I have a fairly new system that I put together right around the time of the release of FSX. I have not been able to get SP2 to run although I have not done a clean re-install either which I am going to do tomorrow. I have also ordered 2 more GB of RAM for my system for FSX as well as other applications. I'm just wondering what others think I should be seeing. I get frames around 15-18 if I leave the frame rate limiter to unlimited. If I lock them at 30 I get around 12 fps and it dips lower in more detailed areas. I also am not able to fly any of the payware airliners without being in the single digits fps wise. Glass cockpits also hog the frames. I really thought I had a pretty powerful system but maybe not? Here are the specs:Windows XPIntel Pentium Extreme Edition 965 (3.73 GHz) (Dual-Core) (1066 FSB) (HT)Asus P5N32 SLI SE Deluxe MotherboardGeForce 7950 GX2 Video Card (1GB)2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 (PC2 6400) RAMWD Raptor 150 GB Hard DriveAppreciate any thoughts...I really think my performance should be better. Maybe the extra RAM that's on the way will help?

The RAM won't help much. You may have a lot of background processes running which are grabbing CPU time. So a clean instal should sort that out. Instead of buying the RAM I'd get a 2nd hard-drive (doesn't have to be a Raptor) and create a Dual-Boot system. Have one boot for general purpose computing and a dedicated FSX boot (XP and FSX only) on the Raptor.If your FPS are still not acceptable then the weakest bit of your system is the CPU. Put in a Q6600 and you should see about 25% increase in FPS at stock speed. With that Motherboard you will be able to push it to 3.2GHz with the stock cooler..and FSX will really fly. Get a decent Cooler and you can push it beyond 3.4GHz.Alternatively you could put in an even faster CPU than the 6600. RegardsJim

That's more or less the same system and the same performance I had before. The CPU is your bottleneck, one generation too slow to really enjoy FSX. Sorry mate.

My thoughts are that you can do a little better with that hardware, but not much. Your late gen P4 is doing close to as good as it can do.Probably there is some tweaking that could go on, where you would get better than 12 fps. By comparison, I think my machine roughly specs close to yours (my A64 San Diego core is a little faster than the late netburst Intels...but close) and I can generally maintain 18-22 fps with mid-to-high sliders in FSX at fairly crowded airports.You probably can get high teens in the same situation.Really if it were me I would consider a new rig based on a Q6600 as was suggested...RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

this is what I figured...I screwed up when I bought the CPU. The newer dual cores were available at the time however I was looking at clock speed. I did research but I guess I didn't do good enough research. I just don't understand I guess because my CPU is dual core with a faster clock speed. I realize that the others are more efficient with heat and such but I thought this would perform better. I guess I was terribly wrong. Unfortunately a new CPU is not in the cards right now. Maybe at some point although by then FS11 may be coming forth. I'll probably have to make do with what I have since this system is only a year old.Brandon

>this is what I figured...I screwed up when I bought the CPU. No, you didn't do too bad, especially given the time (mid-late 06). You can get your netburst P4 running FSX decently.I'd guess for starters, your computer could use a complete re-format and then a methodical re-install of the operating system, FSX, SP2, etc.The results will be worth it--you will have a flyable sim on your hardware. However, I can also understand if you do not want to go to all of that trouble. There are less drastic things that can be done, but they will yield less results.Also if you have an off-the-shelf PC sometimes it might be even more of a hassle to wipe it clean.RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian