Separate PC for panels

[Rocky_53 1,579]

Ok guys, help appreciated pleeese. I have an older PC which has now become available, it's about 5 years old, an AMD 64 3.4Ghz machine with a Nvidia GT9600 GPU. It actually runs surprisingly well, but it has been replaced with an i7950 OC machine for my office and photoshop work. So... I am slowly moving towards three monitors and a new sim pit, not at the moment though due to finances. However, with the amount of reserach I have done, it appears it could be considerably inexpensive to buy a couple of used 17" lcd's and run the instruments on them. Am I right in thinking this will alleviate extra pressure on the CPU from the main FSX machine? Is this a good idea? If so, can one of you fellas suggest my next move and how to go about things I'd be grateful. A simple link to a dummies answers will suffice Also I am unsure, when I read about networking the computers, how is this done within the confines of FSX? I am completely in the dark, so have patience with me....

Edited January 19, 2012 by Rockliffe

[Bob Scott 7,719]

Running part of a panel on a separate PC can really only be done in a fairly restrictive set of circumstances. There are ways to do it with software designed for distributed operation like Project Magenta, or you can run the entire panel in FSX on one PC and use WideView (not to be confused with WideFS) to generate the outside view on one or more secondary PCs. In any event, the setup is fairly complex, and you lose a lot of flexibility (use of VC for example).I used to have a multi-PC setup running a panel using Project Magenta across a couple computers, but as PCs went to multi-core and GPU power increased, I moved away from that. Now I use a second PC to run ancillary functions that interface with FS like WX (ActiveSky 2012), ATC (Radar Contact or SquawkBox), Aivla EFB, etc. I use both SimConnect and WideFS for the network connectivity between these supporting applications and FS.

[ZachLW 37]

+1 A multi-PC setup in the OP's scenario makes things very inflexible.Bob, are there any newer programs using WideFS as a medium for FSX? I'm under the impression most modern networked programs are using Simconnect (All of the ones you mentioned which I own). Sorry for the short subject change, Howard. Edited January 19, 2012 by ZachLW

[Rocky_53 1,579]

:sad: :Cry:

[Bob Scott 7,719]

Bob, are there any newer programs using WideFS as a medium for FSX? I'm under the impression most modern networked programs are using Simconnect (All of the ones you mentioned which I own). Sorry for the short subject change, Howard.

Most of the newer stuff uses Simconnect directly, although there are quite a few things that you can do with FSUIPC/WIdeFS that you can't do with SimConnect.Right now I use WideFS for my ATC clients running on a separate PC: either Radar Contact v4 for automated ATC or SquawkBox 4 on VATSIM.

[peroni 541]

Howard, I would think your CPU at 4.6GHz is plenty enough to drive three views considering the instrument panels are not taxing the system much.That assuming you have a way to connect three monitors to it.Alternatively you could attach a 2nd screen to the main pc and move some instrument panels there, then use the old pc with a monitor to display a moving map, charts, atc, weather engine, etc.

Edited January 23, 2012 by peroni

[Rocky_53 1,579]

Howard, I would think your CPU at 4.6GHz is plenty enough to drive three views considering the instrument panels are not taxing the system much.That assuming you have a way to connect three monitors to it.Alternatively you could attach a 2nd screen to the main pc and move some instrument panels there, then use the old pc with a monitor to display a moving map, charts, atc, weather engine, etc.

Hi Manuel, sure, at the moment I run the 24" 1920x1200 HP, which is an absolutely awesome monitor, and on the side a smaller 17" 4x3 monitor for some of the instruments and GPS. At the moment I am completely at odds with things 'cos there is so much information about.

[Bob Scott 7,719]

It's wise to research things carefully, too, because a lot of the multi monitor solutions cost a lot and produce pretty underwhelming results in general use. The danger is that you won't necessarily find out how it works for you until the money is already spent.

Edited January 23, 2012 by w6kd

[Rocky_53 1,579]

It's wise to research things carefully, too, because a lot of the multi monitor solutions cost a lot and produce pretty underwhelming results in general use. The danger is that you won't necessarily find out how it works for you until the money is already spent.

You've hit the nail on the head Bob. In fact as time is progressing and the more I read and advice I listen to, the more I think I may drop the multi monotor scenario and get my hands on a 2550x1600 30" LCD. There are three options from what I see that offer that res, the Apple, Dell and Samsung. All three offer the 16x10 res which to me is important. But once again, I need to try and get an idea of how much performance running a monitor like that is going to cost me. Edited January 23, 2012 by Rockliffe

[Bob Scott 7,719]

You've hit the nail on the head Bob. In fact as time is progressing and the more I read and advice I listen to, the more I think I may drop the multi monotor scenario and get my hands on a 2550x1600 30" LCD. There are three options from what I see that offer that res, the Apple, Dell and Samsung. All three offer the 16x10 res which to me is important. But once again, I need to try and get an idea of how much performance running a monitor like that is going to cost me.

