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Hi folks just wanted to post about my FSX experience. I have been flying FS9 since it came out on a Dell P4 2.53 with a gig of RAM and a Radion 9700.
A few weeks ago I decided to build a new computer. The following is what I got.
E8400 @ 3.00ghz
2gb Corsair @1066 mhz
EGVA 8800 GTS 512
500 MB Western Digital w/16 MB cache
Antec Nine Hundred case
750 PC Power and Cooling power supply
Win XP Home
NOD32
SP1 and SP2 for FSX
and addons so far:
Ultimate Terrain USA
Scenery Tech Lanclass North America, Asia, Europe
Ground Env X Enhanced
Flight Env X
All FS Genesis Mesh
Ultimate Traffic
WOAI Packages
RealAir SF-260
Before I even installed FSX I got in touch with Michael at FS-GS. We set an appointment after I installed FSX and all my addons. Now, to this point after I installed everything I had a few days until my appointment and didn't even load a flight and try it. I wanted to see what FSX would look like at first after it was completely set up right.
Last weekend was my FS-GS appointment. Took about 4 hours and cost $85.00 USD.
Let me just say that it was probably the best $85 I have ever spent on flight simming ever. I now have FSX that runs at its highest settings, with absolutely no blurries, and a frame rate that stays locked at 28 fps. All of this without having spent days and months tweaking, overclocking, and all the other nonsense that I went through with FS9 before I got it right.
Now that I have this wonderful sim that I can use for everything I doubt I will ever turn on FS9 again. Prior to the install I was thinking that I would probably have to use FS9 for flying heavies, but with the performance I am getting from my service, FSX will be all I need for all my flying applications.
Could I have gotten this performance without FS-GS? Maybe or maybe not, but not without months of tweaking and fiddling.
Are there tips posted on Avsim but Nick N. and other that would have helped? Again maybe, but the things that are done from FS-GS are things I have never seen mentioned on this or another forum before, plus they are specific to your computer. Of course I can't disclose these due to paying for a service and even if I could I don't think I could even remember in detail the things I did or how to repeat them again.
So, in short, I posted this because of all the posts I see here every day from people with computers as good as mine and even better than mine but are still getting lousy performance, stutters, blurries, etc. If getting your FSX running great in the course of 4 or 5 hours for around $85.00 sounds like a good deal, I would say go for it and save yourself the grief and headache of doing it yourself. Now for once I have a new sim that I can fly in any weather with max detail and not have to do a darn thing to improve it. It's a great feeling (smiling).
BTW, just to be clear I have nothing to do with FS-GS or any other developer. I just wanted to give a heads up for those that are still having problems or thinking about spending loads of money on new equipment that may not be necessary.
Mitch (Sesquatchtoo), if you read this and try the FS-GS service on your new system you were thinking about getting (Don't waste all that money on the DELL you were talking about), you will be so happy that we may never hear from you again because you will always be flying and not tweaking or contemplating what computer to buy or wait for the next version of FS.
Hope this info is helpfull to those with problems or considering new computers.
Regards,
Sean
The best €60 I’ve ever spent on my computer.
Many moons ago, as a young man, I flew the real thing and I’ve been “flying” Flight Simulator since it’s first release.So when Microsoft came up with their slogan “As Real As It Gets” I took it with the pinch of salt I thought it deserved.Since the advent of Flight Simulator Forums many strangers have helped me with advice and their time and now I reckon it’s payback time for me to help them. So here’s the deal. I’m going to tell you of an experience I’ve had with a Microsoft engineer called Michael Greenblatt, an experience that has transformed “Flight Simulator 9” for me and opened my eyes to the potential I hadn’t realised it offered. Should you want to follow up by learning more you can click on his site of http://www.fs-gs.com/ .Over the years I’d done all I could to make my flights believable, to reduce the need for imagination. I’d bought the best computer I could afford and I’d scoured the Forums for tweeking advice but the clarity of the picture on my monitor and the frame rate problem seemed to live with me no matter what I did.Then one day I read about Michael and the service he offers. I mulled it over for a few months and finally decided to give it a go. €60 isn’t cheap but it wasn’t going to break the bank.In this I was dead wrong. For the number of hours he devoted to achieving the best possible results for my system he has been an absolute bargain. I consider myself lucky that he helped me and of the value he gave me.Okay. First off he showed me how to use “Microsoft Messenger” to talk to each other. He in California, me in the Spanish countryside. And he taught me how we could write to each other whilst simultaneousy chatting.That was the first thing I learned. Then before going any further he explained his policy; payment AFTER he’s achieved what I wanted and only if I agreed that he’s kept his part of the bargain.He didn’t have an easy customer as I’m not particularly computer literate but that seemed to make no difference as he is endlessly patient and, as long as I followed his detailed instructions, it proved no problem.We worked our way through the changes in a logical manner. First he asked me questions about my computer’s components, the software I’d installed and the settings I’d been using and he showed me where to find the answers for him.He asked me to install a number of programmes and he asked me to delete a number of programmes. He reset my FS9 and he reset my FSUIPC.He drew my attention to the improved results I’d get by changing my joystick to one with a USB plug. And how glad I am that I followed his advice. The problems with my previous stick suddenly were no more.He asked me the frame rates when looking down on my aircraft, when looking up at it, when looking at the left side and when looking at the right side. Then, using those figures, he made changes and the result was dramatic.For the first time the weather looked real, for the first time I saw detail in the scenery that just hadn’t been there previously and my aircraft flew more smoothlyAnd finally he assured me that he’s there to help whenever I need him.So, if you decide to go this route….enjoy, enjoy. You won’t be sorry.
