I am currently using fs9 on a computer with a core 2 duo processor (2.8GHz - E7400). My frame rates are good except when I fly into heavy clouds. They can go from 60 right down to 10.My question is: Will I see an improvement if I upgrade to a Core i5-2500K processor (obviously a new mobo and ram as well) ? AS I understand, FS9 doesn't use all the benefits of a multi-coreprocessor. So, do I upgrade or not ???????????Trevor

I don't believe. I also have an core 2 duo, 2.9 Mhz. The processor mainly works on polygons, like airports, autogen, artificial traffic, etc. For textures like clouds the video card is the differential. I tried stock clouds with active sky evolution and the frames dropped a lot. Then i've installed resized 2d and 3d clouds, smaller, avaiable here in avsim library. I'm using the 6th version, the smaller of them. The 2d clouds are on the 3th version I believe, just search for resized 2d and 3d clouds. They look very good at distance, but a little boxed when near, but the benefits are good, all clouds settings at maximum and frames locked at 25 fps without any drpos, with pay aircrafts and heavy scenery. Try them or consider a powerfull videocard.

Try using fs9CPU_2CPU.exe. I think I got it here, (if not try flightsim.com.) I use a Core2 Duo E8400 and it seems to improve frame rates as advertiised.It doesn't make FS9 use both cores, but any other services etc. are directed to 1 core and FS9, to the other, which appears to help.Colin BEdit: fs_affinity_v2.zip available at flightsim.com

So, the question remains - will a Core i5 make a difference or a more powerful graphics card?Is anyone using an i5 with fs9 ? - please comment.ThanksTrevor

Of course that a fast processor is good for the fs, but he already has a good processor. When people says processors are needed they probably talking about older processord as athlon xp versus newer dual core.What I doubt is the benefit that a newer processor will have on an older aplication as fs9. It wasn't designed for multi cored processors. I've saw excelent frame rates on older amd 64 processors. I still think a powerfull videocard with the same processor will make more difference than a new processor with the same vga.

Now you say Video Card. Many on here say CPU is much more important than Video card power? So not to be confusing the posters simple question, what is it ?

Generally speaking, CPU is most important for sure - but clouds are a special case..Video cards differ a lot, especially with high levels of antialiasing etc..

So, what do I do now?I have an average video card (nVidia 430GT). Should I go for something faster? Suggestions please - I want good frame rates in the clouds.Trevor

So, the question remains - will a Core i5 make a difference or a more powerful graphics card?Is anyone using an i5 with fs9 ? - please comment.ThanksTrevor

Yeah, I´m using my mainly FSX setup for FS9 (cause FSX has currently some problems and I´m too lazy to reinstall before the NGX is out.). You can see the system in my sig. I´ve locked the frames at 35 FPS and it newer dropps one single digit. Even with high AA (8xQ) and stormy wheather and the HDE clouds enabled.FSX is very CPU bound but for FS9 an good core 2 duo paired with an good grafic card should be suffice.

Some more to think about.I have an old XP computer. I has a 2 ghz C2 duo. It used to have 7950 gt in it. It ran FS9 great. The gpu died and I put an 8400 gs. What a piece of junk. No matter what I did FS, never ran very good again. Take from that what you will.While you could do better, your cpu is not bad for FS9. That being said, one needs the best hardware one can afford. The better you have, the better everything(not just FS) will run. There is no upper limit. However,as you throw more money at FS, you will see less improvement. But there is improvement.Your gpu is a bit on the slow side for FS. In another machine that has FS9, I run a 7650 C2D, and an 8800gt. For a short time I had a 260 gtx in it. I didn't see much improvement with the better card. The 260 is much better matched with my Q9950.Your question is not an easy one to answer. As already stated, FS performance depends on many things. Not just hardware. Maybe there are other issues you need to look at.If you move to an i5, you will need an MB,PSU,ram,and probably a cooling system. And a gpu for sure.Bob