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

Hi Everyone,Just looking for some advice here. I have made mobo mistakes in the past, so this time I would like some expert/hands-on opionions.I am contemplating a new system. The MSI 875P NEO-FIS2R mobo has been highly recommended to me.Any opinions?Mark

P4 2.8/8001024 PC3200P4P800 Deluxe9800Pro ATI/ Omega 3.10When overclocking the FSB beyond about 233 I get trapezoids, squares, and bars that flicker rapidly above the horizon in both full-screen and window mode. The flicker rate is about 10/sec. This occurs regardless of screen resolution, AA, ATI overclocking, etc. The only common denominator is the FSB. I have the AGP/PCI ratio set to 66/33 and memory, CPU, and AGP voltages are all default. This does not appaer anywhere else other than FS9 (although I don't run other games on the PC) and the system is completely stabile and cool at FSB well above 233. Memmory timings are 3-4-4-8-8 (very conservative).Any ideas?

Not a hardware expert, but I think my fan maybe going bad on the CPU. Been making some funny louder noises recently. I have a Gateway P4 423 pin CPU. I spoke to Gateway and they told me there isnt a fan for the CPU and the entire CPU has to be changed. The sales rep tried hard to sell me a new system and thats when I really got suspicious. I cannot afford a new system or motherboard etc. at this time, and having looked at the fan it looks like a part that can be changed or maybe even taken off and cleaned.Any experts here that have done it and can recommend a reputable place to get a fan with good install instructions?I would really appreciate it.ThanksBill

Hello,Currently I have a Geforce 4 Gainward ti 4800SE 128MB. But it is really starting to perform bad lately and most drivers struggle to work with it. I was wondering if anyone thinks it is a good idea I upgrade to a better card or if it is best I stick with what I got for the time being.It's a good card I know, but I have been looking into the ATI Radeon 9600XT cards which seem very appealing, maybe someone can help me here.Merry Xmas.Regards,Alexander Martin.

I noticed a problem with my computer's DVD player the other day. Seems the video lags slightly behind the sound. To put it simply, the voices lag behind movements of mouths and my movies are starting to look like dubbed Japaneese B films. How do I fix this?Here's some of the technical info->PowerDVD XP player on Windows XP->Cyberdrive 12X DVD->Geforce FX5200, dual monitors connected to TV by S-Video to RCA connector->SB Live! 5.1, S/PDIF cable for soundPS: It doesn't seem to be a frame rate problem.

I was thinking of getting an Ipod (www.ipod.com) although its by Apple it works on windows. I foudn two things--although I was looking at the 10gb model--the 20GB model has accessories alone which make it worth the value (the case, dock, and, remote-- are >$100US which is the diff btwn 10 and 20) So my 2 qs are1. Is the IPOD worth it---its definitely a pricey item, I'm willing to shell out the money if it is worth it?2. Would you reccommend those accessories?Any other comments on this would be great? + or - is good!

I notice that a lot of motherboards have integrated sound these days. Many advertise "4 channel" or even "6 channel" audio codecs. When I look at the output jacks on the board, all I see are audio in, audio out, and mic.My speakers have two plugs - one for the front two speakers and one for the back two speakers. How does one hook them up with only one out jack?Best,Bill

Good morning. I got a new pc last September mostly due to FS9 but I also do work with it. Non-FS applications include: internet surfing, binary downloading from newsgroups, MS-OfficeXP applications (especially MSProject), Combat Flight Sim, and Need for Speed HP2. Before I start FS, I blankout my desktop background, disable screensaver and run end-it-all2.Today, my PC is setup as follows and I am looking for opinions on what to improve. I'm only seeing frame rates in the low 20's and high teens from 2d cockpit view and usually less from spot view. Generally, this is independent of what plane I'm flying. I'm set up at 6xAA/16xAF from ATI's control panel. AI traffic …

This is a strange one....:)This morning I opened my AVSIM URL to check the latest at our favorite site, and got an IE error (the one that XP asks you if you wish to send a report or not, and then the app closes down). Trying a few other sites and getting the same error, I re-booted.My default page came up OK, but the same issue with the AVSIM site again. And then with all sites (after trying the AVSIM site).Re-booted again, tried approx. 10 other URL's with no problem, then the AVSIM site- same problem and after that none of the 10 sites I had successfully tried before worked.I'm at work now, and haven't had time to look at this any further at home. And this is the AVSI…

Hi GuysAny advice - I have a system that is 2.6 Intel processor with 1gig ddr ram and 128mb 4x agp video card [actually N Vidia mx440 8x agp card limited by the MB to 4x] and 30gb 7200 hard drive.When using FS9 I can never get any frame rates higher then 15 to 20 with all FS settings turned down and 10-12 fps with everything turned up and some weather. [Low density scenary area at 1024 res] - however every few seconds the frame rate jumps to 30/40 momentarily and then drops again - I have no anti-virus software running. My system also suffers a stutter - slight but noticeable, especially in turns - I was just wondering if anyone thinks I have something happenning to slo…

Hey guys i need a final opinion is it worth replacing the card with an ATI Radeon 9600XT ? ( Connect 3D ATI Radeon 9600XT ) To Be More specific.... thanks all HELP is Apreciated

Getting all my ducks in a row for new system build.. I only fill my head with the "tech talk" when I need it so have to get up to speed now.I'm looking at the Asus MBs and can only see a chip set difference between the Asus P4C800 Deluxe or a P4P800 Deluxe. Is this correct ?P4P with the 865PEP4C with the 875P Any real advantage in one over the other for sims ?In the past I've built with Asus and Soyo and have had good systems with both (for their time)So far, I'm planing on using: P4 3.2 CPU (with Thermaltake volcano 7+ HSF cooler) 1gb DDR PC3200 400mhz,(with memory cooling fan) ATI Radeon 9800Pro 120gb WD HDAudigy 2 sound card 450w power supply with 5 fan caseWindows…