C. P. Harris
In the past we have had
major problems getting PR usable shots that are not technical but focus on "getting attention". Visually stunning stuff. Dramatic stuff. FSGS worked for me
before at Lago and always managed to make reasonable stuff good and good stuff
exceptional. They can deliver screenshots in resolutions as high as FS will give
them
In online sales, screenshots are by far the most
important selling tool and it is a real problem to get good shots. Just like a
photographer is needed to sell clothes and cars etc. the same thing is needed
for our products. It was proven with a recent pictorial we had on simflight with
the shots I got from FSGS. In the 36 hours after that, the number of hits on the
forum pages of Manhattan doubled in 12 hours to over 5000.
FSGS are pro's, they deliver and we'll never have
problems with them.
Mathijs Kok
Aerosoft ConDev
FSGS is dedicated to providing high quality graphical
flight simulation material for LAGO S.r.l.
Andrea De Luca
Product Manager LAGO S.r.
I was extremely impressed with
Michael's level of care and concern in making my flight sim perform at its best.
I was blown away with the results. I really believed, like many, that the
performance of the sim was really limited by my computer. Boy was I wrong!
Michael helped me unlock the true potential of this program.
I am a
military pilot for the Canadian Air force and I
currently instruct P3, which also includes teaching on a "full motion" sim. It
takes a lot to impress me with smoothness with respect to FS9. When Michael got
me up and running the first time it was like a lightning bolt the difference in
performance.
Of course it wasn't all about getting
Flight Sim to work smoothly, I also learned a hell of a lot about the program,
my computer and lots of cool flight sim related websites.
In summary, was the service worth it?
You bet!
Congratulations and good luck with your
venture.
Sincerely,
Mark Wisted
Well I've had my sessions with the
"famous" Michael Greenblatt ... what a treat and fantastic results. With
incredible patience and expertise he walked me through my PC like a maestro and
I not only have my "high end" set at peak performance but I learn more in those
three sessions than two years of fumbling.
Thank you for the fine service and
congratulations.
Jerry Kaminski
I just completed my lengthy session with Michael and
all I can say is "What an experience”. Michael performed his magic on my
computer and the results are outstanding. The graphics are even better than I
expected, the little flickering is gone and the buildings and terrain are clear
and sharp. What an improvement. In addition to the scenery improvements, the
performance in the air is more realistic and definitely smoother. I learned
quickly that it's not the equipment you have but how it's configured and
maintained. It was a pleasure working with Michael. He is a very knowledgeable
and patient man and quite an asset to your organization. I would recommend his
services to anyone.
Sincerely,
Tom Palmer
I have been using MS Flight Simulator
for many years. Since the earliest versions, I never felt that I had a fast
enough computer to run it properly. I have spent tons of money upgrading and
purchasing new and faster hardware only to see little or no change to Flight
Simulator. I knew there had to be more to getting a smooth realistic flight than
just adding more power to my computer, but could not find anyone that could
help.
After spending almost six hours inside
of Flight Simulator and my computer's operating system cleaning, tweaking, and
changing, the program now operates the way I thought it should.
As a
general aviation pilot, I was not interested in
frame rates, just smooth realistic flight. The graphics, visuals and weather are
unbelievable, the planes look real, and it all operates fluidly. In addition, I
learned a great deal about my computer and the way Flight Simulator operates.
Your services exceeded my expectations and it was a pleasure working with
Michael.
I would recommend your services even
to the most demanding customer.
Jerry Jacobs
I have just completed optimising my
computer for running Flight Simulator FS9, with the direction and expertise of
Chris and Michael. These two men really know how to make my computer reach its
potential, and I am extremely happy with the results. The flight sim has never
performed so admirably, especially while running at maximum detail, as it is
now.
I was seriously considering the
purchase of an Alien ware machine, however, thanks to the expertise of these two
men, this will now not be required. My machine is now running at it's full
potential, and I am very pleased and happy at the results obtained with the
expertise demonstrated by both Chris and Michael.
Sincerely,
Joseph Chimelak
I just wanted to let you know how
impressed I was with the services that Michael performed on my computer today. I
have been messing with computers and Flight Simulator for many, many years and
thought I knew pretty much all the tricks. Was I wrong!
Michael spent a good five and a half
hours with me today on Messenger and the difference in my computer performance
is astounding! I have a high end, fast computer as it was, but I had only
scratched the surface of the image quality and smoothness that my machine
offered. Michael walked me through, step by easy to understand step. When he was
through it seemed like I was on another machine! You have a customer for life!
