Hardware Suggestions Requested.

[codebreaker]

My primary PC is a dog of a Dell. I am in the process of acquiring hardware, designing and building a small home cockpit. I have an old ATX case so I have a case and power supply to build a dedicated FS machine. What I would like is suggestions for hardware. Specifically CPU, RAM, video card and sound card.

I am not looking for a totally turbocharged experience. I WOULD like to get at least 20 frames/sec with essentially maxed out realism and video sliders full frame 1024X768 32 video.

BUT

It needs to be on a budget. I want suggestions for the minimum CPU(type, clock speed), RAM, Video card and sound card to do the job. I can scrounge for hard disk and lan card.

I used to be a PC tech (before my hair got gray and they stopped wanting to hire guys my age) so I am conversant in PC terminology and technical jargon.

Thanx in advance.

[aircav1970]

Hi Bill,first,are you planning on staying with FS9 or will you be up-grading to FSX in the near future? If FSX is planned on then the hardware selection becomes much more critical as it it take a lot of CPU power to run it.If FS9 is the only sim to be used,you can get away with a much less expensive build and get great results. Let us know and a lot of the guys here can give you a proper course to follow,also browse the Hardware forum and check out some of the system builds that have been done recently.Best of luck on your project,Gary

[codebreaker]

aircav,
For the time being, I will be staying in FS9. I know there are probably neato bells and whistles that FSX has that are not in FS9 but I don't have them and don't know about them and am satisfied with FS9.

At the moment I have a 21" CRT-based monitor that I picked up years ago for $65. When I build the cockpit I will use that monitor for it and use the Dell monitor that came with the system for the general purpose system (i.e. the one I have now).

Also, I grew up poor so I learned to be satisfied with what I have. I would like to get better performance from FS9 but do not have just a whole heck of a lot to spend. Between a birthday coming up in a week and my wife dropping two bills at Sam's for rugs on Saturday, I can get away with eBay-ing the yoke and switch panel. That will be the foot-in-the-door to build a cockpit - in a few months. Once the cockpit is built, then I can work on the computer upgrade.

Of course there is an excellent chance that the world as we know it will end before Jan 15 of next year and everything after the cockpit will go by the wayside.

[Paxx]

... I want suggestions for the minimum CPU(type, clock speed), RAM, Video card and sound card to do the job. I can scrounge for hard disk and lan card.

...
What is your budget range and what about a motherboard?

[codebreaker]

But I'm going to be picking things up on eBay and whatnot so I do not have a set pricepoint.

I am much more interested in how much CPU, RAM to get. Also figure on decent video card. MB will depend on CPU and lotta times you can get them as a bundle.

Right now I am running WinXP 32bit on a Celeron at 2.53GHz with 2GB of ram and an NVidia GeForce 8400GS PCI graphics adapter with 512MB onboard RAM.

I was figuring on a dual core or quad core CPU and a faster graphics. Not sure about system RAM but I have heard that a 32bit OS can't see but 3GB of RAM anyhow so don't see what 4GB would do for me.

Suggestions?

[Paxx]

For FS9 an Intel E7400 based system with 2GB DDR2 PC6400 RAM and a Nvidia 250GTS will do what you want.

A little more expensive, an Intel i3 or i5 based system with 4GB DDR3 RAM and a Nvidia 260GT will provide a little more system power for FS9 and also be fairly good for FSX when overclocked.

[codebreaker]

PAXX,
I found this on eBay. Cheap so far - 12 bids $56.01 - but bidding is open till midnight of the 5th. Here're the specs: (parts are used)

Asus Formula Rampage motherboard
Intel Core2 QUAD Q6700 SLACQ 2.66 GHZ/8M/1066/O5A
Radeon HD 4650 PCIE 1GB DDR3
Domino ALC Advanced Liquid Cooling
2 ea WD 640GB SATA/16MB CACHE WD6400AAKS
SUPREME FXII AUDIO CARD ASUS
8GB DDR2 RAM

1. Will that do what I want it to do? (i.e. run FS9)
2. Is the price reasonable?

TIA,
CB

[Paxx]

The video card is a little weak, but yes that system would run FS9 pretty much maxed.

Have not really shopped used stuff, so hard for me to say. If all is in good condition and the mobo/CPU/memory hasn't been abused with bad overclock attempts I would say yes it is a good deal.

[codebreaker]

Thanx for the comeback, Paxx. I'll keep what you wrote as a reference. Somebody has already outbid me on the MB/CPU combo. Way more'n I can afford now anyhow. Think I'll have to pick everything up piecemeal up the road. Done spent a ton o' dough (at least for me) last coupla weeks or so. Got a used Saitek yoke in excellent condition for 70$ and about to get a used Saitek switch panel (you know, light switches, starter, GEAR LEVER/INDICATOR) IN ORIGINAL BOX for $50. With CH pedals I'll have the nucleus of a decent home cockpit by the end of next week. With a 19" CRT monitor to look at I should be flying pretty fine.

Thanx, Buddy