Classic British Flight Sim

I am after some help in upgrading my PC or at worst, even replace it for a new one. The reason being is that even after the last upgrade to an i5 FSX has not been running well, even with settings mid-range I still have issues with it and hopefully you may be able to offer me some sound advice.

I have run the Windows Experience Index with the result being a Base Score of 5.9.

Processor = 7.6
Memory = 7.8
Graphics = 7.9
Gaming Graphics = 7.9
Primary Hard Disk Disk Data Transfer Rate = 5.9

It appears that the Hard Disc may be one cause of my problems. Firstly, I am looking at the option of putting a new 2nd Hard Drive in with around 500GB with a fast transfer rate, would this in any way help with improving the performance of FSX and if so what type of hard drive should I buy and at what cost?

Equally, I am also looking at an i7 processor but with many different ones on the market I need to have good performance so again what type of intel i7 processor is needed for good performance and how much would I have to pay? I have already paid out £400 for a previous upgrade about three years ago which included a new motherboard, processor and power output (Voltage). Details given below of my present system. Please take it in mind that I am no guru with the following information, to me it is just gobble-de-gook!!

My current computer spec is:

Motherboard and processor details:- ASUSTeK Computer INC. BIOS ROM size 8192 KBytes with an intel core (TM) i5-4690 CPU @ 3.50GHz External Clock 100MHz Max Speed 3900MHz Current Speed 3511MHz


Memory:- Channel A-DIMMO Current Speed 1600MHz DDR3 4096MBytes
Channel B-DIMMO Current Speed 1333MHz DDR3 4096 MBytes

Graphics:- NVidia GeForce GTX 760

Windows OS Win7 64 bit.

The options I have after saving for some time are:

Upgrade with a new Hard Drive and processor to an i7 leaving everything else as it is. Would this be cost effective? Equally there are different types of i7 Processors so what type would be best for FSX?

If I went down the road and have one made for me what type of Motherboard, how much
Memory (RAM), type of processor, graphic card, sound card OS i.e. keep Win7 or go for Win10 but more importantly how much would it cost so that FSX will run efficiently. BTW I have Orbx scenery installed!

Any help or advice would be welcome.

Will not be back until Wednesday or Friday.

Regards
Nigel.

A faster hard drive will only really help with loading times, and not do much for overall FSX performance (texture loading may be faster though).
Your system looks pretty similar to mine. I find performance is fine, even with most sliders on max, depending on aircraft and scenery of course. Sounds like you may have something dragging the system down.
It's been a while since I looked at processors, but I think the main difference between an i5 and an i7 is Hyperthreading, which FSX doesn't make full use of anyway (P3d does). Later processors will be more efficient, but there's no substitute for clock speed where FSX is concerned.

Agree with that. Horses are what count with FSX.

Re your HD report at 5.9.. I think the only way to improve that is with an SSD. I remember Ben telling me that most physical (read traditional) drives score low on the Windows Experience no matter how fast they are. TBH.. I don't hold much faith in the Windows Experience test. Can't think of anyone that does!
ATB
DaveB:)

With the exception not having an SSD for your hard drive the specs for your current computer seam pretty good. Could the problem be software related? Have a lot of custom scenery? Which aircraft are you using? How does it work with a stock install of FSX?

That's true Joe. Were his HD an SSD.. his score would be 7.6 which is higher than mine is. I only score 7.5 for CPU and memory where Nigel's is 7.6. My GTX560Ti only scores 7.5 where his 970 scores 7.9.

ATB
DaveB

For those who suckered themselves into W10 like me and lost this dubious benchmark provided by MS, there is a similar free tool which is run and not installed at http://winaero.com/download.php?view.79
It is safe.

Here are my readings

Processor I5 4690K 8.1
Memory 32Gb 8.3
Graphics NV 660Ti 8.2
Desktop Graphics 9.9 - don't know what that means?
Primary HD SSD 8.15

As I say the benchmark is dubious in value. On the face of it quite high readings yet I I get remarkable slowdowns and stutters for no apparent reason over featureless terrain yet fluid (sometimes ) over London with UK2000 and FTX England. It's a curious sim.

I wrote a long reply to this but when I tried to submit it, it went of to the great lost connection dump in the sky

The thrust of it was basically that I think Nigel, with the greatest respect, you might be trying to solve the wrong problem. My i7 is only 0.2 points ahead, your graphics card outpaces my GTX 750 Ti by 0.2 on both marks. My SSD returns 7.9 but I don't think that's a factor because I've made every temporary storage thingo point to a regular HDD to save on read/write wear on the SSD.

I'd advise having a look at other programs, especially games if you have them, to see if it's a Windoze problem. I can't see from your description that there's anything that could be pinned down to FSX particularly.

HTH, Paul

OK, Submit button, stitch this.......

Hi Chaps and very many thanks for all your replies and advice as there were a couple of points that you all raised that I was not aware of.

Firstly I thought that an upgrade to the CPU was essential but obviously not, I went down to see Martin yesterday who does all my upgrades and he suggested exactly the same as you have done and that is to fit a SSD Hard Drive for FSX, he also suggested that I have the OS (Win7) on the SSD which would be in my case Drive F: as well as FSX then run all other software on the old C: Drive.

I really needed your advice here as I know you all have far greater knowledge than myself when it comes to hardware issues relating to FSX and cannot thank you enough for your help.

DaveG, many thanks for the bringing up the point regarding hyperthreading as I did not know that FSX does not use it so will not now look at upgrading the processor as it appears it would not really benefit me.

Joe, I only have a few aircraft these being the Trident, HS748,Just Flight Dove - DC6 and XP800 as well as Twin Otter and Capt Sim 737-200 and finally the Piper Carenado. As for scenery all Orbx Global, England Wales Scotland and three scenery areas in North America.

Again, very many thanks for your help.

Regards
Nigel.

Nige..

If I understood you correct (put FSX and the OS on the same SSD).. I don't think this is good policy. Have em both on separate SSD's by all means but one of those unwritten rules is never have the sim on the same drive as your OS. Others will kick me if I'm wrong
ATB
DaveB

Hi Dave and many thanks, I did have FSX on my separate drive some while ago but had a few problems so re-installed it directly onto my C:\Drive away from Programmes(X86).

Have now once again gone back to the other drive with it in preperation for the SSD Drive and then just copying FSX over onto the SSD. (Save time in June when I get it) rather than doing a full re-install again!

Once again, very many thanks for all help and advice.


Regards
Nigel.