System Hardware: PC | MOBO | RAM | CPU | HDD | SSD | PSU etc

Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger! The article describes how a 7200rpm 1.5TB drive can be remissioned to a much smaller size, and in doing so ensuring all data is stored on the fastest performing section of each platter.http://www.techwarelabs.com/seagate_1-5tb-mod/Simon

I have been looking at new systems for FS9 and with the march forward to 64bit, Vista and FSX , i believe we are now in a position where a PC for FS9 cannot be improved upon, as the software would not run. So with that in mind, there must be an optimum system for FS9 that cannot be bettered? Hopefully with all our input together we can work out the best PC for people...ProcessorFS9 cannot make use of a Quad core processor as its not designed to make use of multi-cores. So a Core 2 Duo is the best processor we can get with Windows running on one core and FS9 on the other. After looking at the chips available, it looks like an E8600 offers the fastest clock speed at 3.33GHz…

I got home from work today, fired up the PC, and after doing the usual diagnostics, it displayed a message, something like "system can not POST, press Del to enter bios and reset defaults" So I entered BIOS, and pressed the power button on the PC and the fans kept spinning but all the drives sort of restart, and the computer restarted, and now I'm back into Windows - everything appears normal, temps are normal, all my settings are the same etc etcIs something going to break on me lol?

Hi guys, I've had my PC for over 2 years now spec below!HP 9070Vista Home Premium 32 bit SP1, Inter® Core Quad CPU 2.4GHZMemory (Ram) 3.00GBNvidia GeForce 8500GT (512MB)Although I can have all slides across in the FS9 scenery section I've always suffered from unbelievable shimmer and stutter. I've tried everything known to man over the last year, many Nhanser settings, many different drivers, you name it I've tried it. Lots of different CFG file settings, should I go on!!! :( My FPS is around 24 so no issue there. Anyway before I completely bin my current PC I was wondering if it can simply be upgraded? Better or different Graphics Card (I believe Nvidia has always been…

For fun...start reading the topics and postings from the LAST PAGE of this forum...and move towards the first page.Check out the excitement of the posters...as they embraced the 'hottest' tech and spec's that was available in 2002!It does put a smile on your face when you reacquaint yourself with what exactly WAS the bleeding edge in 2002!Then think of what you have in front of you at present if you have not recently upgraded to duo or quad core CPU-based systems.......and it will 'reset' your expectations and perhaps the 'I'm still happy with what I have...and what's paid for' button, lol.I finally am going to the i7 platform...but for the last six years...was happy with…

Since my original thread deteriorated into an ATI vs. Nvidia flamewar, I thought I would start a new thread to post my FSX testing results with the new AMD PC I built. To quickly recap, my AMD Dragon Platform consists of:Cooler Master Storm Scout caseASUS Crosshair III Formula moboAMD Phenom II X4 955 BE CPU OC'ed to 3.81 GHz8 GB Mushkin DDR3 PC-12800 RAM running at 1587MHzATI Diamond Radeon HD 4890 XOC 1 GB GDDR5 video cardWD VelociRaptor 300GB HDDCorsair 750-Watt Power SupplyFor this test, traffic settings are at 35% for all, aircraft graphic settings are ultra-high (cast shadows on self, etc), all little extras like detailed land tectures and ground scenery shadows ar…

Hello everyone.Subject: Modify a Q6600 IC to get 1333FSB 2.4 to 3.0 GHz, in hardware.Many of the systems have a Mother board / BIOS that Do Not have the option / flexibility to Overclock, Gateway, Dell etc. Recently a number of people asked me if there is anything they can do about it? I started looking on the INet and found some info, but it turned out that some / most was incorrect. I did some research and did some modifications to correct the Errors and this is the end result.Note: While this mod is 100% reversible, if done correctly, it will very likely cancel / void your warranty, and may damage your hardware if not done properly.The mod is simple, but you need som…

I'm thinking of building a new pc but in the meantime I decided I'd go ahead and overclock what I got:right now I got my processor running stable according to the prime95 torture test (lol) at 2.83 GHz (up from 2.61...isn't that much of an improvement).After raising ONLY the FSB speed to 218 MHz I raised my processors rating to 5.2 (up from 5.1) and RAM to 5.1 (up from 5.0) using the vista test thing.I don't know why but anything above 218 MHz FSB causes problems....could it be the RAM?Any suggestions?Oh and I forgot to mention my specs are:Asus A8N32-SLI deluxe MotherboardAMD Athlon 64 fx-60 Processor @ 2.8 GHz (up from 2.6)4Gb G.SKILL (4 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400…

