Here are my specs.*Windows 7 (Upgrade from Vista)*emachines *Intel Celeron D 3.33 GHz Processor* 2.00 GB - RAM* 32 Bit* C: Drive ------ USED: 36.4 ----- FREE: 66.8 GP* 65% Free Space on C drive/ 35 % used space on C* 512 MB DDR2 (Idk what that means)* Graphics Card Accelerator 950I would like to know, what would be the CHEAPEST thing to buy that could improve my FPS. I currently have 5-10 FPS. Im trying some software that shrinks texture file size. I will update what FPS i get there. Thanks. - Evan

your CPU is the #1 problem.your GPU is the #2 problem (actually you don't have a GPU ... you have a chip on the motherboard (MOBO) that 'acts' like a videocard. these 'accelerators' cannot support the demands of FSX.)you can also have problems if your win7 install isn't 'clean' ... meaning you installed a full version of win7 on a new hard drive. updates from one OS to another are problematic.my suggestions -* install FS9. you can get OK performance with the older sim ... actually graphically, AI, etc FS9 will look better than FSX on your system.* save save save your money so you can buy a new machine bettere able to run FSX. buying any new hardware on your machine is wasted cash IMO.--

I think the same thing.

What would be a good computer to buy? I probably wont able to buy a new one until winter.

your CPU is the #1 problem.your GPU is the #2 problem (actually you don't have a GPU ... you have a chip on the motherboard (MOBO) that 'acts' like a videocard. these 'accelerators' cannot support the demands of FSX.)you can also have problems if your win7 install isn't 'clean' ... meaning you installed a full version of win7 on a new hard drive. updates from one OS to another are problematic.my suggestions -* install FS9. you can get OK performance with the older sim ... actually graphically, AI, etc FS9 will look better than FSX on your system.* save save save your money so you can buy a new machine bettere able to run FSX. buying any new hardware on your machine is wasted cash IMO.--

What would be a good computer to buy? I probably wont able to buy a new one until winter.

Quad-core i7 with a decent GPU (at least 200+) and 6GB of the fastest RAM you can afford (at least 1600+). Good cooling. Selfbuilt. Otherwise waste of money.

Quad-core i7

read up on how to overclock. overclocking is required to get the best performance from FSX. must purchase a MOBO that allows overclocking.

Good cooling.

i would add get GREAT cooling. FSX demands the most out of a CPU and GPU.

Selfbuilt.

100000% agree! you avoid issues of all the garbage 'built' PCs come 'equiped'. example - my netbook and general use desktop have 45 - 50 processes running. my home built FS only PC has 24.

Otherwise waste of money.

save a LOT of money building your own.--

What would be a good computer to buy? I probably wont able to buy a new one until winter.

I have to agree - the system you have cannot be upgraded to run FSX. You would be better off starting fromscratch.Ideally the option would be an I7 900 series chip + graphics card with 1G memory (ATI or Nvida -both need effort to get the best out of them) , 1333Mhz bus/memory speed with 6G RAM. You need 2 disks with at least 7200 RPM one for system and one for FSX + addon.Do you want laptop or desktop ?How much money can you spend. I would estimate you can get this pre-built froma well known computer company for about

