hardware requirements

Hello all,

I am thinking I want to get into flight sims. I am wondering what kind of performance I will get with my PC. My specs are as follows:

HP Pavilion 564W
2.4 G Pentium 4 (400MHz FSB)
512 Mb PC2700 Ram
onboard graphics 8 Mb (I know, I need to upgrade)
Soundblaster Live 5.1
80Gb hard drive (not sure if 7200 rpm or 5400 rpm, I think 7200)

Would MSFlight Sim 2004 or 2002 run ok on this PC? I haven't tried to run a flight sim since MS Flight Simulator 95. The graphics were lousy back then, which turned me away from flight sims. And I haven't had a PC that could run anything until possibly now. What are the major differences between 2002 and 2004?

I am also a racer at heart (I want to fly only if I can pull myself away from the racing ). I have a Momo Driving Force wheel and pedals. I wouldn't plan to upgrade any controls for flight simming. Can a steering wheel be used in flight simulators? It has 10 buttons including 2 paddle shifters and a normal shifter.

I have an old joystick, but it was torn apart and converted into a 5-speed shifter for racing. I have absolutely no budget for buying new controls for flight simming, nor budget for upgraded graphics. I just happened to get this computer for nothing from someone at work. I was able to run Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator on my old Celeron 667 PC, so I would imagine I could run MSFS 2002/4 on my current P4-2.5.

Also, could someone figure out if Butler Airport in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA would be in the game? I always wondered that since it lists so many airports.

Thanks,
Mike

And BTW, I am running Windows 98SE. Forgot that point.

Thanks,
Mike

You would be able to run FS9 with the RAM etc but the graphics card (as you said) really needs upgrading. FS8 is less graphically demanding so might be suited to your PC more. The fact you are running Windows 98 doesn't help and I'm not even sure FS9 runs on it. I don't think you can use a steering wheel for flight sim, I've never tried it.

I'll check for Butler Airport in a minute, but I'd guess it'd be there

Hey, thanks for the response. The picture in your sig is good, is that a screenshot or real life shot?

I am using Win98SE, because I have heard ME is horrible, and XP is the worst piece of crap I've ever seen. Not sure what to go with newer than 98SE with this opinion. I use System Mechanic and it has a Ram recoverer/defragmenter. It shows me with about 420 Mb ram free (with minimal neccessary programs running) and when I tried XP, the free ram dropped to a hundred and something. I have no idea why anyone would want to run XP. In my racing sim, my framerates dropped from 30-40 fps to 2, yes 2 fps just because of XP install.

But anyways, thanks again for the response. I may have to pick up MSFS soon and check it out. Always been interested, just never had the machine to run.

Thanks,
Mike

PS. When you see me a member, you'll know I got it .

Wow, looking through the screenshots, it appears that FS9 is much better looking than FS8. That is what I'd be looking for as I probably wouldn't be much into the learning how to fly stuff and ferrying passengers on a 747. More like taking a Cesna (or something maybe faster) up and checking out the sites. I think I may have to postpone the racing tonight and load up MS Combat Simulator tonight to check it out until I get the civilian FS. I've never really done anything with it. Not sure which version release I have.

OK, so never mind about any of my questions. I just found looking through this forum the link to freeafterrebates.com or whatever. I think Walmart has 2002 for $20 and the rebates are $20 for either 2002 or 2004. If I see at Walmart, 2004 for less than $30, I'll pick that up, else I'll go for 2002. Then if 2004 doesn't run well, I can pick up 2002 next week . For free, I'll definitely be flying and joining this forum soon .

Mike

"I have no idea why anyone would want to run XP"

Maybe because it is the most advanced OS Microsoft has made up until now..

Comparing Windows 98 se to Windows XP is roughly akin to comparing a donkey to a racehorse...

You are right about one thing: Windows ME (or Windows 98 third Edition) is indeed CRAP compared to Windows 98 se.

FS9 will run on Windows 98 se, but will run better on XP, provided you have enough memory and resources for the game..
Don't forget, Windows XP uses up almost a couple of hundred megs of RAM by itself depending on what services you have running.

On your machine you would really need to double the memory if possible, and get a real video card to run FS9. Otherwise as 99Jolegg stated FS8 would be a better bet.
Not saying FS9 won't run on your machine; it will, but it won't run that well if you want to get out of it what MS put into it.