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

I am using four Seagate 250G drives in a RAID 5 array configured with software (nForce, abit Fatal1ty N32 board) since October. I always thought the load times for FSX were long, but figured this was the norm with all add-ons (FS Genesis, FEX, GEX, etc.) Performance was stable but loading was slow, but acceptable. 4GB of matched CORSAIR memory installed.While attempting to implement the /3GB mod to avoid OOM issues with the PMDG FSX version, I placed the page file on a separate drive, made the mod to FSX with the 4GB patch tool, modded the boot.ini. I have defragged both the RAID 5 "C" drive and the drive the page file resides on. Now, while FSX loads, it is extremely slo…

Hi there,I recently had a major crash and had to reinstall everything. Now that everything is back in order I realized that my HD's are not in Raid0 anymore and my WinXP home (sp2) doesn't see both HD's anymore. The bios does, but not WinXP.I also have a larger HD for backup, which it normally detects. My question is, can I (without loosing data) use the second Raptor as a "regular" HD in addition to the other 2 HD's I have? And if so, it used to be setup as a Raid0 config, yet I haven't touched the inside of my PC period. Do I have to unplug any cables between the two Raptors to do so?Please excuse my ignorance, but this is my first Raid system (should have stayed with b…

I am planning to build a new computer for FSX. I have pretty much decided on a Q6600 cpu and 2GB of pc8500 1066mhz ram and an 8800GT 512mb GPU. I will be running with a SATA hard drive and no raid and no SLI. There are so many motherboards to choose from I'm just looking for some recommendations for a reasonably priced motherboard that is also easy to overclock from the bios. Thanks for sharing your experience and suggestions.Martin

I am getting new unit.Is 7200 rpm(?) HD fast enough?That is what they are installing.Is there a faster one that I should ask about?I know nothing about the differences.Thanks,Ron

I have what I thought was going to be a kick butt system with a Quad Processor, a nVidea 8800GTX video card and 4gb of ram ( yes I know it doesn't see all that memory...but I have it anyway ). I mainly run FSX and the display sucks most of the time. It hesitates on turns and sometimes just on straight and level flights. Many times on approach it just hesitates for 5 to 15 seconds....then sort of stutters...then hesitates.......It drives me crazy, and I don't know what to do about it. I watch videos on YouTube of different peoples systems and their systems appear to have flawless smooth video...where my high end system sucks. Does anyone have a clue as to what is going on …

I just got the new yoke/throttle combo and I am wondering if someone can point me to an explanation on what the settings mean in fsuipc. I am particularly looking for help with setting up the throttle quadrant with reverse thrust, spoilers and flaps. With my old CH yoke I could never get things right and I had to always use the keyboard for reverse thrust. With the Saitek quadrant it seems like it is set up for reverse thrust but I have no idea what to do.In addition, I have no idea what the figures mean in fsuipc and I noticed that there are codes for each setting. I know there is a lot that I am missing but I don't know where to find the idiots guide to setting everythi…

Greetings!Hope you're all doing fine. I have a question which I'm sure could bring up tons of deffrent answers. So, please, if you have the experience, I ask that you provide me with your guidance.I have FS9, with tons of payware and freeware add-ons(and lots of hardware). My computer has: 30 inch LCD screen, AMD 64 X2 3.0 Ghz,{Bus Speed: 1000MHz (2000 MT/s}, 3 Gigs of RAM PC6400 @ 800 mhz, 600Watts Power supply, New Motherboard AM2 Socket, PCI Express 8800GTX Video Card, and Windows XP...And of course, FSX SP2!FS9 runs fantastic with all the add-ons and all levels to MAX. However, FSX is nothing near to FS9 when it comes to performance. It is very slow and "levels" are a…

Jim, I'm still looking for the correct monitor. How about this one. It a SAMSUNG 940BX, 19", with 5 ms responce time, with a resolution of 1280 x 1024. Here's the spec sheet:Specifications Display Type: TFT LCD Viewable Screen Size: 19 inches Pixel Pitch: 0.294 mm Display Colors: 16.2 million Input Video Signal: 15-pin D-sub DVI-D Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 Brightness: 300 cd/m

