should i or shouldn't i? will it make a difference? i have a 2.4 gig amd processor, 128 nvidea card, 512 megs of ram. i'm running FS9 in default mode at 800x600, to cut out some choppiness. it's still a bit choppy at times like when using real world weather or some of the themes and when landing at a large airport. am thinking about running out and getting a 3 gig amd processor right now if it would help. i think i'm ok with the other stuff mentioned but thought the 3 gig amd chip might let me run FS9 at a higher resolution and cut out the choppiness. please let me know what you think. thanks, william

Sounds like the same rig I used to have - P4 2.4, 512RDRAM and a GeForce 4 Ti4600. :)I upgraded to an AMD 64 3500+, 1024 PC3200 and an ATi x800 256 Pro.For me the difference is HUGE. I could run in 1280X1024 w/my 2.4 and get high 20s with good detail - now I'm running same res and higher details and getting (!!!) 60FPS in the Flight 1 Cessna 421 VC. Now, I'm not sure how much of a difference the x800 and 512MB more of faster memory makes. :(Make sure the chip you get fits your MoBo! :) I know some of the 64 bit AMDs are 754 and 939 (Mine's 939 - future in mind! :) )

i told the guy on the phone what MB i had and he said it would work. well, you upgraded alittle more than just the processor and sounds like you have a hot machine there! thanks, william

You say you're looking into a 3GHz AMD chip? Like an AMD 64 3000+? Or a 3200+? You should also look into a Power Supply upgrade too and see if one is needed.If you can really wait to upgrade and whatnot, I'd really reccommend saving up to get a 939 chipset AMD 64 chip and mobo. The 754 chipsets are going to be the lower-end mobo's and CPUs, while the 939s will run the FX and 64 chips.In another thread, I posted that I got my 3500+ for $497.00 from Newegg - week and a half later, it was $352.00!!!! -cries- The mobo was about $131.00 This is all in USD. EDIT: Unfortunately, I just checked Newegg - it's back up to $459.00 I guess it was a Doom 3 special sale on the chip. -shrugs- Monarch Computer has the 939 3500+ for $390.00 with Free Shipping - http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/m...uct_Code=120467Newegg however, does have a good price on the MoBo I have - Abit AV8 VIA K8t800 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc....TT=Motherboards

Anyway the prices on the A64 3400+ Clawhammer have dropped insanely the last weeks and it has a bigger cache than the 3500+. Now the 3500+ on Socket 939 has dual channel so it kind of evens it out but you should be able to get hold on a 3400+ Clawhammer for less then a 3500+ :)Now when choosing mainboard you really need one with a working AGP/PCI lock. Either a nforce 3 or a mainboard with the VIA 880 PRO chipset. Some of these have the AGP/PCI lock some don

Hi there CybrSlydr I just purchased an AMD 64 3500+, corsair ram 1gig, and same video card. I'm having troubles getting some good frame rates. Are you frame rate 60fps on the ground or in the air? I'm up to about 50-70 in the air, and around 20 on the ground. It works great but I was wondering what other tweaks I could do. I followed the win xp tweak in the hardware section and it actually slowed my computer down :-hmmm . Next question, is your CPU showing that's it's too hot? Mine shows a temp. of 183f. I know this is a false reading, just wondering what to do?I do love this new system; it's like night a day from my old.Old was and Intel P4 1.5 with 512 sdram, and a gforce2 with 32megs :-lol sorry for 20 questions, I'm not totally up on all this stuff. This is just too much computer for me :-grr HuggsKittiex:)~This system is: AMD 64 3500+ 939 ASUS A8V Deluxe with wifi GCorsair TwinX1024 3200 XL Pro 2 36gig W.D. Raptor drives in Raid256 X800 ProWindow xp homeAntec True power 550wThermaltake Premier V5000A case

:D np Kittie. :) I'm gonna go start up FS2K4 and take note of the settings and whatnot - the frames I'll be quoting will be from FRAPs (google it - free app), though it's usually the same with the MS Shift-Z function.With the CPU heat... Mine's kinda porked too! :D The mobo I have came with this uGuru utility - has all sorts of cool stuff. Anyway, one of them shows the CPU temp. Depending on what mood my puter is in, I can have anywhere from 32c to 60c at idle. :( I put Arctic Silver Ceramique thermal grease on it - haven't really noticed a diff as the thing changes on a whim... lol The only constant is when I run SETI @ Home, the temp goes up 10c no matter what. Like right now with WinAMP 5.03 running, Y!M, MSN, etc running, I'm at a svelte 27c (appx 78f).As for tweaks... I haven't ried any of them yet. lol I uninstalled FS2K4 figuring I was screwed then reinstalled after it appeared the VIA drivers might fix things. So I haven't had a chance to re-tweak the install to see if they make any difference.

