Going to an i5 for FSX

[Gabriel V]

Hello. My english isnt good, sorry.

I'm a flight simulator pilot, and fsx is a very cpu demanding software, so i need a powerful computer.

I have right now an AMD 3870K overclocked to 3.3 GHz, and my fps arent good. My average is from 8 to 30 fps and is very annoying.

I'm thinking to upgrade to an i5-4690K (overclocked) or an i7-4790 (without k) so i cant overclocked it. How much fps it will increase the processor upgrade? Is better an i5 overclocked than an i7?

 

[CompuTronix]

TheN00bBuilder,

FSX is a "simulation" which does not behave according to typical "gaming" hardware configurations. FSX is on the extreme CPU end of the performance spectrum, and shows little response to high-end GPU horsepower. FSX is multithreaded, and will take advantage of all the CPU horsepower you can possibly throw at it, including hyperthreading.

Gabriel V,

An overclocked i7 4790K is the better processor for FSX. Since the i7's have Hyperthreading, they maintain a higher minimum frame rate in FSX at the same clock rate than their corresponding i5 equivalents.

Unlike most "gaming" titles, FSX and X-Plane are "simulations" which are very heavily CPU bound, but lightly GPU bound. As such, neither FSX nor X-Plane benefit from CF / SLI or high-end graphics horsepower. Conversely, since multiple cards require more CPU interrupts, frame rate can actually decrease slightly.

As I've explained in many threads, frame rate scales nearly 1:1 with clock rate, then with the number of CPU cores. A high overclock produces the best frame rates. Further, since these simulations perform better with nVidia drivers, a mid-range nVidia based graphics card works well, such as the GTX 760. However, You may want to wait for the GTX 960 to be released.

CT

 

[hackintosh777]

LOL and I wonder how I'm getting on with a 2.3 GHz i5-4200U and still getting 30-60FPS (albeit with no air traffic and lots of settings turned down), and still looks good...

 

[CompuTronix]

Fortunately, FSX settings and tweaking the fsx.cfg file allows for much flexibility in hardware configurations. I've built many FSX rigs over the years, and as hardware has progressed, I've been able to turn on more and more detail while maintaining acceptable frame rates.

Nevertheless, as old a title as FSX is, it will still bring the most powerful rig down to it's knees when all settings are maxed out.

 

[hackintosh777]

Fortunately, FSX settings and tweaking the fsx.cfg file allows for much flexibility in hardware configurations. I've built many FSX rigs over the years, and as hardware has progressed, I've been able to turn on more and more detail while maintain acceptable frame rates.

Nevertheless, as old a title as FSX is, it will still bring the most powerful rig down to it's knees when all settings are maxed out.

I actually never edited FSX.cfg. I have noticed that turning the air traffic down brings the FPS way up.