Any one here played Microsoft Flight Simulator X here? I’m planning to build a computer for the unique purpose of playing this game. As with past FS versions, Microsoft’s system requirements for this game are always below what is actually required to play the game in it’s full capacity.
If anyone has any experience with the new FS X, I’d like to hear some feedback as to what would be the optimal hardware set-up in order to play FS X in full settings.
Cheers
BTW: Anyone know where proper PC flight controls can be purchased in Taiwan. I’m looking for a yoke (with throttle) and a set of rudder pedals.
I don’t know if you can get them here, but Saitek has some nice controllers, otherwise you’re kinda limited.
You can’t really beat CH for non custom gear though - chproducts.com/retail_flash/index.html
From what can see any system that can run Vista well will also run this. It will do better with a good DirectX 10 video card and Vista but it can run somewhat under XP.
However “Unfortunately, on most systems at anything other than the lowest of the game’s graphics settings, the simulation has significant performance issues. How much these issues hinder your enjoyment of the game will depend upon what kind of frame rates you need to enjoy a civilian flight sim.”
This means you want a “Smok’en” system if you want to run it at high with a big screen.
Also “if you’re interested enough to purchase Flight Simulator X, you should go ahead and purchase the Deluxe version. All of the additional content makes it worth the added costs.”
I assume you looked here: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/microsoftflightsimulatorx/review.html?sid=6159886
This is what they say about system “On a system with an Athlon XP 3400+, 2GB RAM, and an Nvidia 7800 video card (certainly not cutting edge but also not unreasonable, particularly for the broader market to whom Microsoft is trying to reach out with Flight Simulator X), with performance options all set fairly low, frame rates averaged about 8 to 14 frames per second. This same system runs Flight Simulator 2004 at high settings with frame rates averaging 25-plus fps. In higher-density settings, such as flying over Las Vegas or some detailed airports, frame rates rarely climbed higher than 10fps. When flying fairly high or in low-density areas, rates would range in the high teens. There’s a lot of discussion about the sim’s performance in the flight sim discussion forums, yielding a variety of config-file tweaks to boost the performance, but be forewarned that it will take some serious high-end hardware to run Flight Simulator X at high frame rates.”
Or to translate out of reviewer language: You need a good system.
So what to buy today, at a minimum:
8800 video card (or 2)
good dual core CPU and a god quality Mobo.
fast DVD drive.
2 gigs RAM or more!
Fast Hard drive
Visa 
What I really hate about computers… man those thing depriciate like crazy. I mean you spend 40,000 NT on a top of the line system (well not exactly) and next thing you know, in a year your 40,000 system is worth less than 10,000 if even that. Most other equipments can be sold for at least half of what you paid for…
makes me want to go with consoles for gaming purpose and leave computers for “office/media type” stuff… but even consoles are depriciating too…
OTOH 
it will run ok on say my computer (AMD 4200+ and GeForce7600G with 2 gigs.) But it will be slow frame rate and low details. But still very acceptable I was told.
I remember seeing some benchmarks on a tech site. This game is really a killer. Much more demanding than any other game currently available. Brings my old 6800GT to it’s knees. To run at high settings with anti-aliasing, you should look at a higher end Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB fast memory, and a 8800GTX. In short, just about the best hardware that is available today.
Many Thanks to all who replied…I’ve looked around at prices and hardware set-ups and something decent for FS X will cost around 50,000$NT…the game sure needs lots of performance to run smoothly and there’s no doubt that the top of the line graphics card is a must.
Cheers
I’m looking at doing a new build with gaming in mind, and figure about 50,000 will build a pretty hot system. I just stumbled across a benchmark using an nVidia 7950Gt with FSX: enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.h … VzaWFzdA==
Seems respectable as long as you are not running super high res, and might cost about NT$10,000.
But look at an 8800GTS plus a 22" wide screen LCD for gaming goodness.