Hi Guys For those of us with machines that will just handle FS9 what hardware is needed to run FSX with eneugh grunt to spare for future complex airliner addons such as "747 queen of the skies"?. I have read that even the fastest machines now available are not really powerful eneugh for FSX. Does anyone know what spec MS designed FSX for?

If you want to have most sliders right + enjoys such addons, then IMO it will take around a 5GHz CPU (actual clock, not equivalent rating) of either an Intel C2D or an AMD FX series processor before this title will give you the 15+ FPS in all situations many of us seek. Since there is nothing on the hardware roadmap from either company that will get you in this range in the next two years at least, that means you will have to either turn the sliders down or hope that the upcoming SP1 patch from MS takes advantage of where hardware is really going.Having said that, I have recently tweaked my C2D system to give 25+ FPS in the stock FSX without having to make any significant compromises (well, other than simplifying autogen and being easy on the water slider). As such, I believe it could now accommodate a PMDG 747 style addon without pushing me down to single digit FPS.Gary

Pleeeease give us the setings Gary.

Gary,would you be kind enough to post your FPS with the following setupFPS Unlimited.1280x1024x32 (Global Texture Resolution - Very HighLens flare -OffLight Bloom -OffAdvanced Animations-On3D Virtual cockpitHigh resolution 3D virtual cockpit -OnAircraft casts Shadow on Ground -OffAircraft Casts shadows on self- Off Aircraft Landing Lights Illuminate ground -OnLevel of Detail radius - LargeMesh Complexity - 70Mesh Resolution - 19mTexture Resolution - 1mWater Effects - Low 2.xScenery Complexity - Extremely DenseAutogen Density - DenseGround Scenery Shadows - offSpecial effects detail - HighCloud Draw Distance - 110 milesDetail CloudsCloud Coverage Density - MaximumAirline Traffic 100% (Modified UT flight plans using WOAI, Evolve AI and FSP aircraft with most mainline US airlines, and many other International airlines. compiled in UT. )no GA traffic, 100% Airport traffic, no other autos or ships)and place your default FSX aircraft in one of the gates at Atlanta Intl and post what FPS you are getting there? (Along with any other tweaks you may have done with your system. If you are not using UT AI traffic. Please state so.Something similar.http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...ing_type=searchManny