New Computer Advice

[Charlie]

I am thinking of buying a new computer for X-Plane. The computer I'm currently looking at has:

 

CPU: Intel i5 3570 Ivy Bridge 3.4Ghz

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GT 630 2GB DDR3

RAM: 8GB

HDD: Seagate/WD 1TB

 

I don't need Ultra high graphics but I do want to be able to run xp10 decently. I don't have much more money to upgrade to anything too much more expensive but I am wondering if I could get anything better with what I have.

 

 

 

 

[cessna729]

I am thinking of buying a new computer for X-Plane. The computer I'm currently looking at has:

 

CPU: Intel i5 3570 Ivy Bridge 3.4Ghz

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GT 630 2GB DDR3

RAM: 8GB

HDD: Seagate/WD 1TB

 

I don't need Ultra high graphics but I do want to be able to run xp10 decently. I don't have much more money to upgrade to anything too much more expensive but I am wondering if I could get anything better with what I have.

If your going to use it as a "sim only" machine, that's not a bad spec IMHO.

If you shopped around a bit you could up the spec on the processor and or increase the RAM a bit for the same money?

But if your not lucky enough to have a "sim only" machine, be doubly sure to check that you turn off all the "extra processes and programs running in the background" that are not needed when running X-Plane (especially if running Windows). Or all that lovely new hardware may get "bogged down". WD VelociRaptors are my "HDD" of choice, got 5 on my sim machine :D

cessna729.

[Charlie]

If your going to use it as a "sim only" machine, that's not a bad spec IMHO.

When I said "for X-Plane" I lied a little . I also need to have some stuff for school (Microsoft office, notepad++ etc.), some photo editing stuff and I have about 50-55GB of stuff that I need to transfer but I'm used to restarting the computer before using xp from the crappy family computer

[Charlie]

Alright,

This system will be slightly more expensive but just within my budget:

 

CPU: AMD FX-8350

GPU: Nvidia Geforce 480 1.5 GB

RAM: 8GB

 

I don't know which one will work better with X-Plane but I'll be getting the one that does

[Cameron]

GPU: Nvidia Geforce 480 1.5 GB

 

That's pretty limiting...

[Charlie]

That's pretty limiting...

Do you think I should just stick with the Nvidia Geforce GT 630?

[Cameron]

Do you think I should just stick with the Nvidia Geforce GT 630?

 

No, I believe the 480 will still outperform the 630 looking at the two systems you had.

[Charlie]

I think I'm going to have to get a system with quite a weak graphics card that I can look at upgrading to something much more powerful. 

[Flying_pig]

i recommend you do not get a 630 or 480 you should at the very least be looking at a gtx 650 TI boost as that is much more powerful then both card also Microsoft office runs with Intel HD so i wouldn't worry to much about those and one more thing don't get an amd cpu for x-plane it's a mainly single core application and amd's single core performance isn't that great you should only get one if you are building a render farm

[Charlie]

i recommend you do not get a 630 or 480 you should at the very least be looking at a gtx 650 TI boost as that is much more powerful then both card also Microsoft office runs with Intel HD so i wouldn't worry to much about those and one more thing don't get an amd cpu for x-plane it's a mainly single core application and amd's single core performance isn't that great you should only get one if you are building a render farm

 

I'm going to get the 630 because of the price but I've gotten a more powerful Power Supply so there is room to upgrade more powerful GPU in the (hopefully) near future. I'm looking into getting the intel but I'm not sure I will be able to afford it along with the upgraded Power Supply.

Edited May 12, 2013 by Char1ie473

[AnonymousUser68]

The CPU is very good, close to as good as it gets for x-plane. The thing that is going to let you down is the GPU. I encourage you to wait and save up for a GTX 660Ti.

[Charlie]

I'm going to get the computer with the 630 now just because with all of the work I'm doing for school now I really need a computer thats able to run Microsoft Office and GIMP which this computer can't. With my current job it will only take about 1 and a half school terms to save for the GTX 660 Ti which isn't too bad, especially as I won't need to upgrade the power supply. And anyway, there is now way for it to run X-Plane any worse than the computer which I'm on now .

[AnonymousUser68]

Alright, go for it! Just make sure your case can also accommodate any future upgrades. With the CPU you have chosen you will still have a lot of fun in xplane 10.