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

Just a question for the hardware gurus out there.I have a Plantronics DSP 500 USB headset. I would like to be able to hear myself talk while flying online while transmitting just like in the real plane.Is there anyone else out there with the same issue?

I was wondering something in regard to FS 2004 performance.I have a Pentium 4 2.5 GHZ processor 768 MB RAM.What will I gain FS 2004 FPS wise upgrading to a Hypertheading 3.2 or higher CPU and Motherboard, and maybe 1GB PC 3200 DDR RAM.Would I get a 25, 35, 50% boost in FPS?I was just curious if someone has done the same upgrade and really benefitted.Thanks!Barry

How can I use one computer to achieve this?...Have FS running on one thread of a HT processor going to a video card and then to a monitorthenon the same computer using the other thread of the HT processor have another version of FS running to another video card in the same computer to another monitor?How do I set up the way the info goes to the two different video cards?I know how to assign an application to run on the differnet threads but FS wont start running twice.I would like to be able to use the same payware for both but not sure if I can since I would have to rename the two different FS so they can both run at the same time. Not exactly sure if the payware reads …

Looks like to me that my LCD monitor (Sony SDM-M81 18", about 3 years old now) has given up. I yet have to plug another computer into it to verify it's the monitor and not the card (but I get no display even on the BIOS initial boot, although the LED that goes green indicating signal is there, is doing that).I see reading this forum that I should be looking at a 12 ms or better (smaller) refresh time, and perhaps a brightness ratio of 700:1. I will most likely look at a 19", maybe a 5:4 aspect.Any ideas on what is good or bad are most welcome.Thanks- Bruce.

Hello!I have a Intel P4 2.53GHzGeforce 4 Ti4600 128mbPC2100 512MB120GB 7200rpm harddriveSo what would be the most vauleable upgrade for my computer?A maximum of $170...Cheers

My main monitor, which is a 19" Viewsonic CRT, suddenly flickered and seemed to go darker last night while I was flying. At first, I thought it was just evening kicking in within the sim but on closer examination it seems to be darker now for all programs.Is this the thin end of the wedge? Is it on the way out? The colour remains correct across the spectrum, although there is possibly slightly more contrast by default.Mark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cathayhk.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/maamlogo2.jpg[/a]

I run ActiveSky V on a second PC using WideFS. My main computer runs WinXP but the second one is Win98 (it's an older machine). ASV works great for awhile but eventually the Win98 machine seems to lose its network connection and I get an "Error 59" message to that effect. When I check Network Neighborhood, sure enough the FS CPU is no longer listed. Other computers on my network are still connected though. I have to reboot the Win98 machine - usually twice to get the connection back. I don't fault ASV for this but wonder if anyone has any idea why this would happen. Thanks!David

Of particular interest to FS2004 users is the latest version of ATI'c latest calalyst driver 5.7 - released today.Under items fixed, I quote:"Flight Sim 2004: Launching the application under Windows XP and enabling Anisotropic Filtering (AF) within the Catalyst

Okay I have a SyncMaster 174v Monitor with a X800 ATI. I have the most current drivers for both and am wondering how to get the higher resolutions. Right now I can only set FS to 1280X1024X32. I see others with similar setups that are getting 1600X1200. What do I need to do to get access to those settings?

Hi i had to reinstall winxp today, and now i dont get to choose between xp64 and winxp like before the reinstall, now it just starts winxp, how do i get that startup back so i can choose. xp64 is still there on another partition.OHN

Hey everyone,Well, I just bought a new videocard(GEFORCE 256mb 5500OC), And man what a change in performance. I was just wondering, does Ram improve performance of FS quite a bit. See since I bought the vid card I was so amazed by the better performance that I am wondering if it is worth buying more Ram to increase performance even more?My specs as of now are not very good but here they are:P4 1.8GHZ386 megs of RAM(128+256)40 GIG HDGEForce 5500OC 256mbThanks againGerry

I've just purchased the USB Flight Sim Yoke from CH Products, and I'm now using it together with the PMDG 737NG. Wow! What a difference:DSuddenly, manual flight has become as easy as driving my car!Just one thing that got me a little frustrated. I assigned the "Autopilot Master Switch" (A/P disconnect) to a button on my Yoke (the forward left button to be exact). This command is by default mapped to the 'Z' key in MSFS. When I attempted to disconnect the A/P in the PMDG737, the A/P disconnect sound for the default King Air sounded, and the A/P wouldn't disconnect! I then hit the 'Z' key, and the autopilot disconnected (?). I assume that the Yoke button just emulates the '…

This is being marketed through the pcaviator site. There is a 30 day free trial, but before I download and install it, I am curious as to anyone else who may ahve used it. Does it really work and improve computer and sim performance? Here's the link:http://www.pcaviator.com/shop/viewAProduct.php?pid=520Thanks.Sherm

Hi all,Does anyone here with 6600 or 6800 have problems with shimmering textures in FS9? Shimmering, as in - straight edges are not fully smoothed and moving around causes a shimmering effect (somewhat like heat waves rising from the ground). Increasing the resolution seems to have reduced this effect but not cured completely.Here is my current setup:Drivers (77.76 beta) - AA=4x, AF=8X, IQ=High Quality, VSync=ONGame - Res=1152x864x32; Render to Texture; Transform & Lighting; Filtering=Trilinear; Mips=4; Lights=8; Global Tex=Massive.I've tried almost all verions of drivers from 66.93 to 80.40, betas, modified et al. Still can't get rid of this shimmer even with full AA…

Hi guysWhat would be the recommended mic/headset type for use in FS for online flying with say vatsim or other?