Evan, this might be a bit of a long post, but hopefully it will assist you in deciding what to do...Not all of the above advice is entirely true, nor as simple as it seems, although there is some good info up there. For example, I have a laptop which has a dual core Centrino processor and no dedicated graphics card (i.e built in motherboard graphics like yours), and that actually can run FSX fairly well. What is more, it also only has 2Gigs of RAM like yours does. That might sound hard to believe for some, and I was surprised myself, but it is the case. It can also run Silent Wings too, which I was even more surprised about, since that is a tough flight sim for a meek computer to run.Not having a dedicated graphics card means you won't be able to run fancy games that use graphical tricks such as Pixel Shader 2 etc, but since FSX is actually fairly old fashioned when it comes to graphical standards, it bucks the trend for needing such things that modern PC games generally require, which tend to get the graphics card to do all the work. The bad news however, is that because this is the case, FSX places heavy demands on the main processor, and because of that, the RAM too, which feeds the info to the processor; so these are the things to look at first.Given that such a laptop as the one I mention can run FSX (it's a Hewlett Packard Pavilion DV2000 in case anyone is curious), and the fact that it actually is not a million miles away from the specification you posted for your own computer, I would suggest the following, if you want an interim fix whilst you save the cash for a more capable computer. It is true that a better computer is probably the way you ultimately should go, but of course, not everyone can miraculously pull 500 quid out of their &@($* at the drop of a hat to build one. Thus you might want a temporary cheap option. So...First up, get hold of a little program called CPU-Z, which you can download from here: http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.htmlInstall and run that, and make a note of the exact specifications of your computer components. What you are specifically looking for, is the exact make and model of the motherboard, and the type and speed of the RAM you have. All of which, CPU-Z can tell you when it makes a report.Now, once you know the motherboard make and type, do a search on the internet for the company which makes that motherboard, and find the specifications for your motherboard (the exact model). What you are looking for here, is the maximum frequency speed of the RAM it can handle and how much RAM you can fit into it (you'll also need to know what form factor, i.e. the actual size fitting of the RAM slots in your motherboard are, since there is more than one type of RAM socket, and if you buy the wrong type, it physically will not go into the slot, so watch out for that). You also want to know the type of socket the motherboard has for its main processor (for the same physical fitting reasons) and what processors your motherboard can support (because they sometimes use different voltages and such). All of this info should be there on a specification sheet from the motherboard manufacturer, and may also be available in the motherboard's handbook if you have that (these are usually a glossy A5 manual with a fancy picture of the motherboard on the front cover, although if you bought the computer complete, you may not have that manual).When you know all that stuff, you can decide whether an upgrade is possible/economical as a stop gap measure. Don't worry about what all that techno guff actually means, just find out the specs of components your motherboard can handle, and all will become clear below.It is entirely possible that the motherboard in your computer may be able to handle faster RAM, and more of it too, and it may also be able to handle a better processor as well. If that is the case, your cheapest option will be to add either a bit more RAM, or to pull out the RAM you currently have altogether, and replace it all with RAM that is faster. You might also be able to add a faster or more capable processor, which would also help, although it would probably also draw more power, so there is a possibility that you'd also need a better power supply unit (PSU) that could deliver a more stable voltage.To explain a bit about that sort of thing...Not all RAM is created equal, and it is not enough to simply say 'my computer has X amount of RAM'. There are different speeds and types of RAM. Basically you can have normal RAM or DDR RAM or DDR2 RAM or DDR3 RAM, and soon you will be able to buy DDR4 RAM, which is the newest and fanciest stuff. DDR is an abbreviation of Double Data Rate, which means exactly what you might imagine, i.e. the gist of this is that when your computer sends bursts of data, DDR RAM sends two packets of data for each timing tick of the frequency speed as opposed to just the one packet of data that old normal (non DDR) RAM sends, which means DDR can process data quicker, DDR2 is better at that, DDR3 better still, etc. so the faster the RAM's frequency speed, and the later DDR spec it is, the faster your computer will handle data.Central Processing Units (CPU), i.e. the main processor your computer has are also not all created equal. There are single core, dual core, quad core, six core and eight core processors. Needless to say, with more cores, a processor can do more calculations, but it doesn't necessarily mean a multicore processor will always be faster, because the data will have to be split up and processed by several cores, then joined back together again to do its job of running a game or sim or whatever, so there are occasions where utilising a multicore processor is not as fast. However, FSX is one of the kind of applications where making use of multiple cores and splitting tasks can speed things up, especially if you run other programs too (for example a separate ATC program or some such).In addition to having one or more cores, CPUs can also have a number of fancy additional features, such as a floating point maths co-processor, or multiple levels of cache memory on board them to enable them to cue up data or calculate things a bit quicker, so again, this is a bit like differences in RAM, in that you could have two different dual core processors and one might be better than the other because it has some of those additional whistles and bells. Since faster RAM can send more data, and do it quicker, a better processor will be able to handle the data that is coming at it from the RAM more efficiently, so it is often the case that unless you want a bottleneck in your system to slow stuff down, you need to upgrade a processor when you also upgrade the RAM.What all this means in the grand scheme of things however, is that you don't have to know exactly what all those acronyms such as DDR etc actually mean, you just have to know what your motherboard can handle by finding a specification sheet for it, and then fitting the top stuff it can handle. So, for RAM you want the fastest (in Mhz) speed it can handle, at highest DDR standard it can take. And for the main processor, you want the most number of cores your motherboard socket can handle, with all that fancy cache stuff on it if there is a choice of several. Keep in mind however that if you go nuts with all that speed and make a major upgrade, you may also have to look at improving the cooling fans your computer has, but this is not always too expensive to do, since most motherboards have a number of outlet pins on them where you can simply plug in another cooling fan, and such fans are only a few quid.Now unfortunately, you may find that your motherboard is not capable of handling such upgrades (i.e. it might already have the best it can manage in all its slots), in which case, you may be better off choosing to run FS9 (FS2004) until you can get the cash together for an all out upgrade. And if you do decide to upgrade, you should be well on the way to knowing how to do that yourself having read the above, since it is simply a case of gathering the parts that meet the specs of a motherboard and fitting them together, and it is always cheaper to buy the bits and fit them together yourself.Oh, and one last thing, if you decide to open up your computer and start shoving new parts into it, for God's sake unplug the thing! Be gentle with the components; avoid handling the electrical contacts and such as much as possible (hold components by their edges, as you would do with a CD). It helps if you touch a radiator or water pipe in your house before doing any of this, which will discharge static electricity from your body and prevent it from frying sensitive components if you touch them. There can be some very high voltage stuff whizzing around that motherboard, so most of all, remember to unplug it before doing any of that stuff.Hope that helps a bit.Al

