With my relatively recent NGX purchase (along with a recently purchased CPU and GPU capable of handling the load), my interest in FSX has been rekindled, and I'm now interested in enhancing the experience as much as possible. Along those lines, I'm interested in users' opinions on the value of various add-ons. I'm not speaking of specifics, such as a particular scenery area by ORBX, but more general recommendations - kind of a "dream" FSX environment. For example, I have REX, and anticipate purchasing UTX and GEX, but what about mesh improvements? Are they worth it? For that matter, are UTX and GEX still king of the hill? What about AI? ATC? Basically, what would you recommend to make our old FSX into "FS2012" with existing add-ons; your ultimate FS environment? And what, if any impact is there on performance? And I guess while price isn't necessarily a factor, per se, to keep it within reason, let's say total additional cost limited to between $300 to $600 US (with apologies to our avid members outside the US - I know you exist, and are an integral part of this community, and I desire your input, it's just my currency).Brian Johnson

Edited March 5, 201214 yr by IUBrian

Ultimate Traffic 2 for AI traffic.

Brian, I have FSGlobal, Aerosoft Airports, EZDock, ASE+REX textures....my interest in FSX went through the roof once I added all those add ons, coupled with extremely good aeroplanes from PMDG, I am in flight sim Nirvana!

Hi Brian,Mainly fly in Oz so for me its: PMDG, ORBX (scenery + AI), Active Sky + Vatsim. That's it!Richard Shumack

Hi Brian. I use REX too. I recently bought UTX for USA and GEX for North America. They're excellent. They're actually updated periodically in order to keep up with the changing world of ours... Edward mentioned Ultimate Traffic 2 but tbh WOAI does it for me. I also like to fly on VATSIM, so you should check that out.

ASE 2012 and ORBIX stuff. Got rid of REX as ASE2012 has it all in one package it feels more real and my frames have improved dramatically (no more high res bloatware).

Edited March 5, 201214 yr by VBHB

Hi, Definitely active sky 2012 if you like it or rex textures plus active sky's weather engine. Ultimate terrain, GEX, and if you want mesh there's fsglobal or fsgenesis . Aircrafts of your choice, i have the following: Carenado Baron since I got trained on it, a small business jet, a turboprop and a jetliner. Your desired airport sceneries. Lastly, try vatsim, its fun flying online with real atc. Imo it makes simming more realistic. Good luckAlejandro C.

Hi man,This video of mine might help you. ( a bit outdated )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiZ7VNuH76g&feature=g-upl&context=G280f38eAUAAAAAAADAA

I just love AS2012, like other people have said it has the graphics of REX, with awesome weather, and it improves frames. As for scenery, I cant really speak on that as I am kinda in the same boat as you on that issue. I am debating on wether to get UTX and GEX for the U.s, but I am still deciding.

Just curious, of the addons listed, how would they be sorted for priority of importance for best 'game changer' to FSX or 'wow factor' improvement of FSX?

I have many different add-ons but without any doubt as2012 comes in first.

I just love AS2012, like other people have said it has the graphics of REX, with awesome weather, and it improves frames. As for scenery, I cant really speak on that as I am kinda in the same boat as you on that issue. I am debating on wether to get UTX and GEX for the U.s, but I am still deciding.

Sorry to brake away from the topic but, Would you recommend AS2012? I use REX at the moment and I find the frames alright but when there's more clouds the frames start to decrease, what is the wow factor AS2012 has besides REX?

For the USA I would highly recommend GEX. It seems the quality lessoned as they moved on (at least to my perception) and I am not sure how much I would recommend GEX Europe, Africe, etc. However, GEX USA and Canada is excellent.

I appreciate everyone's responses so far; very usefull to myself as well as others. Based upon the limited sample size thus far, the results seem consistent with my research thus far - weather and land texture enhancements near the top, followed by AI and ATC, with mesh last. I'm interested in it all, but mesh enhancements intrigue me. It would seem that along with land class and texture improvements they would have the potential to significantly enhance the visuals, but their relative lack of enthusiastic supporters tends to make me believe the price outweighs the improvement.

If you have GEX and UTX can you still use orbx's FTX and airports? I'mmainly concerned about the airports though.

Edited March 6, 201214 yr by West Wind 2933