First my AGP video card was acting very wierd, it would freese up. While it was frozen the PCI video card seamed to be working fine, I could use the second moniter with no problem. Any graphically intense program would freese up the computer though. I removed the AGP card and for two days the computer worked fine, since the PCI card poots FS didnt run well but it stoped freezing up. After two days went by, the computer will no longer start up at all. It acts as if its unpluged. After checking it is pluged in and I havent blown a fuse I'm trying to confirm that I need to replace the power supply so I dont so it needlessly.thanks for any input

Is there a way to remove all trace of a joystick from a USB port. I know CH Products offers a program to remove joysticks from ports, but only for CH joysticks. Mine is a Sidewinder.Thanks for the info.Danny

A little help from the experts please. Got an ATi 9800 non-pro at a great price and would like to overclock it to 9800 Pro speeds. Have read that the cards are identical except for the BIOS. Do not want to get into

I have the above system (AMD FX-51 3200) DirectX 9.0b with 9800 ATI Radeon, and the frame rates are excellent, although the picture quality is not half as sharp as Nvidia.The problems I have are:1.Very Nosiy Fan ! (like FX 5800)2.Excellent FPS 55 (1280 x 1024) + (up to 180+!!) 800 x 600 !!, but the images are not as sharp as the Nvidia cards. (I am on the verge of swapping it I think for 5950).3.The refresh rates on my Monitor are not good, I can never get the refresh rates above 70 hz at 1280 x 1024 in 32 bit when flying FS2002. Even though my desktop refreshes at 150Hz.I never had these problems with the Nvidia cards.I don't want anybody else to make the same mistake !G…

Hi All.I am going to up-grade yet again, this time to an Intel based board and a Intel P4 3.0GHz CPU with Hyperthreading,all 800MHz Front Side Bus. I am looking forward to the general performance increases, but I am slightly optomistic as to any issues I will have with some of the posts that I have read about problems with Hyperthreading and FS9, some have issues while some say they don't have any problems and have found FS9 to run great!thanks for any feedback you give,and may I take this oportunity to wish everyone a fantastic Xmas and a Great New Year for 2004.Steve,

Hello everyone, I just installed my Asus Radeon 9800XT. I am ###### to say that it is messed up when it comes to directX. (See attached pic.) Anyone else have this problem? I tried using Asus's drivers that come with the card. . .didn't work. Then installed the ATI Cat3.9s from their website. . .reinstalled directX 9.0b. . .still looks like the pic. What a waste. . .so far.-drewKLGBhttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/52627.jpg

I've built several PC's and always made DVD/CD drive one Master and the other Slave when I have them daisy-chained on an IDE bus.Today, I had to purchase a replacement DVD drive for a Dell machine that she had purchased some time ago. Both the existing (good) drive and the one that I replaced were in CS mode. I made the replacement DVD RW drive also CS, so as not to cause any other issues.Are there special IDE cables for CS? What advantage is there to configuring drives like this? This is not the first proprietary machine I've seen with CS CD/DVD drives. Is there any advantage to reconfiguring the drives to MS/SL, and would this need a new IDE cable?Thanks, the one d…

Hi all,I'm about to upgrade my sys, and later was looking for some precessor options... On my search through the net, I've noticed that there aren't AMD processors much higher then 2Ghz, while the P4 can get as high as 2.8Ghz... So, if I would to choose between an Athlon machine 2.*Ghz(2000+, 3000+, etc.) not so powerful as the P4 2.4Ghz, or the P4 2.4 itself, wich one would you recommend me buying(considering that all other specs would be the same in both cases)???? Many Thanks,Lucas.

Does anyone have an opinion on each one of these and the respective companies?? I am on the verge of a purchase and just wanted some thoughts....I am still considering building my own but that is only one of the options.Thanks in advanceAndy

I am looking for a speaker update since the ones I use now need replacing. I'm looking at the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1's, mainly because my friend says they are excellent quality speakers I heard good reviews on them.Question is, will I hear any quality loss if I run them with my ESS AudioDrive ES1969 or will I need to get like an Audigy to take full advantage of them? An Audigy does have a lot more features, but is it worth the money for just a 2 channel soundsystem?Thanks a lot,

Well I was so disappointed with this whole mess with the 9800pro "see other post" that I was going to do an upgrade of my machine but that will run about 1100.00 and I am sure some headaches.I decided to go with an ALIENWARE P4 2.8 here are the specs hope you gurus approve because the price is not cheap $1550.00 but I hear they make great solid machines.I did not order it until tomorrow because I am contemplating going with the 3.0GHz P4 for an extra 75.00.I really hope FS9 runs alot better than my current rig.I like the idea of the SATA and the CorsairXMS but would of preferred a FX5900 but was too much $$$ and maybe a ASUS MO-BO1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Supp…

I need some help please. I have been told that the MAC G4 PowerBook with software like Virtual PC will not satisfactorily run FS 2004. Is that true? If so is thee any way to run it on my MAC? I assume there is no MAC version of that flight simulator--is that correct? TIALew443

Hi everyone, I posted this in cockpit builders but maybe its more well placed here ----I've done quite a bit of homework on this subject, but I cant quite get a conclusive idea of what I should pursue.I have a XP2800 processor, and 512MB DDR RAM. What I ideally want is 3 monitors -- one center, one center-left and one center-right. I'd also like to run a smaller monitor for main instruments.Isn't this possible with FS9's ability to simply undock a window and drag it to the appropriate monitor? I hear from some that usually this hits framerate too much and is unusable.I also hear from some that have a Matrox Parhelia that this is quite possible. But I don't hear much from …