Evan, this might be a bit of a long post, but hopefully it will assist you in deciding what to do...Al

Very good reply - but my comment was based on the fact that his motherboard will suit hiscurrent system, and except for adding more memory, it is generally not economic to upgradea computer if you need to change the mother board (you will need everything else to matchand even the power supply will need upgrading).It all comes down to how much he has to spend - I think that is an important starting point."All" computers will run FSX, but it depends on the expectation of the user as to what theyare prepared to accept - video quality, addon, fps, where they fly - do they like traffic : andcreating a "matched" system. This latter point is critical.

Very true, and I personally would call a change of motherboard a rebuild rather than an upgrade, since it is likely that only the PC case, hard drives and possibly the PSU will be able to be retained in any useful form. To do so is expensive, whichever way you slice it, and if you only have the money for some more RAM, whilst in the grand scheme of things that might not be the best choice, when money is tight it can take on a more acceptable outlook if it is the only affordable choice.As with everything, it is down to what we want and how much money we are prepared, or even have available, to spend. I was attempting to clarify such things in order to furnish the OP with enough background info on components so that a more informed choice could be made, as it is often confusing when someone asks for assistance and gets a flurry of replies that simply list components with little or no explanation as to what they do, particularly when their post title mentioned the desire to keep the cost down.The OP will be in the best position to know what is or is not doable on their budget and to their preference, so it is more helpful to point out the basic background of what part does what, than to reel off a list of ideal components regardless of budget, since it's often the case that what we want and what we can afford do not coincide, especially in the current economic climate.After all, if money was no object, we'd all be out buying ourselves a private jet rather than creating a computer to simulate flying one, and as the saying goes: If God wanted us to fly, he'd have given us more money!Al

Selfbuilt.

