Each to his own, but three 50" HDTVs (using an NV680), and separate views (center, right 90, left 90), with a fourth monitor below center for instruments, etc works very well.

 

Wow !

After a lot of vascillation between HDTV and beamers I am think of going the same way as you for my cokpit (full szie A340).

 

I understand your are running 3 separate views - I intend to do the same thing; forward, forward 45 left and forward 45 right. May I ask what your frame rates are and how ar away are you sitting from the cener view ?

Samsung SyncMaster 27" Widescreen LED Monitor with 2ms Response Time

@A340Bangla,

Selection of three 50" HDTVs (make sure they have low input lag < 60 msec - see http://www.pcworld.com/article/183928/find_and_fix_input_lag_in_your_hdtv_or_monitor.html - set up Game Mode) or maybe use an HD projector for the center view. Make sure they are 1920x1080 NATIVE.

 

Geometry - probably about 2->3 feet from your eyepoint to center monitor and an additional foot to either side view. Don't forget that the HDTV bezels will block some of it. You can actually get up to maybe 200 degrees Field of View if you accept a minor gap in the 45 degrees off center coverage areas (maybe it lines up with the cockpit window frame??). I really like to see directly sideways (+-90) for landing approach work and use a zoom = .60 or so.

 

Performance - using a 2600K at 4.6Ghz and a NV 660ti, with Low Water Scenery setting (Complexity Dense/ Auogen Normal) and very minimal AI, NO Virtual Cockpit - just 2D instruments on fourth monitor, along with Word Not Allowed/******* tweaks, you can get 40->60 fps in medium scenery (no super complex airports unless they are reduced). This is using WINDOWED mode (three separate views), not fullscreen, or NVSurround mode which requires the three monitors to provide a single very widescreen view that has considerable distortion (building lean) on the far edges - like the Matrox Triple Head to Go default mode - which would be faster though.

 

Performance - using a 2600K at 4.6Ghz and a NV 660ti

 

Could you take the GPU Mark test AND FSMark11? This would really help some users out with deciding on a GPU because these 660tis are so new.

Not really how big but how MANY. Side monitors for guages, map tracking or other views and such are much more helpful than a large screen IMO.

I run three 22" 1920x1080 monitors most of the time for development, but I can assure you that if you do go to large (50->60 inch screens) that wrap around you some, at some point, it starts to feel much more real than 22" monitors. Others prefer a large screen with TrackIR but I prefer actually turning my head to nearly the same extent as real world - as I said above, I want to see the runway clearly as I turn my head 90 degrees to the side for turn to base and final. A full flight sim uses screens that are 8->10 feet away and completely subtend the same field of view as real world. We all (nearly all) have to make compromises in some area and it's just great that we are so close to affording what we prefer and getting reasonable frame rates with smooth, almost no stutters.Enjoy!!

I agree... When I was simming with the 3 Dell 24 inchers, I thought that was huge. But now that I have just the one 46" HDTV, I can't go back to a smaller screen.

 

As a matter of favt, now I just can't wait to get me two more 46" HDTVs! lol

I use a Philips 24inch monitor , 1920 by 1080p . Im just wondering, do all you guys we these massive 50 ince screens sit in front of them , just like you would with a 24inch ?. I have a 40inch but I never bothered flightsim on it, a bit to big and it's sitting on a TV stand.

I use a Philips 24inch monitor , 1920 by 1080p . Im just wondering, do all you guys we these massive 50 ince screens sit in front of them , just like you would with a 24inch ?. I have a 40inch but I never bothered flightsim on it, a bit to big and it's sitting on a TV stand.

 

Oh no, you have to be several feet away from it. I tried a 50" but I was sitting to close and my neck was being straing from having to look up a lot. Now with the 46", I was able to slide it back a bit more on the table and it's about 3 feet from me. Just perfect.

The 27" asus lcd i ordered arrived today just as I was leaving for work (just to taunt me).

 

It replaces the 22" Samsung sync master I was on.

40->60 fps in medium scenery (no super complex airports unless they are reduced). This is using WINDOWED mode (three separate views), not fullscreen, or NVSurround mode which requires the three monitors to provide a single very widescreen view that has considerable distortion (building lean) on the far edges - like the Matrox Triple Head to Go default mode - which would be faster though.

 

Hi Whitav,

 

thank you very much for the detailed answer. This puts most of my issues to bed.

 

I am already running 3 different views through Wideview (front on the Fsserver and two 45 degr views on the Wideview client) and I have no intention to go a single wide view. I do not have any instruments to show as I am using project magenta and all instrument displays run on networked computers.

