I am interested in the above aircraft simulation. However I have heard that it demands a good computer to run well. How can I assess whether or not it is worth buying for my current system?

I can find no minimum spec for it on the PMDG website and PCPilot failed miserably to even mention such a thing in their review of this software. It's all very well to say how wonderful the software is when I did read someone say they got a frame rate of 8 with it.

 

I attach my DX Diag file

I have some bad news for you. It does mention the specs on the PMDG website, but that is not the bad news. The bad news is that unless you can OC that processor, you are out of luck. The NGX needs a minimum of 3Ghz.

I run the NGX just fine on my first generation i7 LAPTOP @1.73 GHz with ORBX scenery and Aerosoft Anchorage with UTII traffic at 100%. I usually get 28-30 fps with the sliders set to very dense.

Thanks both for your advise.

 

Difficult to compare the two replies as snowingairlines thinks I am wasting my time to even consider the software while Dave Scalora suggests I might have a chance. I canot compare his i7 processor to the one I have but somehow I have a feeling mine system is a little old in the tooth to compare favourably.

 

I'm not into over clocking so I won't attempt that.

 

Looks like the default 737 is the only option but I was hoping for complete reality as I have the chance of 90 minutes on the real simulator for this aircraft and wanted to do my homework before that event.

 

Cheers, Barrie

I'm sorry to say your PC is too weak to support NGX, honestly, I have had a similar PC config few years ago and I sticked with FS9. If you want to prepare for your simulator session, I suggest you to use FS9 and Ifly 737NG.

Thanks for confirming where I stand on this.  Before I give up are you saying there is an equivalent simulation of this for FS9? I do run FS9 as well and in all of that game I get much better frame rates than FSX

Is 737NG the same as 737NGX? If not what is the difference?

 

Cheers, Barrie

he was referring to the iFly 737NG, which is also a rendition of the 737 for both FSX and FS9. It's not as detailed as the PMDG NGX, but still simulates all (or atleast almost all) relevant systems, but lacks some features PMDG put into their plane (such as a HUD in all versions). The major advantages of the iFly 737 are that it includes more versions (737-600 to -900 plus the three Business Jet variants), it has a version for FS9 which I'd say is equal to the FSX version (within the existing limitations, of course) and it does not require such a fast CPU.

 

(In general, 737NG refers to the 737-600, -700, -800 and -900 variants, the most recent aircraft of Boeing's 737 series, and NG means "Next Generation", the acronym NGX always stands for the PMDG 737NG for FSX)

Just wanted to add a bit to the above post the HUD in the  pmdg NGX by it's self is almost worth the price of upgrading your computer to use it, it can not be compared to the hud in the IFLY.  The PMDG is more deatiled and looks better in my opinion but the IFLY is a great choice for FS9 

Thanks for confirming where I stand on this. Before I give up are you saying there is an equivalent simulation of this for FS9? I do run FS9 as well and in all of that game I get much better frame rates than FSX

Is 737NG the same as 737NGX? If not what is the difference?

 

Cheers, Barrie

 

The iFly 737 is one of the top aircraft in our hobby. PMDG is the best but the iFly model is nothing to sneeze at. It's like having the Viper instead of the Farrari. If you machine is having issues running FSX, FS9 is a very viable alternative. We've documented fully how to get FS9 looking on par with FSX in most areas and you get a performance boost using that sim. The iFly 737 with FS2crew and TrackIR is very realistic and enjoyable to use. Both products simulate the 737NG and both equally do a great job in that effort.

Like Les says, the IFLY 737NG is tops in FS9.

Thanks guys, I will go for the IFly version as a computer upgrade is not likely just yet. From what I've read this FS9 version sounds good enough for me and there is no doubt FS9 runs a lot better than FSX as regards frame rates.

 

Cheers, Barrie

Great choice :smile:

Definitely stick to FS9 and the iFly.

 

The iFly is a fantastic rendition of the 737 and served me very well before I upgraded PC to run fsx.

@Barrie, I had same CPU and GPU before this new PC. I was able to run NGX on medium settings and only with default scenery. So i used 80% of time FS9 and Leonardo Maddog, which is the best plane ever created for any sim - IMHO!

 

p.s. Tried ifly 737 - good systems but i was not satisfied with fly dynamics and VC

I may be late to this party but have you ever thought about flying the PMDG from the 2D panels in FSX? Should help a good deal with frame rates.

 

Apart from this the iFly is a great choice for FS9 and you won't miss much from the PMDG model with her.