I have been running FS9 and CFS2 since they both came out, yet I have also been getting the itch about updating to a more modern sim platform. Both FSX and prepar3d look good to me, but which is 'better' (subjective I know)?
Depends on your rig. P3d runs better, looks better. And is all around a better sim. You need a quad core processor and a dx 11 comparable gpu, preferably with 2 gigs of memory.
read some of the stuff at the top of this forum for some excellent info.
p3d is what Fsx 11 should have become you would be very pleased with it as are most of us running it. I don't even use Fsx anymore.
bob
Howdy Bob,
currently I am running a i7-930 @ 2.8ghz with 6gigs of DDR3 1600 Ram and a Gtx460 card.
for Christmas I am planning on replacing the card with a GTX 970 and adding in a SSD as my main system drive. Now that school is done, I also want to overclock my i7 to around 3.6Ghz. I have a Noctua DH-14 sitting on top of it.
The biggest system change between FSX and P3D_V2.4 is that P3D now relies heavily on the GPU to process all texture loading. It's for that reason that at least a 600 or higher Graphics card with at least 2 gig is a necessity. Also, go right to V2.4 without stopping at 1.4, lol. I know of a few folks who are running FSX, P3D_V1.4 and P3D_V2.4. . .developers mostly, but V1.4 is like a starter kit for the real thing. It's too much like FSX to consider running both and it doesn't contain any of the amazing improvements made for the current version.I have been running FS9 and CFS2 since they both came out, yet I have also been getting the itch about updating to a more modern sim platform. Both FSX and prepar3d look good to me, but which is 'better' (subjective I know)?
The biggest system change between FSX and P3D_V2.4 is that P3D now relies heavily on the GPU to process all texture loading. It's for that reason that at least a 600 or higher Graphics card with at least 2 gig is a necessity. Also, go right to V2.4 without stopping at 1.4, lol. I know of a few folks who are running FSX, P3D_V1.4 and P3D_V2.4. . .developers mostly, but V1.4 is like a starter kit for the real thing. It's too much like FSX to consider running both and it doesn't contain any of the amazing improvements made for the current version.
The Academic License. . .I haven't checked in a while but it was around $49.00So what level of license should I look at? The $60 or the $200?
That rig would run P3D 2.4 very well! I have an old quad Q6600 which I run OCed from 2.4 to 3.0Ghz. I also had a 460 which run P3D at medium-low settings quite well. I did exactly the same as you propose, i.e. install a GTX970 and a 512GB SSD where I transferred my FSX and P3D installed. P3D now runs at full right settings and 2x DSR at almost twice the FPS it run on the 460. Go for it and you will not regret it.
Comparatively FSX runs worse as it is more dependent on processor and my old quad does not help.