Back to the OP's original question (and everyone else who may be contemplating a similar decision): how's your patience? It seems like we're on the cusps of a platform war like we've never really seen in FS so it may be worth sitting on the sidelines until Q2 or the end of Q2. Not only are a couple of new platforms making strides, but we may see a new version of P3D (and who really knows what it's in it) and XP11 may shake the bugs out of its hair...

Hi all,

 

I really appreciate all the answers. Very helpful information. First of all, to the Xplane guys - I do have Xplane and I have bought quite a few addons for it. I truly enjoy that sim and in my opinion that might well be the future. I just love it, especially with the IXEG 737-300. Perhaps because the old 737 is one of my favorites anyway. What I like about Xplane is that I just run the sim and everything is integrated. I don't have to minimize and start launching other addons which might say that they have reconfigured something and I need to restart everything again. You all know what I'm talking about and it can get on your nerves easily.

 

However, this topic is about PMDG and ofcourse the 747 will obviously be something which has never been achieved in any FS before. That's why we sure can't get around FSX or P3D and who knows, perhaps P3D will soon beat Xplane in every aspect. I have never really been a guy who sticks to old computers and software, I've always wanted to have the latest and the best. That's why I'm now leaning towards the P3D. It's already interesting itself since I have never tried it and it contains stuff which I can experiment with.

 

I believe it's a good idea to just start leaving FSX behind finally and start living with P3D and adapting all the software for it. I know it's expensive and I might not buy everything in advance, just the essentials like Activesky 2016.

 

A question to PMDG - what is the real difference of the new 747 in FSX SE vs P3D? Does it look better? Is the lighting better? Are some more things simulated?

I have FS9, FSX, Prepar3D, and X-Plane 11 on this system. 

 

FS9 - incredible frame rates making landings a real joy, as well as that crazy nap-of-the-earth low-level flying we've all done from time to time (admit it...)

FSX - Micro stutters always ruin the experience for me, and all the default aircraft that come with this sim get their tail blown around just sitting on the runway.  The biggest con FSX and FSXSE has right now is that it is essentially a dead product.

Prepar3D -  The pace of improvements frustrates us all but at least it is a product that is growing over time.  I have no reason to think it won't continue to improve.

X-Plane 11 - The performance of this product leaves a lot to be desired on my system and I can't fly it using my Saitek X36F joystick and Saitek X35T throttle (old, but great kit and they still work perfectly).  I do hold on to long term hope that X-Plane 11 may represent the future, but right now, it simply isn't there yet.

 

So, I'd suggest getting the monthly subscription to Prepar3D and see what they roll out this spring.  If you find you like it and your FSX add-ons still work, then you're outlay to get your toes wet in the P3D world was minimal.  I certainly wouldn't be investing any money into planes that are specific to FSX. 

 

Good luck with your decision - it's a great time for Flight Simulation and having a choice is a good thing.

 

Mark Trainer

mytrainer:

 

I'm envious that you get to try-out and use all four systems - just remembering all four sims: The individual controls, and the quirks of the sim & aircraft, the initial cost of each sim, plus the cost of payware and/or apps. Wow!

 

But lastly, I guess you've got a lot of free time on your hands :smile:

Personally I prefer FSX-SE at the moment, so much so that I don't have P3D installed right now, even though I do own it. P3D is cool and probably will have more of a future than FSX-SE given that Dovetail are working on the FSX replacement right now, having already given what might be regarded as a bit of a preview to us with their souped up FSX child (Flight School). Even the most ardent P3D fan would have to concede that P3D in flux at the moment; one look at the Avsim forums will confirm that plenty of people have issues with it, although doubtless these will be sorted eventually. However, there is also the EULA thing with P3D, which I know many people cheerfully ignore, but ignoring something doesn't make it any less the case, which is why, right now, I go with FSX-SE, and this is coming from someone who doesn't even have an issue with that EULA, since my job means I meet the Academic licence criteria.

 

If I was a betting man, I'd stick a tenner on X-Plane winning the race in the long term, although I suspect we're destined to live in a world where there'll be more than one sim of choice for a good few years to come.

P3D.

 

I have all 3 flight sim products. I flew the PMDG 777 last night on my FSX:SE install (saying farewell) and, although it was ok, there's those little issues with which I have become spoiled for P3D.

