Im pondering tryin fsx once more on my system after the highly praised bojote's highmemfix, But just wonderin before going through all the trouble, what exactly am i missing out on? I know this can be a touchy subject, bu there must be something BIG that i am missinh out on.Thanks for all he replies.P.S i am not trying to start anything, you know the fs9 vs fsx thing, just genuinely wondering what im missing out on before going through all the trouble.Thanks

Im pondering tryin fsx once more on my system after the highly praised bojote's highmemfix, But just wonderin before going through all the trouble, what exactly am i missing out on? I know this can be a touchy subject, bu there must be something BIG that i am missinh out on.Thanks for all he replies.P.S i am not trying to start anything, you know the fs9 vs fsx thing, just genuinely wondering what im missing out on before going through all the trouble.Thanks

I couldn't contemplate using FSX until I received a new PC with an i7 quad core. FSX is SO CHEAP that I figured it would be silly not to simply buy it and give it a try. Glad I did. I've got both installations on my PC and haven't gone back to FS9 since I loaded FSX. Why not just buy it and give it a try. A tank of gas costs about $75. FSX is $30 w/ shipping, from Amazon. If you don't have a really fast PC though, I'd skip it.

Hi Gerry,You should boycott the FPS and just optimise the smooth operation of the sim and the image quality. :(

Flight Simulator X is the version that is now being developed for mostly, and has better capabilities with which to do that, as an example which you will be aware of based on your signature: The iFly FSX 737 has a VSD, but that avionics system cannot be reproduced easily in the FS9 version, since the mesh is not as high a resolution in FS9, thus the gauge could update accurately enough to make detecting terrain changes quickly enough, feasible only in FSX.This is just one example of many which make FSX a more capable platform for developers to push the boundaries of what they wish to simulate, another example of this being Captain Sim's Weapon for FSX, which allows munitions fired from your aircraft to destroy other aircraft, not something every FS user wants to do, but it does nevertheless demonstrate the vastly improved capability of FSX over FS9 quite well as an example.But, if you want a more exact list of why that is so, FSX has the following improvements over FS9:Improved graphics, specifically enhanced texture resolution, a round Earth model facilitating polar flights (this is a biggie if you like airliner transatlantic or transpacific journeys), true road data, region-specific textures. Populating that world are 3D animals and above it are accurate star constellations, etc. The scenery textures line up with the automatically generated (Autogen) buildings. There is a rendering-engine-supported scenery resolution of 7 cm/pixel, which is an FPS hog, but it is nevertheless possible to go to that level of photorealistic detail.Airports have jetways that move to the aircraft by the key combination Ctrl + J. Airport vehicles also drive around the airport to the player's aircraft and AI aircraft.The built-in GPS support is upgraded in FSX to include Garmin G1000 integrated glass cockpit.Improved ATC which includes non-FAA procedures where appropriate (for example, altimeter/QNH scale in metric units). There is also an improved progressive-taxi feature.Default aircraft systems modeling is extensively improved, featuring APU, fire protection, passenger advisory sign switches etc, and the Acceleration add on further enhanced default capabilities where engine modeling was concerned.There is a vastly improved weather system, with better visibility modeling, thermal activity and better rendition of clouds.Multiplayer includes Shared Skies, a feature allowing multiple users to share the same cockpit, although this does not work with some complex add-ons that model things a long way outside the default SDK although you'd be surprised how many decent add-ons can actuallty do this, for example, many IRIS payware combat aircraft.Tower Controller - in the Deluxe version only - lets users to simulate local control at many airports worldwide during multiplayer.There is support for 5.1 surround sound.By default there are more than 50 different missions, many more in Acceleration. The mission engine allows the creation of dynamic missions with developer control of many simulation variables, sound file playback, AI aircraft traffic, clips etc. This is far superior to the APL and ABL adventure programming languages featured in previous versions of FS.SimConnect API allows access to Flight Simulator functions and variables, making development of fancier features a more likely prospect.Maximum altitude in FSX is up to 100,000,000 ft. This makes space flight and high/low earth orbit simulation possible in FSX.Camera shake in the virtual cockpit from braking, turbulence etc.Wing flexing is improved.Water effects are improved with 3D waves and improved water surface reflection capabilities.You can take a screenshot while in the game with 'V'.Aircraft can cast shadows on themselves.Aircraft interiors and exteriors use different files, making merges a more feasible and easier process.Racing was added in the Acceleration pack.Of course none of that means FS9 is rubbish, or unusable, but you can see that FSX is more than simply 'a bit prettier'.Al

You should boycott the FPS and just optimise the smooth operation of the sim and the image quality. :(

I couldn't agree with you more. To much emphasis is put on how many frames you can get. As long as the sim is smooth and you have great eye candy, don't worry about how many frames you get and enjoy the flight sim experience.

