Laptop computers vs. FS2002, maybe FS2004 COF

NWilkinson · 02-21-2003, 09:23 PM

As I head off to flight school in May, I'm forced to leave behind a crap Celeron 333 computer that I've been wanting to replace for such a long time now, and now that I have the money, and I definatly need a computer, I think I'm gonna get a laptop. Any of you computer guinesses out there know if a good Laptop with a P4 2.0GHz 512Ram and a decent 3D card would get me nice frame rates? I don't need alot, just maybe, 20 or 30 fps with all settings on medium. Right now I get 20 fps with my scenery settings on low.

http://home.satx.rr.com/nw02/graphics/bsbannernrw.jpg

**ilove2ski42** · 02-21-2003, 11:35 PM

I own a laptop and desktop. My desktop is:
Custom-built
AMD Athlon XP 1800+
Elitegroup KS75A mobo
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128 mb
512 mb DDR PC2100 RAM

My Laptop:
Dell Inspiron 8100
1.0 ghz P3
512 mb SDRAM
32 mb GeForce 2

My laptop will run FS decently with the sliders at modest levels, getting 25 FPS or so w/ everything near low. My desktop on the other hand, gets 20 FPS w/ all sliders maxed in the air, and around 15 at most airports. I could get much better performance with a better CPU, since my graphics card is basically over-kill for my current CPU (i got the Radeon for a great price though). Therefore, once the new dual-channal DDR is available, i'll bite the bullet and upgrade to a 3.06 ghz P4 and whatever ASUS mobo takes both Serial ATA & Dual-channal DDR & stick everything together for FS: COF. That's the beauty of desktops. A laptop may be able to match a desktop's performance in most areas out of the box, but after a year or two, a desktop can be upgraded as required, whereas a laptop gets obsolete quickly for the latest FS versions.

I know not everyone is a hardware nut & upgrades his/her hardware every 1-2 yrs or so, but that's the fun of FS... so far it's almost required it!

If I were you, if you really need a laptop, i'd get a cheap, relatively small & light one with good batter life and a DVD. Then with the money you saved not buying a "desktop replacement" machine, i'd go out & build your own desktop for use as a FS machine, it's really not that hard!

If you really only want one computer, and are determined to get a laptop, i'd max it out as much as you can (except for RAM, get as little RAM from the manufactuarer, since it's so cheap from crucial & best buy these days), since laptops are very hard to upgrade.

Good Luck with whatever you choose!

==============
Ben Peters
WWA6605
VATSIM KZLC
Senior Student
Visit my Round the World website:
http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/wwrtw

tjkotula · 02-22-2003, 02:56 PM

The best laptops these days typically involve a P4 processor in the 2.0-2.4 Ghz range, 512 MB of DDR memory, Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics card, CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo drive, 30-40 GB Hard drive, 15" XGA Display, and a 2.1 external speaker setup like Altec Lansing's AVS300 (2 speakers, 1 subwoofer) for when you are flying or working at a desk. Desktop Replacement laptops of this sort tend to be very heavy (8-10 lbs.).

If you need something portable to carry to every class with you and have around $2500-3000 to spend I personally would consider Ben's advice. Get something thin and light w/ a 800-1000 Mhz Mobile P3 or 1.6-1.8 Ghz Mobile P4, onboard graphics/sound and a 14" TFT display (something in the $999 range from Dell or one of Sony's cheaper models would cut it) and then build yourself a good desktop system for flightsim with the $1500-2000 you save.

Tim Kotula

XP 1800+ o/ced to XP2000+ (1.67Ghz)
MSI KT3 Ultra Motherboard
512 MB Crucial PC2100 DDR
OC Systems Enhanced GeForce 4 Ti4200 64 MB DDR o/ced to 340/660 Mhz.
Sound Blaster Live! 5.1
10,455 3D Marks

Think you've got computer problems? You haven't until you've installed the latest version of FS!

**Mikefly562** · 02-23-2003, 02:47 AM

I have a compaq presario 1525US laptop and I get great frame rates for FS2002. I'm averaging about 30-40 fps during flight and in heavy traffic/airport areas, I get about 15-30 fps. I have my sliders maxed out (except for AI, I have set to norm). FS2002 on the laptop has been excellent. The specs are as follows:

P4 2.4 GHz
512 MB DDR RAM (266 MHz)
32 MB Video Card (ATI Radeon 7500 series)
15" SXGA display
40 GB Harddrive (4200 RPM)
Windows XP Pro

I also have norton system works and keep my system operating well, and ran MSCONFIG to minimize the amount of programs that startup, so that more resources can be allocated for the simulator.

I heard many good things about the ATI radeon 9000 series, but it was too far out of my price range went I bought my laptop last year.

Good Luck with FS2002!