Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - Best PC specs for the money?

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support | Best PC specs for the money?

DVA6823
Captain, B737-800

Joined on December 28 2008
Everett 500 Club
Millennium Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary

MI USA

1,131 legs, 1,777.0 hours
24 legs, 38.0 hours online
1,052 legs, 1,647.4 hours ACARS
1 legs, 2.1 hours event

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 07:30 ET by Michael Winks

Perhaps a common question, but I am interested in expert advice on a new PC specs as of October 2010 - budget close to $1,000. Some research states that FSX runs better on older hardware??? (yet I also want to run the latest software programs fast). And the graphics card is most important to get the best FPS.

For $1,065 before shipping, I have the following from iBuypower - Paladin F725
http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Gamer_Paladin_F725/c/2407721

- Intell Core i7950 (4x 3.06GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
- Memory 6 GB (2 GBX3) DDR3-1333 Corsair
- NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 - 1 GB [$91 to upgrade to GTX 460 - 1 GB]
- 1 TB Hard Drive 16M Cache, 7200 RPM, 3.0gb/s Single Drive (no SSD)
- 3D Premium Surround Sound Onboard
- Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100)
- Zalman Z7 Gaming Case (see photo) 700 watt power supply, ASUS P6T SE otherboard
- liquid CPU Cooling System (Standard 120mm Fan and Heatsink)
- Windows 7, 2.1 channel stereo with subwoofer

Any issue noted with this specific hardware?
Is upgrading to the GTX 460 card worth the additional $90? What could I drop such as the processor to i5 to keep in budget?
Is iBuypower reputable, and are there issues purchasing here vs. Dell, HP, etc?
Most important is to run FSX at highest stettings as possible, secondly I would like the higher processor to keep up with the latest software.

Thank you for the feedback before I pull the trigger.

Michael Winks

Captain, B737-800

DVA7168
Captain, B747-400
OLP

Joined on April 06 2009
Everett 250 Club
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"CPL/IFR "A GOOD PILOT IS ALWAYS LEARNING""
Northeastern United States

348 legs, 1,580.7 hours
107 legs, 366.5 hours online
237 legs, 995.8 hours ACARS
12 legs, 29.5 hours event

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 08:23 ET by Salvatore Catanzaro

Michael ,its a nice pc,but my opinion u don't need to spend all this money.,i have just Dell vostro 200 and with some upgrade i can do everything
i need to do.Michael this is just my opinion,but like I sayd its a nice pc.

Salvatore Catanzaro

Captain, B747-400

DVA364
Captain, A330-300

Joined on October 23 2001
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Everett Century Club
Double Century Club

"COWBOY UP!"
Carrollton, GA

276 legs, 507.7 hours
5 legs, 6.5 hours online
236 legs, 390.0 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 09:56 ET by Ralph Templeman

I bought an asus desktop two yearsago and it's a 2duo quad core. 8 gigs of ram and 750 gig hard drive...I love my computer and it only cost me 600.00 dollars It isn't the best, but it works for me.

Ralph Templeman

Captain, A330-300

DVA4965
Senior Captain, B737-800

Joined on September 07 2007
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Saratoga Springs, UT USA

1,195 legs, 3,500.8 hours
566 legs, 825.5 hours online
1,174 legs, 3,437.6 hours ACARS
26 legs, 51.6 hours event

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 12:17 ET by Alan Cluff

Salvatore and Bill, are you both running FSX?

Alan Cluff

Senior Captain, B737-800

DVA8622
First Officer, B777-200

Joined on April 14 2010
Century Club

"We're off, like a heard of turtles."
Commack, NY USA

189 legs, 783.0 hours
182 legs, 751.4 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 16:12 ET by Ethan Olshever

In my opinion, if there is a 500 or 750GB option, go with it. 1TB is waaaaay more than you'll ever need. I have 500GB on my laptop, and my FSX folder is only 60 or so GB. I heard, also, that i5 is more than enough for FSX, although the i7 is better. If I were you, I'd go for the card update, unless you can find a better one...

Good luck!

Ethan Olshever

First Officer, B777-200

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 16:53 ET by Salvatore Catanzaro

Yes Alan.I do.

Salvatore Catanzaro

Captain, B747-400

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 17:25 ET by Alan Cluff

Some of you won't like this post but I want to help Michael with his question and set proper expectations. Please know that I am in no way berating anyone for their choice of computers. We all have what we have and can afford and we fly in all kinds of environments.

