Computer Good Enough For Flight Simulator?

[CaptainRon]

To anybody who is good with computers:

My computer is a 2003 Toshiba Satellite (I know...garbage) with an Intel Pentium 4, 2.20 GHz, and 496 MB of RAM.

Is there a prayer in hell this thing can handle Microsoft Flight Simulator? I have never played an advanced computer game on here so I don't know how it would handle it.

 

[Gatordev]

It's probably going to suck, but your biggest problem will be your vid card (or lack thereof).

 

[BarrettRC8]

My 5 y/o Pentium 3 1.8Ghz plays Falcon well... but MS Flight Simulator looks like it'd take a much more powerful machine. Maybe look for a demo and see how that treats you?

 

[Brett327]

To anybody who is good with computers:

My computer is a 2003 Toshiba Satellite (I know...garbage) with an Intel Pentium 4, 2.20 GHz, and 496 MB of RAM.

Is there a prayer in hell this thing can handle Microsoft Flight Simulator? I have never played an advanced computer game on here so I don't know how it would handle it.

It will be just fine for average use. You know, software manufacturers put out both minimum and recommended hardware requirements for a reason. Perhaps you could consult that for specifics.

Brett

 

[CaptainRon]

Good call. I'm downloading the demo right now.

Here are the website's requirements:

System Requirements

• Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista
• Processor: 1.0 Ghz
• RAM: Windows XP SP2 - 256MB, Windows Vista – 512MB
• Hard Drive: 14GB
• Video Card: 32MB DirectX 9 compatible
• Other: DX9 hardware compatibility and audio board with speakers and/or headphones
• Online/Multiplayer Requirements: 56.6 kbps or better for online play

I've got all those stats beat. The only thing I don't understand is the video card.

Recommended System Requirements (from gamespot.com)


System: 3.6 GHz CPU or equivalent
RAM: 2048 MB
Video Memory: 512 MB
Hard Drive Space: 14000 MB

HA! Didn't realize you need a NASA satellite control unit to be able to play the game. I guess that leaves me out to dry.

 

[Brett327]

Good call. I'm downloading the demo right now.

Here are the website's requirements:

System Requirements

• Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista
• Processor: 1.0 Ghz
• RAM: Windows XP SP2 - 256MB, Windows Vista – 512MB
• Hard Drive: 14GB
• Video Card: 32MB DirectX 9 compatible
• Other: DX9 hardware compatibility and audio board with speakers and/or headphones
• Online/Multiplayer Requirements: 56.6 kbps or better for online play

I've got all those stats beat. The only thing I don't understand is the video card.

What don't you understand? The video card is going to determine, among other things, how high a resolution you can run, the frame rate, and ultimately the graphical detail and complexity that is configurable through MSFS.

Brett

 

[Gatordev]

I seriously doubt you have a DX9 vid card on a 2003 laptop.

 

[Fly Navy]

Here are the website's requirements:

System Requirements

• Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista
• Processor: 1.0 Ghz
• RAM: Windows XP SP2 - 256MB, Windows Vista – 512MB
• Hard Drive: 14GB
• Video Card: 32MB DirectX 9 compatible
• Other: DX9 hardware compatibility and audio board with speakers and/or headphones
• Online/Multiplayer Requirements: 56.6 kbps or better for online play

I've got all those stats beat. The only thing I don't understand is the video card.

Ok, I've been using Microsoft Flight Simulator ever since version 4.0. Let me tell you what I've learned. The minimum requirements for MSFS are BARE minimums. Do not expect to get anything but the sh!ttiest performance out of it. MSFS is a VERY resource and processor intensive program.

Your processor and RAM should be ok, but even a 2.2 GHz will probably run slow (I have a 2.4 GHz with HT, haven't tested out FSX. FS2004 runs pretty nice with my 1 GB RAM). You want more RAM. MSFS uses more RAM than any other program I've ever used. It's unreal. The more it has, the happier it and you will be.

As for your video card, this is SUPER critical as well. They no sh!t mean a DirectX 9 capable video card. Anything less and you won't see the newest graphics features and it won't run as fast. Trust me, I know this. My card is DirectX 8 (with SOME DirectX 9 capability, though not all), and I can't really use all the features of Call of Duty 2. Look at your Device Manager and tell us what your video card is. Are you using a laptop? If so, you're going to be hurting, guaranteed.

Ask away, I've been using their MSFS product for years.

 

[Fly Navy]

I seriously doubt you have a DX9 vid card on a 2003 laptop.

Agreed. Not a chance in hell.

 

[CaptainRon]

I'll see what happens when the demo finishes downloading.

For future reference (probably getting a new laptop soon), how do you find out what your video card is on your computer? I can't figure it out.

 

[Fly Navy]

Start -> Control Panel -> Display

Settings tab

Read off what the Display is set to.

 

[CaptainRon]

Thanks FlyNavy.

It says: Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller.

I have no idea what that means. Whatever it is, it's probably trash.

 

[Gatordev]

It's an integrated video card which basically means it's not really decent at doing 3D/games. Expect FSX to balk at it. It also shares your memory w/ your RAM, which takes RAM away from your system.

 

[CaptainRon]

Anybody think this machine could handle an older version of Microsoft Flight Simulator? I don't want to go back to the early 1980s versions, but I'd be happy with something from the late 90s or so.

 

[Fly Navy]

It's an integrated video card which basically means it's not really decent at doing 3D/games. Expect FSX to balk at it. It also shares your memory w/ your RAM, which takes RAM away from your system.

Yep. No dedicated AGP/PCI Express, no dedicated Video RAM... FSX isn't going to like it.