Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support |
New computer - totally perplexed? |
DVA5151
Captain, B777-200
Joined on October 29 2007
B757 100 Club
Online Triple Century Club
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Six Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"Fly Delta Jets!" Columbia, SC USA
688 legs, 2,401.2 hours
352 legs,
1,024.5 hours online 684 legs,
2,394.0 hours ACARS 8 legs,
18.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 11:45 ET by Chuck Dreier
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I'm at a cross road, on the fence, or whatever you want to call it. Here's the situation. I fly FS9 with a lot of add-ons (FSGenesis, Ultimate Terrain, Active Sky 6.5, many payware airports, fly ONLY payware aircraft PMDG, LDS, PSS, MADDOG, etc.). I'm not a big fan of FSX, probably because it won't run on my current computer and because the eye candy I've seen doesn't make up for the fact that it's difficult to get to run smoothly and also because many of my add-ons can't be used at all or without additional upgrade costs. Anyway, it's time to go from my old P4 3.2ghz, 2 gigs RAM and 256 nVidia card to a new computer (wife says it's ok - bless her). I'm inclined to build the best possible system that will run FS9 with my add-ons. This would be instead of building a system to run FSX. My dilemma is this would be the first time I've not gotten the "latest and greatest" computer. But if I'm satisfied with FS9 I think I may not need the "latest and greatest" i7 quad core, etc.. Any thoughts or advice overall, and if I go the FS9 route, what would you guys suggest as a good or "best" system? BTW, I'm serious about this - a new computer is in my future one way or the other. Thanks!!!!
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DVA1580
Captain, B767-300
COMM
Joined on March 16 2004
Century Club
Everett Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Caryville, TN USA
199 legs, 476.5 hours
70 legs,
168.4 hours online 84 legs,
232.9 hours ACARS 4 legs,
10.4 hours event 27 legs dispatched, 71.5
hours
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 11:54 ET by Scott Breuer
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Im getting ready to build a new one myself, I think Im going with the Phenom II from AMD. That along with getting a clone to the vid card I already have and SLI motherboard. DDR3 ram. I dont want to do this again for a while so Im going all out.
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DVA5151
Captain, B777-200
Joined on October 29 2007
B757 100 Club
Online Triple Century Club
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Six Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"Fly Delta Jets!" Columbia, SC USA
688 legs, 2,401.2 hours
352 legs,
1,024.5 hours online 684 legs,
2,394.0 hours ACARS 8 legs,
18.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 12:07 ET by Chuck Dreier
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Scott, is that to run FS9 or FSX?
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DVA7636
Senior Captain, L-1011-100
OLP
Joined on August 11 2009
50 State Club
Events Double Century Club
Burbank 250 Club
Quincentenary Club
Online Quintuple Century Club
Globetrotter
Black Pearl Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"Uses "Sparkly Eyes" Technique on ATC" Channelview, TX USA
588 legs, 1,196.5 hours
572 legs,
1,164.8 hours online 586 legs,
1,192.9 hours ACARS 287 legs,
572.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 12:53 ET by Tracy Norris
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Chuck,
I'm running an ancient dual-core AMD-4200 with 2gb of ram and everything works fine. Like you, the expense of FSX wasn't worth the time or effort to re-purchase all my add-ons. Are you looking to build the system yourself or buy one already assembled?
If your the build-it-yourself type then I would strongly suggest www.directron.com as they have some excellent prices and the web pages are designed to help you choose compatible parts (with prices!).
Whatever your decision, go with as much RAM as you can get (reduces hard drive banging), a multi-core processor (fastest you can afford) and a fast hard drive (Barracuda comes to mind). The fast processor will help with your frame rates with all of the add-ons and the fast hard drive will ease loading gigabytes of scenery.
For video cards, I like nVidia alot as I run two of them in SLI mode. Get the 9600 or better models if able.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
Tracy NorrisSenior Captain, L-1011-100
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DVA1580
Captain, B767-300
COMM
Joined on March 16 2004
Century Club
Everett Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Caryville, TN USA
199 legs, 476.5 hours
70 legs,
168.4 hours online 84 legs,
232.9 hours ACARS 4 legs,
10.4 hours event 27 legs dispatched, 71.5
hours
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 13:03 ET by Scott Breuer
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Ok, I have been re educated, thanks to Art F, buying new hardware to run FS9 or FSX is a waste. Art posted this in the chat box on ARCARS; http://www.youtube.com/user/Cessna154#play/uploads/4/CQOiS4tmPhc
This guy sounds like he knows what he is talking about and I will be doing alot more research before I build my new system
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DVA3931
Senior Captain, L-1011-100
OLP, COMM
Joined on January 19 2007
50 State Club
Tri-Jet Triumph
Million Mile Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Flying Colonel
Globetrotter
Burbank 500 Club
Eurocap Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"De oppresso liber" Surry, ME
1,882 legs, 3,806.7 hours
478 legs,
767.8 hours online 1,107 legs,
1,674.5 hours ACARS 55 legs,
114.8 hours event 195 legs dispatched, 134.4
hours
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 13:07 ET by Andrew Kaufmann
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I'm trying to figure out why you say it's a waste. I have a brand new homebuilt system that runs FSX and FS9 almost flawlessly. Anthony Piasecki built mine as well as several others within DVA. The kid in the video is expressing "his" opinion. And if you listen to that, he say it over and over again...