Ciao to all,here I am to ask you suggestions.I have now a Sony 5/4 19" and use it together an ACER 5/4 17"...I wanted to up-grade but need help so either I get:-2 monitors 19" wide brand newor-1 monitor 22" wide and keep my 19" for the instruments or left lateral view..or-get 2 used 19" 5/4 so to have center and left cockpit view similar...Help....I discovered that If i do "new view" and set it to "left lateral view", I can drag it to my left monitor...so is it worth getting the matrox dualhead2go or triplehead2go..?Seem to me more or less similar to the matrox view...Thanx...PAcoINTEL Q6600 CORE 2 QUAD 3.00Ghz 8Mb DI CACHE - FSB 1066MhzAlimentatore 630W supersilentM.BOAR…

Hi all, I am thinking of going dual 512 PCI 2 GeForce 8800 cards on my new ASUS Striker Maximus Extreme MOBO. Are these new cards faster than the 768 PCI express 16 cards? Thank's From Jim

I've got the every-18-month itch to upgrade. See my specs below .... would the graphics card upgrade significantly improve framerates for FSX? I've read some comparisons online and it seems to help a lot with some games, but FS being more CPU-bound than most, what could I expect?Or would you recommend processor (and MB) as well? Or, should I wait a few months because there's a significant jump in technology around the corner (that I haven't read about)?

For all those with Nvidia cards, they have a fix. I just downloaded the new driver for XP which is 169.21. No longer a beta but Whol. certified. Those that have had problems with SP2,XP and a Nvidia cards I think they have fixed it. I have tried everything I can to make it fail and can't. I have shutdown and restarted my machine and it continues to work fine. Hope this works for you. Let us know what happens with you.Bob G.

Just went through a HD format/reinstall of XP after MB & CPU upgrade (XP upgrade and repair options failed) and also had two SP2 install failures. When I finished beating everthing into place, I found the following IDE Controllers in Device Manager:4 Primary IDE Channel4 Secondary IDE Channel4 Standard Dual Channel PCI IDEThese drivers are all Microsoft.MB is Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe with one IDE connector. I have the HD as master and DVD as slave. SATA3 to come later.Didn't find anything on this topic in this forum, at MS KB or Asus site.Question: Isn't that too many IDE device drivers? Seems to me multiple device drivers on a single IDE channel could cause problem…

Hi all, can some explain the difference between the performance from an AMD 3400 to a Intel Dual Core 2.0gzI just found out that the AMD 3400 runs at 2.2gz and I always though a 3400 AMD was equivalent to a Intel 3.4gz. I was wrong. I just ordered a Intel Dual Core 2.0gz CPU that can easly OC to 2.6 - 3.0gz. Will I see a performance increase on CPU alone with my new chip? I have a better board with faster memory too. I have not built my somewhat newer system.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819116052Thanks,Bill

I have 2004 Compaq presario windows xp home with VIA/S3G Unichrome IGP latest driver dated 2005.03.09 version 6.14.10.212. FS froze up now and then but I didn't do any thing except slowed the acceleration down and things seemed to work pretty well. now I am getting messages as follows every time I open FS. Like your video card driver may cause your computer to stop responding should we look for updated driver for you---yes or no I cliked yes and found out I have the latest version -- now I clik no, also a 2nd message cannot use 3-D hardware acceleration software software 3-D mode has been enabled. what does this all mean?? should I buy some upgraded hard or software for …

I am flying with FSX and trying to set up a second monitor.The difference with this is that the second monitor is a small touch screen running at a resolution of 800x600 while the main monitor is at 1280x1024. The second monitor is hooked into the same video card as the primary (Nvidia 7950GT) using the second video out plug.The problem is, when I am in FSX full screen mode, FSX seems to adjust the active area of the smaller touchscreen. The Aircraft I am using with this is the Wilco 737 PIC. When I attempt to bring up the overhead panel and drag to the second monitor, the touch screen is out of alignment and the active viewable area is changed.From the Nvidia control pan…

