Itchin for FS

[EricLilly 6]

I have been away for some time.. I want to get back into Flight Simulation.. What's the best and easiest way to get back into it with new system..

 

I have:

 

A new computer with zero FSX Software on it..

Alienwares newest Aurora R5 with the latest Intel processors

NVidia GE Force GTX 1070 graphics card..

16 GB RAM

Windows 10

 

I own:

 

PMDG 737 NGX

PMDG 777

 

These are the two I must have on the new system but I also don't mind spending money if the approach to getting everything up and running is easier.. (like Prepar3d if it makes sense for me)

 

What should I do ???

 

Install my old FSX

Get FSX Steam Version

Get Prepar3d (Do you still need to have FSX installed for Prepar3d to work ?)

 

Any advice will be appreciated... 

[ahsmatt7 1,199]

I would go with p3d. it's a much better platform IMO. As for the 737 and 777, if you got the P3D route, you'll have to purchase these two things again. I MO, it's a small price to pay but we'll worth the investment in getting back into simming and using P3D. Move into the future, don't step back into the past.

 

You don't need fsx to run P3d. It's a complete stand alone sim.

[tutmeister 695]

I'll say this up front. I own and use only prepar3d and have since it started. BUT... In your case I'd pick up fsx steam because it is cheap and you already have 2 very expensive add ons that you want to use. Try it for a bit and see if you want more. If you buy into orbx scenery that's fine as if you want to switch to prepar3d later you can use orbx with it at no cost.

There is no point spending hundreds to get prepar3d up and running with the 737 and 777 unless you are sure. Seeing as you own them for fsx just install it and them and give it a try. If it bites you then look at the cost of transitioning to p3d - for pmdg users it is a not inconsiderable cost.

 

Chris

[VHOJT 150]

I agree with Matthew.  Definitely go with P3D.  It is constantly updated, and it performs and looks better.  It also manages memory better than FSX so you should hopefully end up with less dreaded out-of-memory errors.

 

Cheers,

[pcubine 143]

If you go P3D not only would you need to purchase the NGX and 777 but FSLabs A320 has only been released for FSX. P3D version is coming but it took six years to get the FSX version. I don't know if that interests you or not. Just throw it out for information purpose.

[craig_read 43]

I am a P3D user and fly PMDG products within that, I'd not go back now.  The only reason FSX-SE is installed now is for my FSLabs A320 install (but they're already well on the way to producing their P3D version anyway and it's a 'cost difference upgrade' so it makes no difference financially).  However I would give FSX-SE a try, before you spend money on a new simulator, simply for the reason, why not?  Why spend money until you know you have to and it's not much effort and time to try it out.  Don't be fooled into thinking you won't get OOM's with P3D, and it's a bed of roses.  If you believe that you will be disappointed, all you need to do is watch some of the live streams of users using the latest P3D and see how many times they have to restart from auto-saves within P3D to see that's not yet a thing of the past, although it's vastly improved!

 

Dovetail themselves said FSX-SE is not a dead platform, far from it, they are working hard on improving and developing it, although I fear great divergence between FSX-SE and P3D, making addon development that's cross platform far more difficult in the years to come.

[Nick Dobda 24]

I was in your boat 2 years ago. Last I played FSX was before I had kids. Used default everything. Back then I had a dual core top of the line computer. 

Kids getting older, now they go to bed at 7, leaving me 2-3 h ours a night to fly, so I figured I'd buy a cheap computer (technology had progressed so that I could buy a computer of similar performance of the "top of the line" one I had left behind) download FSX SE... since it had been 10 years since the previous version of FSX I figured things had to have gotten better. I was very very disappointed.... nothing had changed.

 

I first committed to the NGX after reading all the reviews. It crushed my little computer. Frame rates were horrible, even with all the FSX graphics turned down. But, I committed to learn the systems... how to fly.. master the tutorials... and build on it more. I flew the tutorials every night for a month, then transitioned to flying from city to city across the USA every night to build up experience and my learning. My first upgrade was a navigraph subscription so that I could learn how to navigate. Next upgrade was the saitek pro flight yoke, pedals, and throttles.

