Lockheed'S Prepar3d! v2.2 is to be preferred, I think. Even v1 .
http://www.prepar3d.com/
Addon developers like Aerosoft supply their modules with exe'S that are specially designed for easier installation in P3D 2 now, since many months. Technically, P3D is further enhanced over the original MS code, and many important developers like PMDG have started to develope for P3D and announced their packages to be moved to P3D 2. P3D 1 already was able to run all that stuff.
Myself, I have not flown since long now. Must be almost a year or so. Assetto Corsa took a very huge bite off my timetable.