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

Hi guys,I am out of this hobby for quite a long time so I am not sure if the following works. I just bought a notebook computer which has a graphics specification listed as below :ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X600, with 64 MB of external DDR VRAM, supporting ATI POWERPLAY™ 5.0, Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0, PCI Express™ and DualView™ orIntel® 915GM integrated 3D graphics, featuring Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 and up to 128 MB of video memory, supporting Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 and dual independent displayWould this be okay to run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 ? Douglas

I have been wondering if creating a second profile (XP) for simming only and disabling as many items such as scanner, printer etc etc as possible in that profile, will actually free up more resources.I am assuming that if an item has been disabled MS will not load drivers associated with the item.Is this basically correct and is there an easy method to prove it?Thanks in advance for any input.

Hey guys,I could use some advice! I want to boost my FS performance, but have limited funds (what's new huh?) and want to get the most for my money.Applicable System Stats:P4 2.8 GHzP4P800-E Deluxe MB1 GB Kingston Value RAM (no idea the latency)60GB IBM Deskstar HDSo, here's my question: which of the following upgrades would provide the biggest improvement in FS performance?1) Upgrade to P4 3.2 Prescott CPU2) Upgrade to 2GB RAM3) Change to 1GB Corsair 3200XL RAM4) Upgrade to 74GB WD Raptor 10k RPM HD (re-install FS to this drive)If more info on my system is necessary, I can provide it when I get home from work later. Thanks in advance for the help everyone!

any ideas as to why i cant startup in normalmode, it just goes black after the startup screen saying winxp64. Is it a driver im missing, i cant install the ati 64 bit drivers for some reason in safemode, i get an errormessage saying not compatible with hardware.

I have been considering getting a new harddrive dedicated solely to FS (maybe all flightsim games).I have heard that less files stored on a drive the faster it is.Should I think in terms of % used or the total number of bytes on the drive? Will FS be faster on a drive bigger than needed?How big should the drive be? I also use a lot of addons.

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http://apps.ati.com/ir/PressReleaseText.as...eleaseID=714857I wonder if this has any positive effects with Flight Sim?

I am using FSManager. When I start the program (direct double-click on EXE file) the RealAir Spitfire installer runs?? I found the Spitfire setup MSI files in the Installer Backup folder under Wundows. Removed that but now I get a complaint that Windows cannot find the MSI installer program to start the Spitfire install. I have tried searching for any linkages but I can find nothing that seems to be relevant to the Spitfire install starting instead of FSManager. I have to click through 6 messages from some process that insists on installing the Spitfire. Eventually I do get FSM to load and run.Dick Boley @KLBE

My ATI control panel allows setting anisotropic filter up to 16X with a check box for allowing the application to set the value. If I uncheck the box (overide application) does FS2004 actually ignore this setting? Is this related to the trilinear/bilinear setting in FS2004?THANKS,Dick Boley @KLBE

I just installed the CH Products Pro Rudder pedals, I tried messing with the sensitivity settings, but they are way too sensitive. They are basically unusable. I dont think I have USB 2 on my motherboard, could that be the problem. Thanks

Hi, I'm unsure whether to purchase the newer USB flight yoke from CH or buy something more expensive.My virtual pilot pro isn't very good in my opinion. The control is quite unsmooth and its just cheap and plasticy. I want something chunky that feels like the real thing so I can practice for real flying (I have a ppl) Do you think the CH flight yoke usb would satisfy, I mean is it much of an improvement over the VPP or is it gonna frustrate me what do you think? I have read some reviews that have said its smoother. Is there anyone who fly's real planes that is happy with this product?Thanks

Well after much advice from a few laptop simmers as well as a load of amazing positive reviews all over the net, I have purchased what is touted as the ultimate gaming laptop...the best and fastest ever witnessed by many hardware review outlets like PC Magazine, etc etc....so, soon I will really know myself if that new Pentium M 2.0 GZ processor is really as good as they all say.. fingers crossed for sure as I am under the impression the new laptop with 1 GIG memory, GEForce 6800 Ultra and a 7200 rpm hard drive will rival my P4 3.0 Desktop monster...It may be the ultimate gaming machine at just under $3000 but I hope it will be the ultimate flightsimming machine too!Peter

