Hi all, since all of us in this great forum flight FSX and in some point we want to run it on the best specs and with the most realistic add-ons, I will like you to share your experience and your advices on if it´s better to build an own system and overclock it or to buy a ready-one, if you belong to the second choice please include your advice or experience buying systems from the todays most important gaming pc builders:

USA: CYBERPOWER, DIGITAL STORMS, AVA DIRECT, IRONSIDE, JETLINE SYSTEMS, ORIGIN

UK: WIRED2FIRED, CHILLBLAST.

The bold ones are FSX specialist builders.

 

Share your advices!!!

 

Thanks

 

Very much depends on your computer knowledge.  I think that most IT literate people would probably build their own.  Less IT literate people would want to buy and those companies you have posted appear to be the better ones.

 

I personally haven't bought a complete system since i got my first Amiga 1200, i even added to that with a tower construction, blizzard 68060 card and a Voodoo card.

I had never installed and OS or built a computer before but watched a number of build your own PC videos from Newegg and managed to do it no problem. Save your money, get exactly what you really want and build your own. It's the only way and unless you are delidding or something it is rather low risk.

I don't build myself, but rather than spend the amount of money Jetline and some of the other manufactures charge, I just buy all the components I want my system to be comprised of then drop it off at MicroCenter here in Dallas and let them build it for a nominal fee. Saves me a great deal of money and it only takes them a day or two to get it built for me, plus they warranty their work.

 

The last rig I actually bought was a Dell back in 2003 and of course I over paid for a pre-built system not knowing at the time that I could do what I mentioned above. i don't really have any interest in actually building myself, but after having picked all the components for my current rig and then having a shop build it for me, I am going to do the same for the rig I am picking parts for now. Since all the parts I buy have their own warranty and MicoCenter warranties their work, I see no reason to over pay for the likes of a Dell, Jetline, or any other pre-built again in the future.

I suggest it depends on the individual's ability. I've seen  a significant number if posts along the lines of "I've just built a new PC and am having problems with FS..."

And I thought this topic was to deal with an experimental or kit plane.

I would advise building your own PC, as long as you have some comprehension that you are dealing with fairly sensitive electrical equipment and take sufficient time and care when installing the components there's not a lot that can go wrong, a bit like lego with screws. There's lots of information and help online should you need it.

If you want something well done - do it yourself!  :p0126:

I've built my last 4 PCs specifically for FS but my next one needs to be overclocked to achieve decent performance in FSX.

 

I've never overclocked a CPU before and am quite hesitant to start now. Remember, if you buy the components yourself you won't get a warranty on the system as a whole and if something goes wrong it will be very difficult to prove it was a fault in the design rather than in the build.

 

So it's likely that my next one will be from a reputable company and not home-built.

 

Of the UK companies the OP listed I would also add Scan and Palicomp.

It also depends on how much time you have available and how you want/need to spend it.  I've built several systems, and many of them were easy.  The last one was extremely difficult and time-consuming - I had issues with defective motherboards, defective power supplies, etc.  A lot of running around returning parts, and some extra expense.  Much as I enjoy building, the next time around I think I'm going to buy and let somebody else deal with the construction burden.

 

If you're thinking about off the shelf, have a look at Maingear - I bought one of their laptops for business and I'm extremely impressed with the build quality and performance.

If you're lucky enough to live close to a Microcenter, I'd go that route. I would visit one of the hardware and tweaking guides for fsx such as Word Not Allowed's and compile a  list from that.Cyberpower PC has a good build configurator on their website and will build and warranty a computer per your specs at a very reasonable price. Jetline Systems is worth checking out for general hardware suggestions but they're expensive. Good luck!

I've never overclocked a CPU before and am quite hesitant to start now. Remember, if you buy the components yourself you won't get a warranty on the system as a whole and if something goes wrong it will be very difficult to prove it was a fault in the design rather than in the build.

 

 

It's not as dangerous as people like to make out.  With the newer motherboards they have both BIOS and Windows utilities that can help you overclock.  Generally speaking so long as you have a decent cooler the worst thing that will happen are random crashes and lockups.  It's very unlikely that you'll physically damage anything so long as you are careful with the voltage.

It's not as dangerous as people like to make out.  With the newer motherboards they have both BIOS and Windows utilities that can help you overclock.  Generally speaking so long as you have a decent cooler the worst thing that will happen are random crashes and lockups.  It's very unlikely that you'll physically damage anything so long as you are careful with the voltage.

 

Overclocking usually requires that thermal paste is applied to the CPU. Doesn't this require it's altered in some way? I would be very hesitant to do this as I've never tried it before and I'm not very practical.

 

And if you apply too much voltage won't that permanently damage a CPU? It could be an expensive exercise.

I built my first computer when I was 13 with no help other than from youtube videos. Its like legos

Overclocking usually requires that thermal paste is applied to the CPU. Doesn't this require it's altered in some way? I would be very hesitant to do this as I've never tried it before and I'm not very practical.

 

And if you apply too much voltage won't that permanently damage a CPU? It could be an expensive exercise.

 

Yes voltage is very important and can damage the CPU.  On sites like Tomshardware and overclockers voltage is often discussed, they have the general tolerance levels.

 

Thermal paste is already applied to the CPU, generally if you were replacing the cooler you would take off the existing and apply a small amount to the top of the CPU.