Hi all,I could use a pointer here - I am trying to program three keys to my CHPro controller and no matter what I do they don't take and I am stumped as to why...The three keys are the selections 1, 2 and 3 on the ATC window. I don't want to reach up to press 1 to ACK landing clearance during final and would like to push an otherwise unused button on my throttle or stick.I can turn the window on or off no problem using a button but these three keys just won't take. Any idea why?Thanks in advance,dolph98

Hey,I want to buy January a new PC! My PC is an "oldie" I finally want start flying at FSX with good frams!I need you help ... would be great if someone can "BUILD" me an PC here at this site! ( There is an ICON on the left side "PC Builder" ).Its an hebrew site but in english! would be great if someone can build me a good PC ... Price 5500 - 5800 +- !Here is a PC that a friend of me build: CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40Ghz 8MB Conroe -=Stepping G0=- OEMM board: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R Conroe Support GP35DS3R Case: Enermax Chakra 250mm Fan Black/Silver 3052BS CPU: Cooling Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro PSU: Thermaltake Thought Power 600W 52A/12V 4XRails SLI W0103 Memor…

Hi,Just replaced my old ATI x1900xtx with a Geforce 8800GT card and even though I in the driver settings have set 4X AA I now get rough edges as seen in the pic below - any ideas why this is? Also tried 8X AA but still same result.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/181873.jpgJust as a reference, this is how the same AC looked using my old ATI card...http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/181874.jpg

Hi guys, I have a few questions regarding Enhanser! Can anyone help.Firstly having downloaded the application and installed it no matter what I do nothing seems to change in FS. I have an nvidia 8500GT latest Driver 169.25. I locate the MFS 2004 profile and change various sections. My aim is to rid my system shimmer. I have the "Profile can be activated manuall ticked"1. Why does nothing change?2. Does Enhanser overide Nvidia Conrol Panel or work alongside.3. Do I have to close down FS9 to see the changes or do they work automatically?4. Do I have Anti-Aliasing within FS ticked or not?Can anyone help? And what settings do you use??To fix the shimmers would be my best Xmas…

Hi all,I've installed nVIDIA 169.25 beta drivers. Now the 169.25 whql are released. Are there any difference between the beta and the official released drivers (other than the whql)?Ulf BCore2Duo X6800, 4GB RAM, BFG 8800GTXCreative SB X-Fi (Gamer mode)Vista 32 SP1 RC, FSX Acc/SP2

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_780i_sli.htmllol!sheesh that's gotta consume a lot of power wewt!

Hi,just a word of warning. The nVidia 8800's GPU (G92 chip) appears to be the first PCI Express 2.0 chip. As such, some mainboards may have trouble booting up with this card inserted. Among these boards are Asrock 4Core Dual VSTA and Asrock 4 Core Dual SATA2.There is one glimmer of hope though: By applying a different Flash BIOS to the 8800 GT cards, the GPU can be configured to appear as PCI Express 1.x part and then the board will boot. These BIOSes are labelled "Gen1" BIOS, as opposed to "Gen2" BIOSes.The NiBiTor utility available from this site http://www.mvktech.net/ claims to be able to modify most 8800 GT BIOSes to Gen1. Also some manufacturers provide the Gen1 BIO…

Just want too know which setup is faster and better for gaming (FS9). Two 7200 HD running via Raid 0, or one 10000 HD?ThanksBill

Is there anyone who can compare experience and preference between CH and Saitek?I just read "trelane's" comments in the Saitek Yoke thread on this forum. I quote:"Funny. I was just thinking of popping the $150 for the CH pedals because of the lack of realism on my 3 month old Saitek pedals. The more I use them the more dissatisfied I am with the circular foot motion required to turn the rudder - you spin the pedals left or right around a central pivot point - instead of CHs (what appears to be) more realistic up and down pedal design."Is there any resistance at all in the CH Pedals? Also, when I first installed my Saitek pedals they defaulted so that I had to turn them l…