FS2004: the Super Simulator

W

willum070

Guest
Okay, I just had to tell someone about this. I recently got a copy of FSX. After using it for a while I became dissatisfied with the performance, so I got a wild hair and built a newer faster computer. One dual-core Athlon 6000, 4GB of ram, and an nVidia 9800GTX+ later, and I'm still having trouble making 20FPS. WTF??? So on a lark I installed FS2004, all of my planes, MegaScenery package, mesh grids, etc. Heck I sure piled up a lot of FS2004 add-ons. Let me tell you what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. I set all of the display options at maximum and now I get 70FPS or MORE. I didn't even have to shut any startup items down, or tweak anything. I even kept iTunes running once with no noticeable degradation. It's just buttery smooth, certainly the pinnacle of my FS experience thus far. I just wanted to share that. Thank you. I may be making a similar posting in 2011, when computer technology will theoretically be capable of running FSX decently.
 
It is nice, isn't it? I had a similar experience. Had the new machine built up, even though I already had, and tried my FSX copy on the older one. Even on the newer machine, it just didn't perform well. Tried up the ol' FS9, and it will be there to stay for quite a while. :ernae:
 
Okay, I just had to tell someone about this. I recently got a copy of FSX. After using it for a while I became dissatisfied with the performance, so I got a wild hair and built a newer faster computer. One dual-core Athlon 6000, 4GB of ram, and an nVidia 9800GTX+ later, and I'm still having trouble making 20FPS. WTF??? So on a lark I installed FS2004, all of my planes, MegaScenery package, mesh grids, etc. Heck I sure piled up a lot of FS2004 add-ons. Let me tell you what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. I set all of the display options at maximum and now I get 70FPS or MORE. I didn't even have to shut any startup items down, or tweak anything. I even kept iTunes running once with no noticeable degradation. It's just buttery smooth, certainly the pinnacle of my FS experience thus far. I just wanted to share that. Thank you. I may be making a similar posting in 2011, when computer technology will theoretically be capable of running FSX decently.

I'm very happy for you! FSX runs quite satisfactory on my laptop, OK, not with all sliders on max, but still. It's worthless on my desktop though, so I used FS9 there..until it abolished itself. Won't start anymore...
Go figure...it's still Microsoft I guess...
 
Glad to hear it!! I know EXACTLY where you are coming from. Made an attempt at FSX, but no joy. Now I run FS9 +tons of AI+ tons of complex scenery addons etc etc....runs like a champ!
 
...so I used FS9 there..until it abolished itself. Won't start anymore...

yea the same thing happened to me, but i cant get a new machine bc i have to save for my tuition next term:isadizzy: so i installed CFS2 :d
 
I wonder if anyone from Microsoft reads these forums? They should! What company in their right mind builds a product explicitly intended to outstrip the capabilities of current systems? Only Microsoft I say. Only Microsoft.
 
Well there's clearly a growing group of FS9'ers with the same happy experience.
I am driven to re-post my "Mcrosoft Experience".

FSChronology.jpg


You will see that only once before did my computer catch up with the sim, back in the days of FS4, after a massive 4-year period of continual tweaking.
But FS5 was such a leap ahead, that we wouldn't have thought of going back to reap the full benefit of the previous version.

They came thick and fast, all the way up to FS2002, and you just couldn't keep up, never mind Moore's Law doubling computing speed every 18 months.
We got used to the idea of just never getting to the end of the sim.
Enter FS9, and three things happened:
- The addon market exploded, which drove computer upgrades inside the life of the sim
- FS9 stayed around longer than usual, and if you'd pushed the envelope, you got to its full potential.
Even if you didn't go all the way, chances were good you got more out of this version than any other before
- The first edition of FSX was so lousy, users stopped and thought about how well the previous edition ran on their latest computer rig, and how badly by comparison ran FSX.
It took two more years to get sorted, by which time FS9 had had nearly 5 years to mature, all the while being developed and refined and tweaked into a very stable and usable platform.

In my case, stepping up to FSX would have required a downgrade in almost every aspect of the sim:
in reliability, the way it looked, and the way it performed.