Sincerely,
George Stoddard
I wanted to express my satisfaction to
you and the FSGS team. Working with Michael was a pleasure, and has greatly
improved my flight sim experience. Like many other tinkerers out there in the
flight sim world, I've spent countless hours in forums and in my system trying
all sorts of things to improve performance.
My sessions with Michael yielded far
greater results than all my previous tweaks and upgrades COMBINED. Michael and I
spent over 5 hrs working on my system. As a result of the performance increases
I've experienced, I've decided not to upgrade my P4 2.0 in the near future. You
can bet however, that you will be the first call I make when I do upgrade.
Your process is undoubtedly the best
bargain in the flight sim world and I would highly recommend FSGS to any flight
simmer who's looking to boost system performance (and who's not?).
Bill Harvey
For many years I have been flying
flight simulators. For me, the Sim never looked real. Being one who is always
looking for the best quality in any type of image, I was never fully satisfied
with my graphics and performance. I frequent a few screenshot forums and am
always posting my shots. That is how I came to know Michael, or Ramsa329 as many
of us know him!
Michael and I spent many hours via
instant messaging working on my PC. We started at the beginning and worked
through every detail of my computer. Through the entire process I gained a
friend who was very patient, very knowledgeable and extremely helpful! I
actually learned how things work and why they do. Now, I am constantly getting
asked how I get such incredible graphics out of a NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400
video card! My answer is always the same.
“If you are serious about getting the
best performance from you simulator, you need to contact Ramsa. Stop wasting
your time playing with different settings. Say goodbye to frame rate problems
and say hello to a faster, more realistic simulator! ” Microsoft didn't make
Flight Simulator “As real as it gets”…Michael did!
Dave "Fly2e"
Graphic Designer & Freelance Photographer
I have been an avid flight simmer since
FS2000 hit the stores, and have been through each upgrade to the present
FS20004. I had also recently purchased upgraded equipment to try and meet the
huge graphics demands placed on your hardware by the sophisticated graphics
capabilities of this latest Microsoft release. Although I have worked with PC's
for almost 20 years and consider myself a well above average user, I have always
struggled to get the best match and balance of graphics quality and performance
from my software and hardware, the permutations of set-ups run in thousands, so
as a trial and error exercise it is very painful. I am also a
Private Pilots Licence holder,
and as a real pilot I seek as much realism as I can from my sims.
This is where Michael of FS-GS was like
the light at the end of the tunnel. He has an amazing mastery of all the factors
needed to achieve this balancing trick, and has achieved for me graphics quality
in the scenery, which I never thought existed with the capabilities of FS2004
and the limitations of my hardware. I was on the verge of purchasing some
expensive new hardware and making some bad buying decisions. I had already done
so with my previous purchases.
Michael has steered me in the right
direction, and I know now and understand the factors, which will make a real
difference to quality and performance within FS2004 graphic capability, whilst
maintaining an accurate flight model.
The $60 for the FS-GS Interactive level
II service was the wisest and best value $60 I have ever spent in all my years
of flight simming.
Kind regards,
Chris Booley
I would like to highly recommend the
services of FSGS. I was struggling to get the best performance out of my current
PC-set-up, so I approached Michael for some advice. Michael was extremely
helpful, knowledgeable and most importantly for me, patient when going through
all my system settings. My level of experience within the graphics area on PC's
is very limited and felt completely at ease with the changes that Michael was
instructing me to perform on my machine. The internal graphics settings of any
driver are very complex, but Michael was able to answer all my questions with
clear and concise answers that enabled me to trust his ability 100%. My graphics
are now much sharper and crisper and realistic since Michael has performed his
changes to my settings. Michael's experience has left me with a much better and
enjoyable system. I would not hesitate to recommend his services to anyone. As
and when I change my system, Michael will be the first person that I approach to
help take ‘simulation into reality'
Trevor Cook
I3D Project Group
Michael is a fanatic about computer graphics. He helped me
make my stock Dell 4550 performs like a state of the art Alien ware. My copy of
FS2002 used to be limited to slow, no “eye candy” running operations. Michael,
known to the flightsim world as Ramsa, helped my computer reach its full
potential. He helped me tweak my graphics card, a GeForce 4 MX 420 64Meg to
mouth watering potential. After this Michael showed me how to tweak FS2k2 itself
into possibilities I did not know existed on my PC. He has an immense wealth of
knowledge that surpasses anyone I know about graphics cards and computers. If
you need help with your graphics card come to Michael, he's your one stop source
for anything “graphic”.
Erik Haaland
TLUK Aircraft Design Project Consultant
Well what can I say, after 3 hrs of
dialogue via MSM, I have a new Flight Sim. I found the whole process painless
and Michael to be a master of patience. Although we worked through a very
impersonal medium I could still feel his enthusiasm for what he is doing. While
I have a very basic knowledge of computers, Michaels expertise shone through and
he was able to guide me through the "upgrade" with ease. If you need someone to
recommend FS-GS to people then I will happily do so. Until we meet again, many
thanks and take care.
Simon Stansfield
Repainter
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