Where to get FSX?

[ScottyB]

Hey guys,

I have been running FS9 on my system for years but I am finally going to convert to FSX. Where is the best/cheapest place to get FSX from? Or does anyone know of anybody who is selling a copy?

Regards,
ScottyB

[IslandBoy77]

Best bet is probably TradeMe. I sell them new direct from my supplier through my business, but generally the FSX Gold packs on TM are $10-$15 cheaper. Make sure you get Gold so that you get the Acceleration Pack for "free", and check with the seller that there are no scratches on the DVDs AND that they've uninstalled the program off ALL their computers. Also, as always, make sure the seller has a good number of trades already, or a very high percentage of positive, or has been around for at least 5-6 months-odd.

Since FSX is a licensed / activated product, you don't want to be fighting with Microsoft to prove that you're now the legit owner. And there are quite a number of people who sell on TM who keep games on their systems but sell the original disks - totally illegal and immoral, but there you have it. Bear in mind that you may have to do a manual "activation" via Microsoft on a 2nd hand copy of FSX regardless of where you get it from - it depends how much time has elapsed since it's last install / activation. Since FSX has a bit of a habit of needing to be reinstalled after clagging itself, it's not uncommon for a person to have re-installed / activated their product 3 or 4 times over the space of 2-3 years. I've had to do mine 4 times, and I hardly get to use it! A friend of mine has done his 10 times - having said that, he is a chronic tinkerer!

While there is no actual limit on the number of re-activations on FSX, after the 3rd one, one can end up having 2 phone Microsoft - especially if the hardware for the 4th activation is substantially different from that of the 3rd one (like, someone else's PC or after a major upgrade: even a new video card will qualify).

Anyway, there you go.

[Nzeddy]

I get mine from Mighty Ape. http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/PC-Game...ansion/3120194/

It's $90 NZD but you can get a lower price like I did with COD Black Ops.

http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/PC-Game...94/cheap-price/

But the cheapest online store to get FSX Gold which I recommend is from FirstGames: http://www.firstgames.co.nz/shop/pc/flight...io?ref=pricespy $64.99.

[Timmo]

I may have a spare copy due to a dodgy trader on Trademe (who got in contact weeks after I paid him, after I had given him up as a scammer and purchased another copy for my laptop)

I'll put it up on here when/if I receive it (but don't wait for it if you want a copy urgently- It may never show up)

[AndrewJamez]

[While there is no actual limit on the number of re-activations on FSX, after the 3rd one, one can end up having 2 phone Microsoft - especially if the hardware for the 4th activation is substantially different from that of the 3rd one (like, someone else's PC or after a major upgrade: even a new video card will qualify).]

Funny you say that because I have owned FSX from day one and during that period I have had about 3 very different computors all which have had various upgrades during there life aswell as multiple FSX re-installations and FSX has activated with the provided product keys every time. I have FSX and Excelleration as seperate packages. Maybe the newer releases were more fussy.? Who knows.

[Ian Warren]

Tim
There really are not nice people out in the world today , scammer to a a dodgy traders and pirates , think we need to set up a 'PC goon squad '

[dbcunnz]

I have reinstalled MSFSX many times now and it will activate every time but if you reinstall Acceleration more than twice you will have to ring MS to get activation for it again so all those not using Acceleration and are using SP1 and SP2 will not have the reactivation problem.

Doug

[ScottyB]

Thanks for the info guys!

If i'm getting 50ish FPS with high settings with FS9; how much do you think i'd get from FSX?

Also, Nzeddy, what scenery/mesh etc have you got in that sig of yours?

[spongebob206]

Hi All

I have an old copy of FSX and Acceleration, Both I have just reinstalled for the 3rd time with no issue. All on same Machine but different hard drives.

Was thinking of an upgrade, maybe not for a while now

Thanks

[Nzeddy]

QUOTE (ScottyB @ Dec 4 2010, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info guys!

If i'm getting 50ish FPS with high settings with FS9; how much do you think i'd get from FSX?

Also, Nzeddy, what scenery/mesh etc have you got in that sig of yours?

Your welcome.

What's your computer specs?