The key to running FSX is tweaking the system to run it to how you like.
I had an HP Media Center that ran FSX fine...
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DVA1580
Captain, B767-300
COMM
Joined on March 16 2004
Century Club
Everett Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Caryville, TN USA
199 legs, 476.5 hours
70 legs,
168.4 hours online 84 legs,
232.9 hours ACARS 4 legs,
10.4 hours event 27 legs dispatched, 71.5
hours
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 13:10 ET by Scott Breuer
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I just meant a waste in terms of money, if you can spend less on older parts and get good results thats the ave I need to take.
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DVA7176
Captain, B747-400
E-MAIL
Joined on February 16 2009
50 State Club
Millennium Club
Two Million Mile Club
Everett Millennium Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Wasilla, AK USA
1,291 legs, 5,878.5 hours
90 legs,
370.7 hours online 1,261 legs,
5,676.9 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 26 2009 21:57 ET by Jerry Friz
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Hi Guys,
I run FSX, and find that I don't need a lot of add-on's. I only have the PMDG 747-400.
But, what ever you decide on, make sure you put all the memory,[high speed] that you can. And make sure you go with a 64bit OS. I am using 8GB of 1066, and Vista Ultimate 64bit.... My CPU shows using only 40 percent memory, with eeverything running. [don't forget cpu/heat sink lapping for the heat]
Cheers,
Jerry
Jerry FrizCaptain, B747-400
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DVA2541
Captain, B737-800
E-MAIL
Joined on August 17 2005
Century Club
"What's that button for? OOPs" Erwin, TN USA
122 legs, 206.7 hours
1 legs,
1.1 hours online 1 legs,
1.2 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 27 2009 02:06 ET by John Swisher
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For FS9/FSX clockspeed is king. Anything Phenom II or Intel Dual core or Quad core over 3.0 ghz will rock Fs9. After sp1 FSX will use more than 1 core. My Phenom II 945 will run Fs9 maxed out locked at 40 fps all day long and not break a sweat and run other programs in the background. That being said eventually MS will eventually build a new FS? that will take advantage of the coding advances since fs2000. Then you will want a q/core processor and killer video card. For fs9 I would personally get a very fast dual-core intel e8500 and and a 9800gtx 1gb, 4gb of ddr3 ram, and fly fs9 to your hearts content.
John SwisherCaptain, B737-800
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DVA5270
Senior Captain, B737-800
Joined on September 27 2007
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Online Quintuple Century Club
Nine Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"p=np" Charleston, SC USA
977 legs, 1,725.8 hours
578 legs,
894.1 hours online 931 legs,
1,647.1 hours ACARS 43 legs,
67.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 27 2009 09:27 ET by Don Thomas
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"That being said eventually MS will eventually build a new FS? that will take advantage of the coding advances since fs2000."
I am not 100% sure about that...Working where I do I see alot of interesting people from all over. I was talking the other day about simming and FS programs and the subject got to a new FS program and the statment was made that,
"There is only so much you can do with a flight simulation program platform, the earth is finally round now, we create a "living" enviroment. The real money is in add-ons and after market scenery and software. That is some where we didn't want to or decided not to go."
If there is a new Flight Sim program I was just about assured it won't be coming from Microsoft.
Don ThomasSenior Captain, B737-800
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DVA2541
Captain, B737-800
E-MAIL
Joined on August 17 2005
Century Club
"What's that button for? OOPs" Erwin, TN USA
122 legs, 206.7 hours
1 legs,
1.1 hours online 1 legs,
1.2 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 27 2009 13:27 ET by John Swisher
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I just do not see MS giving up on the FS cash cow. They can wait a few years to let average hardware run FSX and be no worse for wear.
John SwisherCaptain, B737-800
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DVA5151
Captain, B777-200
Joined on October 29 2007
B757 100 Club
Online Triple Century Club
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Six Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"Fly Delta Jets!" Columbia, SC USA
688 legs, 2,401.2 hours
352 legs,
1,024.5 hours online 684 legs,
2,394.0 hours ACARS 8 legs,
18.0 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
August 27 2009 14:10 ET by Chuck Dreier
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I'm beginning to look at the Phenom II X4 955 for the CPU. Is this a good starting place for FS9 as well as FSX? Also, I've read on other boards that AMD isn't a good choice for Flight Simulator. Is this true, or are these hard core Intel fanatics that say this? Thanks for the help in making my computer decision.
