The four-into-six pin with adapter sounds logical to me.I clicked on your link...the card looks great!Getting the 512MB version is a good idea, especially with your use of FSX. If for any reason, my 256 part dies...I will order another X1950 Pro--but with 512MB.I don't expect this latest ATI part (256) to go anywhere soon though, lol!!!I removed my overclock, and at stock speeds it runs 1920x1200 with ease.Cheers!Mitch

Gents -I am already using the 7.1 drivers with my X850XT. When I install my X1950Pro do I have to re-install them??Bruce

Nope!First, go to your Hardware Config Page in XP. Find your Graphics Card and highlight it. Use the option to REMOVE it from the system.Now...turn off your 'pute.Replace your vid card with the new one.Turn on your 'pute.XP will 'poll' the hardware, and say 'found new hardware (X1950 Pro)...searching/finding drivers...XP will find the 7.1's and associate them with your new card.You are done. Go and set up the Cat's the way you like, merely to check that nothing was altered...but if so...reapply what you like.Save, and fly...Mitch

Bruce, just please be careful (prior posts) about E.S.D. Use a wrist strap, or...as I said, to be TOTALLY sure (and no laughing matter) remove the stuff from off your body that GENERATES E.S.D.Plain and simpleAbout the Samsung 245BW. Here is what I have found for using it a few days..One, this model's panel is an 'S' panel (created by Samsung themselves and not sub-contractors. The 'S' is clearly on the right top corner of the tag upon the back. This display is CRYSTAL clear, and vibrant, right out of the box.Another feature that I did not have on the 226BW is an height adjustable base. This REALLY is a 'wanted' feature. It is a dampened mechanism that easily lifts up and down for infinite positions and NOT by a notch/this is it offering. I had not used it before today, because I had to modify the top of my desk to accommodate this beast. :)But..now having it adjusted so my eyes are just below the median line of the screen, is SO much better than angling it, or looking down. So, by using, I found that an adjustable base is a most desirable feature. It is also great to now view the screen for 'movie night at the computer desk'. :)You only know about this stuff by having had the chance to use and work with it over time.Price: I picked up the monitor for $499.99 That's neither high, or low. Was it worth the extra money over the 226BW? (great monitor in its own right)You bet!1. More eye-candy real estate2. You can now utilize pretty well at the top-end of your card's rez.3. Adjustable height , custom level to the user's eyes and pref.

Mitch -Well, I finally got it in---- the X1950PRO that is (but the experience was about the same)!! It didn't go in easy!!! There were two plastic keepers that I had a heck of a time figuring out. Boy, that is flimsy, loosey goosey stuff in there. Not impressed with how Dell puts these things together.I had to holler for my wife to come down the basement to hold a flashlight. She wasn't at all impressed with my installation uniform. Good thing I had forewarned her. Anyway, I have a HNL KOA flt set up for a test ride so I'm going to give it a go right now.Bruce

Right Bruce, I know...the plastic latch at the top of the hold-down rail where in other computers, they are screws. Right...had to figure that out myself as well---how to release it without breaking it in half.And..remember I warned you about the back, bottom of the card slot...that little shoe hold...you figured that one out as well. Good go!Enjoy the card...AND...know that a Birthday Suit has NEVER been responsible for throwing $200.00 odd dollars into the garbage... :)Welcome to the 'naturalist installation club'. ;)You'll love the card, trust me.Cheers!Mitch

Mitch - I think the X1950Pro works pretty good. Not perfect, but somewhat better for sure. There seems to be less stuttering and the quality of the graphics seems a bit better too. Here's a short video taking off from HNL for KOA, but the real test is taxiing and taking off from DEN, EWR and JFK. I'll get to those today and tomorrow.http://www.mediafire.com/?8m0enn0lyoeBruce

Hi Bruce,Now you can do something for us, well actually me ;) but I'm sure there will be others who will also be interested.Watched your video and was very impressed. My attempts at trying to capture a video have always been pretty disastrous and not worth watching because the quality is so poor :(I note your video lasted 110secs and the quality is so much better than any of my efforts. 12,665KB for 110secs...how do you do it? What is the resolution of the final product?I would dearly like to inflict some of my flying escapades on my son who lives with his family and 3 of our grandchildren in Albuquerque, but this aspect of simming has so far eluded me.Any chance of a step-by-step guide when you have a moment or two...or three...or four?!I have FRAPS ver. 2.8.2 (build 6488), so there are no restrictions on the length of the video.Thanks!Regards,Mike

Hi Mike!!Sure, I'll help you all I can, but I am not an expert and have limited computer knowledge. First, I use:* FSRecorder for FSX It's FREE and it is excellent (the FSX instant replay doesn't work very well)* Fraps V.2.91(or whatever the latest is)* Windows Movie Maker in XP (I think I'll get a good video editor sometime though)If you have these let me know and we'll go from there. What would be ideal is that you come visit your grand kids in ABQ and stop by and spend a day with me in DEN!!! Hah!! We'd both learn something!!Anyway let me know if you are ready to go with these and I'll, in the mean time whip up a little guide, if you will. Right now It's cocktail time here in the Rockies and the wife wants to know where her glass of wine is!! Here's another video:http://www.mediafire.com/?8m0enn0lyoeBruce