Hello,ive seen ads on the internet about being able to upgrade to windows XP 64 bit for free if you've purchased regular XP in certain dates. if i d/l and install the trail 64-bit version will i have the chance to activiate it for free from there?? im just worried of everything not working properly and having to take it back off.How did you all upgrade?Stephen

Hi Guys,Is it possible to format a hard drive without a floppy drive? I would like to format a drive and install Windows Me for my sons computer.Thanks,Todd

If I want to move FS to a new harddrive do I have uninstall and reinstall everything? In addition to FS9 I have a lot of addons.Is it not possible to just copy the files in some instances?

Another move by Big Brother to keep an eye on you and FS9http://www.digitmag.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=4915

Hi im wondering if anyone can help. Ive got a problem with my CH Pedals (which are still under warranty) my problem is that it wont register the right brake, even in the calibration bit as if i havnt pressed down at all, ive checked and theres no dead zone on it or anything, it does the Left, Right and Left brake ok, just the right brake isnt working, anyone got any suggestions

I just picked up a Geforce 6600. Before, I couldn't max my water effects and and "Terrain & Water Detail" in FS2004 at the same time. That was with the FX5200 and I understood this was due to it's lack of full DX9 compatability. I'm still getting the same problem with my 6600. I have the latest drivers. Why is it doing that?

Has anyone heard of NGO video drivers? They are a modified version of ATI's Catalyst drivers. Similar to what Omega and DNA is offering. I was wondering if anyone here has tried these drivers with FS9? The drivers can be found at: http://ngohq.com/

Intel has just announced trying to get "millions" of their new Pentium D dual core processor chips to the public by "the end of the year". So here's a cool conjecture. FS2006 has not been announced this year, thus far, in the same timing as FS9 was for it's release in 2003. Wouldn't it be nice if FS10 was being "rewritten" to take advantage of what should be a nice boost in performance for the Pentium D processor, in which case it could be delayed well into 2006. Just a thought!Randy Jura, KPDX

I am trying to uninstall my current ATI drivers in order to install the latest vesion. I successfully uninstall the ATI control panel but when starting the uninstall process for the video driver, I get a message that the current drivers cannot be uninstalled.Any suggestions would be really be appreciated.Thanks a lot,Howard

How exactly do you do this? ive read posts about it may be easier on the hard drive for loading and stuff. How do i make a different partition for just flight sim? i only have one hard drive, so is this still possible? would i notice better smoothness. right now i have AMD 64 3000+ 1gig Kingston DDR 400 160gb seagate hd, Nvidia 5900FX video card(this is whats holding my system back)i consider my pc pretty fast, yet even with PMDG on VC i am plauged with the gauges being so delayed, ive tried the refresh rates and everything..what do you all do to battle this? everything on the outside is running very smoooooth. id just like to get over this hump..would a separate p…

I'm posting this here to see if you guys can come up with any solutions.I'm trying to run 2 soundcards on an ASUS A8V Dx board.My hope is to use the onboard AC97 chip for the headset/microphone comms and send the environment/aircraft sounds through an SB Live card. I've installed the SB Live card, updated drivers for both the SB and Realtek chip, and now windows won't recognize the AC97 Codec (The onboard sound.)Thanks for any tips/help! [EDIT: per the rules:)]AMD Athlon64 3000+ASUS A8V Deluxe1024mb DDR400 PC3200 RamATi Radeon 9600 pro 256SteveAustin, TXkeep the blue part on top...

Hello,I have a GeForce 5950, with the latest driver.....My problem is that certain images, including the aircraft, doesn't refresh itself quick. When I change the view, I see certain images without texture for about 30 secs, then it refreshes itself.Any Suggestions?Thanks!Paul

hi allanyone can recommend some good video/graphics drivers for Leadtek 6600GT card, what drivers work best for you?rgds.