Ideal FLIGHT SIM X Laptop

Hi Folks!

I really need advice re running Flight Simulator X on a gaming laptop. I am very cautious because I have heard from some poeple that FSX does not have the capability of utilizing dual core processors or graphics cards.

Could someone suggest the ideal components to run this game, on full settings for graphics while maintaining a decent frame rate? I was looking at an Alienware Area 51 m15x, but there wouldn't be much point spending on dual core / SLi if FSX wont use it! Can anyone help?

 

The first patch (Service Pack 1) is supposed to optimize for multiple core CPU's and offer overall performance tweaks:

http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulatorx/downloads.html

QUOTE:
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Aspiring aviators can now prepare to fly higher and faster, as Microsoft Game Studios is happy to announce that the first service pack for the AIAS award-winning Flight Simulator X is now available. Service Pack 1 will:

- Provide a 20 to 50 percent performance increase
- Optimize for multi-core CPUs and improve draw times for faster loading
- Address multiplayer and backwards compatibility issues
- Offer improved realism of key geographical locations, landmarks and airports
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END QUOTE

That being said, FSX is a very CPU and GPU hungry application if you want dynamic scenery. Otherwise, turn down details and you essentially have FS2004.

I would recommend an 8800m GTS (or GTX) and Core 2 Duo minimum 2.0GHz CPU to play at 1280x800 with decent detail. My desktop PC runs it fairly well with an 8800 GTS and 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo (E6850)

Regarding the Alienware m15x, that is an expensive laptop. Unless you absolutely need 15", you can get a decent 17" for much less that has an 8800m GTX and decent CPU.

 

FSX is supposed to be even more demanding than Crysis if absolutely everything is cranked up and a busy air traffic setting selected for gaming.

htwingnut's advice is sound enough, when the new high-end penryns are released they can be selected in place of the Core 2 Duo Extreme processors.

 

get one of the single best laptops you can find because from what ive seen and heard (i didnt believe it at first), but FS X is definetely more power hungry than crysis.

its morally wrong that a flight simulator beats crysis :|, i didnt think something would beat it so soon.

 

dell m1730 would be nice or the aw m15x!

i agree with the person above how can FS beat crysis!

 

yeap,take dell xps 1730 from Dell outlet,there you can find on with extreme CPU and 8800gtx SLI for ~ 3000$ + 15% coupon

 

In a couple of minutes you cover the square mileage equal to the entire area of Crysis. And they did actually detail the stuff pretty well on X. I would imagine the physics are a bit more demanding on the CPU as well...crosstracks, engine spools, instrumentation. Just like in real life if you want to do 440 knots true its gonna take some resources.

 

lol...i play Google Earth's In-built Flight simulator..

much more realistic geographics

 

Physics are ok, they use tables to calculate the aerodynamics instead of real-time vector physics like x-plane uses. Not that I want to see Microsoft buy X-plane, but it would be nice if they would buy the license to use the X-plane physics because it is much more realistic.

Most of the CPU cycles are dedicated to scenery and object models as the aerodynamics and instrumentation haven't changed a whole lot since earlier flight simulators.

 

my m15x runs it well. not that great but well. remember it needs alot of power. so i guess the ideal laptop for this game is a actually a desktop with 3.6 ghz quad core core 2 overclocked, 8 gb ram, tri sli 9800's.

 

You can almost get that in a D901C

Q9550 2.83Ghz Quad Core o/c'd to 3.0Ghz, 8GB system ram, 2x9800GTX (2GB)

3xHDD in Raid 0. (At least in June or July when they start shipping the 9800's.)

 

You can improve the perfs a lot by tweaking the main cgf file. But it's true that it is quite demanding... I'm sticking to fs9 for the time being.

 

Strongest CPU you can find followed by a strong GPU. This is one of those games that destroy a cpu, and if you have no cpu power left your GPU wont even function right.

I have FSX Deluxe still new in the box I bet the c90s would run this game great, but I dont think I will ever play it so I am probably going to sell it.

 

Flight simulator X doesnt need so much graphics power, 2004 works on a geforce 2 32mb with all settings high, it works awesome with my brothers ati 1270 but the bad thing is that it takes a while to load, im guessing its highly cpu intensive

this patch helped alot! it loads much faster now haha

LOL, it takes more than up down left and right to fly a plane. check the fuel feeds to the engine, make sure u have clearance, flaps work release brake. i love just how detailed flight simulator is...closest thing to being a real pilot

 

the newest patch is SP2
with max settings, max traffics, max cloud, 1920x1200, 0xAA (why would I need AA anyway?), I am getting 12-15fps
edit: just tried the game again at max settings again, it dropped to 6-8fps when I tried to take off from JFK.
my thought: with DX9, it's not too much different from FX9 in terms of graphic. I don't know about DX10 tho.