Hi everyone, its been a few years since I last dipped in to Msoft Flight, I last used 2004 edition. I have some spare kit at work & wanted to establish what the best graphic card option would be for a specific PC desktop detailed below.

 

Ideally I would like to set up three monitors and I'm not sure what the best option is either based on the cards below or whether some newer kit will do the job. The PC itself has an Intel i5 CPU 2 core 3.3GHZ and I can install up to 8gb of mem & run Win 7 x64 or X32.

 

Am I likely to get good performance out of this kit?

 

I've got an HP 8100 Elite SFF desktop PC:-

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/document.jsp?objectID=c02030590〈=en&cc=us&taskId=&prodSeriesId=4098436&prodTypeId=12454

 

The supported graphic cards are:-

• 
  NVIDIA GeForce 310 DP PCIe x16 Graphics Card
  
• 
  Nvidia Quadro NVS 290 Graphics Card
  
• 
  Nvidia Quadro NVS 295 Graphics Card
  
• 
  ATI Radeon HD 4550 Graphics Card
  
• 
  ATI Radeon HD 4650 DP (1GB) PCIe x16 Graphics Card (CMT only)
  
• 
  HP ADD2 SDVO + DVI-D Video Adapter
  
• 
  HP DisplayPort to DVI-D Adapter
  
• 
  HP DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
  

Thanks.

Al

 

Sorry the hyperlink was unexpectedly truncated after I submitted the post. Link to PC spec is:-

 

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/document.jsp?objectID=c02030590〈=en&cc=us&taskId=&prodSeriesId=4098436&prodTypeId=12454

Am I likely to get good performance out of this kit?

 

No offence alharri but those cards are pretty ancient now.

You would be much better off considering an nVidia GTX660 or better.

Your computer does not now even seem to be listed on that HP link so you might need an upgrade there as well

but if you are just after two extra screens for 2D panels you might be ok with the 8100 and a card like the GTX660.

 

gb.

Hi Gb,

 

Thanks very much for the reply. Ideally I want to run three monitor views, front, left & right. I'll investigate the Nvidia card you recommend.

 

Would you advise running Win 7 X86 or x64, are there any big performance gains going x64?

 

Thanks.

 

Al

Hi Gb,

 

Thanks very much for the reply. Ideally I want to run three monitor views, front, left & right. I'll investigate the Nvidia card you recommend.

 

Would you advise running Win 7 X86 or x64, are there any big performance gains going x64?

 

Thanks.

 

Al

 

 

I'm running FSX/P3D on Win7 x64 with no problems as a lot of people are.

Really there seems to no reason not to use it.

It's main advantage is with other x64 programs I use.

Of course there is Win8 to consider now as well.

Depending on the size of the screens you intend to use I think the 8100 will struggle with three external views.

 

gb.

 

Any thoughts on the ATi eyefinity graphic cards? They look pretty good and support three monitors.

 

My PC specs can be viewed at http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13524_na/13524_na.PDF

 

Thanks.

 

Al

Any thoughts on the ATi eyefinity graphic cards? They look pretty good and support three monitors.

 

My PC specs can be viewed at http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13524_na/13524_na.PDF

 

Thanks.

 

Al

 

From what I have read nVidia cards seems to do better than ATI with FSX. However some people report great results with ATI.

 

That HP 8100 looks like it could be a bit of a problem for you.

I guess it takes low profile graphics cards only so that might rule out most of the top cards I was thinking of. You might have to do some research on what cards would physically fit in the PC case.

Also that 240W is very low so that would have to be replaced.

 

gb.

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: Also that 240W power supply is very low so that would have to be replaced.

 

gb.

Hi Gb,

 

Thought I'd update you. I've installed Win 7 x86, 4gb of memory on the 8100 Elite with FSX Gold Edition which includes the Acceleration Pack plus using the Speedlink Black Widow flightStick. Added the Nvidia Quadro NVS 290 Graphics Card just because we had some spare lying around. I have to say I'm surprised that I'm getting 20fps reasonably consistently with this set up. I did download the latest Nvidia drivers. One complaint, on a flight in NZ from Te Anou to Milford Sound Flight software crashed on me half way there! I've done this flight in real life & it's great, worth giving it a go.

 

I'll try setting up a second monitor next & see how that works. Thanks for your advise.

 

Al

Hi I set up 680gtx on 3 screens on an i7 3770

Win7. 64 bit

On default airports and planes maintain fixed 30fps no problem

even with the PMDG NGX I get around 25-28 on take off then steady 30fps at altitude

On add on airports get between 20-25 on take off

 

So far with this card (fingers crossed) 3 screens is great The view on the two outer ones is a bit stretched but u soon get used to it add in track ir and its even better

 

Regards

Hi Gb,

 

Thought I'd update you. I've installed Win 7 x86, 4gb of memory on the 8100 Elite with FSX Gold Edition which includes the Acceleration Pack plus using the Speedlink Black Widow flightStick. Added the Nvidia Quadro NVS 290 Graphics Card just because we had some spare lying around. I have to say I'm surprised that I'm getting 20fps reasonably consistently with this set up. I did download the latest Nvidia drivers. One complaint, on a flight in NZ from Te Anou to Milford Sound Flight software crashed on me half way there! I've done this flight in real life & it's great, worth giving it a go.

 

I'll try setting up a second monitor next & see how that works. Thanks for your advise.

 

Al

 

Hi Al.

 

20fps would be on the edge of usability for most people so adding that second monitor should be interesting.

 

Anyway good luck.

 

gb.

Hi I set up 680gtx on 3 screens on an i7 3770

Win7. 64 bit

On default airports and planes maintain fixed 30fps no problem

even with the PMDG NGX I get around 25-28 on take off then steady 30fps at altitude

On add on airports get between 20-25 on take off

 

So far with this card (fingers crossed) 3 screens is great The view on the two outer ones is a bit stretched but u soon get used to it add in track ir and its even better

 

Regards

 

I have a 680 FTW coming next week to hopefully use a similar set up, what have you got your i7 3770 overclocked to ? Just wondering if my i5 2500k at 4.4 is sufficient for 3x27" monitors.

Hi it is running at 4.4. I followed Kostas guide

The cfg was already tweaked by the shop as they installed fsx for me but then adjusted that using the guide

Haven't done all of kostas nvidia Tweeks though as that degraded the text a little (but higher frame rates)

 

One thing to note is lights can be a bit awkward to get right and some planes you will need to

get the developer to send you a adjusted panel.cfg. Otherwise the 2d panels wont display and cause mouse to go crazy and half your frame rates Pmdg and quality wings will do this and there are

replacements for the default planes on the web

 

Regards

I am in the same quandry, I currently have a GTX580 and want to move to a multi-monitor setup and would rather not invest in the TH2G (or would I). Am I better off with a 660, 670 or 680? 2GB or 4 GB? As for manufacturer, I currently have an Asus but I have heard nothing but good things with EVGA, especially their support.

Where do I go? And, can I use one of the GTX600 series in injunction with my 580? (non SLI of course).

 

Thanks

Kevin

I just purchased an EVGA GTX680. I can comment on their support and it's really great! I called with some pretty stupid questions and they took the time to talk with me. It was easy to talk with someone and I believe they are 24/7