FSX may not please you if you run it on a machine only capable of 15 frames per second. If you really want to use and love FSX then put as much horse power into the machine as you can afford; CPU is huge (take the i7 over the i5) with video and then RAM. I think the machine you have provided specs for is pretty good. You'll still have to tweak FSX to get best possible (on your machine) performance and as many who have been there can tell you, FPS is not the end all to a good FSX experience. It takes time and effort to tweak your system for smooth performance with FPS being only one of the performance indicators. If you're going to settle for 15 FPS then it is best to stay with FS9 which is still a great platform and then you can save some money but get the best you can afford for FSX.

Are you going to overclock this computer? What monitor setup are you running? Some extreme setups using three monitors can suck some frames and it could be valuable for you to know that if you have such a setup. Windows 7 64 bit correct?

Alan Cluff

Senior Captain, B737-800

Posted onPost created on October 19 2010 17:46 ET by Salvatore Catanzaro

Alan ur 100% right .about a personal choice.I know FSX take a lot horse power,and a good the PC is..u still need tweak FSX. Like i say I have Dell Vostro 200 mini tower...its not the best PC but with some upgrade im able to run FSX with 25-30FPS and i use two Monitor...honestly if i have money to spend right now...i would buy a good machine,but right now im good with this;but like u say its a personal choice. Take care Bro.

Salvatore Catanzaro

Captain, B747-400

Posted onPost created on October 20 2010 07:42 ET by Michael Winks

Great feedback from all... thank you. Alan, I appreciete the claficaition on CPU power, then video then RAM. Regarding overclocking that was one of the questions I forgot to ask. For only $20 the distributer will overclock to 10% and $49 to 20%. Given the i7 950 I was going to hold off thinking I could do that later (although, currently I have no idea how). Any thoughts - should I just have it done for the $20? Monitor is my older Dell TV / monitor with pretty good resolution. The thought was to upgrade the monitor at a later date - I have to admit that the video on the curved monitors would be ideal (I would just need to explain this monitor monstrosity on my desk to my better half).

I totally track the need to tweak, and will experiment more with that. I am not sure if many of you have seen some of Jon5700's FSX video. Perhaps some of this video is enhanced, but I truly envy the graphics quality. My goal would be to get something closer to this...
http://www.youtube.com/user/jon5700?blend=1&ob=4

Michael Winks

Captain, B737-800

DVA6077
Captain, B757-200
OLP

Joined on June 28 2008

Cabot, AR USA

86 legs, 280.5 hours
10 legs, 16.4 hours online
83 legs, 268.4 hours ACARS
3 legs, 6.8 hours event

Posted onPost created on October 20 2010 08:36 ET by Bobby Allison

Michael, I think that's a great deal for the hardware involved, and the fact that you don't have to assemble it yourself. I'm a system builder myself, so I'm always building the newest when I have the money, or upgrading. I think the charge for overclocking is a bit overpriced, for nothing more than BIOS changes that take less than 5 minutes; but maybe they put a full 24 hours of stress testing on it to ensure the overclocking is successful.

I would go stock speed first, if I were you, and see how happy you are with it.

And we expect to hear results and see screenshots!

Bobby Allison

Captain, B757-200

DVA7899
Captain, B737-800

Joined on October 29 2009
Online Double Century Club
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"PMDG or go home :)"
Springfield, MO USA

304 legs, 743.8 hours
283 legs, 682.2 hours online
303 legs, 740.0 hours ACARS
30 legs, 47.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on October 20 2010 12:02 ET by Skylar Macminn

Jon5700's videos are all enhanced, and specific for what he is doing. Also keep in mind that each payware plane behaves differently. While I can get 60FPS in my MD-11, the MD88 I can only get ~30. Every scenery is different as well, and behaves different depending on what settings you are using.

I'd personally upgrade from the GTS450 to the GTX460. The 450 while a decent card is no better than the GTS250 -- it's a "cheap" line, and isn't really worth it. The GTX460 will outperform it any day, and is overall the better buy.

Skylar Macminn (DVA7899)

Posted onPost created on October 20 2010 20:02 ET by Michael Winks

After all my Google searching, this is the best FSX hardware feedback yet. Thanks for the opinions on the processor and video card (and talking me into spending another $91 for the GTX460).

Seperately, since I have not yet purchased any payware... next I will be asking the experts the best payware companies for B757 and MD-1 (of course, Skylar's quote pretty much speaks for itself).

Thanks guys.

