Flight Simulator remains the least refined title ever *complaint*
Flight Simulator remains the least refined title ever *complaint*
I've talked to Dovetail games about the Steam Edition, but I don't think you should be optimistic. Their agreement with Microsoft only lets them fix bugs and convert Microsoft titles to Windows via Steam. They might also add downloadable content for Steam, but they won't update FSX to new APIs. It seems the deal was more focused on reclaiming old tech, development methods, and the Flight Simulator brand so Dovetail can create future flight sims from a solid base. They've confirmed plans to release updated versions of Flight Simulator under the Flight Simulator brand in the future.
FSX demands significant CPU power and is typically tuned for 1-2 core setups. A strong clock with a Sandy Bridge K would boost performance considerably. I5 K offers similar results to an I7. Honestly, the budget dual-core Pentium on an overclocked board can ruin your I7 in FSX, making it the most affordable choice but limiting future options. Single-core speed is crucial here, so your results will reflect that. Try single-core testing on your I7 using Cinebench R15 to compare performance.