Hi , having assembled my new components, I am ready to install and would like some advice. My proposed set up will be as follows:2 x 300GB raptors ( possibly in RAID0, but not if there is no advantage) controlled by areac 1210 controller card for storage of photoscenery1 x 150GB raptor controlled by Areca card, for my FSX installation1 X 1TB western digital drive controlled by Areca card, for overflow and general storage such as music etc1 x OCZ vertex 60GB SSD on the motherboard sata with my operating system on, NCQ enabled ( This is so that I can take advantage of using SSD, correct? )Do I have the above planned correctly? By using a separate card controller, can I rea…

Hi all,I current have a P4, 3ghz with 3Gig RAM and a 6800GT card and get around 10-5 fps for Fs9. I do have a lot of add on airports as well as traffic, Ground enviroment etc...I am looking to get a new PC that will run FS9 really well but im concerned that with my limited budget, I need to make sure I get the right pc to run it with FPS up above the 50s. I thought it would be an idea to ask others on here so you can hopefulyl share your own experience with your pc and the same game.I dont think there is any point gettnigs FSX as i have spent so much money on addons already i dont really want ot start again and i dont think i have the budget for a decent pc to run it prop…

Looks like some serious issues with those DDR3-2000+ kits.http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=3596ASUS Rampage II Extreme (1406 BIOS)Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition w/Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366 RTMushkin Redline Ascent 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) (6-6-5-18-1N)EVGA GTX 285 2GB FTW (186.18)Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1tyWD VelociRaptor 150GB

Hi guys well recently I OCd my E8400 to 3.83ghz ran the OCCT for 1 hour and it was STABLE max temp was 56c I also have an 8800GT with 2gb of ram patriot 5-5-5-16. However I want to upgrade to 4gb as I read that FSX is more CPU than GPU dependant so I want to wait a bit until I upgrade my 8800GT.. The problem is that I cant find the model of my ram CPUZ says that is the model 6400LL but if I go here RAM they show me that the RAM is low latencies 4-4-4-12 that what Alienware also said but ram is running at 5-5-5-16, now here is the problem the only webpage from I can buy the ram is from AMAZON, cuse problems with cridt cards in my country this is what I found there, models …

I have to thank NickN for some good tips on using FSX. I've tried to hold down the cost, after all, this is for entertainment purposes. I was fairly happy with my AMD 6400+ setup last year, but I never tried FSX. Once I installed FSX, the air modelling got a hold of me. I just couldn't stay on FS9. FSX was fun, but I had huge stutters and after all, I was only on DDR! After reading many of Nick's posts, I sold my AMD setup on Ebay and built a budget Q6600 machine. My local shop periodically closes out old hardware, so I stopped by often and got an MSI P35 Platinum for next to nothing. With cpu, MB, 4GB of RAM and AC7 cooler I was only out $325! Then the "bug" bit…

I have finally decided to build my own rig for FSX. After scouring websites for custom built gaming rigs, I have come to the conclusion that those rigs are always lacking something (or too much) or are overpriced. So, I painstakingly took the time to put together the components that I want for my new FSX Gamimg PC.I have never built a PC from the ground up but I have done extensive upgrades. That includes memory upgrades, graphic cards, power supplies, disk drives, etc. So I believe that I should have enough knowledge to do the job myself. What I am not sure about is whether or not I am missing some important component(s).I already have a couple of CD/DVD drives, key…

After getting over my embarrassment to post in the forum and PMing one of the experts on this matter over at the Simforums, I wanted to see what you guys think. Well, what can I say. I did something really stupid today, thanks to my impatience. -You have my authorization to laugh at me and call me names.- :( I just bought a new Q6600 to replace my old Pentium D CPU. I installed the new Q6600 but since my Arctic Silver 5 still hasn't arrived and I wanted to make sure the CPU worked, I turned on the computer WITHOUT putting the heatsink on. The only fan that was on was the front intake fan that passes air to heatsink (if it was installed) and the air passes above the socke…

EDIT---it seems that Dell has reinstated their offering on the Canadian site (11:21 am.) What I posted below this edit might not be what is happening. It also still might be...let the reader form their own conclusions. Thanks.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In the course of spec'ing out my i7 system, I had been keeping an eye on the Dell branded, 730x H20 high-end systems. I have had good luck with this brand in the past, and was watching and keeping tabs on their different promotions over the recent months. Today, I have noticed (on their site at 10:30 a.m.) that they are only offering their H20 mod…

