FSX - Addons/Performance.. What next..?

[mdavenport]

I have the following spec PC and have some money burning a whole in my pocket so thought I would look to upgrade some componments of my PC to give me better performance in FSX:-

Dell XPS 420
1 Quad Core 2.40Ghz Viiv Processor - 8mb cache
4 GB RAM
640GB Raid 0 Striped harddrive (2 x 320Gb)
2 x 1TB external harddrives for backups etc
512mb Nvidia GeForce 8800GT graphics card
28" Hannsg monitor
Windows 7 Operating System

Addon hardware:-
TrackIR 4
Headset
Saitek Yoke, Throttle and Pedals

I am happy with all software addons at the moment and am looking for either more performance or realism in terms of physical addons.

Let me know your suggestions.

Thanks

[McFlysky]

I have the following spec PC and have some money burning a whole in my pocket so thought I would look to upgrade some componments of my PC to give me better performance in FSX:-

Dell XPS 420
1 Quad Core 2.40Ghz Viiv Processor - 8mb cache
4 GB RAM
640GB Raid 0 Striped harddrive (2 x 320Gb)
2 x 1TB external harddrives for backups etc
512mb Nvidia GeForce 8800GT graphics card
28" Hannsg monitor
Windows 7 Operating System

Addon hardware:-
TrackIR 4
Headset
Saitek Yoke, Throttle and Pedals

I am happy with all software addons at the moment and am looking for either more performance or realism in terms of physical addons.

Let me know your suggestions.

Thanks

You could check with Dell to see if you can get a more powerful CPU for your system.
Does the Dell motherboard allow for overclocking?
It just might be worth saving that money for a more powerful computer some day.

[mdavenport]

Not too sure if you can overclock the XPS 420, anyone know if this is possible and if so how to do it?

Thanks

[phxflyboy]

Unless something has changed recently, I don't think you can OC a Dell PC. I've had them in the past and never been able to. It's one of the reasons I stopped buying pre-built PC's and started building my own.

phxflyboy

[mdavenport]

I wasn't sure if it was possible or not but can imagine its not.

If I can't overclock the CPU can I get any gains from overclocking the 8800GT which I believe is possible?

Would I be best getter the latest and greatest graphics card? If so what is considered best now for FSX?

[Blitzer]

I wasn't sure if it was possible or not but can imagine its not.

If I can't overclock the CPU can I get any gains from overclocking the 8800GT which I believe is possible?

Would I be best getter the latest and greatest graphics card? If so what is considered best now for FSX?

The general concensus is that FSX is more CPU orientated with regards to performance. It is my opinion (and it is only that!) that overclocking your GFX card will offer at best very minimal improvements and changing your GFX entirely may only provide a marginal improvement. Personally I think you'd find that your processor would be the main factor.

If I were in your situtaion I would be more inclined to be thinking along the lines of replacing the whole machine with a view to knowing what I want to spend and that I wanted to get the best bang for buck as it were for FSX performance. I would also go the build my own route and be intended to over-clock. Personally I think there always comes a time when it's best to start over rather than upgrade for a minimal improvement. The good thing is that with FSX no longer being developed that hardware will reach a point where it can handle all FSX can throw at it.

Whatever you decide to do I hope the end result is what you want.

[mdavenport]

Ok, straying slightly from getting better performance out of my system. What about an addition like a Butt Kicker Gamer?

Anyone come across these and used them with FSX? If so what is the experience like? Is it worth the money?

[Brushstrokes]

My system has 2.6 processor and I feel it is "marginal". If I were you, I would go with a faster cpu. Just my opiion.