Latest purchase

[Alex]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Apr 11 2008, 07:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

AMD's are slower and dont preform as well as Intels for starters

This is not totally true...

The AMD 'equivilant' to an Intel chip is usually slightly slower (than the Intel). AMD's perform just as well as Intel chips, although usually don't quite live up to the advertised mark. Still no reason not to get an AMD chip if it's more convienient for you (at least in my humble opinion).

Alex

[deeknow]

QUOTE (captainherc @ Apr 11 2008, 05:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

here is what my guy came up with.

That should kick some Fsim ass by the looks of it. Very Nice. I've been researching components over the last couple of weeks for an upgrade to my home machine, my budget is definately more mid-range tho (9600GT/E8400 DualCore/2GB 800MHz RAM)

Your graphics card will definately do the job, for MS-flightsim and any other gaming. The 8800 series are high-end in the NVidia range, of course an 8800GTX would be even sweeter but overkill really coz from what I've managed to find on the web re MS-FSim hardware requirements the game is definately more CPU intensive. As it happens you've chosen a nice CPU/motherboard/RAM combo so no probs there. And the power-supply is definately gonna future-proof you (I'm intending to reuse my case/PSU)

I'd be interested to know how many others here have a dedicated sound-card as opposed to using whatever motherboard sound support exists. Does this really make a difference to games like MSFS, and what is the actual benefit/issue? avoiding bus contention? taking a bit more load off the CPU?

[NZ255]

captainherc, hows your new computer, have you got it yet?

[captainherc]

Hi.
Not as yet. Still researching it. Initial cost was a bit over my budget. Will let the board know once decided. Cheers.

[SENECA08]

Intel processors are cr*p. AMD all the way!!

[deeknow]

QUOTE (captainherc @ Apr 24 2008, 09:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Still researching it. Initial cost was a bit over my budget. Will let the board know once decided.

Lookin FWD to hearing what you end up with, and how it performs etc.

I re-built my machine over the weekend with a bunch of new bits (m/b: ASUS P5K-SE, cpu: Intel E8400 Core2 Duo 3Ghz, ram: 2x1GB Kingston 800MHz, video: 512MB ASUS/Nvidia EN9600GT). Last night got all the WindowsXP patches applied and re-installed FS9 and all the add-ons I could face reconfiguring to have an initial play.

Before now my old machine was creaking along lucky to make 18-20fps with all the sliders at medium to low, and lots of awkward pauses especially at busier airports with lots of AI and ground detail.

After the upgrade I was totally blown away, I mean I know its not FSX stuff, but the difference was amazing compared to my old rig. All the weather, clouds, texture, effects, reflections and traffic sliders etc are set to max and with it locked at 25fps I haven't once seen it drop below. The only thing that seems to affect the rendered quality is the depth-perception slider which I've left at a medium kinda setting, oh and I tend to leave the water effects set a little lower anyway.

Its so bloody good I actually started to get a bit of motion-sickness ( there goes any real-world flying ambitions ) I'm either gonna have to ramp it down a little or hang a couple of sick-bags off the back of my chair

Now all I gotta do is install Photoshop for her-indoors to use (which was the "selling point" for the upgade )

[vatsim-aholic]

QUOTE (deeknow @ May 4 2008, 01:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lookin FWD to hearing what you end up with, and how it performs etc.

I re-built my machine over the weekend with a bunch of new bits (m/b: ASUS P5K-SE, cpu: Intel E8400 Core2 Duo 3Ghz, ram: 2x1GB Kingston 800MHz, video: 512MB ASUS/Nvidia EN9600GT). Last night got all the WindowsXP patches applied and re-installed FS9 and all the add-ons I could face reconfiguring to have an initial play.

Before now my old machine was creaking along lucky to make 18-20fps with all the sliders at medium to low, and lots of awkward pauses especially at busier airports with lots of AI and ground detail.

