I am hoping that when the next version of FSX is released it is 64 bit and that PMDG will migrate all of its products to the 64 bit world as the CPU world is already there. The 32 bit world is very frustrating. On a typical flight as an example from JFK I am running the MD11, REX, RC4.3 and Cielosim in addition to XP64. Even when reducing the sliders I cannot get away from the jerking yet when I look at my CPU and video card usage it is usually less or close to 50%. This is why I think 64 bit products would be so great. Don

That has nothing to do with 32b vs 64b. It's your processor more than likely. Is your FSX.CFG file setup for your system? Overclocked?

Why would I need to overclock a quad core 64 bit processor if all of the processor capabilities is not being used? Yes my FSX.CFG is set up for my system. Do you use the same add-ons that I am using? When I do fly out of a smaller airport the issues are much less. Don

Because that's the way it works... You need to do a little bit more research on what 64b entails for you and what overclocking can achieve in your sim (and what having a 64b system even means for you). The first post was unfortunately completely uneducated, as is your second. I by no means aim to be rude, I just think you should have a sound understanding before claiming the reason for poor performance is the fact the software isn't native 64b. I want you to understand better how to achieve good performance with your given system without giving an arm and a leg. I highly recommend perusing the hardware sections of the Avsim forums. To answer the first question. An overclocked Phenom X4 is considerably slower than my processor at stock. That being said, my heavy overclock improved FSX frames in heavy sceneries and traffic considerably. Higher clock means better performance as far as FSX is concerned. It's that simple. Yes, I use most of the same add ons you do... PS. After rereading my post, it could be misconstrued as rude. Please picture a helpful, smiling face while reading it.

Why would I need to overclock a quad core 64 bit processor if all of the processor capabilities is not being used? Yes my FSX.CFG is set up for my system. Do you use the same add-ons that I am using? When I do fly out of a smaller airport the issues are much less. Don

Because FSX isn't optimized for multi-core CPU's. It will never make use of all cores in an effective manner. Hopefully this will be different with Microsoft Flight!.

Maybe the good old Google search will turn up the fact that 64 bit programs run no faster or better than 32 bit programs do.

64 bit has far more to do with memory addressing and concepts like that than it does performance. Something doesn't automatically perform better because it's "64 bit", "multicore" etc - basically any of the buzzwords you hear thrown around.

Thanks guys you have answered a question for me. I have a new system on order - i7 2600K 3.4Ghz CPU with Windows Home Prem X64 and 8Gb 1600MHz memory. Hope I am correct here, I MUST overclock the CPU to have FSX running with heavy scenery like ORBX and should imagine any weather on the i7. Thanks Zach for bringing it to my attention, your comments noted here:"That being said, my heavy overclock improved FSX frames in heavy sceneries and traffic considerably. Higher clock means better performance as far as FSX is concerned. It's that simple." Had cancelled my order for H70 CPU cooling having read somewhere that the stock i7 2600K at 3.4GHz would easily handle FSX and ANY addons. But will reinstate the order today and include in the system build.

Thanks guys you have answered a question for me. I have a new system on order - i7 2600K 3.4Ghz CPU with Windows Home Prem X64 and 8Gb 1600MHz memory. Hope I am correct here, I MUST overclock the CPU to have FSX running with heavy scenery like ORBX and should imagine any weather on the i7. Thanks Zach for bringing it to my attention, your comments noted here:"That being said, my heavy overclock improved FSX frames in heavy sceneries and traffic considerably. Higher clock means better performance as far as FSX is concerned. It's that simple." Had cancelled my order for H70 CPU cooling having read somewhere that the stock i7 2600K at 3.4GHz would easily handle FSX and ANY addons. But will reinstate the order today and include in the system build.

Well to be honest I try to make as few compromises as possible in FSX. I want sliders all right if I can help it. That being said, my friend built a PC similar to mine to run FSX and a helicopter add-on. Included in the build was a shiny new H60. He has yet to overclock a month later because performance is great for him as he runs no traffic addons, no heavy sceneries, etc. I did a quick and dirty, non scienctific "test". Bear with me. --KCLT freeware AFCAD by Ray Smith I tweaked for realism --Full traffic WOAI-- All sliders maxed-- Captain Sim 707-- --Stock--Holding around 27-30 FPS facing straight ahead on RWY 36C --Overclocked to Sig--Same situation and holding just around 35 FPS. Now imagine that around NYC, where 15-20 FPS is the norm. That extra small % can make the difference in flyable and irritating. To the purist that want a graph, no variables, etc, no can do. PS. Besides, you'll love the H70!

Thanks Zach, all very interesting. My computer knowledge is nothing to speak of so I rely on you guys that know your stuff from years of experience. Words like overclocking send shivers up my spine, I imagine smoke belching from case with that horrible burning smell you get from anyhing electrical. See you have two HDD, that is what I plan to do. Infact the very same brand type, WD Caviar Black 1TB. Do you just have FSX on that drive? Some applications like Active Sky Evolution and Flight Commander sit outside FSX under Progam Files so where do you have them?

