Hi All.

I'm thinking of purchasing a new computer (custom build) for Flight Simulator.

I am simply wondering if anyone will be able to estimate performance, ie, FPS etc, and also if anyone has any tips on alternative hardware. Here's the spec I'm considering:

Fractal Define R4 Black Pearl quiet Mid-tower case

 

CPU:AMD FX-4170 Quad Core CPU (4.20GHz / 4MB Cache / AM3+)

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Ihave the FX6300 overclocked to 4510 and flying around UK near london am now getting 25 fps, away from busy areas i get over 80, important thing is it smooth. Get a decent aircooled heatsink. it will be fine.

 

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

For your reference, I usually receive 20–25 frames per second with the PMDG B747 at FlyTampa and FSDT airports on my stock Dell XPS 8500. My scenery settings are set to approximately 3/4 of the maximum.

My understanding is that Intel cpus are significantly better for FSX - though I can't vouch for it as I've not used an AMD chip.

My understanding is that Intel cpus are significantly better for FSX - though I can't vouch for it as I've not used an AMD chip.

It also seems that NVIDIA graphics cards are better and more flexible for FSX purposes.

From 4 Months of reading stuff here, and trying FSX on several PC's... Don't get an AMD CPU! It will run so much hotter than an intel CPU and not be able to do the same level of crunching an Intel CPU can do. There's good reason AMD CPU's are cheaper, and this is 1 time you don't want to scrimp on CPU capability.

 

My systemboard automatically overclocked my i7 to 4.8GHz and get 26/30fps in the PMDG737 @ UK2000 Heathrow, no problemo and 50FPS+ everywhere in the Cessna 172, with all sliders at 100% except 25% AI...

 

Not sure about the argument on ATI/NVidea though, I have an ATI card..

 

Pump your cash into the BEST CPU and Memory you can get, as #1 priority, and slap a Corsair H100 onto it.

For a case, avoid one that has stupid vents all over it, just front/top/back is perfect for better flow of air...

 

Corsair 600T = Rubbish

Antec P280 = Excellent (Quieter and cooler)

 

Best of all, don't rush the purchase... Read up, plan carefully.

Not sure about the argument on ATI/NVidea though, I have an ATI card..

NVIDIA graphics cards seem to be more flexible with all of the Inspector tweaks mentioned in Word Not Allowed's Guide and elsewhere. Would you mind sharing your Catalyst Control Center settings? What level of performance increase have you seen with properly tuned CCC settings (over default CCC settings)? Do you enable AA within FSX?

Funny enough, I have been really messing with it the last few days to get it right again after ORBX screwed things up, and today have it nice again..

 

ok, here goes:

• Anti Aliasing > 8x [Filter Standard]
  
• Anistropic Filtering > 16x
  
• Tessalation > Off
  
• Catalyst A.I > Performance [Enable surface format optimisation enabled]
  
• Wait for vertical refresh > Always off
  
• Anti Aliasing mode > Adaptive Multi Sample [Middle of the 3 options]
  
• OpenGL > Triple buffering enabled [Ticked]
  

I got it horribly wrong earlier this morning and was getting 6/14fps just sitting in the Cessna 172, parked at Biggin Hill with the engine running, daytime. Messed about with it all day, and this is how far I have got, and was getting 60FPS in the Cessna idle, and all through takeoff from biggin hill, so tested the NGX from Heathrow to Gatwick, and didn't get any drop below 26FPS during take-off and landing..

 

That's the story so far...

here goes:

Anti Aliasing > 8x [Filter Standard]

Anistropic Filtering > 16x

Tessalation > Off

Catalyst A.I > Performance [Enable surface format optimisation enabled]

Wait for vertical refresh > Always off

Anti Aliasing mode > Adaptive Multi Sample [Middle of the 3 options]

OpenGL > Triple buffering enabled [Ticked]

Thank you for the information. I am assuming that you un-check anti-aliasing within FSX? I personally did not notice any massive performance difference between leaving AA checked vs. un-checked. I am confused as to what should happen when AA is enabled in both CCC and FSX: should one negatively interfere with the other, and should visual quality improve when both are active?

 

Another user suggested the following settings (ones identical to yours have been omitted). I believe these lower settings suit me more, as my graphics card is weaker than yours.

 

"Setting Ansio in FSX, 16x and App Cont unchecked in CCC, will allow FSX to use Ansio at 16x. FSX doesn't look as good at lower settings. Not a big hit on tour system.

Settings for AA are highly system/card driven. A good place to start is 4x Standard, Override App Cont. [ . . . ] On the ATI card I leave FSX AA unchecked. Morph Filter I leave off.

Tessel - AMD Opt [ . . . ]

Cat A I - High Q [ . . . ]

Wait fo Vertical Refresh - On Unless App Specs" [ . . . ]

 

Have you observed whether any of these differing settings (i.e., the ones that differ between your settings and the other user's settings) seriously affect performance? I have trouble testing personally because I am inexperienced with many of these settings, and do not know which direction I should move the sliders in order to decrease/increase performance (e.g., counter-intuitively, performance decreased when I lowered my filtering settings in FSX).

Hi Owen

 

like I said mate, for me, its "The story so far" and tonight I just installed every UK2000 Airport and the entire VFR1/2/3 series, which has had a performance hit sadly, so will now have to start lowering things and messing about AGAIN! I haven't even got round to installing my AS2012 yet..

 

So looks like its back to the drawing board now..

Have just changed my settings to the ones you listed, seems a little smoother :-) Quick take off at night, from UK2000 Biggin Hill

 

I do have AA enabled in FSX too, but will have to play with it more tomorrow... Still cant figure out why the runway lights at Biggin hill are all 3ft in mid-air..

I just installed every UK2000 Airport and the entire VFR1/2/3 series, which has had a performance hit sadly

I thought UK2000 airports were supposed to be very performance friendly, and was hoping for Edinburgh, Heathrow, and Manchester for the holidays.

 

I do have AA enabled in FSX too, but will have to play with it more tomorrow...

Thanks for the information. I too will perform some more testing after winter break begins tomorrow.

I just need to tweak my stuff, thats all, still recovering from ORBX:EU, although to be honest, there isn't any-more tweaks left other than to start turning things down from MAX..

Sorry guys, this was never meant to post, as I changed my mind about components but missed the "cancel" button (so it seems!)

 

The new thread is here: http://forum.avsim.net/topic/395774-deciding-on-components-for-a-new-pc/

 

(i have taken into account everything I have been reading about components)

 

thanks for your advice though, it's been helpful!

When people quote performance and FPS, they are quite misleading. Everyone saying 20-25 fps, please also specify:

 

1) Resolution (There is a big difference between 1680 x 1050 vs 2560 vs 1600. Latter will require over 2 GB of video RAM whereas the other will require less than half).

2) AA/AF/NVidia Settings (Using a 32x AA vs 1xAA is a big difference).

3) Overall FSX Settings (Just moving the road traffic slider from 10% to 50% makes a massive difference (14fps vs 20fps) flying over Manhattan.

4) Weather/day or night configuration (Flying at night time nearly cuts FPS in half)

 

I have a pretty good PC, I can configure things so that I get maxed out 60 fps flying over Manhattan, or I can configure them and get 10 fps.