Seems like a straight forward question! I have never had much luck or time getting FSX to run well. So I want to ask a straight up QUestion and get a straight up answer sinse I am about to do the necessary hardware up grade and a fresh install of windows 7 and therefore everything else including FSX and any addons that I have!Current hardware: i7 920 @ 4.2 Ghz, 8gigs ram, 2xGTX580Current software: FSX, FSX Accelleration, REX 2.0, REX Overdrive texture pack, FSX Booster 4.0, Cumulus X 1.8.1, winch X, Aerosoft Glider Discus X. .....I also have a program called FPS limiter 2.0 but but I have no idea how it works.The questions are re: hardware, I should add a HD especially for FSX right? Should I get an SDD for this? ........ Also the essential hardware above is Good right?Is there a special proceedure that needs to be followed when Installing the main program and then the addons? I believe there is.... should I bother with FSX booster or just forget about it? How does FPS limiter work. The instructions appear to be in german!I know all of these questions have been asked before but there is so much misinformation out there and I am not asking for the answers to be repeated just to be dirrected to the right stuff i.e. links etc.I want to take the time to get this running at its best on my machine.You guys seem to know what your taking about.Thanks,Dave

Unless you play other games, take out that other GTX580. It will hurt your FPS within FSX.

Unless you play other games, take out that other GTX580. It will hurt your FPS within FSX.

Isn't there just a quick way to activate it and deactivate it?

Isn't there just a quick way to activate it and deactivate it?

My apologies.... You can access that in the Nvidia control panel. Before you launch FSX, make sure SLI is disabled. Once FSX is closed again, you can enable it to play other games.

Follow these instructions and you won't go far wrong:http://www.simforums.com/forums/setting-up-fsx-and-how-to-tune-it_topic29041.htmlYou need to follow them exactly though.

Follow these instructions and you won't go far wrong:http://www.simforums...topic29041.htmlYou need to follow them exactly though.

Thanks, I followed the link. It looks like I have my work cut out for me! But I am going to do it.I figure that the fist step is to get the hardware right. Overall I believe my system aught to be able to do well with FSX but I do want to add a dedicated drive. NickN recommend a Western Digital VelociRapor but the post is 3 years old so I figure that there is a better option now? I read somewhere that a standard HD with an SDD as the cache was used with very smooth results but that sounds complex to setup. So what is the best storage solution for FSX today?

Thanks, I followed the link. It looks like I have my work cut out for me! But I am going to do it.I figure that the fist step is to get the hardware right. Overall I believe my system aught to be able to do well with FSX but I do want to add a dedicated drive. NickN recommend a Western Digital VelociRapor but the post is 3 years old so I figure that there is a better option now? I read somewhere that a standard HD with an SDD as the cache was used with very smooth results but that sounds complex to setup. So what is the best storage solution for FSX today?

Go for an HDD for now. SSD's aren't mature enough for long term use and some of them have issues with firmware etc. Go for maybe a WD Caviar Black 1TB (Photoscenery) but if you don't use lots of photoscenery, stick with a 500GB Caviar Black for FSX only.

Edited February 4, 201214 yr by benorg

Great, Thanks for the input. I will use this thread to Chronical the whole process. If anyone has any input along the way I would be greatful. Starting from where I am I have made a bench mark video of a Flight over Seattle (building Storm) based on NickN suggestion in the Simforum link above. I set all the display sliders as he Suggests! I think my system did Ok! It rarely went below 30FPS and never went below 20fps. I did notice that when I panned arround very quickly in cockpit view vsync didn't seem to work that well eventhought I set it up right in the fsx.cfg file! Anyway here is a link to a short video video clip:

I will add a signature shortly of my current specs. and some Pictures of the PC.Here is my planned first step. I plan to make my system a duel booth system leaving my current 3 disk Raid 0 array intactThere are 2 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices on my Gigabyte X58A-UD7 motherboard. One HDD will be dedicated to the OS and the other to FSX. For the FSX HDD I will either use a Velociraptors or as benorg suggested above 500GB Caviar Black.So there are three questions for this post.1. Should I use an SDD for the OS or another HDD2. Which is the best OS for FSX?3. Will my duel booth system plan have a negative effect on FSX performance?

Pick myself up two Raptors on flea Bay.1. WD3000GLFS2. WD6000HLHXGoing to use the WD3000GLFS for Windows 7 and WD6000HLHX for FSXRight Approach?No Pun Intended!Edit:Got me a copy of Windows 8 preview.Should I use that?