Delf, Your new rig will run FSx which add-on's perfectly.Since you state you are a bit hesitant to overclock (and i have noticed you mentioned this before in another thread on this forum also) i advise you not to start with this but just run your rig at standard clock's and standard voltages etc.Install FSx and 737NGx and any other add'ons you have and start flying and enjoying your hobby.IF (and this might not be the case) framerates drop below a, by you perceived, reasonable level, start by tuning down FSx sliders for traffic, weather, quality etc.You will see that even with the sliders a bit tuned down you will still enjoy a beautifull simulation experience and you will avoid the stress of overclocking. HOWEVER!!!.. The I2600K is a very easy to overclock processor without any risk at all. Should you be willing to investigate a little this subject (as suggested by zach look around on this forum or try google "overclock i2600k====> 20.300 hits NOW) and you will have at least enough study material to read for weeks and after reading that you will start overclocking and enjoying a even better framerate.Is it worth it???? that is up to you to decide. The fact is you can overclock a sandy bridge and by that way get more bang for the buck. But if it freaks you out probably not Hope this input helps you to make your own decisions whether or not to jump in on overclocking but my advise would be to start enjoying ngx firstMy two cents worth Have fun my friend Fred Koch

64-bit has been introduced since CPU manufacturers realised that passing 4Ghz processor speed was a bit more difficult than first thought. So, how do you speed up a processor? One way is to multicore, so, the processor can run more threads simultaneously; processing more data - essentially speeding up the CPU. Another way was to double the bit width to 64-bit, which doubles the amount of data a CPU can process; however, this is only good if you have 64-bit applications. We may even see 128-bit one day! In essence, this will smooth the running of applications like games. As the 64-bit CPU can take double the "traffic" of a 32-bit CPU, more memory is required and the RAM can be increased past 4GB to a potential max limit of something like 17179869184GB!! I'm not sure how many sticks that requires!!! Say Microsoft Flight was produced for 64-bit and so were add-ons, etc, then you would see a smoother on-screen experience with 64-bit CPU, OS, and GPU. FS9 = 1 core, 32-bit (max RAM 3.6GB)FSX = 2 core, 32-bit (max RAM 3.6GB) Multithreading would mean an i7 CPU could handle 8 threads of data, if 64-bit application that'll be 8 threads and double the bit width (amount of data processed at one time). For ref: 1MB = 1,000,000 bits/bytes. Therefore, a 32-bit processor may be able to process 1.2GBytes/s, a 64-bit would be in the region of 2.4GBytes/s. EDIT: You can see that Overclocking from 3.2Ghz, say, to 4Ghz CPU speed would also smooth the experience. I have OC'd my i7 950 to 3.86Ghz (and with Corsair CPU watercooler, was simples!)

running 64 bit is cool, even if fsx and addon are 32 bit, everything else related to OS would run at much faster pace so your fsx would ultimately as well...

Well, I run Win7 HP 64-bit and standing idle with just the internet on his forum page, I am using 0-5% CPU (Core i7), but 1.62GB RAM (of 6GB installed). If OS services run in 64-bit, with 32-bit application running, the application would use max 3.6GB and services may use RAM over that, so, I guess that would be smoother.

Thanks guys, much appreciated. Fred has the right approach for me at this stage I think. Firstly Win7 X64 is going to be new for starters, still running XP (X32). FSX I have some experience with but fps become an issue with Orbx and PMDG747 running together. So that should change with the new system. Will follow up on this "overclocking" business as a matter of interest and to gain some knowledge what this does and how to do it. Going into the bios mmmmmmmm now I am completely baffled and in the dark. I need the expertise and knowledge that Chris (Elliotc26) has, maybe one day. Anyway this is how it will look:CPU: INTEL CORE i7 2600K 3.4GHz 8MBCooling: CORSAIR COOLING HYDRO H70 CPU COOLERMotherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO B3 DESKTOP MOTHERBOARDMemory: KINGSTON 8GB KIT DDR3 C9 HYPERX 1600MHZHard Drive 1: WD CAVIAR BLACK 3.5" 500GB 7200/32MB/SATA3 for OSHard Drive 2: WD CAVIAR BLACK 3.5" 1TB 7200/64MB/SATA3 for FSXGPU: EVGA GTX570 HD 732M/3800M 1280MB/D-DVI/HDMIOptical Drive: ASUS DVD RW 24x BK/ +/-/DL/SATACase: CORSAIR GRAPHITE 600T GAMING CASEPSU: THORTECH THUNDERBOLT 850W 80PLUS GOLD MODULAR PSUOS: MICROSOFT WINDOWS 7 HOME PREMIUM OEM/64BITSound CREATIVE X-FI XTREME AUDIO PCI-E SOUNDCARD