NZFF

I would like some advice on what to specify for a sim specific computer primarily for use in gliding simulation. I would like to set up 3 monitors so I can see wingtip to wingtip (if that is possible) and mount one on each side of my head (as gliders go around on circles a lot). I intend to build a cockpit with all the usual controls linked to controllers so that air brakes, flaps, undercarriage, water dump and tow release all work as normal. While $$ matter I am not greatly constrained. I would rather spend more now than be disappointed and need to replace later. I am looking for a high degree of reality and so will need a system that can easily handle high levels of scenery detail with good refresh rates. Thanks for your help, I look forward to your replies.

ive read up on this subject a little over time and found a artical on robin corns site about the Flight Experience' sim does a 180.. http://windowlight.co.nz/flightex.html
he talks about the TripleHead2Go that they have now put in the sims
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/p ... o/home.php
i guess that you will be using fsx as the gliding is better in that one so you will need a grunty graphic card proberly to be safe 8800ultra /gtx or anything bigger quad?
ram would be like 4gig plus
the sticks could be made outta older joysticks with a pole extention etc.. lots over ttutorials can be found at hovercontrol.com and other places
alex would know about newer saitek rudder pedels than the older styled ch ,but they look good for the price
there is so many cool things to get so i wont go on ,but i recomend reading robins posting at windowlight and checking it all out

I would suggest That as a Minimum,go for a core 2 duo processor,or a quad core,Minimum of 2GB of ram and video cards with as much memory as you can get.Mother board to look at would be the ABIT range.I would also suggest that you learn about the tweaks that can be made to XP,(If that is going to be your operating system),and the tweaks that can be made to FSX.I have applied a ot of the tweaks to FSX and as a consequence I am able to obtain quite high frame rates.Good luck with your venture.

Big thanks to creator2003 and gokanru. Have visited the web sites. Exactly what I was envisaging.

From what I've read, faster RAM is better. FS is also CPU limited, so faster = better.

Ok I have put a wish list together. If you can't see any weaknesses or incompatability issues then this is what it will be.

CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600, 2.4GHz, LGA775, quad core

Motherboard ASRock 4CoreDual-VSTA, VIA PT880 Ultra

Hard Disc Drive Western Digital 250GB Serial ATA HDD

Memory 2GB DDR2-800 PC2-6400 SDRAM

Graphics card Geforce 8800 GTS, 640MB, PCI Express

Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster 5.1

Monitor x3 ChiMei CMV 946D, 19" LCD, 1440x900 DVI 2ms

DVD Pioneer DVR-212 Dual Layer Serial-ATA DVD Writer

Case & Power Midi Tower Case, 500 to 599 Watt PSU, ATX

Keyboard & Mouse Logitech Deluxe 250 Desktop Keyboard and Optical Mouse

CH Products Pro Pedals USB (300-111)

CH Products Throttle Quadrant USB (300-133)

Genius Flight2000 F-23, Joystick, USB, Blue

Opinions please - and have I missed anything? Thanks

Those are some nice specs.

Alex

maybe a better quality PSU?

I would DEFINATELY look at a better PSU. FOr specs like that, although a 500w psu would be sufficient (barely), trust me on this one, get something you know will be big enough for now, and for future upgrades(look for around 750-800) and something that will last (Enermax or Antec).
This will only set you back around $200, but i can guaruntee it will pay off in the future

I would go for a bigger psu unit and if you're not broke by this time I would be looking at Corsair ram

also, is this system going to have an operating system?

Thanks again.

OS probably =Windows XP Home Edition. I guess Linux will cause too many problems with FSX?

Will look for case and psu options when I have more time.

Add to the list TripleHead2Go and TrackIR.

I am starting to have to sweep out the courners of the vault for this lot!!!

System sounds good yeah more psu is a great idea I like enermax, Fast ram is a Must at least 1066mhz althought as to the amound I would stick with 2gb although I have not used FSX much it has never used anywhere close to 2gb of Ram,

Sound Blaster? I am guess this would be a X-FI, sound card

If you can afford it I would suggest looking at a faster HDD maybe a 10000rpm drive, or raid even, holy grail being a SAS raid config but that would be very very expensive,

again tripple head2go is a must adds a hole new level to Flight sim also work with racing games such as GRT2 and Testdrive Unlimited