Is this just a sh*tty computer? Or does it have potential?

[Kenny Writes 0]

Ya, I'm pretty down with this computer. Seems like it can handle FSX decently (in my standards), but with aircraft like the PMDG 737NGX, in the VC, it runs like a sick fat man. Like 4.5 FPS, and half the time is studders and freezes and crashes... but in spot and Wing I get like 20fps.So, here are the specs.Intel Celeron CPU 900 @ 2.30Ghz, 2.0 GB of RAM, Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family.Windows 7x64Ya, everyone keeps saying my graphics card sucks; but then I talk to a Microsoft Support Specialist and he says there won't be much difference with a Nvidia Gefore card. ??????Is this computer a scrap? It's like 8 months old. I don't see how everyone has an $18,000 computer for FSX... is there something I'm missing? Dunno about you, but I don't have the money!Is there a cheap way to upgrade to improve...?I really don't have any idea of it's worth.. how to upgrade; better graphics card... better Ghz...Lost

[hcornea 4]

Kenny,Unfortunately if this computer is 8 months old, it was painfully under-spec when purchased. Really it is below-par with most business desktops, and off-scale for almost all simming.Almost no-one spends $18k on a computer (a slight exaggeration on your part?)I don't think the platform offers much chance of useful "upgrade" for simming.Cut your losses and start again with a 1156 socket 2500k setup.A quick persuse of many online sites will confirm how much you need to spend (much less than $3000)Good luck.

[hcornea 4]

Uh. "money don't grow on trees"

No ... you tend to earn it by working.Not quite sure what answer you are looking for ...If you are happy, then continue on with what you have. If not, then IMO upgrading is going to consume cash, with little gain.Set a budget you can afford.ResearchPrice your components.Buy, or not buy depending on whether it is worth the investment.Laptop upgrades are not as easy, and you are starting from a base that is (again IMO) not really worth upgrading.If you must have a laptop, then most of the major companies offer "reasonable" offerings.The standard applies: "You get what you pay for" Edited January 14, 2012 by hcornea

[Kosta 122]

FSX doesn't like laptops.Celeron is a bad processor in general, I just replaed a Celeron in my laptop because it wouldn't run decently with only FSX programs like AS2012 and EFB. I won't even try FSX.FSX is not your daily Windows program which is going to run on the everyday mill... it needs power. And computing power costs. Not 18K, but you also won't get it for free. Save yourself about $800-1000 (this is only a tower-price), you need peripherals to that too.Microsoft Specialist who said Nvidia Card won't make any difference, sorry to say, has absolutely no idea then. You need CPU power, you need GPU power and you need good RAM and storage.Without that, don't even start messing with FSX, just stay on FS9. NGX? Man, it's like wanting to buy gold, but not having the dough...

Edited January 14, 2012 by Kosta

[magnetite 38]

If you plan to go with a desktop, Sandy Bridge + FSX is very good. I have a i7 2600K @ 4.5 GHz, and FSX rocks on this hardware with all the addons I've got (eg. PMDG 737 NGX). I don't even know how to overclock that well. Or manually anyways. I just changed a few things with TurboBoost, and bam, 4.5 GHz. Just remember to get a good cooler.

[TheBFG 1]

I talk to a Microsoft Support Specialist and he says there won't be much difference with a Nvidia Gefore card. ??????

That is absolutely preposterous and whoever told you that shouldn't have that job.Unfortunately that pc of yours is about the lowest spec I've seen in a while, including non-gaming office machines I maintain. I'm surprised FSX runs at all. You're going to have to start from scratch on that one :sad:Think of Celerons as motorbike engines, they go fast as long as you rev the hell out of it and there's one person on the bike. It's never going to tow a big caravan though, that needs a beefy V6 or more, which is what basically everything other than a Celeron is. I wouldn't even recommend them as office machines except in the most basic of workstations.If money is really tight, look for a 2nd hand machine similar to the one in my signature. It's no i7 but you may be pleasantly surprised. Edited January 14, 2012 by TheBFG

[altstiff 71]

Kenny, that PC just wont cut it. Lots of how to and buyers guides out there. Do some research and save a little coin to get a better PC if you really want to enjoy simming.,

[HoratioWondersocks 4]

No ... you tend to earn it by working.Not quite sure what answer you are looking for ...If you are happy, then continue on with what you have. If not, then IMO upgrading is going to consume cash, with little gain.Set a budget you can afford.ResearchPrice your components.Buy, or not buy depending on whether it is worth the investment.Laptop upgrades are not as easy, and you are starting from a base that is (again IMO) not really worth upgrading.If you must have a laptop, then most of the major companies offer "reasonable" offerings.The standard applies: "You get what you pay for"

You guys are so good when it comes to helping people who seem to me don't a;ways warrant that help.Nowt form me.Andy

[EngineRoom 205]

FSX doesn't like laptops.