Ok, my un-scientific results are in. :) These results are with all settings set on "Ultra High" in the drop down boxes. 2D is looking forward, VC is looking forward, Tower is default, Spot is from hitting the "2" key on the numpad for a direct from behind view. Sitting at the default runway starting spot. This is from Seattle-Tacoma Intl. with the default Cessna 172SP Skyhawk during the daytime, plane lights OFF.---------------------------------------------------------------------1280x1024x32MIP Mapping - 7Hardware Lights - 6Global Max Texture - MassiveAll boxes checkedTrilinear FilteringMajor Thunderstorm: 2D, .5 Zoom - 35 VC, .5 Zoom - 35 Tower - 25 Spot - 35---------------------------------------------------------------------Clear: 2D, .5 Zoom - 35 VC, .5 Zoom - 35 Tower, - 20 Spot - 35---------------------------------------------------------------------1600x1200x32MIP - 7Hardware Lights - 6Global Max Texture - MassiveAll Boxes CheckedTrilinear FilteringMajor Tunderstorm: 2D, .5 Zoom - 30 VC, .5 Zoom - 20 Tower - 15 Spot - 20---------------------------------------------------------------------Clear: 2D, .5 Zoom - 25 VC, .5 Zoom - 30 Tower - 12 Spot - 20---------------------------------------------------------------------These are all un-tweaked settings. Just a plain, vanilla install of FS2K4. As you can see, those are some very playable frames in 1600x1200x32 even in VC. I have a feeling that if Anti-Aliasing is unchecked, you might get better frames in 1600x1200x32 without losing much, if anything, in image quality as 1600x1200x32 is pretty sharp - AA isn't really needed.Any questions, comments, etc?

>MIP Mapping - 7don't you get any shimmering with this high mip mapping ?Michael J.http://www.reality-xp.com/community/nr/rsc/rxp-higher.jpg

Okay I will have to post mine and we can compare. Right now the computer is in the shop again :-grr . I'm still having a few problems with it. Mostly the problem is now with the case. All those fans are very confusing to set up even for the tech guys.HuggsKittiex:)~ I've included a couple of pics of my system (A very proud mommy -lol)This system is: AMD 64 3500+ 939 ASUS A8V Deluxe with wifi GCorsair TwinX1024 3200 XL Pro 2 36gig W.D. Raptor drives in Raid256 X800 ProWindow xp homeAntec True power 550wThermaltake Premier V5000A casex:)~

As for the MIP mapping - uh... I dunno. lol Maybe I'm just so used to it that I don't notice. What does MIP Mapping do?Kittie, :D Nice puter!!!! w00t! I got the Tsunami Dream w/o the plexiglass side panel. I didn't know it at the time, but I know now. :D My case only has... 2 case fans, 1 CPU fan, 2 PS fans. So, I only have 5. Did you have any trouble getting your drives in? My CD and DVD drive were quite a tight fit.

thanks for the help. i went ahead and got the AMD 3000. runs pretty good so far. do you think with my setup now i can run in 1024x786? i was using that with the 2.4 processor and it wasn't to bad except with real weather and large airports. the default settings are on the middle to high end but at 800x600 resolution, same as before. ok to bump the resolution up? thanks, william

I've heard that a real sweet res to run the game in is 1280x1024. I dunno why but peepz have reported that it runs smoother at that res than others. Try it and see. :)

They put the computer together at the shop. But from what they told me the head tech guy gave up. He brought in someone else to finish the build. The case was giving them the most trouble with the wireing of the fans and monitors. I have 8 fans that are controlable, 5 with the case and 2 with the power supply and 1 cpu. :-hmmm .I run my screen size at 1280x1024 also. I find this to be the best.HuggsKittiex:)~

Okay here are mine :P ------------------------------------------------------------------These results are with all settings set on "Ultra High" in the drop down boxes. 2D is looking forward, VC is looking forward, Tower is default, Spot is from hitting the "2" key on the numpad for a direct from behind view. Sitting at the default runway starting spot. This is from Seattle-Tacoma Intl. with the default Cessna 172SP Skyhawk during the daytime, plane lights OFF.---------------------------------------------------------------------1280x1024x32MIP Mapping - 7Hardware Lights - 6Global Max Texture - MassiveAll boxes checkedTrilinear FilteringMajor Thunderstorm: 2D, .5 Zoom - 14 -- (In the air: 35)VC, .5 Zoom - 17 -- (in the air -- 40)Tower - 21 -- (in the air -- 52) Spot - 18 -- (in the air -- 36)---------------------------------------------------------------------Clear: 2D, .5 Zoom - 14VC, .5 Zoom - 14Tower, - 30Spot - 18 side view was 40I do have my Traffic 2004 and alot of PIA aircraft loaded (very busy airport-I think they were beeping at me while I was writting everything down). :( I didn't do the larger screen, I don't fly in that.Are you using Direct X9c?When I first loaded the game with nothing installed I was getting around 40-50 on the runway in clear skies. (no traffic)HuggsKittiex:)~ This system is: AMD 64 3500+ 939 ASUS A8V Deluxe with wifi GCorsair TwinX1024 3200 XL Pro 2 36gig W.D. Raptor drives in Raid256 X800 ProWindow xp homeAntec True power 550wThermaltake Premier V5000A case