Ok so I was previously 110% all about my flight simulation. This was roughly 8-10 years ago though. However, now that my kids are grown and off being adults I want to get back into it. Basically I would like to know what is my most basic option of PC that will run fsx on it's lower settings. I'm not looking for excellent settings or running on ultra. I don't have a fortune to spend either. So what I need to know is if I buy a 500-600 computer from say, Walmart, will I be able to run fsx on low settings. Eventually I'll upgrade equipment so that it'll run better. But for now I just want basic, low settings. Can someone PLEASE HELP ME? There's so many options I can't decide on one. Feel free to email me directly if you wish. [email protected] any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

OK, but first, why start again with 16-year-old 32-bit FSX rather than one of the much more efficient 64-bit modern options...P3Dv5, X-Plane 11, or MSFS?

 

29 minutes ago, Bob Scott said:

OK, but first, why start again with 16-year-old 32-bit FSX rather than one of the much more efficient 64-bit modern options...P3Dv5, X-Plane 11, or MSFS?

 

First, welcome, or perhaps welcome back!  This is a great place for flight simulation. Glad to see you arrive.

Bob is spot on and it is also important to recognize that those 8 to 10 years have seen a great deal of advances in both flight simulation, including new simulators, as well as products even to enhance FSX . That as well as advances in computer hardware & performance.  Costs have climbed accordingly, and that was true before the pandemic, and now inflation and various chip supply issues.  That has raised the bar.  I honestly doubt that $500-$600 today would grant you significant performance gains for FSX compared to your earlier system, much less for more advanced simulations. Whether that be P3D, xPlane, or MSFS.  $500-$600 today does not buy much at all. Even modest current processors cost half of that.  Then you still need a marketed system that contains a power supply, motherboard, memory, case, graphics card, keyboard, mouse, speakers, updated operating system, and a current monitor.  Not realistic for $500-$600.  And then there is the cost of the sim itself.  I do not believe you can still reactivate FSX. 

If you are serious then you need to reexamine your budget.  And the system cost does not address the cost of even the most basic flight controllers (joysticks/yokes/rudder pedals/controls quadrants).

Are there other uses for justification of a new system?  Work related, investing, tracking finances, contact with friends and family? Streaming online entertainment content?  If not then you may be a better candidate for xBox. 

Edited April 9, 20224 yr by fppilot

A $500-$600 budget is not going to get you much in terms of a computer in this day.  I'd be leary of ordering or buying one from WalMart, odds are it will be filled with the absolute cheapest components that can be stuffed into the cheapest case available.  You get what you pay for. 

I spent almost $1000 on a mid-spec system without a graphics card. Your budget is too low for new build, you need to look at second hand. And forget FSX it's a prehistoric relic at this point, MFS will give better results on lower end hardware too.

1 hour ago, ckyliu said:

I spent almost $1000 on a mid-spec system without a graphics card. Your budget is too low for new build, you need to look at second hand. And forget FSX it's a prehistoric relic at this point, MFS will give better results on lower end hardware too.

I agree that MSFS will probably perform better on the same hardware than FSX. Still, as others have said hardware prices have gone up considerably. Unless you are willing to go the Xbox route I agree with Ckyliu that a 2nd hand PC might be the better choice if on a budget, but even than $500 is not a lot these days.