The major selling point of the new sim was nullified by the fact that, in order to see the great new textures and detail, you had to crank up the settings to the point that the sim was unusable.
And, you'd need to spend a few hundred dollars on (then non-existent) addons, to make it look as good as a sorted FS9 setup.
Those that did go with the new edition simply made a conscious choice to accept fewer features, in order to see some of the benefits.
So the FSX user group does multiplayer, and GA flights, and adventures.
And are able to tout perfectly reasonable FPS figures as a result.
People wanting more features - AI, complex sceneries etc - find solace in FS9.

Intel's next chip will up the clockspeed which means by 2010 you'd be able to run FSX to your hearts content.

Mmm yeah right...Just for fun, I continued my evolutionary table into the next edition: FSXI.
If Microsoft does what it's been doing all these years, look forward to a splendid retro-sim experience by 2013.
laugh.gif


And the cost?
Over 20 years, maybe $50,000 - before addons.
This is exactly what the Wintel cartel played for...
 
Vista and fs2004 ?

I am thinking of upgrading my computer this winter, but after hearing about how much of a super computer you would have to run fsx, I am thinking that I will stay with fs2004. My question is will fs2004 run on vista?
 
Hey all --

I have a Jetline SOLO 900, (A computer actually deesigned for high end flight sims), and my trusty ol' faithful Falcon Northwest 5500, which is about 4 years old. Even on the Jetline there are certain payware models for FSX that will cause it to shudder now and then. After running FSX on the Jetline for about 3 months I re-loaded FS9 with all my add-ons, both scenery and aircraft. I can honestly say that FS9 is much nicer to look at and runs like butter:applause:, locked in at 75FPS. I was locked in at 50 with FSX (Which isn't really bad), but what use is it to go out and spend the money on a really nice payware aircraft or scenery package, only to have it look like a slide show on your fastest system?

So it's FS9 for me... I have determined that the only machine capable of utilising all of the features and enhancements for FSX is a "Cray Super Computer", which I can't afford:banghead:.

BB686:USA-flag:
 
I am thinking of upgrading my computer this winter, but after hearing about how much of a super computer you would have to run fsx, I am thinking that I will stay with fs2004. My question is will fs2004 run on vista?
FS2004 will run on Vista perfectly fine...
 
I have been running FS2004 on Vista with no problems. In fact, personally for me, it has run better than it did with Windows XP.
 
The FSX saga happened with me as well. Faster on my old rig as a matter of fact, lolol.. On my new rig, 4 gigs of DDR3, 8500GT, etc, even has vista, and it can barely push 20FPS. Over airports, its about 7 FPS. I have adjusted, tweaked, adjusted, tweaked, have most sliders to the left, and its still wobbly at 20FPS. When I say wobbly, its jumping from 18 to 20 to 12 to 20 to 7 to 20. If I am about to land, it hovers between 6 and 7. If I am flying over Seattle city, its 7 FPS. No traffic, no AI, basic clouds.... New computer. Oh, and it crashes often.

But......... FS2004 runs brilliant!!!!

:ernae:


Bill
 
It'll be a cold day when I take my hands off the stick in FS9 or GW3. Yeah, I have FSX. I have a new computer that will fly it steady in my area in VC or Spot at 20 fps. It grows on you. The FSGenesis 9.8-meter mesh is great. But even with GEX-USA and UTX-USA, the ground textures and landclass are just way off. Oh, they look great down low, better than FS9, but they are so false as to be almost cartoon-like. It is still much easier for me to fly my VFR in FS9, I know exactly where I am with 38-meter FS Genesis DEM mesh all over, Active Sky 6.5, Ground Environment Pro, all the Ultimate Terrains, slews of stuff panther has twisted my arm and made me buy, and I could het faster frame rates, but why overkill; I set it at 30 and it don't drop or stutter, ever; even when recording in FRAPS.

I have been flying since FS5, lovely chart GNZLAP! LOL, story of my FS career too! :costumes:

No sirree, I ain't taking FS9 or GW3 off this computer. Now, if I could just get the phases of the moon right like they are in FSX

Caz
 
fs2004 new copy

Is there any stores that are still selling fs2004? my #4 disc is getting worn out and I need to replace. I have searched the stores online like walmart, target,and others all they show is fsx.
 
Is there any stores that are still selling fs2004? my #4 disc is getting worn out and I need to replace. I have searched the stores online like walmart, target,and others all they show is fsx.

Ross, if you want to shop around, you can probably find one in a bargain bin at GameStop or other stores keyed to PC and X-Box, PSP, etc. games for $10.00 or less. Might be used, so if so, ask the salesperson to let you look at the disks.

