Hi all, i not really sure this should go in the hardware section..so i'm hopefully not wrong for posting it here.Im about to have a new computer system delivered specs as followsAMD Athlon 64 3400+ Processor Microsoft

If you want my opinion, if you have two different physical drives, then put MSFS on the drive that does not have the pagefile. Otherwise, I don't think it would matter much.

I recommend using WideFS and FSUIPC. WideFS imitates having the flight simulation program on a separate computer and it uses FSUIPC to interface to the computer with the flight simulator installed.Any stand-alone programs, NOT one that places a *.dll file in the flightsim modules folder will work on the computer that has the WideFS Client. Programs, like FSNav don't work this way since they place the *.dll in the modules folder.You could also use WideView but it requires that each computer have a copy of the flight simulation program. It is for a much bigger purpose than WideFS. Actually, some use WideView and WideFS.For your purposes, you want to offload any program to the computer not running the flight simulation software.I personally like using IPX/SPX for my internal LAN interfaces and IP/TCP for only those applications I need to use the internet.W. Sieffert

Thanyou both for your advice, with the two systems being of quite a different performance, would you recommend i put fs on the new system with the better graphics , memory and processor, and install addon on software to the other then? In respect of scenery the system will come with 2 sata drives configured in a raid setup, would you reccommend i put my secenery on this drive aswell, or take one of my ide drives out of my other system and put it into the new system and install the scenery there?In respect of connecting the two systems together and to the net how would you recommend i do that? I have a Broadband cable modem which presently plugs into a LAN/NIC card on my old computer. I have a network kit already but not set up.James

I have read that using a RAID configuration does speed up HD access but I am not sure ny how much, perhaps Bill can give you more advice.If the above is true I would suspect that putting another HD into the new system and using that for the OS and the RAID HDs for FS would be best.To use FSUIPC and Widefs all you need do is connect the 2 computers together using a cross-over UTP cable. You need a network connection on the new system (already on-board) and a second network card in the old system. The existing connection to your cable modem stays and the new card connects to the new system.As Bill says, using IPX/SPX between the 2 PCs is a good idea but putting IPX on an XP PC can be a bit of pain.On the old system you would run things like SB, AVC, weather programs, ServInfo, and browse the Internet.One limitation of the above is that your new system running FS cannot have access to the Internet and ceating and joining 'private' MP sessions will not work. However most people who fly on line are quite happy with that set-up.If you want/need access to private MP sessions then you have to give the FS PC Internet access, the easiest way is to use the in-built ICS, just make sure you turn off the XP firewall.Good luck and I am sure you will be very happy with that new system, a nice spec.

Thanks for all your help?

I cannot answer anything about using RAID vs IDE and speed.As far as connecting the computers to a LAN and the internet, I recommend using a Router/Switch (wired/wireless) connected in the following manner:Cable Modem --> Router/Switch --> Multiple computersThe router will supply the IP address to the internal computers and also show one IP address to the internet. The router will provide a hardware firewall, which may need some ports opened when using Multiplayer over the internet. It will not be a problem internally.Adding IPX/SPX to any WinXP machine was just a matter of add the protocols.Also use some type of virus software to check for any viruses you allowed through the system.I certainly would use the better computer to run the flight simulation software and offload any other application attached via WideFS/FSUIPC to the slower computer.W. Sieffert