Looking to buy a new computer. Because I am moving between various houses I want to have my FS on a portable device, so since years I have been running my FS installations on laptops. I now want to buy a new computer.

 

What I want to run:

 

- FS9 (yes, still lovin it...)

- Very very very heavy AI (>1,200 bgl files, always maxing traffic, at least the non-GA traffic)

- Almost exclusively payware airports from the usual designers (Tampa, Aerosoft, FSDT, etc)

- Payware or high quality freeware planes, some of them a bit older (such as POSKY), often with old-but-good panels (PSS panels on POSKY planes for instance)

- The usual add-ons for weather, Utlimate Terrain, etc

 

What I thought about buying

 

Dell XPS 15

IntelCore i7, 4th generation (3.2 Ghz, 6MB)

16GB RAM

Either Solid state hard disk 512 GB or 1 TB SATA hard drive+32GB solid state

2 GB nVidia GeForce GT 750M 

 

Is that sufficient "power" for a heavy duty FS?

 

Also, the PC comes with Windows 8.1. Will that cause problems, should I rather stick with my Windows 7 Home Premium?

 

And lastly, while I'll be running FS9 on this because I simply can't be bothered to convert all my AI and AFCADs to FSX, would this machine in theory be powerful enough to run FSX in case I decide to switch?

 

 

Thanks for all hints and explanations. I am an absolute computer laymen, so thank you for keeping your explanations "IT for dummies"-like ;-)

 

Chris

 

Windows 8 will cause problems. PMDG for instance don't support it.

 

The specs seem all fine to me for running FS9 and FSX with care on what you install. I think you should (or must) lower your expectations on what you want to run. For that wishlist what you need is a high-end PC, not laptop.

 

My advice is don't use a laptop as your "main" FS-rig. Get a "decent" home PC first, then get a laptop as an "emergency flightsimming relief valve".

that will make fsx shine. but you need a desktop, not laptop.

Sorry, can't go desktop, I need the thing to be portable. 

 

I now found this machine and I think I'll buy it:

 

ASUS G750JZ-XS72

i7-4700HQ, 2.4 GHz

32GB DDR3L memory

NVIDIA GTX 880M graphics, 4GB

1TB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 rpm)

512 GB SSD

 

Not optimal I guess (although I still haven't understood why laptop isn't as good as desktop), but good enough to run FSX I hope.

 

My only question: it comes with WIndows 8.1 installed, which I don't want because of the above-mentioned issues with PMDG. I do have a Windows 7 64bit installation CD-ROM. Can I just install Windows 7 instead, or will that "break" the computer?

 

Thanks

If you still have time to listen to some advice, I wanted to chime in with my situation.  I know there are many folks here strongly against using FSX on a laptop, but I have been mobile flying for quite some time now on my laptop.  Yes, you will NOT get the best performance out of a laptop vs. a desktop, BUT you can get decent performance out of a laptop with the right specs.  I currently own an Alienware laptop (M14 rev. 2013) and it does a very good job with regards to FSX usage.  I can achieve 30FPS most of the time, unless I am in a high detail area like the PNW or at a Flightbeam payware airport, but overall, the graphics performance is acceptable.

 

Like you, I need to be mobile and this laptop covers all of the bases.  I currently have FTX global, with FTX vector and FS2010 mesh installed.  I am still tweaking it all as I recently started to migrate into a more stable DX10 mode.  Again, you can fly with a laptop, but it won't be the best.  Unfortunately, you would need to invest in a killer laptop to achive anything close to desktop, such as an Alienware 18 with dual nvidia cards with SLI.  My rig has an i7-4900MQ with 16gb of ram and an nvidia GT765 with 2gb of ram.  This works just fine as long as you don't have huge expectations.  I like to have decent realistic scenery when I fly, which is mostly low and slow aircraft so for what I have, I am satisfied.

 

Your last question dealing with Windows 8.1:  in my opinion, try to stick with Windows 7.  I have Windows 7 Ultimate and I have no plans to upgrade any time soon.

 

Good luck.