Hello there,

Now that I have some free time I've decided to dedicate some time to FSX Steam, it's been on the list for many years.

I've just bought the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Hotas + Track IR 5 + the book Microsoft Flight Simulator X For Pilots: Real World Training by Jeff Van West.

I've downloaded FreeMeshX Global 2.0 but I don't know which other add-ons I should install.

So far I have on the list Orbx FTX global, Rex4, DX10 Scenery Fixer and Terra Emergence Project. Are they compatible? Makes sense to install all 4?

What other add-ons do you recommend? For things like clouds, water, airport, etc

I know some people have spent a lot of money, my intention is to spend some money over time (no more than 500$) and to have decent graphics and experience
overall.

I also know they sell local airports, scenarios, countries textures etc but at the moment I'm more interested in general/global add-ons.

Best regards.

DX10 Fixer is a MUST.  The Microsoft developers did not have enough time to program FSX properly before their team was laid off.  SteveP saved FSX from going into oblivion.  For weather, I would recommend ActiveSkyX.  I would also install the freeware or payware version of FSUIPC as this utility has the ability to trap, for one, the G3D.dll error everyone seems to get with FSX.  You can also use it to monitor the amount of virtual address space left during any flight session.  You run out of VAS and your sim will crash.  I would also download the AVSIM FSX Configuration Guide (see link on the right side of the forums) for setting up FSX.

Best regards,

Jim

Do you think the FreeMeshX Global 2.0 is a must too? Or with DX10 Fixer and ActiveSkyX is enough? I don't want to add too much stuff and affect performance. I have an Intel i5-3570 3.40 GHz, 8GB RAM DDR3 and GeForce GTX 1060 6GB.

In the same vein, do you think Orbx FTX global and REX4 are necessary?

Many thanks.

5 hours ago, Guilleair said:

Do you think the FreeMeshX Global 2.0 is a must too? Or with DX10 Fixer and ActiveSkyX is enough?

DX10 Fixer is a must.  It fixes FSX.  ActiveSkyX is a weather program and not needed unless you want to have realistic weather.  Maybe someone else can comment on FreeMeshX.  It is not a must.

6 hours ago, Guilleair said:

do you think Orbx FTX global and REX4 are necessary?

No.  They provide some eye-candy only and add to the immersion.  I use GEX instead of FTX Global.   GEX was optimized for better performance in FSX and is better than the default.

Freemesh X is a must too IMHO (sorry Jim 😄 ) especially if you fly outside of the USA. It gives you more detailed topographical terrain in the rest of the world; valleys and mountains are more recognisable (when looking at real world maps and photos) rather than featureless mounds and blobs. It's up to you what landclass and scenery you drape over the mesh because it is only the mesh after all.. The other products do not alter the topography. You can of course buy individual super-detailed mesh and scenery packs for many different regions of the world but Freemesh X is.. FREE. As you probably know, scenery can take up a lot of disk space... just saying 

There are a couple of products out there which greatly enhance your night flying too. However, they do cost money and so you may want to look at them at a later date. ORBX have one and there are others. Unfortunately, one of the developers is persona non grata at AVSIM so I won't mention the product or the name, but if you search for FSX at night you should be able to check the products out.