 

Yes, both are fine. The differences are not huge. Both require what seems like constant bothering to account for different addons and aircraft (thus Simstarter).

 

You ask which one. P3D is my opinion, if you can justify the expense. It's better. I doubt you'll regret it. Yes, you'll have to re-buy some addons and aircraft. An intrinsic cost of the hobby, i think. Or, just leave both installed and fire up FSX when you want to fly your A2A aircraft and the soon to be orphaned B-777. (like i do)

I have the 777 on FSX with a ton of addons. Since FSX crashed, I loaded P3D and the 777. I have no addons for the P3D yet as I am having a new computer built with a 7700K and Titan X card. I will load P3D with the pmdg 737, 747, 777 and every addon scenery in the USA I can find. Hopefully this computer on a 4K monitor will impress me over my old FSX computer. it is a $5000 experiment.

I made the switch to p3d getting a dev sub. when the v4 or 64bit comes out and i have to get the next version, i just stop my sub and sub to the next version. im enjoying the graphics more and im running orbx ftx global, vector and trees with taxi2gate and flytampa airports with no ooms on the fsl a320. ( gotta wait until tax refund comes in to get the pmdg library moved over). im planning on buying the queen for p3d to see how well that does with vas and ooms even ramping up the graphics with the orbx and addon airports. 

Hi Overspeed - not really all that much free time- I work full time as a software engineer for a bossy Fortune 10 Firm with a long train ride in and out of the city each day....I have no spare time!

 

The correct way of looking at it is- I got FS9 over 10 years ago, FSX Deluxe Edition in 2006...and only recently upgraded to P3D less than 10 months ago.  My X-Plane 11 is just the free trial edition I downloaded a month or so ago.  So my measly four simulators were acquired over more than a decade.

 

I actually wish I had more spare time for flight sim as it is...

 

Mark Trainer

Well, I was on the fence for a bit... since I only want to buy it once, would I go FSX or P3D. 

 

These screenshots made that decision for me. 

 

It's time to get (ahem) 'prepared' for the release of the PMDG Queen of the Skies II. 

 

Now if I could decide on using my Win7 or Win10 build, I'd be in better shape.  

Hi,

 

Now that the 747 v3 is around the corner, please tell me what are your opinions on the two platforms, FSX SE vs P3D. I haven't even tried P3D yet but I know I should make the move sooner or later. Is it now the best time to carry my simming stuff over? Since it's going to be a rather significant expense to buy P3D and also the 747 (+ some other addons perhaps), I would like to know if it's still worth it. I recently built a new computer with the following specs: i7 6700K @ 4.2 GHz (O/C) air cooled, ASUS Z170 PRO Gaming/Aura, Corsair 2x8GB DDR4 3GHz, MSI Nvidia Geforce GTX1060 6GB DDR5, 3x SSD, Windows 10 Pro

 

 

Thanks!!!

 

I absolutely love P3D and I'm still in the process of rebuying everything for P3D, its expensive alright, but Its worth it - so many issues in FSX are remedied in P3D and generally, everything works better and looks a lot nicer.  If I were you, I'd go for P3D now because if you get the Queen for FSX, its gonna cost you a lot to get it again for P3D!  Your computer should be fine to run P3D - Heck I'm running on a 3 year old iMac (its not even at the maximum hardware wise - I also attached a 4K display to it and everything is perfect) through BootCamp and I still manage to get smooth performance with very acceptable rendering settings!  I hope I helped you!

Funny how people go crazy.

I am also using P3D. But the engine is 10 years old.

 

Didn't want to start that fight again, but when we talk about "future" it is neither FSX nor P3D, simple.

 

The best Sim at the moment sure is P3D overall.

 

 

They're identical. Forget it. More hassle to,set it up.
FSX runs smooth and fine straight out of box.

 

Do you really believe that ?

They're identical. Forget it. More hassle to,set it up.

FSX runs smooth and fine straight out of box.

Not for me it doesn't. It's a living hell for me. That's why I moved to P3D where all my issues that I had in FSX don't exist anymore. But for most people, FSX should run fine as you mentioned.

Do you really believe that ?

Yes. I could buy the same scenery and airplane add-ons and they'll look identical. But you'll end up with worse performance with P3D once you add on the fluff like cockpit and ground shadows. Then s messed up system with every hotfix that comes out on a weekly basis.

 

But I'm sure V 72.1 will address all those issues.