Michael Winks

Captain, B737-800

DVA8993
Captain, B747-400

Joined on August 14 2010
Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary

"KJBR go Red Wolves"
Washington, DC

188 legs, 845.3 hours
62 legs, 214.0 hours online
188 legs, 845.3 hours ACARS
205 legs, 866.8 hours total

Posted onPost created on October 20 2010 23:17 ET by William Stroud

If you're going to overclock, there's no need to pay for the 950 over the 930

William Stroud (DVA8993)

Posted onPost created on October 21 2010 00:57 ET by Skylar Macminn

William Stroud wrote:

If you're going to overclock, there's no need to pay for the 950 over the 930

Pretty much this. Same bandwidth and cache sizes I believe, which means the only real difference is the stock speeds. Save the money and do a basic overclock on the 930 (I have my i7 920 D0 at 4.0Ghz with a Corsair H50, you can easily get the 930 to ~3.8 on air)

Skylar Macminn (DVA7899)

Posted onPost created on October 21 2010 11:42 ET by Ralph Templeman

I have fsx, but I prefer fs9 as all my payware and scenery payware is for fs9 fsx doesn't seem to work well for me. I don't have the delux version. just fsx.
i've been thinking about upgrading but just not sure if I need to, or for that matter what to get. any suggestions would be appreciated.

Ralph Templeman

Captain, A330-300

Posted onPost created on October 24 2010 20:24 ET by Alan Cluff

I have no intention of highjacking this thread but since the geek squad is already active here I'd like to ask you guys what RAM you are using on your high end systems. I need to purcahse new DDR3 RAM and want your valuable opinions.

Alan Cluff

Senior Captain, B737-800

AFV348
Captain, B747-400

Joined on April 13 2006
International Tourist
Diplomatic Mission
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Online Two Fifty Club
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"fly a heavy or dont fly at all"
Northeastern United States

536 legs, 1,889.5 hours
443 legs, 1,401.1 hours online
515 legs, 1,789.3 hours ACARS
20 legs, 68.7 hours event
842 legs, 2,782.9 hours total

Posted onPost created on October 24 2010 20:32 ET by Michael Schlabowske

Alan Cluff wrote:

I have no intention of highjacking this thread but since the geek squad is already active here I'd like to ask you guys what RAM you are using on your high end systems. I need to purcahse new DDR3 RAM and want your valuable opinions.

gte the best you can afford and the best the motherboard can handle, without knowing your motherboard make/model it would be impossible to tell you

Posted onPost created on October 26 2010 13:16 ET by Alan Cluff

Asus P6T Delux

Alan Cluff

Senior Captain, B737-800

Posted onPost created on October 26 2010 13:23 ET by Skylar Macminn

Alan Cluff wrote:

I have no intention of highjacking this thread but since the geek squad is already active here I'd like to ask you guys what RAM you are using on your high end systems. I need to purcahse new DDR3 RAM and want your valuable opinions.

Agreeing with Michael here, we need more info to tell you that.

If you are using the intel i7 or i5, you require triple channel memory -- so a standard setup would be three sticks of 2GB.

I am presently using OCZ 1600MHz Gold plated memory (3x2GB sticks) which are absolutely fantastic.

I also know that Corsair has some very consistent memory that is very good, so I'd also check into the Corsair 1600Mhz memory as well.

Bearing your chipset and your operating system (32/64bit) you would either want three 2GB sticks, or three 1GB sticks. The P6T Deluxe has (i believe) 6 slots for memory, so you have a bit of room to play with.

Skylar Macminn (DVA7899)

Posted onPost created on October 26 2010 16:06 ET by Alan Cluff

i7 950 CPU running Win 7 64 bit Ultimate

Alan Cluff

Senior Captain, B737-800

Posted onPost created on October 26 2010 17:52 ET by Skylar Macminn

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-227-506&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&AID=10440897&PID=3332167&SID=

Skylar Macminn (DVA7899)

DVA3952
Captain, MD-88

Joined on September 07 2006
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary

"Airbus, Mcdonnell Douglas"
Chicago, IL USA

85 legs, 161.3 hours
51 legs, 106.0 hours online
77 legs, 141.3 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on October 26 2010 20:35 ET by Alex Jevdic

I also suggest locking your frames at 25, the eye can't really tell a difference between that and 60 too well. By locking it you free up the PC's resources for other aspects of gaming.

Alex Jevdic (DVA3952)

Posted onPost created on October 27 2010 00:57 ET by Alan Cluff

Thanks for the info guys. I'd like to stay with DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) but then I should have mentioned that.

Alan Cluff

Senior Captain, B737-800

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