I'm just starting out with FSX, working on getting it configured and running the way I want it, etc. Right now I have just the vanilla FSX installed but I also have quite a few AddOns I purchased but haven't installed yet (Weather, Scenery, Aircraft, etc.). I figured I'd want to get familiar with the "stock" FSX before I install the AddOns.

 

Between FSX and Addons (Weather, Scenery, Aircraft, etc.) that you'd install on the SSD alongside FSX, how much drive space do you think that might take? Now, I realize thats extremely subjective because different folks have different stuff.

 

I currently have a single 512 GB SSD with my OS, Programs, and FSX as well as all necessary add ons. For Add Ons that don't require the SSD, I have a 3 TB HDD that is cached to an SSD so its still fairly quick...but certainly not SSD quick. However, that 512GB SSD is used for ALL programs...not just FSX. I have other games there (Battlefield 3, Batman, etc) and other sims (DCS World, P-51D, Black Shark, A-10) installed there as well. I still have plenty of space left but I only just started FSX and I want to plan ahead.

 

I'm trying to get some opinions on whether I'll need to pick up another 512GB SSD uninstall FSX while its still just the vanilla install and then reinstall it and any AddOns to a new separate SSD? Or whether I'll be fine with just the lone 512 GB SSD?

 

Thanks!

100 GB is plenty for FSX and a boat load of addons.

I am probably not your typical simmer and I have around 200Gig worth of addons. The photoscenery stuff takes most of that space. Leaving it on your C drive isn't a big deal and with the use of linked directoried (directory junctions), you could move part or all of FSX in the future if you did need to move it to another drive.

 

The only recommendation I have before you start adding those addons is to make sure FSX is installed in it's own directory (e.g. c:\fsx). You do not want it installed in the default path (c:\program files (x86)\microsoft\....) You will run into issues with some addons with insufficient rights, etc.

 

Welcome to the club! An expensive club at that.....and since you're already considering buying another 512 gig SSD, you're off to a good start.

Since you are just at the entry stage with a plain (plane?) vanilla FSX and don't seem overly concerned with $$$, I'd sure go ahead and get that second 512 Gb SSD and move everything flight sim over to it. Doing it right the first time usually costs less and is easier than redoing everything later. As always IMHO.

If you don't plan to use large photoscenery packages 100GB will keep you airborne for a long time.

It really depends. For example, complete mesh from FSGlobal Ultimate takes 101 GB, ORBX scenery (nearly complete) takes 74 GB, Aerosoft scenery addons (not all products) takes another 24 GB on my HDD.

 

Cheers,

 

Harry

My Prepar3D and separate Addon folder take about 220GB right now B)

WOW! I tend to never install that many addons together... I keep just a few installed at a time.

I am not sure that I get the question. Any scenery, aircraft or other information used by FSX must be loaded into RAM before FSX can make use of it. Because FSX is a 32-bit software, the most that it can load into RAM at any time is 4Gb.

 

FSX always loads the user aircraft, the traffic files, databases of all scenery, aircraft, effects files etc. into RAM upon starting it. The items that are loaded on-the-fly are mostly ai aircraft and scenery files. Ai aircraft and scenery is loaded into RAM as needed.

 

There is no reason to keep your OS and FSX applications on an SSD at all. The OS is loaded into RAM when you boot up the computer and stays there until the computer is turned off. The FSX application is loaded into RAM when you start FSX and stays there as long as it is running. Both the OS and FSX can be stored on a standard spinning hard drive with no loss of performance when running and only a slightly slower boot up.

 

The most important parts of a computer for FSX is the video card, processor and amount of RAM. A good video card is crucial for maintaining frame rates. The processor is crucial for maintaining good response time for the controls and running the ai traffic.

 

The OS needs to be 64-bit or your FSX performance will be seriously compromised. Because FSX can use up to 4 Gb of RAM and 4Gb of RAM is the total RAM available from a 32-bit OS, FSX will use much less than 4Gb with a 32-bit OS because it will be crowded out by other applications.

 

I have 32 Gb of RAM and the additional RAM (in addition to being quite cheap nowadays) has solved most of my problems with slow response. Video cards typically have some installed RAM (typically 1 Gb) and also cache some RAM on the Motherboard (1 Gb). Windows, video drivers, FSX application files, other software (such as STB) can all load into RAM outside the 4Gb used by FSX if you have enough memory. With a lot of RAM, I often run FSX full-bore and stream a video to my TV set, download something on iTunes and check something on Google Earth, all at the same time without problems.

