744 driver

I just built a Skylake system, i7 6700k, GTX 970, Noctua NH D-15 cooler, 16g ram, dedicated SSD for W10 and another for FSX and made the decision to go with W10 based on info regarding Windows limited support for Skylake systems after July 2017. With that said, I still have W7 installed on a separate partition with FS9 so can still fly my MD-11 that I bought so many years ago. After I upgraded my system I realized that I couldn't get the FSX version anymore from PMDG. Have had ZERO problems with W10 so far. Fingers crossed. Really love my system though. Coming from what I had, single core 10 year old Dell with FSX fps always running in the single digits with sliders at minimum, I'm finally able to enjoy flight simming the way I've always wanted. I'm a very happy camper now. And as far as I know, there are no more versions of Windows to be released. After W10 it's just gonna be free updates of that OS. Not gonna be a W11, W12 etc. Not a bad thing. Mark

As far as a significant difference in performance between 6600K and 6700K, not a whole lot that's for sure but FSX being so CPU intensive I believed it was the way to go and sacrifice a step down in the GPU from a 980 to 970 for it. Do you think the price to performance ratio with regard to FSX is not significant enough to warrant spending the extra money on the i7-6700K? I really thought it was. I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on this. Regarding a caching drive, I'll look into this a little more. Thanks Mark

Ramon, Seems to me that a 500GB SSD is overkill for FSX. I mean my FSX folder with the add-ons that I currently have is only about 27 GB. And that's 4 PMDG aircraft and 5 A2A aircraft and assorted other add-ons. I don't know. Seems like a pretty big drive to me for that. Even if I wanted to start purchasing ORBX scenery couldn't I just move this to the HDD to conserve space as I stated in my previous post? Is there really any advantage to separating the OS and FSX anyways? I wanted to do this mainly to keep things clean and not clutter the FSX drive with a bunch of other stuff which presumably would slow it down. Is this sound thinking? Thanks. Mark

Ryan, Thanks so much for your reply and yes, I did get the unlocked k version of the CPU. I am rethinking the dual SSD's now and returning them and getting (1) 500 GB Samsing EVO and putting both OS and FSX SE on that drive. My only question is whether or not 500GB is large enough for the OS and FSX SE and all the add-ons that I have. Specifically PMDG aircraft, Concorde X, quite a few A2A aircraft etc. Haven't gotten into add-on scenery like ORBX yet but now that I have a system hat could handle it I just may. I've read that people are putting scenery on another drive such as a HDD instead of the SSD so that it doesn't fill it up. Another question I have is the reliability of the regular Samsung EVO vs. the much more expensive Pro version. Would rather not make this system upgrade more expensive than it already is. Your thoughts? Thanks in advance , Mark

Hello all, I've been a lurker on the forums for many years and had a FS rig that was, well, pitiful at best. I've recently purchased the below listed components and ask for your constructive input: I7-6700 4.0 Ghz processor, NH-D15 cooler, MSI GTX 970 twin frozr GPU, 2 Samsung SSD's( a 120 gig for W7 and a 250 gig for FS), a 2TB WD Black HDD for mass storage, 16 gigs of Kingston HyperX Fury 2400 DDR 4 memory, Gigabyte Z170X-UD5 MOBO, Corsaire RM850 gold PSU, Rosewill Blackhawk ATX case. Let me know what you think please. I hesitated posting this because I see so many people already doing this but I felt like I needed to before I moved forward with this build. I purchased all the parts and they've arrived but I haven't opened them yet. One of my nagging questions is which SSD to put the OS on and which to put FSX on. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My initial thoughts were to put OS on the smaller and FS on the larger. Thanks so much. Mark

I came accross this fantastic site last night and thought I'd pass it along to you folks: http://skyvector.com/ Great flight planning website with world-wide high and low altitude IFR and sectional charts which you can overlay wind barbs at different altitudes,weather radar images, predicted icing areas, sigmets, NATS and more. You can search for waypoints, intersections, GPS fixes, VOR's etc. Hope you find it as useful as I have.

Regarding the texture issue guys, I've found that if I don't go to external view for a while and then take a look after 15 minutes or so, the textures take a long time to load. My workaround for this is that I open another window, select external view and then I shrink it down as small as I can get it and put in the corner of my display where it's barely noticeable. Whenever I go to external view after that the textures are already loaded and I'm not waiting for them like I was before. Works for me.