Not at all - build it yourself if you want / can or just get one from someone who knows how to build performance machines, better to install your own software on it though .. .. ..G

I found out my DDR has two slotsSlot #2 is made by Hyundai Slot #4 is made by Samsung.#2 is 2 years old#4 is 1 year old

Evan, this might be a bit of a long post, but hopefully it will assist you in deciding what to do...Not all of the above advice is entirely true, nor as simple as it seems, although there is some good info up there. For example, I have a laptop which has a dual core Centrino processor and no dedicated graphics card (i.e built in motherboard graphics like yours), and that actually can run FSX fairly well. What is more, it also only has 2Gigs of RAM like yours does. That might sound hard to believe for some, and I was surprised myself, but it is the case. It can also run Silent Wings too, which I was even more surprised about, since that is a tough flight sim for a meek computer to run.Not having a dedicated graphics card means you won't be able to run fancy games that use graphical tricks such as Pixel Shader 2 etc, but since FSX is actually fairly old fashioned when it comes to graphical standards, it bucks the trend for needing such things that modern PC games generally require, which tend to get the graphics card to do all the work. The bad news however, is that because this is the case, FSX places heavy demands on the main processor, and because of that, the RAM too, which feeds the info to the processor; so these are the things to look at first.Given that such a laptop as the one I mention can run FSX (it's a Hewlett Packard Pavilion DV2000 in case anyone is curious), and the fact that it actually is not a million miles away from the specification you posted for your own computer, I would suggest the following, if you want an interim fix whilst you save the cash for a more capable computer. It is true that a better computer is probably the way you ultimately should go, but of course, not everyone can miraculously pull 500 quid out of their &@($* at the drop of a hat to build one. Thus you might want a temporary cheap option. So...First up, get hold of a little program called CPU-Z, which you can download from here: http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.htmlInstall and run that, and make a note of the exact specifications of your computer components. What you are specifically looking for, is the exact make and model of the motherboard, and the type and speed of the RAM you have. All of which, CPU-Z can tell you when it makes a report.Now, once you know the motherboard make and type, do a search on the internet for the company which makes that motherboard, and find the specifications for your motherboard (the exact model). What you are looking for here, is the maximum frequency speed of the RAM it can handle and how much RAM you can fit into it (you'll also need to know what form factor, i.e. the actual size fitting of the RAM slots in your motherboard are, since there is more than one type of RAM socket, and if you buy the wrong type, it physically will not go into the slot, so watch out for that). You also want to know the type of socket the motherboard has for its main processor (for the same physical fitting reasons) and what processors your motherboard can support (because they sometimes use different voltages and such). All of this info should be there on a specification sheet from the motherboard manufacturer, and may also be available in the motherboard's handbook if you have that (these are usually a glossy A5 manual with a fancy picture of the motherboard on the front cover, although if you bought the computer complete, you may not have that manual).When you know all that stuff, you can decide whether an upgrade is possible/economical as a stop gap measure. Don't worry about what all that techno guff actually means, just find out the specs of components your motherboard can handle, and all will become clear below.It is entirely possible that the motherboard in your computer may be able to handle faster RAM, and more of it too, and it may also be able to handle a better processor as well. If that is the case, your cheapest option will be to add either a bit more RAM, or to pull out the RAM you currently have altogether, and replace it all with RAM that is faster. You might also be able to add a faster or more capable processor, which would also help, although it would probably also draw more power, so there is a possibility that you'd also need a better power supply unit (PSU) that could deliver a more stable voltage.To explain a bit about that sort of thing...Not all RAM is created equal, and it is not enough to simply say 'my computer has X amount of RAM'. There are different speeds and types of RAM. Basically you can have normal RAM or DDR RAM or DDR2 RAM or DDR3 RAM, and soon you will be able to buy DDR4 RAM, which is the newest and fanciest stuff. DDR is an abbreviation of Double Data Rate, which means exactly what you might imagine, i.e. the gist of this is that when your computer sends bursts of data, DDR RAM sends two packets of data for each timing tick of the frequency speed as opposed to just the one packet of data that old normal (non DDR) RAM sends, which means DDR can process data quicker, DDR2 