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tomol
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Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:45 pm

Hi, so I'm a flight simulator enthusiast and this is what I want out of the game;

To run on 3 screens,
have at least 20-25fps ,
be able to install add-ons that will run seamlessly,
be able to max out the graphics.

So I have been looking at computer components and for the new computer this is what I am thinking;

-CPU - Intel Core i7-2600K (3.4GHz, 8MB Cache)
-Motherboard - Asus P8Z77-V LX: USB 3.0 SAATA 6GBs, ATI CrossfireX
-RAM - 16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz
-GPU - 2x 1GB AMD RADEON HD6790
- Hard Drive - 500GB 3.5" SATA-3 6GB/s
-Power supply - CORSAIR 650W Enthusiast Series TX650 V2-80
-CPU cooling - Standard intel cooler

Including all standard sound cards and network facilities, Will all of this be compatible? and will it run the game how I want it?

Thanks for the help guys much appreciated!

Ps. Been researching more and ive found that maybe 2 NVIDIA cards would be better in SLI mode as the clouds for the AMD cards dont work in fsx what you think and which cards?
 
JustAnEngineer
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:56 pm

tomol wrote:
Hi, so I'm a flight simulator enthusiast...
Welcome to the Tech Report!

Instead of two Radeon HD6790 graphics cards, I believe that you would be better off with a single Radeon HD7850 graphics card. You could do even better in 3D games if your budget could stretch to a Radeon HD7950 or if there were actually such a thing as a GeForce GTX680 that was ever stocked at a reputable e-tailer.

You would get better processor cooling with less noise with an aftermarket heatsink like the CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Evo.
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tomol
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:12 pm

Ok, sounds good and not too expensive but I have heard that AMD cards suffer from FSX cloud coverage am I correct and what fps do you reckon I would get on 3screens using eyefinity each of resolution 1280x 1024 pixels using the AMD HD7950?
 
JustAnEngineer
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:16 pm

Why would you use monitors with such low resolution? Do your existing monitors use DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI or analog VGA input?

P.S.: After reading up on FSX benchmarking, it appears that the simulation is almost completely bound by CPU performance. It cannot take advantage of a top-of-the-line GPU. Radeon HD7850 should have plenty of oomph for your three small screens.
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tomol
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:37 pm

Yeah I need the top end Gpu for the drawing of all 3 monitors and that's just what they always run at, they're all VGA connectors
What would you recommend gpu wise? And you reckon my processor is sufficient enough?
 
JustAnEngineer
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:39 pm

Do your monitors have DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort digital connections that you could use instead of the VGA analog connections?
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tomol
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:49 pm

no why? What effects does that have?
 
geekl33tgamer
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 5:36 pm

tomol wrote:
no why? What effects does that have?

He's asking because it will have some degree of importance when choosing a GPU. None in the high end ship with a VGA connector these days on the card, let alone 3 of them. You will need DVI, DP and / or HDMI to VGA adaptors at additional cost.

Seccondly, I have FSX and my system spec is in my sig. I play at 1920 x 1200 on a single screen and typically get 15-25 FPS at a busy / dense airport, and 60 FPS (v-sync limit) constant when in the sky. The detials are all set to the max. The game doesnt use Crossfire (not a concern to you, but...) it also doesn't use any more than 2-3 cores of my available 8 (of the 2-3 is uses, they sit at 100% load).

This game is constrained the most by CPU performance, and trust me on this, my CPU isnt very good with just a few threads (So dont consider any FX CPU for THIS title - FX CPU's are better at other stuff). Your best off aiming high, very high in the CPU area for one with really good per-thread performance when lightly loaded. Anything that carries the name "SandyBridge" from the i5 and better will be good for this game. The i7 you've listed is better still, but the extra HT benifits of HT have no impact on this games FPS?

As a note, what I have found is the slider for autogen scenery and terrain mesh and ground detail affect the CPU load a LOT. I have to reduce this to medium levels to keep the FPS above 25 at the dense airports (Leave everything else at max).
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JustAnEngineer
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:13 pm

Getting three analog VGA outputs may be a challenge. Have you considered a monitor upgrade?
Cheap 27" 1080p TN LCD monitor with DVI input:
http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/planar-px ... 23412.aspx
Inexpensive 21½" 1080p e-IPS LCD monitor with DVI & DisplayPort inputs:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... u=320-2736
Inexpensive 23" 1080p e-IPS LCD monitor with DVI & DisplayPort inputs:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod ... u=320-2807


We could start with a hot-clocked Radeon HD7850 for $260 +7 shipping or $275 +7½ shipping, or you could get a stock-clocked version for $240 + 7½ shipping and then overclock it yourself if you wanted more performance.


The first analog VGA monitor can be connected to the graphics card's DVI-I port with a simple adapter dongle for $3½ +3 shipping. Monitor #2 could use HDMI if it had a matching input, but let's leave that one unused (suitable adapters cost $40+). Monitors 3 and 4 must use Mini-DisplayPort.

We can go from Mini-DisplayPort to analog VGA for $22 or $28 +4 shipping. With multiple monitors of the same resolution attached to the same AMD Radeon graphics card, you can use Eyefinity in most 3D games to have a panoramic 3D gaming experience across all three monitors.


P.S.: If you do upgrade to multiple monitors with DVI-D or HDMI inputs, a simple HDMI<->DVI cable is $8 or $8½. A Mini-DisplayPort to DVI active adapter is $29 +2 shipping or $34 +5 shipping. If you get monitors with DisplayPort inputs, a Mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable costs only $6 or $10 (for a long one).
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tomol
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Tue Apr 24, 2012 1:46 am

thanks for the help but I already have all the screens running one one of my NVIDIA cards so I dont have a problem going to set them up the only probleem I have is which GPU to buy as I have heard that fsx doesn't like xfire or sli so probably getting one really good card would be best
 
lonleyppl
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Re: Custom FSX computer spec help please?

Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:03 pm

What everyone is saying is that when you upgrade your GPU you'll be removing the old one, and while the monitor set-up you currently have will work with your current GPU, it will likely not work with whatever you upgrade to.

The AMD 7850 that JAE suggested seems like a good choice though. That being said, FSX seems to be CPU limited, so you should really look into a Sandy Bridge i5, i7 or Ivy Bridge i5, i7 (not sure the Ivy Bridge i5's are out yet).
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