Assume a system has decent video and sound cards, 1 gig ram and an Intel Dual Core E2140 processor @ 1.6 Ghz, with Vista Premium. Will that be enough firepower to run FSX? And FS9? Been searching this and other hardware forums, and not finding much help. Want to upgrade, but a quad core system more powerful than Mission Control is out of my price range. Any advice for the budget minded???

Let me start by saying that I know nothing about that CPU but assuming that the CPU has enough horsepower to suit you, then I think you'll need at least 2 GB of RAM. Especially for FSX.But I think the real question revolves around this statement, "... assuming that the CPU has enough horsepower to suit you ... ." I'm running FSX on a AMD Sempron 3500 @ 2GHz and I'm tickled to death. Others are not happy with twice (and more) my processing power. I accept each version of flight sim (and I've had 'em all since subLogic FSII) for what it is, tweak it as best I can, and enjoy the outcome. If that's how you think, then go for it.R-

I certainly hear you as to budjet. Your system should run FS9 just fine. FSX, however, seems to want more than a decent video card. Quad may not be a must but probably a faster dual would be nice. On board sound is good enough. 2 GB of ram is better. You might have to change mother boards to get a better CPU. Do some research, you don't have to buy the best(it helps,though). It just depends on how good you want FSX to look.Bob

Thanks for the replies and advice, it makes sense. I found one guy who complained about his low frame rate (50fps). I'd be happy with half of that. I'm looking at a system with a 2.6 ghz dual core processor and 2 gigs ram. I'll install a video card with pixel shading and sound card, that should do the trick. I hope.

If he considered that low, he should come over and play on my system with my old settings.