DVA2725
Captain, B757-200
Joined on December 01 2005
Dublin, GA USA
29 legs, 35.1 hours
26 legs,
31.6 hours online 1 legs,
0.7 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 05 2007 14:57 ET by Don Lowery
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i am currently looking to purchase a new computer. the only games i play is flight sim.. i will upgrade to fsx with the new computer.. are there any suggestions on what i should look for in a computer.. retail or should i build..i am currently looking at the gateway gm5478 with the following equipment.. is the adeqaute to run fsx without getting into several thousand dollar computer..
Processor
Intel® Core�2 Quad Q6600 Quad-Core Processor with VT
Each core operates at 2.40GHz | 2 x 4MB L2 cache | 1066MHz FSB
Chipset
Intel® G33 Chipset (Viiv�)
Memory
2048MB DDR2 Memory, Dual Channel
(2 x 1024MB), 667MHz (PC2-5300)
Operates at 667MHz | expandable to 8GB
4 DDR2 slots (total) | 2 DDR2 slots (available)
Video
NVIDIA® GeForce® 8500GT (with 256MB onboard memory)
DirectX® 10, BluRay/HD-DVD Capable
Ports: VGA, DVI-I w/ HDCP, S-Video
TV Tuner6
Analog/digital TV tuner w/ 3-D Comb (PCIe)
Ports: (1) analog TV, (1) ATSC antenna, (1) S-Video, (2) Ports: (1) Analog TV, (1) ATSC Antenna, (1) S-Video, (2) Stereo Audio RCA, (1) stereo mini-jack audio, (1) S-Video, plus S-Video to Composite Video Dongle, Vistaâ?¢ Media Center remote control
Audio
Eight-channel (7.1) high-definition audio
Amplified stereo speakers (USB powered)
Hard Drive
500GB SATA II (7200rpm, 16MB cache)
Optical Drive
16x DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive
Up to 8.5GB with dual-layer media
Write max: 16x DVD+/-R, 8x DVD+R DL, 6x DVD-R DL, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 12x DVD-RAM, 48x CD-R, 32x CD-RW
Read max: 12x DVD-ROM, 12x DVD-RAM, 48x CD-ROM
Digital Media Reader
High-Performance 15-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader up to 40x faster
xD-Picture Cardâ?¢, CompactFlash I (CF), CompactFlash II, Secure Digitalâ?¢ (SD), Mini Secure Digitalâ?¢ (Mini SDâ?¢)7, Multi Media
Card� (MMC), Reduced Size MMC (RS-MMC)7, MMC Mobile7, MMC Plus, Memory Stick� (MS), Memory Stick Duo8, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Pro Duo8, SmartMedia, IBM Microdrive�, Gateway® Smart Copy Button and Integrated IR Receiver
Communications
56k ITU v.92 ready Fax/Modem (RJ-11 port)
Intel® 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Interfaces
8 - USB 2.0 Ports (2 Front, 6 Rear)
2 - IEEE 1394 ports (1 front, 1 rear)
1 - VGA
3 - Analog inputs (front); Composite Video, left/right stereo audio
2 - PS/2 ports (keyboard and mouse)
5 - Audio (rear): center/sub, rear (stereo), side (stereo), line-in (stereo), front/headphones (stereo), microphone, S/PDIF Optical
2 - Audio (front): microphone, front/headphone (stereo)
1 - RJ-45 Ethernet port
1 - RJ-11 Modem Port
Expansion Slot
Total Available
1 - PCI-E x16 0 - PCI-E x16
1 - PCI-E x1 1 - PCI-E x1
2 - PCI 0 - PCI
Expansion Bays
Total Available
3 - 3 1/2" 1 - 3 1/2"
2 - 5 1/4" 1 - 5 1/4"
Gateway Portable Media Drive Bay
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DVA1690
Senior Captain, MD-88
OLP
Joined on May 05 2004
50 State Club
Quatercentenary Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Stage 1 Jet Double Century Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"Life begins at Vr" Longmont, CO USA
474 legs, 694.8 hours
465 legs,
681.0 hours online 252 legs,
384.8 hours ACARS 3 legs,
3.9 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 05 2007 17:12 ET by Trevor Bair
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It's a bit hard to read the above specifications, but from looking at the high points I think you'd be fairly happy with this machine. The only major upgrade that I would suggest would be with the video card. Though DX10 compatible, the 8500GT is a lower-end card and I would be concerned that you may not get the performance you would like out of it. If Gateway offered an upgrade to an 8800 GTS or 8800 GTX, I think you wouldn't be disappointed with the results. You can research alternatives here: http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html
There is no mention of the power supply and presumably it shouldn't be a problem unless you plan on moving into an SLI video configuration.
One other minor item I see is that the RAM speed is on the low side. If you could upgrade to 2 gigabytes of 800 MHz, PC6400 lower-latency RAM for a few dollars more, then that would probably not be money wasted either. Otherwise, looks like a pretty good system.
Addressing the "build or buy" question, it is really up to you. I, too, faced this dilemma a few months ago and ended up building my own, fairly high-end system for around $850 -- half of what I was going to pay to buy from a retailer. But ultimately it comes down to your comfort level.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
TRB
Trevor BairSenior Captain, MD-88
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DVA3448
Captain, B767-300
Joined on August 16 2006
Century Club
Online Century Club
"Git 'er done!" Eastern Canada
102 legs, 313.5 hours
100 legs,
310.1 hours online 90 legs,
259.2 hours ACARS 1 legs,
13.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 05 2007 19:43 ET by Ian Hunter
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the only thing i see as well is the 8500gt which is a waste of money of a card if u plan to do any gaming.
i hope that system isnt much more than 1200 because anything more than that would be a waste of money.
just to give u an idea, heres a top notch system for only 1500CAD which is about 1400USD (without SH)
C283-1002 Cooler Master Centurion 5 - Silver ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front USB, Firewire and Audio Ports (30 lbs)
$66.99
ULT31847 K Ultra / X-Finity / 600-Watt / ATX / Dual 80mm Fan / SATA-Ready / SLI Ready / Titanium / Power Supply (6.15 lbs)
$59.97
P56-8804 PNY GeForce XLR8 8800 GTS / 320MB GDDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / DL Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card (2.65 lbs)
$398.99
S197-2017 DCLCD by Sceptre DCL20A 20.1" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 5ms, 1000:1, WSXGA+ 1680x1050, DVI with HDCP, VGA(D-sub), Built-In Speakers, 16:10 Aspect Ratio (14.6 lbs)
$209.97
S167-4500 Sony DRU170C Retail DVD Burner - 18x DVD±R Burn, 16x DVD±R Read, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD±R DL, 12x DVD-RAM, 48x32x CD-R/RW, Internal (2.25 lbs)
$59.99
TSD-500AS2 Seagate / Barracuda 7200.10 / 500GB / 7200 / 16MB / Serial ATA-300 / OEM / Hard Drive (1 lbs)
$129.97
O261-8032 OCZ Dual Channel XTC 2048MB PC5400 DDR2 667MHz Gamer Memory (2 x 1024MB) (0.4 lbs)
$89.97
CP1-DUO-E6600 Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz / 4MB Cache / 1066MHz FSB / Conroe / Dual-Core / Socket 775 / Processor with Fan (Retail) (1.4 lbs)
$269.97
E145-2011 EVGA nForce 680i SE SLI (TR Version) NVIDIA Socket 775 ATX Motherboard / Audio / PCI Express / Dual Gigabit LAN / S/PDIF / USB 2.0 & Firewire / Serial ATA / RAID (3.95 lbs)
$212.99
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