Another 5 months of that, I was getting comfortable with the NGX and the fundamentals of route planning, and route flying. I decided I liked the direction this was headed... so I went to craigslist and came across a quad core 4.2GHZ purpose built gaming machine. Bought it for $400 and moved everything on there. At that time, I could turn back on all the bells and whistles in FSX... turn up the graphics, turn up the fun annimations and all that... very cool, and respectable frame rates. Built on my route planning and FMC programming with the default weather engine still.

As I moved on I started to notice the FSX weather engine wasn't cutting it. I bought ASN which brought the weather radar to life, and filled in some gaps as far as route planning and FMC programming. Overnight the weather and weather related scenery (clouds etc) were a vast improvement adding to the experience.

Next to be added was TOPCAT, now I had the tools to properly, completely, and realistically program the FMC and prepare for a real flight on a real route. 

Then I started a SIMBRIEF account, completing any route planning I could want. 

Next I added GSX ground services... so I could now get a refuel truck, catering service, bagging, and even load passengers as I'm getting the plane ready for flight (preflight) - for me now takes about 30 mins to turn the plane around if I'm thorough. Also get a marshall to escort the plane back to the taxiway when pushing back, and a marshall to direct you in on most gates.

After all that and getting very comfortable with the plane and route flying, I added the piece de resistance... VATSIM. I've been learning that for about 4 months now, and now every flight is just SOOO satisfying. 



Its taken about 2.5 years, but its been an amazing experience. And although I realize I'm not a real world pilot and theres just too much info to really be able to step into a real 737 and fly it, at least I am confident I could sit in on a flight and have a really really good understanding of whats going on and what goes into real world flying. I have at least a conceptual understanding of what most of each button in the cockpit does, and a similar understanding of everything that goes on from when a crew arrives at the plane and preps it for a flight till when they step off the plane at the conclusion. 

And I learn more every single flight. Its well been worth the investment, a hell of a hobby.

[Boomer 1,619]

Yep, agreed from this old fsx user...p3d is the way to go.

[downscc 1,327]

If you are on a budget, you are better off building your own PC and saving thousands (really that much).  Putting together a PC is not as complicated as putting together a chest of drawers from Ikea..., the days of needing to set up DMA interrupts and I/O contention are long past and it is literally plug together and play.

 

With the savings, you can move to P3D and get not only PMDG products but all the add on airports you want and still take the wife out to dinner.

[EricLilly 6]

I appreciate everyones input.. Thanks !!  In a effort to avoid all the tweaking to my boxed version, I decided to go with Prepar3d.. I installed it and also bought and installed the PMDG 777..  I have already completed a quick 1 hour flight.. Everything was smooth as silk with no issues.. I am not big into scenery add ons because I have always had issues with them crashing or lagging.. I am more about the flight experience and want the last 3000 feet to be butter smooth.. I would like to add some weather and some traffic.. Any recommendations ? I have used Active Sky and Ultimate Traffic in the past .. 

[scandinavian13 5,192]

 

 

Any recommendations ?

 

I, personally, use Active Sky 2016 with Cloud Art. Revolutionized weather for me. I have Ultimate Traffic, but I don't use it for traffic by schedule. I use it for model matching for online flying.

[Boomer 1,619]

 I have Ultimate Traffic, but I don't use it for traffic by schedule. I use it for model matching for online flying.

 

Are there instructions on how to implement this please, from another VATSIM flier, my brother?

[scandinavian13 5,192]

Are there instructions on how to implement this please, from another VATSIM flier, my brother?

 

Install MyTraffic. Open vPilot and go into the settings. Download/add the MyTraffic model matching set. Profit.

[Boomer 1,619]

On it, cheers, was getting tired of all the red flag lines in vPilot about no model match.

[VHOJT 150]

Disregard - someone has posted a new more relevant thread about ActiveSky/ASCA - will post there.