Is this a good computer for FSX?

**crazypotatos** · 11-07-2009, 08:34 PM

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+S...&skuId=9532749

It has 8gb ram, quad core at 2.8 ghz, and a pretty good graphics cardm and for only $1100 thats a good deal.

Will this thing basically run FSX at its full potential?

**tommchowat** · 11-08-2009, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by crazypotatos

Will this thing basically run FSX at its full potential?

Nothing will I'm afraid.

The graphics card really isn't that great... quite a weak one in my opinion.

And it has got a decent processor, but because it's not a custom made setup, overclocking options in the BIOS are probably locked by Dell, and overclocking is a MUST for FSX. My advice is to custom build something else.

**crazypotatos** · 11-08-2009, 10:44 AM

Yea, i know nothing will run FSX at its full potential.

I can't do a custom build, because I do not have the time and the skill to set p a computer. I was just hoping to buy one from best buy or somewhere instead of having my neighbor build one. He is a computer repairer and salesman and he makes computers. The only problem I don't like about going to him is that he only uses xp, and all the computers we have gotten from him have had problems, or the hardware sucks.

We bought one from him like a year ago and he put in a pentium 4 and only 512mb of ram and an 80GB hard drive. We had to upgrade the ram because 512mb is nothing.

And my final question, will that computer run FSX pretty good? I run FSX on this old piece of crap computer with a pentium 4 2.4ghz, 512mb ram. I have a decent graphics card, when I have wheater and traffic turned down to like none, I can get pretty good graphics on my planes. its a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 with I think 256mb of ram.

I just need a computer that will run it well, at a good framerate (I can barely get mine to do 14FPS!) with pretty good graphics. I was thinking of buying a Mac Pro, or an iMac and just using Bootcamp to install windows, and then run it off of one of those since I know I can get really good graphics and framerates on it.

**Paxx** · 11-08-2009, 01:06 PM

The linked system will run FSX about as well as any store-bought system in that price range. The video card is nothing to write home about as Tom says, but it would get the job done for FSX considering that the graphics sliders will be set around 'medium' for fairly smooth visuals in most areas of the sim on that computer.

**jdoon5261** · 11-08-2009, 02:49 PM

If your paying cash and not using the "new and improved" 29.99% interest Bestbuy card then i would recommend going to Newegg.com for your purchase. You will be quite suprised as to the depth Bestbuy wishes to reach into your pocket.
I would also recommend you check out both Tomshardware.com and Anandtech.com . Both of these site have computer assembly tutorial videos. It is amazingly simple to do.
John

**lefu** · 11-08-2009, 03:21 PM

i will put another 200 $ and get a good costum machine.

this subject might interest you:

http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?t=202434

there, you will find some interesting custom PC prices the members gave me.
check it out !

**lefu** · 11-08-2009, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by crazypotatos

Yea, i know nothing will run FSX at its full potential.

I can't do a custom build, because I do not have the time and the skill to set p a computer. I was just hoping to buy one from best buy or somewhere instead of having my neighbor build one. He is a computer repairer and salesman and he makes computers. The only problem I don't like about going to him is that he only uses xp, and all the computers we have gotten from him have had problems, or the hardware sucks.

We bought one from him like a year ago and he put in a pentium 4 and only 512mb of ram and an 80GB hard drive. We had to upgrade the ram because 512mb is nothing.

And my final question, will that computer run FSX pretty good? I run FSX on this old piece of crap computer with a pentium 4 2.4ghz, 512mb ram. I have a decent graphics card, when I have wheater and traffic turned down to like none, I can get pretty good graphics on my planes. its a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 with I think 256mb of ram.

I just need a computer that will run it well, at a good framerate (I can barely get mine to do 14FPS!) with pretty good graphics. I was thinking of buying a Mac Pro, or an iMac and just using Bootcamp to install windows, and then run it off of one of those since I know I can get really good graphics and framerates on it.

I'm pretty sure you cant make it custom by some specialist PC place.
In my case i just need to pay something like 60 box for a 1200$ custom build, to have it done by a specialist.
You should do that, it will be very worthed and FSX will run like delicious cake

I agree a lot with tommchowat's comment.

**tatest** · 11-08-2009, 09:49 PM

I looked at that one in the store Oct 30th, the Best Buy guys were trying really hard to sell it to me, three sales kids hovering at once.

They couldn't tell me whether or not it would overclock; I've since learned that it doesn't, not well. But the chip will do a nice Turbo clocking if you can keep it down to running just two cores.

I had issues with the graphics card, as GTS240 is sort of an overclocked 9800GT with a new name. Question was, is the power supply enough for upgrade to a higher NVidia based on real GeForce 200 technology, answer is no: they opened the case and found generic 350 watt PSU.

I think if you had this built by Dell for you with a GTX260, for example, it would be built with a slightly bigger power supply, but the PSU would still be hard pressed. I priced a XPS8000 build, it was higher than a private build i7/860 with GTX260, a clockable motherboard, and a good cooler.