Microsoft Flight Simulator X (Deluxe Edition) (PC, 2006)

This Simulator is excellent, each release keeps getting better and better!!! Unfortunately the minimum requirements are kind of deceiving although however they are correct, they are the minimum requirements to run the game, but not enjoy it... It only makes sense that to run a great robust game like this, your obviously going to need the hardware requirements behind it. This game was released in late 2006 and was designed for the Windows Vista system, although it works on Windows XP also. So guys if your installing this game on a Celeron PC, with 500mb of ram and an onboard graphics card (a graphics card built into the motherboard that ships with the computer) sorry but your not going to get the best experience with this game, infact FS 2004 would probably better suit you. Remember games that are just being released and have been released since mid to late '06 are going to be designed to be used on today's systems, they are no longer developing games based on a pentium 3 systems requirements or even pentium 4 anymore for that matter. Folks do you remember how long ago Intel released these chips? There is a reason the product line is shipping out dual core processors today.

I have a new AMD Athlon Live dual core processor with each core running at 2.6GHZ, 2GB of DDR2 Ram, 2000GHZ bus speed, 256MB GeForce 8600GT graphics card (bought separately) and a 365GB sata hard drive, with Windows Vista Home Premium

I can run the game with everything set at ultra high settings running at 31fps, I didn't go get some huge $4000 gaming beast but just got a regular "Today" computer. I personally prefer and would recommend AMD over Intel chips because AMD offers higher bus speeds (the speed at which data is transferred over the board), where as intel will offer a high powered GHZ processor but much slower speeds. AMD has been known to be the gamers chip.

Also purchasing a new stick of ram isn't just going to do it for you, there are two types of ram video ram (built into the graphics card) and regular system ram, which snaps into the mother board the difference between the two is that the processor runs two work loads, it runs the work load of the game, and also has to run the work load of running and maintaining the system, obviously the ram on the graphics card is specifically going to be just for that "Graphics" it decreases the load of the processor and stores processed data so that the processor doesn't have to reprocess data after data. Thats the reason for the choppiness of the game. System ram stores all data that is processed by the processor and Windows vista takes up usually 500mb of your system ram automatically. Although Windows Vista is preferred for gaming over XP, it reduces the gaming workload on the processor and Ram, it also holds its main focus on active system process', so it kind of temporarily shuts down background programs and applications that are not currently being used.

Another great way to increase performance on Flight Simulator X is to download the the current service pack 1, it has an increased performance fix, some graphic changes, and some changes of misplaced scenery, it can be downloaded here.

www.fsinsider.com/downloa​ds/Pages/FlightSimulatorXServi​cePack1.aspx

Please don't give bad ratings on the game because its not compatible with your system, it really is an excellent simulation and a great teaching tool for those who may want to or are actively working on a pilots license.

My pc is old and does not have a name brand video card so the graphcs suck i like playing the x-plane demo on my mac with better resolution then with my old pc. It would be awesome if i could actually play the game with high graphics it would be nice that MS tells you this before you buy the product it only says the operating systems. I wish they made it compatible with mac. I tried to run it using boot camp on my new mac but i hard a video card problem the driver had not been installed. I wanted to buy it because it has airport buildings with jetways and real traffic unlike x-plane. and also because it was cheaper then x-plane microsoft lied because it says it is with the real world like they have highway traffic real animals and real life but thats a lie nothing of that is included you have to use payware and also add ons to add those features so false advertising that is one thing that has me pissed. That MS lied so much and tells you nothing about the important stuff until when you bought it and use it do you find out. So my suggestion if you have a computer without Nvidia or ATI video card by name brand or a netbook low memory stay away from FSX. If you have like a gaming pc like alien or Dell XPS that is the only computer that i have heard that runs fsx smoothly. If you have a mac go with X-plane if you have a poor pc dont even bother to run any kind of flight sim because fsx demands high graphics and x-plane is a heavy memory user. So learn from this mistake spend the money for a high end pc or dont spend money at all now i have to wait for new flight sims or have to buy a DEll XPS.

When this program is working, it is very realistic. Does require alot of memory and a decent video card. Microsoft was very helpful is answering installation questions. It makes sense to buy a joystick as keyboard controls detract from enjoyment. I use Saitex 52 controls. Video card should have a minimun of 128 mb, not the 32mb the game suggests if you want more than basic graphics. I recommend 256mb. Hard drive space will take 36GB,not 15GB. Microsoft lists minimum requirements that are only for the basic graphics. More is needed. Once into the game, it will eat up hours of your time.

Flight Sim X is awesome. i have always been a fan of the Flt. Sim. series, but now that i have started flight training it has taken on a whole new dimension. The depth and scale of Flt Sim X is incredible and the sheer volume of data, with respect to airports, navaids, and procedures is an incredible help when fine tuning instrument work. The virtual cockpit feature is also a very nice addition to the list of features. I would recommend this to any person who is doing instrument level training or who just wants a good flt sim.

if you are into flight simulators and have a robust computer(3.0ghz or higher processor, 256 mb video memory or more, 2 gigs of ram or more and at least 15 gb hd space) than this is the game for you. Talk about attention to detail, they have about 25 air ports in the state of North Carolina alone. For all you Long Islanders out there, you can take off from Grumman in Bethpage. 20 something aircraft, awesome graphics, and great sound. Great game!!!!!!