>On a new computer today, FSX will run good, and it will look>at least a generation better than FS2004 could! It just can't>run to its fullest potential. Consider that a GOOD thing, so>that down the road when you have to update your computer>again, you'll end up getting even more out of the>simulator.>Ofcourse by then we MAY be talking about FSXI.http://www.lemosnet.com/misc/gpilotsig.jpg

Well, let me kick this around for a bit, seeing that you really seem to think it will be a year or MORE before I can max out FSX maybe I can piece something together to hold me over. Knowing I can't max it out but atleast being able to take advantage of the newest version of FS with decent performance. Perhaps use some of what I already have dipping into the PC Rebuild account but not damaging it too badly.I use this machine mainly for gaming, and is my primary machine for FS. A quick run down of my system is a P4 3.2 with 1GB PC3200 DDR memory ,ATI 9800 XT 256MB and a SATA 30+ GB Raptor drive for myprograms (C:). I have a high end trublue power supply as well.I built this right before MSFS2004 graced us. So its been a while since I built anything powerful!I can build these things, but judging their best performance is something I rely on the community for. (along with reading reviews)What if I swapped out the motherboard, and video card for PCIe type and doubled up the PC3200 from 1GB to 2GB? Just keeping the rest of it as is.Would the P4 3.2, or PC3200 RAM bottleneck today with available MB/VC's I may need to atleast go with my PLAN B?Thanks for your input!http://www.lemosnet.com/misc/gpilotsig.jpg

Hopefully not. I have the same system as bt except video (I have the 7950), and I am pushing it at 3.5GHz with water. I can even push it further like these guys.http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showd...spx?i=2795&p=18

You may have a short wait for DX10 cards, but a DX10 card, ofcoarse, is useless without Windows Vista. I have a feeling that the wait will be much longer before Vista is released and bug free enough that people will buy it. I'll bet it's a good year or so before the new system is stable enough for the majority of folks to fell like Vista is a good thing, versus a bad thing.

IMHO you should be very happy with that setup! :-beerchugI just built a very similar system and have been extremely happy with the performance I am seeing in FSX beta. Here is what I have:CPU: INTEL|CORE 2 E6600 Overclocked to 3.4 Ghz (so far...can go more)MOBO: Asus P5W DeluxeMEM: 1Gx2|CORSAIR TWIN2X2048-6400PRO HD: 320G|Seagate Baracuda SATA2 VGA SPPHRE X1600XT 256M - PCIe(Holding out for better card soon!) PSU: OCZ|OCZ700GXSSLI 700W I have seen that with most (not all) sliders turned all the way up I am getting pretty FPS. I have the autogen set to "normal" and the ground and terrain resolutions set about 3/4 of the way. Just about everything else is maxed out (including the water). I am seeing 20-40 fps on average. I can fly in my favorite spots in Alaska with tons of AI ships/boats, all the cool docks/marinas, and highest settings with water and keep about 20 fps. I flew out of Denver with these settings and saw 15 fps at the lowest. The only place I have been dissapointed with was the downtown NYC area where I saw frames as low as 7 fps. BUT...backing off a few things (such as water) greatly bumps it back up. Really cant complain! Not silky smooth all the time, but I have never had system that was. The eye candy is worth a bit of a hit...and I can always turn it down.I went ahead and upgraded because the talk is that dx10 cards should be compatible with current Mobo's with a PCIe slot. It also really could be a while before FS is ready for DX10. First the cards have to be released, then Vista and DX 10 (jan?), then we have to wait for the DX 10 patch for FS. Could be 4-5 months at least. I just went cheap on the graphics card for now with the intent of upgrading to DX 10 as soon as I can. Then...this system should be even better!If you play any other games you can be very happy as well. I can play oblivion with all the max setting and get 30-100 fps most spots!Brew :-beerchug