Hi Gerry,You should boycott the FPS and just optimise the smooth operation of the sim and the image quality. :(

Hahahaha, Nice call!!!!!

Flight Simulator X is the version that is now being developed for mostly, and has better capabilities with which to do that, as an example which you will be aware of based on your signature: The iFly FSX 737 has a VSD, but that avionics system cannot be reproduced easily in the FS9 version, since the mesh is not as high a resolution in FS9, thus the gauge could update accurately enough to make detecting terrain changes quickly enough, feasible.This is just one example of many which make FSX a more capable platform for developers to push the boundaries of what they wish to simulate, another example of this being Captain Sim's Weapon for FSX, which allows munitions fired from your aircraft to destroy other aircraft, not something every FS user wants to do, but it does nevertheless demonstrate the vastly improved capability of FSX over FS9 quite well as an example.But, if you want a more exact list of why that is so, FSX has the following improvements over FS9:Improved graphics, specifically enhanced texture resolution, a round Earth model facilitating polar flights (this is a biggie if you like airliner transatlantic or transpacific journeys), true road data, region-specific textures. Populating that world are 3D animals and above it are accurate star constellations, etc. The scenery textures line up with the automatically generated (Autogen) buildings. There is a rendering-engine-supported scenery resolution of 7 cm/pixel, which is an FPS hog, but it is nevertheless possible to go to that level of photorealistic detail.Airports have jetways that move to the aircraft by the key combination Ctrl + J. Airport vehicles also drive around the airport to the player's aircraft and AI aircraft.The built-in GPS support is upgraded in FSX to include Garmin G1000 integrated glass cockpit.Improved ATC which includes non-FAA procedures where appropriate (for example, altimeter/QNH scale in metric units). There is also an improved progressive-taxi feature.Default aircraft systems modeling is extensively improved, featuring APU, fire protection, passenger advisory sign switches etc, and the Acceleration add on further enhanced default capabilities where engine modeling was concerned.There is a vastly improved weather system, with better visibility modeling, thermal activity and better rendition of clouds.Multiplayer includes Shared Skies, a feature allowing multiple users to share the same cockpit, although this does not work with some complex add-ons that model things a long way outside the default SDK although you'd be surprised how many decent add-ons can actuallty do this, for example, many IRIS payware combat aircraft.Tower Controller - in the Deluxe version only - lets users to simulate local control at many airports worldwide during multiplayer.There is support for 5.1 surround sound.By default there are more than 50 different missions, many more in Acceleration. The mission engine allows the creation of dynamic missions with developer control of many simulation variables, sound file playback, AI aircraft traffic, clips etc. This is far superior to the APL and ABL adventure programming languages featured in previous versions of FS.SimConnect API allows access to Flight Simulator functions and variables, making development of fancier features a more likely prospect.Maximum altitude in FSX is up to 100,000,000 ft. This makes space flight and high/low earth orbit simulation possible in FSX.Camera shake in the virtual cockpit from braking, turbulence etc.Wing flexing is improved.Water effects are improved with 3D waves and improved water surface reflection capabilities.You can take a screenshot while in the game with 'V'.Aircraft can cast shadows on themselves.Aircraft interiors and exteriors use different files, making merges a more feasible and easier process.Racing was added in the Acceleration pack.Of course none of that means FS9 is rubbish, or unusable, but you can see that FSX is more than simply 'a bit prettier'.Al

Wow, Thanks Al for the detailed reply.

I couldn't agree with you more. To much emphasis is put on how many frames you can get. As long as the sim is smooth and you have great eye candy, don't worry about how many frames you get and enjoy the flight sim experience.

Not so much a frame issue, just moreso a money issue, I have many add-ons for fs9 and just now starting to think about fsx, so that would mean a whole new investment to make it look pretty.I really want to take the plunge, But Im a very "financial" minded person, Who would have thunk that This thing we call a hobby would make some decisions extrememly hard, If I decide to go with it I want to go all the way with it. :(

SimConnect is probably the single most important issue, as it provides an interface for developers to develop their own models for pretty much every single aspect they want to simulate. SimConnect will make things possible in FSX that would be totally out of the question to even try to do in FS9 (from a developer point of view). As for spending lots of money to make the sim look good. Its true that payware airports will look a lot better than default FSX airports, but luckily the default ones in FSX are much better than the ones for FS9. The ones for FS9 are pretty much useless and ugly, most of the default ones in FSX are decent, at least the ones in the USA. Default ground textures are also much better in FSX, so FSX looks pretty good straight out of the box compared to FS9. It is of course possible to spend a lot of money making it look even better, but as a simmer you already know about that :(