Otherwise, you can always order it over the Internet. DortCheap has it at a nice, reasonable price: http://www.dirtcheapsoftware.com/nv2106402.html

Here's a few more options you may wish to check into: http://www.google.com/products/cata...ator+2004&cid=14968200118528730840#ps-sellers

Caz
 
Okay, I just had to tell someone about this. I recently got a copy of FSX. After using it for a while I became dissatisfied with the performance, so I got a wild hair and built a newer faster computer. One dual-core Athlon 6000, 4GB of ram, and an nVidia 9800GTX+ later, and I'm still having trouble making 20FPS. WTF??? So on a lark I installed FS2004, all of my planes, MegaScenery package, mesh grids, etc. Heck I sure piled up a lot of FS2004 add-ons. Let me tell you what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. I set all of the display options at maximum and now I get 70FPS or MORE. I didn't even have to shut any startup items down, or tweak anything. I even kept iTunes running once with no noticeable degradation. It's just buttery smooth, certainly the pinnacle of my FS experience thus far. I just wanted to share that. Thank you. I may be making a similar posting in 2011, when computer technology will theoretically be capable of running FSX decently.

Congratulations! I've been advising people about doing this exact thing for some time now.
Many people either built or bought high end gaming computers for use with FSX based on Microsoft's hype predating the release of the product.
Many....many...people who did this found FSX had to be severely retarded slider wise to run it with any semblence of performance they had enjoyed with FS9 on computers of much lessor performance.
Reinstalling FS2004 on these high end gaming machines has opened a whole new world of flight simulation for many end users. The basic engine in FS9 is stable enough to support many many of the finest high end add on aircraft and scenery on these new age systems without even a burp!
Glad you are continuing to enjoy your flight simulator experience.

Dudley Henriques
 
Ross, if you want to shop around, you can probably find one in a bargain bin at GameStop or other stores keyed to PC and X-Box, PSP, etc. games for $10.00 or less. Might be used, so if so, ask the salesperson to let you look at the disks.

Otherwise, you can always order it over the Internet. DortCheap has it at a nice, reasonable price: http://www.dirtcheapsoftware.com/nv2106402.html

Here's a few more options you may wish to check into: http://www.google.com/products/cata...ator+2004&cid=14968200118528730840#ps-sellers

Caz


Isnt it wierd how you cant find a FS2004 box in town, but you can find 'Call of Duty 1, Call of Duty 2 everywhere.... I still sell my old classic Bellanca's... I dont get rid of my past planes because I launch a new one...



:wavey:
 
Isnt it wierd how you cant find a FS2004 box in town, but you can find 'Call of Duty 1, Call of Duty 2 everywhere.... I still sell my old classic Bellanca's... I dont get rid of my past planes because I launch a new one...



:wavey:
And THANK GOD for that, Bill!!! I've been flying the Epic, as well as the Turbo Viking and Trinidad all over the place. Airports with tons of AI....all sliders maxed...GE+FE+Activesky.....PHENOMENAL!!! Mesh, addon airports, and complex VC's....OUTSTANDING! I will wait for the 12core 2,0000MBVRAM 8Terabyte superultramegaclocked computer for FS11 :jump: Until then I guess that flying an SR-20 (real-world) will have to to.
 
Microsoft already killed Vista. Now it's Windows 7 or some such.
Thanks for this thread, folks! I will not invest in FSX nor in Vista. I am still running Windows XP to use FS9 and won't go further for a while; otherwise I'm on OSX 10.5.5 Leopard on a dual system Mac. Life is better in two universes.

I am thinking of upgrading my computer this winter, but after hearing about how much of a super computer you would have to run fsx, I am thinking that I will stay with fs2004. My question is will fs2004 run on vista?
 
Okay, I just had to tell someone about this. I recently got a copy of FSX. After using it for a while I became dissatisfied with the performance, so I got a wild hair and built a newer faster computer. One dual-core Athlon 6000, 4GB of ram, and an nVidia 9800GTX+ later, and I'm still having trouble making 20FPS. WTF???
.
Perhaps if you would have read the forum a little bit more seriously, you would have understood that investing in a poor dual core was not very smart, and a big video card is more like a waiste of money for FSX. FSX is CPU-Memory-only.

I may be making a similar posting in 2011, when I will be able to tweak my settings correctly
:kilroy:
 
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