I was over at Flightsim.com reading the PMDG MD-11 review and the author wrote the following:"While the sales literature describes the system requirements to be pretty average, you may have difficulties on longer flights with less than 6 GB of RAM and a 64 bit operating system. While I was able to complete the tutorial on the 5th try, it was after running out of memory and crashing to the desktop on several occasions."Granted he is using a 64bit OS, but can less than 6GB of RAM cause it to run out of memory and crash? Is 4GB on XP enough to avoid this?Thanks,RH

I hope this is in the right forum.Last weekend I upgraded my computer at home. The specs are as follows:Intel Core 2 Quad CPU 8200 at 233 GHz 2.34 GHz8 GB RAM64-Bit OSI'm having difficulty getting any of my add-ons to run in either FS2004 or FSX.Is this the 64-bit problem or is there a special way that I should be installing the programs (i.e., Windows XP compatibility)?Any help would be appreciated.Bob Jones

FolksThis may be the wrong part of the fourm to post this, but I'll try anyway.I currently have a Packard Bell iMedia 2569 I am no computer whizz, so don't really understand this, but I'll give you some details:Intel Core Duo E6300 processor1024MB DDR2 MemorynVidia GeForce 7300SE Graphics The 'System Properties' menu says this:Packard Bell COmputerIntel CORE 2 CPU6300 @ 1.00 GB RAMPhysical Address ExtensionNow - I need to know if you guys think this is a suitable computer for running FSX. It used to work brilliantly, but whenever there are CLOUDS on the screen (I always fly online either with IVAp or FSX weather), the FPS go well, well down. With clear weather, I get arou…

I have decided to try my luck at overclocking as opposed to dropping a bunch of $$ on new hardware. My E6850 is running stable at ~3.5GHZ (FSB set at 1550) but the core temps are damn near 70c because I only have the stock cpu fan. Since melting my CPU is not the plan, I need better cooling.Can you guys recommend the best CPU cooler? I am looking at the Artic Cooling Freezer Pro 7. Thanks for any advice!JustinAsus P5N-E SLI, E6850, 4gb Crucial Ballistix PC6400, 8800GT 512MB

So the 920 D0 arrived Wednesday together with the Corsair 6GB DDR3-1600 Ram Kit (3 x 2GB, PC2 12800, 7-7-7-20, TR3X6G1600C7). It took me a whole evening to mount the bl***y CPU cooler (Prolimatech Megahalems) to the CPU. The mobo is ASUS P6T Deluxe V2. So I connected 8 additional fans (2 12cm on the CPU heatsink, 2 12cm on the bottom of the case, 1 5cm on the X58 chipset, 1x5cm on the GPU GTX285 and 2x6cm on the memory sticks). I double checked all connections and i pressed the power-on button, the system started but there was no signal on the monitor... and no beeps from the mobo. I was really-really unhappy but somehow I knew it wasn't going to work. Every time I built …

I'm happy with FS2004, but it is time that I get a new PC. My current box has been going strong for 3+ years, and it runs fs2004 fairly well, but it is starting to seriously lag with many other applications now.Normally, this would be where I would be asking about what hardware, etc. However, my initial problem is one of compatibility. I want a PC with 4 gb of RAM or more, so that means a 64 bit OS. Unfortunately some of my favorite add-ons simply don't work in a 64-bit environment according to the documentation. I'm not sure how many, but I know of a few big add-ons (ones that are the single reason I run fs2004) won't work. So, essentially the new PC I want to buy …

Hi Everyone,I'm about to begin testing FSX with my new setup. I'm using Windows 7 R/C - 64bit.Just a quick look at my hardware: An I7-975 Processor, 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 Corsair 7-8-7-20 2000mhz memory, 300gb 10,000 rpm hard drive, BFG 285 Video Board.A quick look at my software: FSX, FSX Service Packs 1 & 2, FSGenesis All Mesh Available, Ultimate Terrain X All Available, Ground Environment X, Real Environment Extreme, Level-d 767-300ER, Ultimate Traffic II.FSX Setup Screen Shots----------------------------Just a quick shot over Manhattan, even with all that cloud cover I'm getting excellent FPS (77.6). More importantly, smooth performance. I uploaded this screen shot bec…

I run FS9 & Windows XP on a E8400 with 2GB of DDR800 RAM. Will I see any difference by adding another 2GB?Thanks in advance for your input.

I am considering building a new PC and set my mind on a Asus P6t Deluxe v2 mobo coupled with a i7 920 D0 stepping.However, none of the shops I asked is willing to guarantee that I will receive the mobo with recent bios that is compatible with the newer stepping, so I am a bit worried :( that I end up with something that doesn't work.Does anyone know if the mobo will boot the new CPU even with an older bios so I can upgrade the bios myself :( , or do I need a I7 with C0 stepping for this?Allard.