Hi Bruce,Yep, all in place and raring to go!Enjoyed the video...again ;)We are coming across in October for the Balloon fiesta. Unfortunately, at the moment our itinery doesn't include Denver, but, you never know, things can change.Cheers!Mike

Mike - Here's some thoughts on video making. I hope they help. Keep in mind I am no authority on this!!!1.) Pre determine scope of video e.g.. full flight or partial. Visualize the ENTIRE video at the start. You want an appropriate beginning and a logical ending.2.) Break flight into segments e.g.. Clearance & Taxi, Take off & Climb, Cruise, Descent & Final, Landing, Taxi to Gate. Don't try to do it all at once. Do it in smaller segments. 3.) Make sure FRAPS is running at start of flight. In addition to capturing video clips of the airplane moving,use start/stop hot key to record clips of clearance & taxi instructions if desired.Use also to record any ATC instructions, or reply's, throughout flight.4.) In My Documents make a file folder for *video clips* and *movies in progress*. Send all video clips and the saved WMM(Windows Movie Maker) movie file to those folders.5.) You can use FSRecorder to *record* the busy phases such as taxi or take off. Or you can pause and use the *replay* feature at any time and make video clips while watching the play/replay of either. Then make 4-5 second video clips with FRAPS during the playback of either. Making real time video clips during the busy portions of the flight is very difficult. If you are good at taxiing from spot view you can do some here, and of course making clips is easy during cruise. Otherwise use the *record* or *replay* to make video clips from. The *record* feature allows you to capture AI traffic in the recording. The replay feature does not show AI traffic.6.) After you have made video clips of, say, clearance and taxi when you get to the active runway pause the game and minimize FS. Open Windows Movie Maker and, first, delete any prior *Collections* remaining from a previous project. (I found out by accident that data from prior videos builds up indefinitely and bogs down the program). Then *import* video clips one by one and size them before dragging and dropping onto the timeline below. Allow adequate time for things to finalize in all of this or the program can freeze up and you have to *end program* ctrl/alt/delete. Save/Title the movie toward the beginning and frequently click *save* or it may freeze also. You can review/play the timeline at any time using the rewind/arrows etc. Also you can import and insert audio/music(has it's own line) or insert still pictures onto the timeline. Use *transitions* to bridge (fade) between clips and pictures. There are many different ones. After I complete a segment to my satisfaction I save it one more time and close WMM. I then defrag a couple times before maximizing FS and continuing the flight.I would suggest starting out by just making a video of clearance and taxi to the active. Play with it till you get just the way you want it. Then *Save Movie To My Computer* when its done watch it. If you want to make changes or additions you still have the working file(s) and clips etc.Things to keep in mind:* You are the one who is most interested in your videos, others can get bored quickly so keep the whole thing between 4-7 minutes long.* keep most video clips to 4-5 seconds in length, even cut short, or eliminate, some of the atc stuff to keep it moving along. Some clips need to be longer though.* Music helps (in retrospect my Bond video, I sent you, was only semi interesting because of the music and the final audio clip and otherwise would have been a yawner in spots).* Use *titles* and *credits* for additional impact* These are HUGE files and Windows Movie Maker will NOT save a movie much over 7 minutes. So keep them smaller. I have wasted hundreds of hours on videos that WMM would not save (but I have since discovered a way to do it though)Lastly the whole affair is trial and error and you just keep reworking it and experimenting. It will take time to get proficient at it, but it is actually very easy and a lot of fun to do, and you will get better as time goes on. Windows Movie Maker is fun to use, but I have been reading about much better programs.After re-reading this it sounds confusing and I could show you what I know in about an hour. It would seem quite easy in person and much more logical.E-mail me at [email protected] anytime with questions. More than glad to help.Bruce ScottDenver, CO (only 450 miles from ABQ)

Hi Bruce,Fantastic! Thank you VERY much! I do appreciate the effort you have made to get me started on this new and interesting adventure.Regards,MikeBTW, I don't think you picked up on the fact that the second movie link seems to be the same as the first ;)

Mike - No I didn't realize I posted the same link twice. I see that now.Here's the one I intended:http://www.mediafire.com/?b0ymmlyv321and here's one that is better:http://www.mediafire.com/?1pgh0bzhjioBruce

Wow! I can see I've much to learn.Mike

After reading e-mails regarding Samsung 226BW , I purchased 22" 226BW. I am very satisfied with this monitor. Unfortunately, only disappointment was when I rushed to check LDS-767 2D, my all gauges were OVAL. I was hoping some way it will give me the round shape., but it didn't happen. Now I have to pull the cockpit screen from the edge until, it makes gauges round. That is not unrealistic and and I am getting open space. I reshaped FMC and ASv6 Active Radar and I am keep filling the blank space with them. May be one day some one will develop a patch , then we really full blown Wide Screen with out "OVAL" gauges.Sanal