OK Guys. I will be installing FSX on a new system that I built. From what I have read on the various AVSIM threads, it looks like DirectX 9 is the version to go with. Can someone please confirm this.

 

Also, I have overclocked my system. From what I read on NickN's install instructions, it looks like I should unclock my system before getting FSX installed and tweaked? Does this sound right?

 

Thank You.

DX9 is the version to go with but Windows installs up to DX11. FSX is a DX9 program unless you have SP2/Acceleration and want to play with the DX10 preview setting. FSX will find the appropriate DX version to use. No further action is required on your part.

 

Best regards,

Jim

What exactly is the advantage of DX10 in FSX?

What exactly is the advantage of DX10 in FSX?

 

Here's the blog from the lead developer of FSX regarding this topic - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ptaylor/archive/2007/10/02/acceleration-and-sp2.aspx. VC Shadows, water enhancements, better FPS (basic FSX FPS is limited to 24; SP2/DX10 limits FPS to 30) are just a few enhancements. It's really a mute subject as FSX was developed for DX9 and Microsoft only fiddled a bit with the programming to give us some DX10 enhancements. It would have been nice if the FSX team had stayed instead of being fired and maybe we would have seen more DX10/DX11 enhancements with DX 12 enhancements on the horizon.

 

Best regards,

Jim

When I installed Windows, apparently it installed DX11, but I can't seem to download DX9? Am I supposed to be able to do this and have both DX9 and DX11 installed? I am somewhat confused.

The Dxdiag will show Direct X11, running the dx9 setup just adds the files that older games want.

The system keeps the newest files and just adds the older ones into its database

I thought that by default when you have an up to date Win 7 installed with dx11, that dx11 was all inclusive and already included all the necessary dx9 files and didnt need to run a dx9 installer.

Hello Jim

You are correct , DX11 includes backwards compatibility with DX 9, no extra dx9 install needed.

Here's the blog from the lead developer of FSX regarding this topic - http://blogs.msdn.co...on-and-sp2.aspx. VC Shadows, water enhancements, better FPS (basic FSX FPS is limited to 24; SP2/DX10 limits FPS to 30) are just a few enhancements. It's really a mute subject as FSX was developed for DX9 and Microsoft only fiddled a bit with the programming to give us some DX10 enhancements. It would have been nice if the FSX team had stayed instead of being fired and maybe we would have seen more DX10/DX11 enhancements with DX 12 enhancements on the horizon.

 

Best regards,

Jim

 

Thanks Jim, I might look into installing DX10 then.

Thanks Jim, I might look into installing DX10 then.

 

No need to install DX10. You have it already installed. It comes with Windows 7 and you can use it with SP2 or Acceleration by clicking on the DX10 Preview box in the FSX configuration. If it doesn't show up after installing DX10, then your video card is not DX10 compliant or you don't have SP2 or Acceleration installed. You need to know that the DX10 preview in FSX is just a 'Preview' and you will see some issues like runways flickering at many airports (can be fixed though by adding a concrete texture to the runway). The VC shadow effect is nice and realistic. Just don't expect great things when you turn DX10 Preview on in FSX.

 

Best regards,

Jim

It's always good to run the direct x installer after installing games and video drivers. It grabs the latest updates.

No need to install DX10. You have it already installed. It comes with Windows 7 and you can use it with SP2 or Acceleration by clicking on the DX10 Preview box in the FSX configuration.

...

 

Actually I'm running WinXP, so I guess I'll have to download.

Also depending on your Graphics card/chipset (ATi, Nvidia, Intel) it may only be Directx10/11 compliant. All newer cards support Directx 11

Actually I'm running WinXP, so I guess I'll have to download.

 

DX10 and above is supported in Windows 7 or Vista. Not XP. DX9 is the highest version for XP. For further info: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/directx9xp.htm.

 

Best regards,

Jim

Good set of responses. Very helpful. Thank You All.