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DVA2541
Captain, B737-800
E-MAIL
Joined on August 17 2005
Century Club
"What's that button for? OOPs" Erwin, TN USA
122 legs, 206.7 hours
1 legs,
1.1 hours online 1 legs,
1.2 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 27 2009 19:22 ET by John Swisher
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I have an AMD system that does both well, but intel does do betterin the dual core segment. Phenom II/Core 2 Quad are about equal to each other at a given clock speed. Core i7 is in a league of its own right now
John SwisherCaptain, B737-800
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DVA7180
Captain, MD-88
Joined on March 17 2009
Richmond, BC Canada
59 legs, 109.5 hours
4 legs,
6.8 hours online 56 legs,
101.4 hours ACARS 2 legs,
3.2 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 27 2009 23:28 ET by Lindsey Wiebe
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I would HIGHLY recommend the Intel Dual Core E8400. It is really fast at stock 3.0hz and won't break the bank like the i7. I run this with 2GB of mid range ram and and nVidia 8600 card (256 mb) I get about 75 fps with Flytampa and MADDOG 2008. Can be had brand new pre-built for about $1,000 Canadian so like $900 US ish. Build your self and get a bigger graphics card for about $800.
Lindsey WiebeCaptain, MD-88
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DVA2541
Captain, B737-800
E-MAIL
Joined on August 17 2005
Century Club
"What's that button for? OOPs" Erwin, TN USA
122 legs, 206.7 hours
1 legs,
1.1 hours online 1 legs,
1.2 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 28 2009 02:31 ET by John Swisher
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i agree on the e8400, but i would not get less than 9800gt.
John SwisherCaptain, B737-800
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DVA5151
Captain, B777-200
Joined on October 29 2007
B757 100 Club
Online Triple Century Club
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Six Century Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"Fly Delta Jets!" Columbia, SC USA
688 legs, 2,401.2 hours
352 legs,
1,024.5 hours online 684 legs,
2,394.0 hours ACARS 8 legs,
18.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 28 2009 09:56 ET by Chuck Dreier
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Will there be a problem finding a suitable motherboard (I see the Gigabyte board has been discontinued). And, how will the E8400 perform with FSX (assuming the right RAM, video card, etc)? Again, everyone, thanks for the input. This is a learning experience.
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DVA6133
Captain, B737-800
Joined on July 13 2008
Online Quintuple Century Club
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Millennium Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Lynden, WA USA
1,070 legs, 1,661.5 hours
574 legs,
859.0 hours online 932 legs,
1,466.8 hours ACARS 3 legs,
5.7 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 29 2009 13:36 ET by Eric Petersen
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I have the E8400 with 4 gigs of RAM and a 9800 GTX 512 mb video card. Before I built my new computer I was running FS9 and had a lot of addons for it. With the above specs, I started running FSX with only 3 addons, the MADDOG 08, Ultimate Terrain X and Active Sky X. I now very rarely fly on FS9. I get descent frames, usually over 20, sometimes down to 10-15 at busy airports but I don't really see any negative effects from the low FPS. Once PMDG comes out with the 737 NGX, I will have all the add ons I need for FSX.
Eric PetersenCaptain, B737-800
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DVA7176
Captain, B747-400
E-MAIL
Joined on February 16 2009
50 State Club
Millennium Club
Two Million Mile Club
Everett Millennium Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Wasilla, AK USA
1,291 legs, 5,878.5 hours
90 legs,
370.7 hours online 1,261 legs,
5,676.9 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
September 20 2009 02:00 ET by Jerry Friz
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I for one am waiting on the PMDG 737 for FSX. Install as much memory as you can, [I use 8 GB's] use a 64bit system, and the Western Digital 10k hard drive in raid 0.
Jerry
Jerry FrizCaptain, B747-400
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DVA7373
Captain, B757-200
OLP
Joined on May 31 2009
"Howdy" Southeastern United States
72 legs, 187.6 hours
32 legs,
85.4 hours online 67 legs,
153.2 hours ACARS 2 legs,
3.1 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
September 20 2009 08:51 ET by Nicholas Taylor
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Jerrell, I'm not one to talk because I have 7GB of RAM, but I have learned it's totally unneccessary with a 64bit system. Running ACARS, ASA, FSX, and the internet I use about 44% of the available memory. It's about almost entirely, the clock speed of your processor, and a little bit of your video card.
Nicholas TaylorCaptain, B757-200
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