is better at that, DDR3 better still, etc. so the faster the RAM's frequency speed, and the later DDR spec it is, the faster your computer will handle data.Central Processing Units (CPU), i.e. the main processor your computer has are also not all created equal. There are single core, dual core, quad core, six core and eight core processors. Needless to say, with more cores, a processor can do more calculations, but it doesn't necessarily mean a multicore processor will always be faster, because the data will have to be split up and processed by several cores, then joined back together again to do its job of running a game or sim or whatever, so there are occasions where utilising a multicore processor is not as fast. However, FSX is one of the kind of applications where making use of multiple cores and splitting tasks can speed things up, especially if you run other programs too (for example a separate ATC program or some such).In addition to having one or more cores, CPUs can also have a number of fancy additional features, such as a floating point maths co-processor, or multiple levels of cache memory on board them to enable them to cue up data or calculate things a bit quicker, so again, this is a bit like differences in RAM, in that you could have two different dual core processors and one might be better than the other because it has some of those additional whistles and bells. Since faster RAM can send more data, and do it quicker, a better processor will be able to handle the data that is coming at it from the RAM more efficiently, so it is often the case that unless you want a bottleneck in your system to slow stuff down, you need to upgrade a processor when you also upgrade the RAM.What all this means in the grand scheme of things however, is that you don't have to know exactly what all those acronyms such as DDR etc actually mean, you just have to know what your motherboard can handle by finding a specification sheet for it, and then fitting the top stuff it can handle. So, for RAM you want the fastest (in Mhz) speed it can handle, at highest DDR standard it can take. And for the main processor, you want the most number of cores your motherboard socket can handle, with all that fancy cache stuff on it if there is a choice of several. Keep in mind however that if you go nuts with all that speed and make a major upgrade, you may also have to look at improving the cooling fans your computer has, but this is not always too expensive to do, since most motherboards have a number of outlet pins on them where you can simply plug in another cooling fan, and such fans are only a few quid.Now unfortunately, you may find that your motherboard is not capable of handling such upgrades (i.e. it might already have the best it can manage in all its slots), in which case, you may be better off choosing to run FS9 (FS2004) until you can get the cash together for an all out upgrade. And if you do decide to upgrade, you should be well on the way to knowing how to do that yourself having read the above, since it is simply a case of gathering the parts that meet the specs of a motherboard and fitting them together, and it is always cheaper to buy the bits and fit them together yourself.Oh, and one last thing, if you decide to open up your computer and start shoving new parts into it, for God's sake unplug the thing! Be gentle with the components; avoid handling the electrical contacts and such as much as possible (hold components by their edges, as you would do with a CD). It helps if you touch a radiator or water pipe in your house before doing any of this, which will discharge static electricity from your body and prevent it from frying sensitive components if you touch them. There can be some very high voltage stuff whizzing around that motherboard, so most of all, remember to unplug it before doing any of that stuff.Hope that helps a bit.Al

You'll need to purchase a new system with newer technology.

A REAL PLANE!! :(

Not at all - build it yourself if you want / can or just get one from someone who knows how to build performance machines, better to install your own software on it though .. .. ..G

You know what? I've a funny example of machines. First, yes sometimes I'll probably buy an intel and OC it. But for now I fly with mainly two machines (4 with others add-ons). The main one is a PhenomII 840, it had a GTX285 but I switched it for two 5850's. This solved many mysticals graphics things. So I liked the nvidia but the Ati's performs better.I fly with three screens. And this "main" machine provide the two sides with higher graphics settings (FPS around 60) The center screen come from a HP bulk coming from a supermarket shelf between pants and bananas. It's also a PhenomII and the GPU is the magical and modest 4650 (remember Matjis Kok?). The whole box costs three times less than the "main" comp. Actually it performs very well (captainSim is a good benchmark). Both runs W7 64. Both fsx.cfg are tweaked. The multiscreen setup goes via Wideview.I also fly FS9 with three screens without Wideview, the two ATI's performs just as they should.Conclusion: three times cheaper, fully silent and right out the box with HP "crap" softwares = no problems.The other one, I installed three times windows and also FS, changed GPU's. Now it's working..RV