It's Timmo's payware Vector Land Class. http://www.vectorlandclass.co.nz/

[IslandBoy77]

As I said at the start, it depends on the length of time between installs. It is possible that Gold acts differently than either Standard, Deluxe or Acceleration. Given that most people would do well to get Gold rather than wasting money on Deluxe / Accel separately, and given that Scotty is looking at 2nd hand, it's useful for him to be aware of the possible problems. True? Yes...

[Rotordude]

http://www.vrconcepts.co.nz/index.php a Christchurch based company, have dealt with them many a time regarding trackIR gear. Very friendly very prompt over night service to Hamilton. I would recommend them to anyone

Microsoft® Flight Simulator X Gold Edition $69.00 (FSX + Acceleration).

[ScottyB]

Performance

Processor*
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T6500
Operating System*
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit)
Graphics Engine*
ATI® Mobility Radeon™ HD 4600

Memory and Storage

Memory*
4GB DDR2
Hard Drive*
400GB HDD (5400rpm)
Optical Drive*
DVD-SuperMulti (+/-R double layer) with Labelflashâ„¢ drive

Audio and Video

Display Size*
16.0" widescreen
Display Type*
HD TruBrite® LCD Display
Display Resolution*
1366x768 (HD), Supports 720p content
Audio
Headphone jack (stereo), Microphone jack (mono), harman/kardon® stereo speakers

[ScottyB]

Also, are there any known common issues with FSX?

I just don't know if I should spend money on my current FS9 setup; or start FSX?

[Nzeddy]

Firstly, in my opinion, I would upgrade the CPU and the HDD or just get a completly new pc with the latest CPU and stuff.

FSX will probably run very slow on that pc.

I would stay with FS9 if I were you. But that's my opinion.

BUT, if you really, really want FSX then get it.

[IslandBoy77]

Since you're on a laptop, you're pretty much stuck with what you've got. FSX will run ok on your system. Yes, there are plenty of issues running FSX - that's just one of those "you learn as you go along" type of things I'm afraid. There are a couple of tutorials floating about that speak to tweaking - and FSX is probably the worst "game" I know of that "needs" to be tweaked in order to run well. That being said, why not just get it, get VLC, dive in, try the settings at around medium, and see how it goes.

If you search through NZFF, you'll find plenty of discussion about tweaking & settings and stuff - including all our personal preferences re: Intel vs AMD, nVidia vs ATI and such. Specifically, the 'Technical Issues' section is the place you want to go.

You will find there is a lot of opinion that goes into tweaking and using FSX. You'll see that some people will swear that this thing works, another say that, and everything in between! That's because we're all running different rigs, with different screen resolutions (and the higher the res the better the pic but the more strain on the computer), and different abilities at tweaking / optimising. You'll also find that people have different expectations. For me, unless it's almost real-world, it's not good enough. For others, instrument flying from A to B - outside imagery be damned - is the name of the game.

So, you've got your work cut out sifting and finding your comfortable, operational "niche" for your rig and your expectations. Just don't forget to enjoy the sim somewhere along the way!

EDIT: PS - Don't forget to get SP2 loaded into Vista before you start, and get a good defragger like MyDefrag from www.filehippo.com to sort your hard drive before you install FSX.

[ScottyB]

So have we concluded that it won't run too well on my laptop?

I can have it on medium settings if need be.

[Ian Warren]

Scotty , end of the day the Laptop has to be 'hi end' , we had Blake 'Waka172' spend many hours with us , a Laptop while in a hotel in PNG and Guam , his setup worked well but this required a very good LT .. i,d revert to a GOOD home PC

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (ScottyB @ Dec 6 2010, 10:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So have we concluded that it won't run too well on my laptop?

I can have it on medium settings if need be.

If you don't have money for a PC, just have a lash on your laptop - start the settings out lowish, and try working them up a little at a time to see how far you can go before you get into "slideshow" mode. Funny thing about FSX - if you start low, have a fly, restart FSX, adjust sliders up a little, have a fly etc, one can get better performance than if one started the process with sliders further over. Not sure how or why this is, but both a friend and I have noticed this odd, but useful, behaviour.