It's quite CPU-intensive as well, but it will only run on one core, so throwing more cores at it obviously won't help, but getting a high-performance-per-core CPU does help a lot.

I've been playing X3:TC/AP on a number of computers throughout the years and I was surprised to see a clear performance increase + a complete elimination of slowdowns in some more populated systems when I upgraded my CPU from an i3 to an i7 (just FYI, these were Intel 2nd generation chips - went from an i3-2310M to a i7-2540M).

Please tell me a system I should visit to stress this ten years old computer! I know the processor in this was excellent back in the day, which is why I get decent f/s as long as I stick to the lowest graphics settings. Maybe a large enough cache memory on the processor is needed?

A full scale battle in a large war zone sector does slow me down but not to unplayability.

I usually got slowdowns, nothing terribly bad though, but definitely noticeable, in busy core sectors with 3/4 gates such as, well, Argon Prime for one :), Omicron Lyrae, Seizewell, Grand Exchange and some others . Xenon sectors where all their ships would mass near a certain gate would also slow the game down for me.

All these went away with a better performing processor. Large scale battles were still sluggish due to the graphics card, but that's a different story :).

The OP is playing Terran Conflict but hey, I will try visiting some of those systems you mention and look at the performance. X3AP just wants more RAM so I will shut down my web browser, IM and such or I can too easily run out now that Windows 10 wants so much RAM. When I play AP, I usually keep another laptop next to me for help files like map, ship and weapon databases etc. This is only a problem because only 4GB RAM and the sharp increase of Windows' demands since it was released.

I forgot how much heavier to run AP is than TC. My test is dumb because I cannot turn on max draw distance and such that affect the processor too.

yes, The Games runs Fine until I get into the Core. Then in and Out a couple of times, I need to reboot...
I Have an Alien Ware Area 51 w/32 Gig of Ram, and an I-7 Processor... Don't see why I should have Lag...
Great, Thanks.
That may be my Problem with the Lag... I did change that to Longer Range View...

My Mistake, It was not The Core, It was The Dyson Sphere Before the Core that gave me the Lag...

Been Playing there now for over an Hour, and The Lag seems to be Gone...
Shuttling in Cargo as needed to get Hub, and Gate Working.

WOW!!!

Some of the Story Line?? Missions are NUTS!!
Spoke to the Guy at several gates that needed Urgent Help. Go to Xenon Space and Find Our Friends...
Return with the Messages from the Ship, and get into Oh, Can You Show Me??? (I did Claim his ship, and have it working toward Products needed for the Mission...
Took him to the HUB, and he ran Codes that let me land there. (Now I Own a Trade Station That NOONE Will EVER Dock at to Trade.)
Then Run In 400 Computer Components to get the base up and Running, and 1,000 Energy, Needed to Re-Allign The Gate.

Then The HARD PART... Now she Needs 500 Microchips To Finish Getting Systems up and Running.... At $15,000 + Each, and Rare as Hen's Teeth, and Running Up To OVER $8 Million Credits, and DAYS OF TIME..... (All This because he needed Urgent Help??)

That is a LONG DRUG OUT Process to get this done...
Is there a Final Reward for all this That Makes it Worth the Effort???

Not to mention that I have never run across Nividium or Paladium as yet...

The hub plot is insane. You need to set up factory complexes to finish that one. The amounts will increase WAY more.

Nvidium is best mined by yourself. Setting up a small mining operation is easier than building those large factory complexes and making sure they are balanced and fed and store all those wares.

What "paladium"? No such thing in the game. Did you mean teladianium? That is a Teladian good. It can be bought in quite large amounts but a factory or ten will certainly help.

I see that on the Walk Through... It Gets REAL Crazy, Real Fast.

My Mistake, I was Posting from My memory on this, It was 150,000 "Teladianium". (I did not have the Guide Open when I Originally Posted this)

I am now thinking I will go back to My Trader Game, where I am Closer to Building ANY Factories and Mines...

Sorry I think the Exotic's are In Kha-ak Sectors??

Back to the start of the Circle... Neither the "-skipintro" Nor The Mad Install Worked to stop this...

After you get some of the Hang of This, The Sandbox Game is Ok, But Getting Into the Story Line Missions Gets INSANE Real Fast...

That was why I Played FL For over a Decade. It was Quick Paced, Story Line Went On as you Played, it did not get hung Indefinately, and it Ended at one point so you could continue with Sandbox...

This thing of Needing 450,000 of a Rare Mineral?? Insane...

The Rare Mineral Asteroids that are needed for the HUB, are in Kha-ak, and Xenon Space Only... My Guess, since I did not get that far with it, is that you Need To Take a Massive Fleet into those sectors and Conquer Them??, and then Hold them While you Build Mining Stations to get what you Need???