I settled on the single 30" monitor as a solution due to its relative simplicity without bezel masking problems. A 30" screen at normal desktop viewing distance is a huge swath of viewing real estate, and unlike a similarly-sized HDTV at that range, the view is very sharp at 2560x1600 SHD resolution. With that CPU/GPU combo you should be able to push a 30" SHD monitor OK. My CPU is a bit slower than yours, but I run a water cooled overclocked 580 that lets me push up the AA a bit for improved IQ (8xQ with 2xSGSS transparency AA in FSX). I have comfortably smooth frames...but I can drive my frame rate into the weeds if I throw in enough AI traffic, hi-res scenery, HD clouds etc.Not trying to talk you into going that way, but I was in the same boat about 18 months ago. All of the multimonitor solutions proved to be a compromise that really reduced flexibility.

[Kosta 122]

I like the Dell. But I donnnnnnnnnn't like the pricetag on it. But one has to consider it's the IPS panel... must be really good.

[Rocky_53 1,579]

I settled on the single 30" monitor as a solution due to its relative simplicity without bezel masking problems. A 30" screen at normal desktop viewing distance is a huge swath of viewing real estate, and unlike a similarly-sized HDTV at that range, the view is very sharp at 2560x1600 SHD resolution. With that CPU/GPU combo you should be able to push a 30" SHD monitor OK. My CPU is a bit slower than yours, but I run a water cooled overclocked 580 that lets me push up the AA a bit for improved IQ (8xQ with 2xSGSS transparency AA in FSX). I have comfortably smooth frames...but I can drive my frame rate into the weeds if I throw in enough AI traffic, hi-res scenery, HD clouds etc.Not trying to talk you into going that way, but I was in the same boat about 18 months ago. All of the multimonitor solutions proved to be a compromise that really reduced flexibility.

Sure, cheers Bob, I think you've probably confirmed my way forward. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and the last thing I am prepared to do is compromise on visual quality. So a 30" screen is the way forward for me...but of course at 2550x1600

I like the Dell. But I donnnnnnnnnn't like the pricetag on it. But one has to consider it's the IPS panel... must be really good.

Ho Word Not Allowed, sure, everything I've read seems to suggest it's the dog's bollocks. The other options are the Apple and Samsung. The Apple is probably at the bottom of the list with the Samsung in second place. I have a 24" HPZR24W which is a beautiful bit of kit and is only five months old, so if anyone wants to give it a new home!!

[Clutch Cargo 384]

No Rockliffe, go the three monitor route. How else am I goona know if it works good without spending any money, ha! You were gonna be my guinea pig Oh well, I have already plucked down the $$ and bought three 27" Asus displays. So I am already committed (or should be committed). But I think my setup is a tad different than yours. Your setup is strictly for flying, right? Mine is "multi-use" as I can use the multiple displays in a number of fashions besides just FSX. I love the multiple screens as I have so much desktop space now to use. Actually my original plan was to run FS2004 in Eyefinity and fly FSX with just one screen as I was afraid hardware would not be able to keep up with FSX. But that was over a year ago. Since then I've added the 2600K, the 580 and now with the 7970 out thinkng I might be able to actually go Eyefinity with two 7970's loaded. But as mentioned above that's a lot of moola spent (for me around $2500USD) just to see if I get better immersion (can we say addiction here?). Guess I will now have to stalk (ooops, I mean track), another simmer who is going the multi-display route preferable with the 7970's.Let us know how your new big display works out for you.Clutch

[Rocky_53 1,579]

No Rockliffe, go the three monitor route. How else am I goona know if it works good without spending any money, ha! You were gonna be my guinea pig Oh well, I have already plucked down the $$ and bought three 27" Asus displays. So I am already committed (or should be committed). But I think my setup is a tad different than yours. Your setup is strictly for flying, right? Mine is "multi-use" as I can use the multiple displays in a number of fashions besides just FSX. I love the multiple screens as I have so much desktop space now to use.Actually my original plan was to run FS2004 in Eyefinity and fly FSX with just one screen as I was afraid hardware would not be able to keep up with FSX. But that was over a year ago. Since then I've added the 2600K, the 580 and now with the 7970 out thinkng I might be able to actually go Eyefinity with two 7970's loaded. But as mentioned above that's a lot of moola spent (for me around $2500USD) just to see if I get better immersion (can we say addiction here?). Guess I will now have to stalk (ooops, I mean track), another simmer who is going the multi-display route preferable with the 7970's.Let us know how your new big display works out for you.Clutch

It's only money...