Whats the deal with FSX?

[fighterpilot]

I've been a long term user of FS9 and think it is about time i had a look at upgrading, however it seems there are a number of options and versions so I was wondering what version should i get?

Richard

[Dev One]

Go for Gold - I would suggest. I have FSX + Acceleration which is OK for me, but I would also suggest that to get the best out of it you need Windows 64 bit either W7 or W8.1 which I have otherwise the memory is not sufficient and getting FPS of more than 15 to 20 can be a chore. Mind you 20 FPS is more than adequate whereas 30 would be minimum for FS9.
HTH
Keith

[DaveG]

Welcome to the dark side.

FSX Gold is just FSX and Acceleration in the same box. Acceleration adds mostly carrier ops and better helicopter engine modelling. If you don't want or need that, the basic FSX will do, but make sure you patch it up to SP2. Be warned though, some addons require Acceleration to function properly. Rob Richardsons recent dH125 requires Acceleration for the engine gauges to work for example.

Or you could just go for P3d...

[DaveB]

Be prepared for some disappointment too Richard. FSX, for all it's bells and whistles, will never run as well as FS9. It does need to run on a 64bit OS to get the best out of it otherwise you'll line yourself up for Out Of Memory issues. This isn't the end of it though so be prepared for more errors along the way.. noting that none of them will be fixed by M$ now.
A PC with a big fast CPU, a decent graphics card and a fistful of ram will also help. Minimum specs for it are ridiculous.. you need a lot more.

As Keith says.. go for the Gold edition. At this point, it'll probably cost less than the Deluxe edition plus ACC and you'll get everything in a single install

EDIT: DG's suggestion of missing FSX and going straight for P3D may ultimately be the better option but as far as hardware goes.. you need more of everything.. especially where a graphics card is concerned

ATB
DaveB

[Vancouver]

Why not just plump for P3D, it eliminates a lot of FSX issues (and introduces some new ones). But it is smoother than FSX.

[Airspeed]

Wash your mouth, Alex ...I can't afford any more payware, this being the season of Winter power bills, new rate instalments etc.

[Chris Sykes]

Ill agree, if you see FSX and Prepar3d side by side you would jump to Prepar3d as its so much more of a sim than FSX was! Now would be the good time to skip a sim, go Prepar3d and start there. Alot of FSX addons are compatable, and there is loads of P3d designed addons already, just dont bother with trying FS9 addons in the sim...

[DaveB]

Richard..

Looking at the P3D thread here.. you may essentially find yourself a paying beta tester if you do go down the P3D route. LM are constantly working to fix things but it is not as yet what one might call a 'finished product'

ATB
DaveB

[Airspeed]

I didn't know THAT, Dave .
It has a big price tag unless you get the educational licence, and even then, I wouldn't call it cheap.

[DaveB]

Hi Mike..

I didn't mean it 'literally'.. being a beta tester that is but the long and short is (from what I've seen here and at other places).. LM release a new version (or patch for it).. users report what errors they've found on the LM Forums.. and LM set about fixing those bits that can be fixed. You only have to read P3D threads on the web to see that it's far from fault free but as I said above.. LM are making moves to fix as much as they can unlike M$ who gave us SP1 then SP2 and that's your lot If you're prepared to live with this constant upgrade scenario and have the hardware to run it.. P3D is the future. For me, I can barely get FSX to run how I want it on the hardware I have so I'm staying put until such time I win the lottery

ATB
DaveB