 

With my present hardware (I7 980x, not OC + GTX 480 on the Fsserver) I will probably stay with Wideview or change to Opusx once they have sorted out weather and traffic on the clients. Maybe one day I might upgrade the main system and then try to run all three views there. But as I have to buy 3 HDTVs now, that new system seems to be in a rather far future.

 

My main question was/is whether to go with HDTV or build a projection screen and install 3 projectors. I do not have a lot of space left and would have to make compromises on the projection screen, plus of course I would have to build it (with my two left hands). Projectors consume a lot more power (which is quite expensive here in the the land of smiles) than LED HDTVs plus they need new lamps every once in while. In short, I am now practically convinced of the HDTV solution and will start to really evaluate what to buy.

 

Thanks again for your input.

 

Erhard in Thailand

 

Hi Whitav,

 

thank you very much for the detailed answer. This puts most of my issues to bed.

 

I am already running 3 different views through Wideview (front on the Fsserver and two 45 degr views on the Wideview client) and I have no intention to go a single wide view. I do not have any instruments to show as I am using project magenta and all instrument displays run on networked computers.

 

With my present hardware (I7 980x, not OC + GTX 480 on the Fsserver) I will probably stay with Wideview or change to Opusx once they have sorted out weather and traffic on the clients. Maybe one day I might upgrade the main system and then try to run all three views there. But as I have to buy 3 HDTVs now, that new system seems to be in a rather far future.

 

My main question was/is whether to go with HDTV or build a projection screen and install 3 projectors. I do not have a lot of space left and would have to make compromises on the projection screen, plus of course I would have to build it (with my two left hands). Projectors consume a lot more power (which is quite expensive here in the the land of smiles) than LED HDTVs plus they need new lamps every once in while. In short, I am now practically convinced of the HDTV solution and will start to really evaluate what to buy.

 

Thanks again for your input.

 

Erhard in Thailand

 

If you have a huge room, then projectors would be the way to go. I was in the same predicament where I was building a full size B737-800NG home cockpit but then we purchased a new home and I no longer have the space for it. That project is now on stand-by till further notice.

 

HDTVs are great when space is a premium but you still have some space to accomadate three 46+ HDTVs.

f you have a huge room, then projectors would be the way to go. I was in the same predicament where I was building a full size B737-800NG home cockpit but then we purchased a new home and I no longer have the space for it. That project is now on stand-by till further notice.

 

HDTVs are great when space is a premium but you still have some space to accomadate three 46+ HDTVs.

 

Well, my space IS limited. And I am not so sure anymore that projectors are the way to go. I am now using a projector for the central view at 1280 x 1024 (emulated) and 19" screens at 1280x1024 for the 45 degr forward views. I made some preliminary tests with or home HDTV (50 ") at 1920 x1080 and I really like it much better than the washed out forward view produced by the beamer. Plus from correspondence with some people who really should know what they are talking about in evaluating the difference between projection and large HDTVs I was told that in the end the higher resolution and sharper image of the screens makes up for some bezel interference.

 

I have to figure out exactly what size of screens I can fit into my existing space and then I think I will start by replacing the 45 degr views by 2 x HDTVs.

Well, my space IS limited. And I am not so sure anymore that projectors are the way to go. I am now using a projector for the central view at 1280 x 1024 (emulated) and 19" screens at 1280x1024 for the 45 degr forward views. I made some preliminary tests with or home HDTV (50 ") at 1920 x1080 and I really like it much better than the washed out forward view produced by the beamer. Plus from correspondence with some people who really should know what they are talking about in evaluating the difference between projection and large HDTVs I was told that in the end the higher resolution and sharper image of the screens makes up for some bezel interference.

 

I have to figure out exactly what size of screens I can fit into my existing space and then I think I will start by replacing the 45 degr views by 2 x HDTVs.

 

Oh trust me, projectors are the way to go to truly create a completely immersive experience, but like we've already said, space is the biggest factor. I have a 1080P projector in my cinema room, projecting onto a 125" 2.40:1 cinemascope aspect ratio screen and from 8' back and further out, the image quality is just amazing. So image what could be done if we had a room say 20' x 20'! I don't care how sharp the 50" LCD/LED might be, if I had a chance to go with a projector, I would do it in a heartbeat.

 

Since we are truly space limited for now, HDTVs is the next best thing. Go for it! I'm already starting to look around and I see some awesome LGs with almost no bezel at all! Now that would look perfect on a 3 monitor setup with hardly any bezel to contend width.

I have a 1080P projector in my cinema room, projecting onto a 125" 2.40:1 cinemascope aspect ratio screen and from 8' back and further out, the image quality is just amazing

 

Ahh then you are talking about 1080p projectors, which are VERY expensive and I do not know (have not researched) if they are available in the short throw flavour which I would need....