A year or two ago I would agree, but right now that statement isn't true.There are laptops out there that run FSX loaded down with all the high end addons beautifully. The new i7 Sandy Bridge powered laptops are capable of running FSX with very little in the way of compromise.As far as the OP goes, trying to run FSX on those specs is going to leave you with nothing but disappointment. Either stick with FS9 or get a *much* more powerful laptop.I have one of these:http://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-msi-gt680r-056uk-wled-gaming-core-i7-2630qm-8gb-1tb-gtx460m-dvdrw-bluetooth-webcam-win7-hpIt's capable of running a glass cockpit aircraft over Orbx scenery with all the sliders pushed to the right at 1920x1080 res with the frame rate locked at 30fps and it's smooth as butter. You'll also notice the price isn't shockingly expensive like some of the other well known brands of high end gaming laptops.Speaking of which - avoid Alienware laptops like the plague. Overpriced and very poor build quality was the impression I got from the one I owned in 2008-2009.

[Kosta 122]

Uhm, yeah I know there are some laptops that can run FSX well.But, usually, nothing a normal simmer is going to be able to afford, especially someone talking about money.

[EngineRoom 205]

It's not that expensive really - £1,200 for a high end gaming laptop which can run just about all of the contemporary titles at high graphics settings is actually very good value for money!The point remains - FSX can run very well on laptops, and you don't have to go down the route of ridiculously expensive "specialist" brands to get one.Now I know it is of course more desirable to run FSX on a powerful desktop (which is why I also have one of those too!) but in my case I work away from home for 8 months of the year and I can't take my desktop with me so I have to use a laptop. I've spent the last 8 years running FS9 and subsequently FSX on numerous laptops and the one I have now is the first one that allows me to run FSX at a decent framerate without comprimising the sliders.

[Kosta 122]

Name the laptop.

[Guest Alex Goff]

Thanks everyone.I might start saving up to get Alienware. Is it good for FSX? Maybe a 11X.Surprisingly, even how horrible you described my computer; FSX with ORBX, and REX 2.0 I get like 15 fps.With no weather or anything I get like 25.In FS9 I get like 50.It's the 737NGX that strictly gives me problems.... which sometimes I can get like 7 fps. Other aircraft like CLS Md- I get like 15fps in VCWhich to me is decent, but probably to all of you out there is like slow as hell.:)

Noooooooooo not Alienware! You'll be paying much more than anybody ever should for something that still won't perform.Build your own or have somebody build it for you. It will be much more difficult for you to try and find a decently priced pre-built that can handle FSX well.Also I think it should be noted here that the CPU he's using isn't one of the Celeron's of old! It's most likely a SB based Celeron. A few steps lower than something like an i3-2100 or mobile equivalent. Still underpowered for FSX but not one of the s478 and LGA775 Celeron's most people are familiar with

[mgh 89]

I talk to a Microsoft Support Specialist and he says there won't be much difference with a Nvidia Gefore card.

Given the processor you have, it's quite possible that a new card would make no significant difference. Your PC is more likely to be CPU limited than GPU limited

[Guest Alex Goff]

Ok! No Alienware! (:Where do I go than? I would like a laptop; desktops are SO overrated.And probably the reason why FSX runs that good on my system is it's really new.

Best option for an FSX dedicated computer is a self-built desktop. For laptops you'll be paying a lot more for less performance.I usually browse for laptops on Newegg or a manufacturers website. If you're in the United States and have a Fry's Electronics or Microcenter those are both nice choices. Best Buy is even a half decent option, just don't talk to the sales people or you'll walk out with something worse than what you've got. Start a thread in the hardware forum and some guys will jump in and help you out