I thought 4 yers on the hardware had advanced sufficient enough to get a good result from FSX? Has anybody calculated at what processor speed you need to get FSX and add ons running maxed out, or is that another 4 years away?

 

The way and direction that hardware has evolved over the last years isn't of much use for FSX. Well, yes, you can get far better results performance wise and quality wise with a quite 'normal' nowadays system, but things sort of went into another direction then FSX really needed. So waiting yet another 4 years won't do you or anyone much good. While FSX needs higher and higher MHz's, the CPU's headed into a direction of adding more cores instead of upping the MHz everytime. There is a limit to the MHz you can get with the current technology. FSX isn't really designed for more cores. GPU's did get better and better but while new games take full advantage of the GPU developments, FSX doesn't.

 

What we really need, is a new sim... A lof of people are hoping that Prepar3D version 2.0, which is build upon the base of FSX, will finally let 'FSX' take advantage of new hardware. But this still has to be seen.

 

BTW About using a laptop for FSX: John Venema from Orbx uses a Macbook and gets pretty nice results with it.

http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/56971-ftx-global-debut-video-the-eu-preview-in-1080p/ (The video is filmes with an iPhone so no speed up tricks were used, I presume.)

Of course he is using the very framerate friendly Trike there and things will look different with a 'heavy' addon plane but I've read more reports of people using FSX in a laptop so it can be done. Mind you, I would never do it. I'd always prefer a desktop for FSX.

Thanks again men, i must clarify the laptop is for mobile use since i spend a few evenings in a hotel each week. if i get back into it i will invest in a decent desktop for home use.

 

i must admit other than the aircraft and airfields which are clear the terrain etc looks to be a bit of a minefield so i shall have mooch around youtube a bit longer.

 

thanks for all the ideas it is appreciated/