Heey, i recently got a new pc with the following specs:Q6600 (stock clocked until i can afford a new fan), Ati 4870 x2,6bg black dragon 800mhz ram, 250gb sata2 and 160gb sata2 hd's at 7200rpm, gigabte x48 ds4 motherboard and an antec 1k psu all running with windows vista ultimate 64bit.I am getting very poor framerates, i have it locked for 40fps, which it will stay most of the time given that you are situated in a non high detail area, although i have seen a constant 39fps with some of my add on planes in seattle, but when it comes to add on planes in add on scenery i run into trouble and get around 20-25 fps. for example i flew my palma de mallorca scenery by aerosoft with my feelthere a320 and the poor framerates started. i dont know why im getting fps like this when my pc can play call of duty 4 and playable, excellent framerates. i would very much appreciate if anybody could give me some advice or answers to why performance is so poor, i also dont have all sliders on max, and am running a 1440x900 resolution. thanks

You're gonna have that...FSX is much more CPU intensive than COD4 or pretty much any game out there.The Q6600 isn't the strongest CPU available, especially when it is not overclocked. I'd save up some money and get a nice cooler (spend about 40-60 bucks):http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/cool...ta_2_cpu_coolerhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835154001

James,I've read posts about SLI and CrossFire coupled graphics card performing bad with FSX. You could try to remove one of the graphic cards and just to make sure that CrossFire isn't the issue.Ulf BCore2Duo X6800 3.3GHz4GB RAM Corsair XMS2-8500C5BFG 8800GTX, Creative SB X-FiFSX Acc/SP2, Vista 32

Why do you consider 20-29 fps as poor? After all the game is not about how many fps you can get out of it but how playable and smooth it is. I have mine locked at 20fps so never go above it even though it can and it is perfectly flyable, smooth, good graphics (read no pauses or flickering). I used have fps down around 10-15fps in high scenery areas and while 15 was okay 10 was not.Ignore the fps unless it is getting to a point where it is impacting on the game. -John

Per the other replies, FPS over 20 is not that important, the CPU most often limits performance in FSX, and 2 video cards can have a negative effect in FSX. But, also consider that Tom's Hardware didn't get very good FPS running FSX with the 4870 GPU (if there is any accuracy in their tests).ArtBiostar TF560-A2+, Athlon 64X2-6000+, 4GB RAM, Geforce 8800GTS-320MB, 500W PSU, 250GB HD, FSX(SP1-SP2), Audigy SE sound, Vista Home Premium 32 bit, CH Yoke & Pedals, 22" WS LCD monitor

thanks for all of your replies, the 4870x2 is 2 4870s on one card so cant take one gpu out, maybe when some new drivers come out that will support 2 gpus for flight sim better. its fs2004 im running thats why im worried about the framerate. i shall lock the fps lower and see how smooth it is. thanks again.

I keep forgetting I'm outside the FSX forum when in the hardware forum and assume the discussion is about FSX performance. It's easier to understand your concern when it's FS9.Apparently, you are using a widescreen monitor at 1440x900 resolution. That's what I use when in windowed mode so I can read email and documents. When in flight simulator, I'm in full screen mode at 1680x1028 native resolution. I've heard that FSX gets better FPS in full screen mode, but FS9 does better in windowed mode.If your FPS problem only occurs with a certain addon aircraft and/or scenery, then it's apparent that the problem is with the addon and not your computer.ArtBiostar TF560-A2+, Athlon 64X2-6000+, 4GB RAM, Geforce 8800GTS-320MB, 500W PSU, 250GB HD, FSX(SP1-SP2), Audigy SE sound, Vista Home Premium 32 bit, CH Yoke & Pedals, 22" WS LCD monitor

funny stuff this, for a laugh i set all the option catagories to the ultra high and now i get around 100fps, droping to 40-50 with my add on aircraft in my add on scenery. thanks