Eric,Phase 2, the 800/900 version will allow for networking the guages. This was discussed a long time ago, so If I'm wrong-please correct me ;)JohnP 2.53 GHZ512 RAMWINXPGFORCE 4 128MB Ti4600http://homepage.eircom.net/~eamonnmca/images/logo_ba.JPGwww.bavirtual.co.uk Senior Captain Simflight.com Staff Reviewerhttp://vatsim.pilotmedia.fi/statusindicato...tor=OD1&a=a.jpg

>Phase 2, the 800/900 version will allow for networking the>guages. Ahh, cool. Is this 800/900 version the SU2 thing coming ANY HOUR NOW? :-)Eric L.

>>Phase 2, the 800/900 version will allow for networking the>>guages. >>Ahh, cool. Is this 800/900 version the SU2 thing coming ANY>HOUR NOW? :-)>>Eric L.No ;) The 800/900 is a whole other product. SU2 is just a patches/enhancements for the 600/700.

>No ;) The 800/900 is a whole other product. SU2 is just a>patches/enhancements for the 600/700.What ? a patch? Who needs a patch? I'm sure nobody's waiting for a patch. This aircraft is already perfect and I don't see how it could possibly be improved :-)Is anybody waiting for a patch here?Eric L.

:-xxrotflmaoGood one Eric! You obviously don't know what you are missing! ;-)Cheers,

Networkable gauges!?!!? (Making Homer Simpson drooling noise)Is this on the same idea as the PIC767 version 2? Where you can have the panel networked in such a way, that you can have two guys running the NG, one in the left seat, the other in the right seat, and have all gauges/switches/displays change according to what the other does? HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE????? (Making Homer Simpson drooling noise)Now, again I ask, backward's compatible for the 600/700, and it sounds like we're going to have to purchase the 800/900 for this to work. That's cool, another plane in the hangar!Joe G.

Joe,I dont think PMDG are following PICV2 down that line yet. I meant networked gauges similar to those created by Project Magenta,meaning you could effectively create your own Home Cockpit without the need to buy the more expensive Project Magenta Glass instruments...Sorry for the confusion ;)JohnP 2.53 GHZ512 RAMWINXPGFORCE 4 128MB Ti4600http://homepage.eircom.net/~eamonnmca/images/logo_ba.JPGwww.bavirtual.co.uk Senior Captain Simflight.com Staff Reviewerhttp://vatsim.pilotmedia.fi/statusindicato...tor=OD1&a=a.jpg

No, no. No confusion, just wishful thinking, eh?Glad to see though that the gauges will be able to be used over a network, home cockpit here I come!Joe G.

What if I just wanted to offload the CPU processing to another computer (and not do a homebuilt cockpit) ... would this feature provide that capability?

>What if I just wanted to offload the CPU processing to>another computer (and not do a homebuilt cockpit) ... would>this feature provide that capability?You will need to use a screen on the second computer, and display the panel on this screen. You cannot use a second computer to just compute stuff that would be displayed on the main computer (well, you could, but it's not worthwile). What eats fps when the panel is shown is, for a large part, the CPU needed to calculate drawing of these beautiful OpenGL antialiased gauges (there are specific OpenGL accelerated graphic boards, but you can buy a full computer for the price of one of these boards).One way to offload the CPU is to have a second computer do this calculation AND drawing. All the main CPU has to do is send the parameters (speed, alt, pitch, etc) over the network.If the panel has reimplemented the autopilot logic (does not use FS integrated autopilot), then you can also run the FMC and MCP on the second computer. Only the action on the flight controls will be sent back to the main computer.You don't need a full home cockpit, but you need 2 computers, 2 screens and a fast network between them.Eric L.

Thanks Eric, makes sense. I didn't consider the fact that drawing the realistic guages would be the most CPU intensive part. I was thinking enough cpu cycles could be saved by offloading the strictly computational aspects of an MCP/AP to make it worthwhile, but probably not.

I just made some tests to see exactly how many fps were eaten by the panel itself. It's quite easy to do. Start a flight, and press shift-2 to hide the main panel. Look at the frame rate counter. You can show/hide each panel or other window by pressing shift-2 to shift-9 (one press show it, one press hide it). Note the frame rate drop for each panel window.I want the smoothest possible PFD/ND/EICAS so I set the refresh rate to 25.Even though I get acceptable numbers (in the 20+ range at KSEA, using an XP3200+/1GB/Ti4800, all sliders maxed except autogen off), I'm dreaming of the 30+ I get when the panels are hidden.Now, I have that second good PC sitting there that I can do nothing with at the moment. How nice it would be to be able to run the panel on this second PC.I surely wish the panel would be able to run on a second PC.Eric L.