Hi Folks,

 

I would like to get some opions on a new computer I picked up at Costco. The price is pretty good at $600 if it can do a fairly good job of running FSX. Here are the specs:

 

AMD A10-5700 CPU

AMD Radeon HD 7660D GPU

12 GB DDR3 RAM

2 TB Hard Drive

 

I have been aware for a long time that Intel processors are better than AMD for FSX. However, if I can get 75% of the performance at this price, I will stick with it. I am currently running a home built system with a Core 2 Dou E7300 and an outdated Nvidia 8800GS GPU. Even with this, FSX performs pretty well. By pretty well I mean I am looking for 20+ FPS in PMDG 737NGX and FSDT KLAX (I consider these to be a tough combination). Additionally, I am looking to run these at high but not necessarilly maximum slider settings.

 

Does anyone have this type of system that can chime in on performance?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Cheers, Pete

Well Pete, I'm considering a similar purchase from Sam's Club. I'll probably not use add-ons except for aircraft. How is your new system working out with FSX?

Amd is decent setup run things about 60% of maximum most times. I have fx6100 amd and 7750hd does alright and your setup will get decent fps at midrange settings. What really matters being able to smoothly take off and land not fps so much. I do not overclock much at all ethier. Low and slow flyer so I I really only buy aircraft, vfr type scenery like photoreal. Your setup will be fine mid range settings

I'm running a FX-8350 which is 4.2 GHZ outta the box and I can run the NGX with Rex at fly tampa scenerys and its smooth I'm also using a 2gb 660ti FTW for a video card.

That's an APU with no L3 at all. Really not the best option for FSX, even if you want to stick with AMD for some reason. It's not going to be within a 75% of what you would get with an Intel I5 2500K or 3570K. Not even close. Maybe a 40%, and even less if you overclock both

As much as I loathe Intel market pricing (abhorrently overpriced), dazz has a point about the APU. AMD's APU lineup is designed to cut costs for low to low mid range computers, people who don't do much with heavy 3D applications (this does not mean they are crap, they certainly kick the crap out of Celerons and I3's) however they are not the best choice for FSX. AMD FX 8350 however smokes FSX and is probably the best bang for the buck CPU for FSX out hands down right now, and I dare any Intel f@nb0y to challenge that with its price to power ratio (again this is for FSX, and considering overclock capability). That being said there are some Intel CPU's that for the right price do an excellent job and eating FSX alive, again its all about how much you want spend on your system. The A8 & A10 APU's are quite powerful for what you pay for, just don't expect high end graphics with good frame rates on lots of heavy applications.

Varies on the flying you do too, but Intel will do better than AMD on anything that CPU intensive. Still, if you want to fly with mid settings FSX will look better than FS9 at max settings. Never max settings on water anyways or clouds as I low and slow flyer those eat FPS in fsx. Got FS-2004 for Clouds and weather myself if I want to fly in those. Also have intel i5-3570k near just dedicated to fsx long term usage only, but not much in hurry to use as it will be for a simpit for FSX. Like to build scenery and play other games and AMD better suited for other applications. Just wish there more competitors instead of just Intel and AMD. Had 6 figure job and lots of disposable income of course go for the Ivy Bridge CPU and Nividia 680 card. AMD A10 apu is good set up like value it brings run things at decent setting not the top of the line of course, but it will still smoke PS3 or Xbox with graphics.

I'd say best bang for the buck in the AMD lineup for FSX would be the FX 6300. 8 cores are a waste.

I would still never suggest anyone to skimp on the CPU when building an FSX rig. An I5 2500K costs just $90 more and really beats the crap out of any AMD offering