Also have a ticket open for the exact same issues. Only way I can get different liveries is to download them from AVSIM. Mark Adams

Getting same error when I start OC (The procedure entry point RegGet ValueA could not be located in the dynamic link library ADVAPI32.dll) I'm still running XP. Getting a new system soon. Is OC not compatible with this OS? Mark

Wilco's 767 Pilot in Command. That must have been back in 1998 or 99 I believe. It was truly groundbreaking at the time and really got us all started down the road of more and more complex add-ons that are available now.Mark

Globe Cargo for me which emulates Atlas and Polar Air Cargo operations. Been with them since it's inception back in 2004. Great VA. I invite you all to check it out at http://globecargova.org/index.phpMark

Let's all keep life in perspective here folks. I love flight sim as much as the next guy but also let's stay in touch with reality. FS is not reality. At the end of a long flight with one of PMDG's great products what do you really have to show for it? Not much beyond the satisfaction that you've completed a simulated flight as realistically as possible. There's a lot more to life than worrying about when the next update or product is going to be released. Go and enjoy your family. Life is too short. You'll regret it if you don't. Mark

Referring to this gentlemen's question regarding PACK's. I know what they are and what they do of course but could someone confirm that PACK is an acronym for Pneumatic Air Conditioning Kit? I thought I read that somewhere but not sure. Thanks guys. Mark

Thanks guys for your replies. After the first officer configures the x-feed valves and fuel pumps per normal procedure for tank to engine ops. the EICAS fuel synoptic display clearly shows as I've described:Main tanks 2&3 boost pumps are shown as active (green with NO band) but the lines of flow don't indicate that fuel is flowing to engines 2&3 from these pumps.The main tanks 2&3 override/jett pumps are shown as off (white).The green lines of flow actually show fuel is (supposedly) flowing from ovd/jett pump in #2 tank to engines 2&3 eventhough the pump is white(off).Tha x-feed valves 2&3 are open of course and 1&4 are closed.As you say Q, there may be something wrong in the logic or valve poitioning whereby it is not able to show the true flow of fuel on this particular aircraft.Very odd to say the least. Anyway guys, thanks again for your replies.

Anybody have any explanation yet?

Thanks guys for your replies regarding this issue. You have cleareed this up for me.Mark

Guys,I was recently watching the ITVV Virgin 744 video and noticed something that caught my eye. Early in the flight the Captain goes over the process of configuring the fuel system for tank to engine. The process is done as normal but after the system is configured the EICAS shot shows that main tanks 2 & 3 boost pumps are shown as active (green, with no band) but the lines of fuel flow don't indicate that fuel is flowing to engines 2 & 3 from these pumps. Crossfeed valves 1 & 4 are closed and 2 & 3 are open as they should be. However, the green flow lines seem to indicate that fuel is flowing from main tank 2 override/jettison pump to engines 2 & 3 but that pump is white, indicating off.Somebody take a look at this and let me know what's really going on here because whenever I've done this in the sim, as soon as I turn off the override pumps the boost pumps come on immediately thereafter and the lines of flow indicate that fuel is being supplied to each respective engine with crossfeed valves 2 & 3 open and 1 & 4 closed.Sorry for the long-winded explanation but I'm missing something here.Thanks guys.Mark

Gentlemen,When receiving this warning: DET FIRE/OHT3, the Abnormal Procedures QRH states:Condition: Engine fire/overheat detection loops A and B have failedNo action for the crew is required.The question I had regarding this was what happens when only one loop has failed? Also, according to the 744 MEL, one loop per engine can be inoperative. Is it correct to assume that if two are inoperative you must divert to closest airport?Thanks,Mark

Roger on that Bryan. Very anxious to have it working in the -F for us Freight Dogs:-).Thanks,Mark

Has anyone been successful in altering the .cfg file to get FS2Crew working with the 744F? I tried doing what you said Bryan to no avail. Once I alter the cfg file, restart FS and load the -F FS crashes to desktop. Thanks,Mark

Yes, I'm aware of that thanks, but I was wondering if it would be possible to post them on the site someplace so that I might access them when not at home and so that others who may be interested in the 744 may also view them. I certainly don't expect you to do this just for me but I would think that these documents would be a 'purchasing enticer' to someone who might consider buying this add-on. I know it was for me :). Thanks again for a great add-on for FS.Mark

Mr. Randazzo,This is my first post in this forum as I've just recently purchased the 744. I am just getting aquainted with this beauty and my initial impressions are that it is among the best add-ons for FS. It handles wonderfully and I am truly impressed with the level of detail that has gone into this product. As I know that you are going through some changes presently with your download section I just have one request. I have briefly looked over the manuals since purchasing the 744 but have been away from home recently and would like to have access to them. Would it be possible for you to post the manuals on your site in a temporary location until the download section is completed so that I, as well as others who may be interested in your product, can have access to and view them? Thank you in advance,Mark