.>>Good luck and let me and/or the forum know if you have>questions. Do not scrimp on anything above except the sound>card and the size of hard drive.>>sj>>- all opinions expressed herein are my own ->One of my current customer favorites:Abit IC-7/IC-7G Motherboard2.4C Pentium 4512 Megs of Corsiar XMS3200 or OCZ Gold PC3500Audigy 2 Sound card9700Pro or option the 9800Pro 25648x24x48x16 Lite-On CDRW/DVD80 Gig WD JB or New Maxtor 10K 36 Gig drivesWindows XP Pro. No Service Pack 1. Updates on a per machine/ as needed basis.Bobby

> Just make sure>you get the 256mb card and not the 128mb. I am yet to see any recommendation on one of those reputable sites (like Tomshardware, etc) that would say it pays to buy 256 MB card. They all say it is currently a waste of money - makes absolutely no diff unless you use extremely high resolutions combined with very high AA setting that I doubt people who play FS9 care for.Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

While I agree with what the hardware sites are saying about the overkill of a 256 card, high resolution and lots of AA and AF ARE what simmers care for, just not doable for most! LOLRegards, Michaelhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.com