After the upgrade I was totally blown away, I mean I know its not FSX stuff, but the difference was amazing compared to my old rig. All the weather, clouds, texture, effects, reflections and traffic sliders etc are set to max and with it locked at 25fps I haven't once seen it drop below. The only thing that seems to affect the rendered quality is the depth-perception slider which I've left at a medium kinda setting, oh and I tend to leave the water effects set a little lower anyway.

Its so bloody good I actually started to get a bit of motion-sickness ( there goes any real-world flying ambitions ) I'm either gonna have to ramp it down a little or hang a couple of sick-bags off the back of my chair

Now all I gotta do is install Photoshop for her-indoors to use (which was the "selling point" for the upgade )

Gidday Deeknow, nothing beats simming in high FPS to the point where you need a sick bag, well done! Who cares what it is as long as it works for you dude.

[captainherc]

Here is the latest options from my computer guy.
Option 1.
AMD ATHLON 4600+ x2 Dual Core and Asus M2N Mother Board
2G DDR2 Ram
250G SATA Hard Drive
LeadTek 7950 256M Graphics Card (PCI-Express)
20X DVD Writer
16 in 1 Card Reader
Gaming case with 430W PSU
Mouse/Keyboard etc
Windows XP Pro

Option 2.

Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 (2.6Ghz) and Gigabyte P35-DS3L Mother Board
2G DDR2 Ram
5000G SATA Hard Drive
Gigabyte 8400GS Graphics card
20X DVD Writer
16 in 1 Card Reader
Case with 420W PSU
Mouse/Keyboard etc
Windows XP Pro

Both with this option also available,

Upgrade to Gigabyte 8600GTS Graphics card or
Upgrade to Gigabyte 8800GT Graphics card.

So there we go fellow simmers. Now down to this for choice. Would like your feed back as I know NOTHING about this stuff.

Cheers.

[NZ255]

Yeah, those Graphics cards are going to hold you back - based on what everyone is telling me, I would upgrade to the 8800GT

[FunkymonkeyNZ]

Just going over your specs there Herc and everything seems pretty hunky dorey! with all the discussion about what processor to buy and what not, your chip does look good but i do hint that you go for something a little bit more faster, the best thing about this is that it wont cost you bugger all to upgrade this spec. my Processor is a Core 2 Duo E6850, this chip is 3GHz and is plenty FAST!!! believe me. everyone is saying that "oh but FS is only a single core running program" true! but what about all other programs that you have running in the background? i have heaps!!! ActiveSky, FS2crew, etc etc. you will reap the benifits from this mate. i cant remember off the top of my head what i paid, im thinking $350. i remember asking the guys here in NZFF what bits and pieces to buy and it can be daunting but i agree with nick when he says you should put a little more money towards your Graphics card. i have the 8600GTS and i'm not grumbling at all but it does tend to lack that POW factor in FSX (slight stuttering) in FS2004 it really shows it colours! i rufley get about 28-40+ FPS never going below 18 so im very happy with it but if i could then i would upgrade to the 8800GT, sure its a fair bit more in price but you will thank me when you start flying
Hope i cleared up a few issues inside that head of your's to make a concreate decision

[Alex]

Yep, I'd agree with NZ255, and suggest upgrading to the 8800GT.

Alex

[cowpatz]

Does running 2 graphics cards in SLI mode really help with FS9 and FSX frame rates?

[Alex]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ May 9 2008, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does running 2 graphics cards in SLI mode really help with FS9 and FSX frame rates?

Check out this thread in the Technical Issues forum.

Alex

[FunkymonkeyNZ]

QUOTE (cowpatz @ May 9 2008, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does running 2 graphics cards in SLI mode really help with FS9 and FSX frame rates?

Ive done some research on this topic too, and the result is negative. doesnt seem to have any noticable improvement in FS9 or FSX, im not putting my bottom dollar on this but if you do your research then im sure you will get the same answer