Flight Simulator X and Vista?

[LRdriver II]

Looking on the requirements for this game it mentions it uses something called Vista as an OS.. What the heck is that? and do I really need it considering it will run on XP SP2 (SP2?? whats SP2?)

Reason is that my desktop died earlier this month, and apart from getting an extrnal HD enclosure to get some data off, and wont buy a new one until FS X comes out. I use a laptop for business and travel so only need a desktop as a game platform. My decision is to wait as long as possible to buy one as we all know they get outdated with seconds of leaving the store. Basically I want to sort out a good spec to run hi-res graphics for online racing/ flight simming with heavy scenery graphics with high FPS.

Which spec should I look for?? Vista or stick with XP?

LR

Edited by LRdriver II on Friday 8th September 16:01

[scorp]

Vista = latest microsoft windows; not even out yet.
SP2 = Service pack 2, relates to a major update for windows XP.

HTH

[Zad]

Why not give it a go on existing hardware and see how fast/slow your system is?

Go *here* to download the preview version of Flight Sim X: www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulatorx/downloads.html

Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) is available at a peer to peer file system near you. (Legally - MS are giving it out to anyonw who asks, but P2P will be faster - www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx )

[bez_uk]

If you want the best graphics... the game is no doubt going to have direct x 10 stuff in it... There are rumours that direct x 10 is going to be vista only.

[thepassenger]

bez_uk said:

If you want the best graphics... the game is no doubt going to have direct x 10 stuff in it... There are rumours that direct x 10 is going to be vista only.

Indeed, I've heard similar rumours. The newest EVE client will be "Windows Vista only" due to needing DX10.. kind of hints at them not planning on back porting it to XP.

I suspect, purly because I'm a twisted and cynical person you understand, that they'll keep as much stuff as possible Vista only in an effort to get people using 2k and XP to upgrade ASAP... thus they can cease support for Win2k quickly and wind down XP's support shortly after.
More money from shope sales, more money from corporate licensing/re-licensing.

To be honest, considering we're reasonably close to when non-Beta and 'close to release' Vista reviews (RC2, RC3) and specifications will appear I'd hold of buying a new games PC until you know it'll run the newest beast from MS properly.

[Zad]

Yes, the current state-of-play is that only Vista will support Direct3D 10. Of course, there are no video cards that actually support it yet, and it may well change when Vista is released. There is no guarantee that FSX will support any DX10-only functions.

[thepassenger]

Zad said:

There is no guarantee that FSX will support any DX10-only functions.

Don't quote me but I've seen mentions made on various FSX sites (might be direct from MankySoft themselves) that say words to the effect of "FS:X will look prettier and more realistic under Vista". A DX9 graphics engine is a DX9 graphics engine; the OS it runs on shouldn't be relevant (i.e. looks the same on 2k, XP, hypothetically Vista as well)... so if it's graphics are going to algedly improve that'd suggest to me that FS:X's engine works in both DX9 and DX10 depending on what information it finds from a system query.

But fundementally I agree; a sales weenie saying it'll look better on Vista and it actually looking better on Vista are two completley different things.