 

If you have lots of money, buying an SSD is impressive, but better performance in FSX lies mostly with the video cards, RAM and the processor.

what eghansen says is true.....but FSX will load WAY FASTER with an SSD. It won't affect the actual flying, but the loading times vary greatly. If you can afford to, keep it on the SSD.

I would say 256 would handle most fsx installs. I'm still on a 128 but I don't have that much free space, which I guess is not ideal.

 

scott s.

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excellent eg.I have saved your post for a referance

My FSX folder is 310GB, largely because of FSAltitude photoreal products that I have installed.

FYI - A vet flightsimmer here....I have accumulated freeware and payware flightsim addons to a total of 346 gigs, combo of utilities, scenery, planes. Unfortunately I have to say that your experience will increase with strategic purchases of good enhancement addons.

 

And...be sure to think about how this might play out with P3D, so addons can be ported over or used in that software.

 

Think...REX, GEX, UTX, Orbx....RealAir, Carenada, PMDG and tons of others...depending upon your interests....do your research on what's out there and it's value to you as a simmer...you could spend $1000's easy....so pick and choose over time.

Thanks to everyone for the great responses! Its really helpful.

 

Based on the responses I'm getting, it sounds like maybe it would be helpful if I threw some more info out there.

 

So...here is the boat I'm in.

 

Once upon a time (around 2006) I spent a great deal of time in FS9. I had alot of addons, etc. Then I picked up FSX and my PC at the time just didn't have the muscle. You know how it is sometimes...I was so bummed that my PC didn't have the horsepower...that I just stuck with FS9, eventually lost interest, and eventually just put my hobby completely on hold and moved on to other things.

 

A couple years later, I upgraded my machine and took another swing at FSX. I was able to run it pretty well stock but then picked up a bunch of AddOns and it put it to its knees. Once again, I just shelfed it.

 

Flash forward to today...brand new machine that I built with alot more horsepower than previously. Its a night and day difference. So, here I am with FSX again.

 

Right now, as previously mentioned, I've got Vanilla FSX installed and I'm slowly wading through learning it. Its been a while since I messed with it so I'm starting from the beginning and taking my time.

 

But...I still have this "pile" of addons that I purchased in the past...that are all ready to go. I've downloaded all the most recent versions and upgraded to the most recent versions. I just haven't actually "installed" any of them yet.

 

So here I am....and I'm trying to decide...."Gee...once I start installing all this stuff am I going to actually start running low on space on my SSD?". So that brings me to the question I asked you guys above. I'd really hate to install all that stuff and then find out I've only got like 50 Gigs left on the drive, have to get another drive, then do it ALL over again. On the filpside, I'd hate to blow a bunch of money on another SSD and discover that I had plenty of space for everything on my current SSD and really didn't need to blow the money on the new one.

 

Here are the AddOns that I have sitting here...I've actually got quite a few of them.

 

UTX USA

UTX Canada

UTX Alaska

UTX Tropical America & Carribean

 

GEX North America

GEX Atlantic & Pacific Tropics

 

REXE (Although I haven't downloaded OD for it yet, and that would have to wait until its actually installed)

OpusFSX

AS2012

 

I had a few AddOn Aircraft from FS9 but either they aren't supported in FSX or there are better versions out there now so I probably won't mess with them. I'd rather just get new ones.

 

Thats the stuff I currently have. In addition, I'll most likely pick up a few AddOn payware aircraft (RealAir Lancair, MilViz Cessna 310, RealAir or A2A Cessna 172 when it comes out, etc.) and a good selection of the ORBX/FTX scenery. I'm thinking about getting the entire Pacific Northwest, Pacific Fiords, Northern Rockies, Central Rockies...i.e....as much of the U.S. as I can.

 

Lastly, I'm interested in trying out the new "Combat Pilot Series" when it is released. It requires and uses FSX but has its own separate install. It some ways you could call it an add on, and in some ways its more of a whole separate package. I'm not sure exaclty how to classify that one.

 

You guys think that a list similar to the above will take more than say...200GB?