Hi guys,I am just wondering if I can get anyones opinion on what OS FSX runs better on? I am contemplating getting Vista or even Windows 7.The X32-X64-X86 complicates me. Maybe someone can tell me which version i should get. My system specs are listed below:Gigabye MA77-UD3P MotherboardAMD Phenom II X2 3.1ghz Dual Core2 GB Corsair DDR3 RamATI Radeon HD 4870 Sapphire 2GB250GB Toshiba HDTrack IRFSX SP2Windows XP SP3Saitek Cyborg Evo (Replacing it with Saitek Pro Flight yoke system soon!)19" Daewoo OC LCD screenIf you guys could please let me know what version of Vista or Windows 7 you would reccommend If at all!Thanks,Tim

I would go with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bits, very stable and user friendly OS plus with 64 bits, you would be able to add memory and say goodbye to OOM problems :(May i also suggest a dedicated FSX hard drive ?

Since you're on XP if you go with 7 (and there's ZERO reason to go with Vista at this point) you'd have to do a clean install anyway. Also no reason to go 32-bit now either. Even if you don't have > 4GB RAM, it doesn't hurt to have the support when you do decide to go down that road.

Thanks guys,I have decided to go with Windows 7 ultimate X64 as I will be investing in another 2gb of ram in the very near future!What does everyone think about the 3 OS that windows supply and how well they each run with FSX? I have heard that Vista is better than XP to run FSX but I have not heard any comparison about Windows 7 and the 2 others......Any feed back would be great.Tim

7 = Vista 1.1 (minor improvements)Vista has DX10 support so it is "better" than XP for FSXXP is the fastest of the 3, but also the oldest

Vista has DX10 support so it is "better" than XP for FSXXP is the fastest of the 3, but also the oldest

DirectX 10 in FSX is an unfinished/half assed after thought and wasn't intended to be anything else but a

DirectX 10 in FSX is an unfinished/half assed after thought and wasn't intended to be anything else but a "preview". Choosing an OS for FSX based on DirectX 10 support is a waste of time.

Highly debatable. DX10 works fine with FSX in stock configuration on both of my gaming PCs. Throw in the add-ons and then you'll start to have problems.

Highly debatable. DX10 works fine with FSX in stock configuration on both of my gaming PCs. Throw in the add-ons and then you'll start to have problems.

The only way for it to work

The only way for it to work "fine" or to be of any benefit would only have come from FSX being written/developed from the ground up with DirectX 10 in mind and as we sadly know that didn't happen. DirectX 10 "preview" is just about useless in FSX.

No, working fine means without bugs with performance in the acceptable range (i.e. as intended). I have explained this is the case for me on both of my gaming PCs, as long as there aren't add-ons loaded into the sim. Therefore, it is actually the add-ons which are at fault as they are not DX10 compatible. I understand that for most simmers DX10 does not work fine because they do use add-ons and that's their choice.

No, working fine means without bugs with performance in the acceptable range (i.e. as intended). I have explained this is the case for me on both of my gaming PCs, as long as there aren't add-ons loaded into the sim. Therefore, it is actually the add-ons which are at fault as they are not DX10 compatible. I understand that for most simmers DX10 does not work fine because they do use add-ons and that's their choice.

Depends on what you consider

Thanks again for the advice guys,Windows 7 should be here in a few days so I will give you all a shout at how i believe it works on my system.I have been a big beleiver that people experience different pros and cons with different system configurations. For some people Vista runs better than XP for FSX and vice versa.The only addons I have for FSX are PDMG 747-400 and the Ariane 737-800. Hopefully these wont affect my frame rate too significantly.Has anyone ever read on the front cover of FSX where it says : Work great on XP, Works better on Vista? Or something too those lines? Is this a marketing ploy by microsoft?

For some people Vista runs better than XP for FSX and vice versa.Has anyone ever read on the front cover of FSX where it says : Work great on XP, Works better on Vista? Or something too those lines? Is this a marketing ploy by microsoft?

Can't say I have, neither of the two copies of FSX

Depends on what you consider "bug" free and the DirectX 10 "preview" in FSX is far from it. As far as performance goes, again it all depends on what you consider "acceptable performance". With my experience with other sims/games, FSX whether run in DirectX "preview" or DirectX 9 the performance is unacceptable. Add-on's or no add-on's there are no advantages to using the DirectX 10 "preview" that I've seen.

On both of my gaming machines there are zero visual artifacts/anomalies produced as a result of enabling the DX10 preview in both Vista x64 and 7 x64. Performance also increases by a good 15-20% on average. Toss add-ons into the mix and visual anomalies become quite common. Example: on a client's machine I've configured for FSX, using aftermarket ground textures and the virtual cockpit in an add-on GA aircraft (can't recall which one exactly) produces flashing lines on the ground and a blanked out cockpit window (no alpha texture being applied to produce transparent glass). I don't advocate many people run the DX10 preview because anyone passionate enough about FS to seek advice on how to tune it is likely to also use add-ons.

On both of my gaming machines there are zero visual artifacts/anomalies produced as a result of enabling the DX10 preview in both Vista x64 and 7 x64. Performance also increases by a good 15-20% on average.

I wasn't talking about

I wasn't talking about "visual artifacts/anomalies", the inability to force AA/AF in DirectX 10 preview with the drivers control panel is one issue.

I have experienced no such problem. There are other factors at play here such as manual config settings and driver changes. I guess timeframe doesn't factor into your equation though. PCs are not static entities, neither certainly is the software installed upon them.

The fact that shadows in the cockpit do not get AA applied along with the aircraft menu preview is another, again this just screams after thought.

"aircraft menu preview" to what do you refer? At no point have I claimed FSX was designed with DX10 in mind. If you want my personal opinion about FSX I'll tell you right now I'm inclined to agree that the RTM code was terribly "un-forward-looking" to coin a phrase. SP1 and 2 improved that somewhat but they are most certainly afterthoughts.

A performance increase by "a good 15-20% on average" lol, yeah right.

Now you're calling me a liar. I said ON MY 2 GAMING PCs. With high settings and particularly near large bodies of water you better believe the performance increases w/DX10.