Hi flight sim friends

 

I would like a little bit of help with system updates for my computer. At the moment on my PC with no add on scenery and only REX I struggle to get more than 20 FPS at small airports. I would obviously like that to be better but am not 100% sure where I should spend my money to buy new parts,

My system specs are

 

Intel® Core i5 CPU 650 @ 3.20GHz

6.00 GB RAM

NVIDIA GeForce GTS 240

3803 MB Total available graphics memory

825GB free on a 1192GB hard disk

1024 MB dedicated Graphics Memory

On 64 Bit Windows 7

 

Help and recommended buys would be much appreciated

Thanks

 

ConeireWow

 

I should mention that's 20 FPS in the 737 NGX

Your setup seems fine, the only thing I could suggest that would help is putting a small overclock on the processor, probably up to 3.80Ghz. Have you run any configuration tools for your FSX config file? That may help increase performance, also turning Direct X10 preview and light bloom off will help increase FPS

It all depends on how seriously into FSX/PMDG etc. you are. if you are just dabbling, then yes as Elliot suggested, tweak what you have. On the other hand, if you are seriously into this hobby or any other high end graphics/cpu intensive game, then go for it.

Regards,

Your setup seems fine, the only thing I could suggest that would help is putting a small overclock on the processor, probably up to 3.80Ghz. Have you run any configuration tools for your FSX config file? That may help increase performance, also turning Direct X10 preview and light bloom off will help increase FPS

 

I agree with Elliot. An overclock would help you a lot for minimal cost depending on what type of cooler you get. As a comparison, the rig in my sig is a little over 4 years old now, plus I am running XP 32bit with only 2GB orf RAM, but with my current overclock at 3.85ghz, the NGX runs fine at all my addon airports, including most large hubs with a lot of AI. As an example, I can fly it into FSDT's KDFW with AI (WOAI) set to 100% and get a pretty steady 25 to 30 FPS, at FSDT KJFX I will sometimes lower AI to 50% due to all the traffic at KLGA, KJFK and Newark, but still get around 25 FPS in the VC. The most important thing you could do with you current rig is to overclock it to around 3.80ghz or higher, use things like DXT clouds from REX or FEX, and make sure you use reasonable FSX settings, meaning not everything set to max, and turn off or turn down things like cars and airport vehicles, and of course make sure you apply the proper tweaks.

 

Having said that, you will of course get even better performance out of one of the newer 2500/2600/2700K's processor overclocked, faster RAM, and a better video card, along with the proper FSX settings/tweaks, but great performance can still be had with what you have now. If I didn't have my older rig tuned and FSX optimized to the point I have it now, I would have upgraded long ago. The only thing that really hurts me at times is having a 32bit OS with 2GB of RAM. I never get OOM's, but when I am in an extremely dense scenery area with loads of AI, switching views from internal to external can take just a split second longer for everything to reload, but FPS are always fine.

 

Take a look at NickN's set up guide over at Simforms if you haven't already, Bojote's automated tweaker which can be found searching Avsim, and also Word Not Allowed's setup guide here on Avsim. Between getting everything properly dialed in and a bit of an overclock, you should be able to get pretty good performance until you decide to build a new rig.

 

 

Sean Campbell

Thank you very much for all your help. An overclock may well be in the pipeline... :) Better look at keeping stuff cool then...

And Sean, you seem to know your stuff a lot better than I do, so I'd be curious to know what graphics card you use and how it compares to my own if that'd be possible. Thanks for your brilliant advice. :)