Today I have a 3,0 ghz Intel ovc to 3,30 ghz and 1 gb RAM. I use a ASUS Geforce Ti 4800 SE 128 mb video card. I think I have to low fps toaday, At payware scenery as Swedfligt or UK 2000 I

I currently use an MS ForceFeedback 2 USB joystick for FS2004. I would like to add a second USB joystick to my system for military sims--a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. I'm assuming this will work fine, i.e., no conflicts between the two joysticks. However, before I went ahead with this I thought I would check with the hardware gurus first. Any thoughts?Thanks!-- WaltFlying FS9.1 at 1600x1200x32Intel Pentium 4 640 HT 3.20GHzWindows XP Pro SP21GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz (2x512M)256MB PCI Express x16 ATI Radeon X850 XT PEDirectX 9.0cViewSonic P95f+ 19 inch Ultrabrite CRT MonitorSound Blaster Audigy2 ZSCreative I-Trigue 2.1 3300 SpeakersMS ForceFeedback 2 joystickWideFS…

I was wondering whether these new dual 64 bit processors from both AMD and Intel will really be worth the expense. Most of us now with the Intel hyper threading chips have not scene much if any benefit in how that technology is working for us. I believe that in order for the hyper threading to work, we needed to have programs that were written to take advantage of it. Is this just another slick marketing ploy to get us to buy their new chips?I am all for upgrading the performance of my 2.8 GHz P4 but I also want the best bang for the buck.Terry

hi all,i am about to assemble a completely new system.the question is, should i get an amd 64 3000+ or the 3700+? normally, i would go with the 3000+ since i think the 3700+ is not THAT much faster when running fs9 (especially since it is more than twice as expensive!). the latter has 1 mb of level 2 cache over 512 kb that the 3000+ has.could anybody tell me if a bigger level 2 cache makes a difference in fs9? i mean, a noticeable difference?thanks!regardsDenisi plan on an agp geforce 6800GT, asus mb and 1 gb of dual channel ram.

Helo dear flightsimmers,I would like your advice on upgrading my motherboard, as I

Just recieved a Dell LCD 20" Widescreen. My old 21" CRT was starting to show only muted grays for its blacks (no contrast at all).The picture quality of the Dell is unbelievable. Beyond crisp. I had it side-by-side with my old CRT and I couldn't believe I had spent the last few months looking at a steadily degrading picture. Also, FS9 widescreen at 1680x1050 is great- The widescreen gives you a greater sense of peripheral vision, which really helps in the flare and adds a sense of speed.Any other widescreen fliers out there?

Hello All, Well, its time for a new Vid card, and as usual I need help from the guys who know more about it than I do.Present system:ASUS P4C800-E Delux MB with P4 3.4 oc'd to 3.57 on air, very cool temps -- never exceeds 39degrees C under full load. 1 gig Kingston Hyperram PC3200, ATI 9800 Pro. Oc'd to 391/303 -- 480 watt power supply. I'm running FS with all sliders full and averaging 25fps. I know I should be pleased with this but, as always, we always want more.I'm open for suggestions to a vid card which is more update and can deliver more than the 9800 pro. any ideas? Price considerations stop at 375.00 US.Thanks in advance,Clay http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gf…

hi guysi am considering to get a high-edge graphics card.I presume that you will tell me to get a SLI thing.But my CPU has some mileage to go aNd i don't wanna upgrade it and the mainboard for a while(AMD ATHLON 2800+)so i am gonna get a card with AGP interface.As i checked the tomshardware reviews i saw the ATI RADEON X800XT PE.i liked the performance.so before gEttin' it i just wated to ask u if it will be able to handle FS2004 with out major frame probs.I am gonna use PMDG 747(when it comes out),some add-on sceneries(simflyers world airports,etc..)and fs skyworld stuff.sliders will be like medium-high(hope so).My system specs are :AMD ATHLON 2800+MSI KT600V mainboard(v…

Hello,In general I am getting few frames more with these drivers. However with advdisplay or Level-D following problem occurs.AA is set 8, anitrosophic filtering 8 as well. With previous official driver 71.89 (?) no problems occured.My card is Gainward 6800 GT. Any ideas what is the cause?Best Rgs Perttu

Has anybody been using the free trial of the MegaScenery System Booster? I have about 15 days left and the jury is still out as to its effectiveness. I think there is some, but I am still testing. $25.00, plus or minus, is a lot of money to spend if it is just smoke and a mental perspective.Paul