jackcnd

I went from a 8800 GTS SSC to a GTX280...As far as FSX I would not do it again,just makes little difference.For Crysis it makes a big diff, but for FSX alone just keep what you have.For FSX overclock your 8500 CPU as far as you can,that will be the key and its free :)

I upgraded like you plan, and would do it again, but in truth FSX needs much more still.Too many areas remain that bring the framerate below acceptable.Its just an FSX problem IMO.Example: Fly Tampas Hong Kong looks amazing and frames are very highthen I go to MS's Tokyo and watch a slide show if settings are up.Instead of giving JS 10 million for 2 bad commercials, money might have been better spent improving FSX :)

IF your building your own,I suggest a e8500 based system, with 2GB memory and a 8800GT video card.Asus motherbord.For a case and power supply the Antec Sonata III.XP or Vista.Should be about $750 or so.A local PC shop should build it for you if you dont want too.Else, just get a off the shelf e8500 CPU based system with a similar video card.Will run FS9 like a dream and FSX will be about as good as it gets too.

Which one do you have?The 8800GTS I found to be as good for FSX as any, in fact better than many.The 8800GTS 640MB SSC is the one I used. Never had blue screen or any issues with it.I have a GTX280 now, but I cant say its better in FSX.The GTX280 is much better in other games, but not FSX.ATI cards are reported to slow down with clouds.I'd suggest you try your 8800GTX 1st, maybe a fresh install and new system will get it running as it should. If not I say you should return it for exchange.

Check out AVS Forums the LCD monitor section, many have compared the Sony , Samsung and Panasonic 32" LCD's.The Panasonic is reported to have a small lag.I'm not enough of a gamer to judge, it looks fine to me.Generally the Panny is picked on top, all have some issues.Some report a whine from the 32" Panasonic, I don't hear it on mine.The 37" are whine free, but I think 37" might be too big for desktop use.The key to me was the 32" gloss screen, IPS LCD for wide viewing,full 1920x1080 HD resolution, and it just looks sharp even turned off :)If you can buy somewhere with a return policy might be best.I really like it so far, for games, slingbox and web use.Will hook a cable HD tuner up later this week.

I will try your suggestion January, butI confess I'm more of a arcade FSX player :)I'm usually in locked spot view with FSX, I use zoom at 60-70% and viewpoint controls to put myself well behind the plane on the large monitor. End up with a very wide view.Just was flying over FlyTampa's FSX Hong Kong ... amazing at dust.This display has given FSX new life. Next up Crysis ;)

Just tried a Panasonic TC-32LZ800 HDTV / Monitor with FSX.All I can say is ... WOW ! 32" of pixel perfect FSX.Seems more CRT like than LCD, but it's a 32" LCD monitor like no other I've seen before and its under $999. Displays a pixel perfect 1920x1080 desktop.Uses IPS LCD technology, so it has a 180deg viewing angle.Many LCD makers claim wide viewing angles... this really has one.IPS tech is usually only found in the highest end monitors costing 2x-3x as much for smaller screens.Other LCDs if you move your head or sit off axis loose contrast. Not this one, it looks the same where ever I move.Also has a very nice black level with a glass like screen.When your in the cockpit it looks like your looking into a real glass windshield!Some don't like gloss screens,I find they are amazing really nice deep colors, makes night flying fun again, CRT like.There is a version with a matte screen too.I've been waiting for a large 24-27" 1080p gloss screen monitor for some time,then I read about this HDTV being used as a monitor via a DVI to HDMI cable.It has a VGA input but it limits the resolution, use the HDMI for full 1920x1080 resoluiton.Great price under $999 US, amazing image, with full HDTV functions too.Being a HDTV it's optimized for video not text, so some text/background color combos look off, like blue on black, I remember CRTs being the same, but normal text/backgrounds look fine.The font size if perfect for me, sitting 3 feet from the display on my desk.These can be hard to find, I'm not the first to discover them, but if you can find one, I highly recommend trying it for gaming and HDTV use. 32" and 37" available, gloss LZ800 or matte LZ85 screens.Get a return policy just in case, but I don't think you will use it :)More Info: http://www.panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/lcd/viera.asphttp://www.panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo...c32_37lz800.asp

A FSX benchmark should publish:1) Detailed system specs2) Detailed Game config and any .cfg file changes3) A User Repeatable scenarioFSX made benchmarking much easier as you can save and share setups and with FRAPS and FS recorder it should be easy to bench a repeatable scenario?

If you have an recent PC, the OS makes little difference for FSX.Vista gives you the option to run in DX10 preview mode.I was running dual boot for sometime, but have not booted to XP for months.I would not recommend buying Vista for FSX if you have XP, but if you don't have either I'd go with Vista, even if it runs a frame to 2 slower.

The e8600 out of the box is the one for FSX if you want a quick setup for fastest results. Quads are fine too, I use one :)They need 3rd party coolers and overclocking for best results.CPU speed is key for FSX, 3GHZ or more.Before you spend the $$$ try and overclock your e6600, it should hit 3GHz, (333x9) with a decent cooler.Even running FSX at 4GHz you will still see frame rates under 20 often, so dont expect too much ...

on the evga gtx280 forums

The GTX280 is a nice card for FSX and other games.Just depends on what one wants to spend.I went from a 8800GTS 640MB to the GTX280 and I cant say I see big differences in FSX, but I do in Crysis.The die shrunk GTX280 is going to be released next week , it should at the least run cooler then the current one, maybe faster too.Toms reviews are all over the map with FSX, I gave up on using them.

Typing error above, the default is 333x8 for your CPU.I'd try 350 then work up to 400 keeping an eye on temps, errors and voltages.

I just set the memory voltage manually, same with CPU.I used the Intel info to find the max voltage.http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAWRQ9450 shows Max voltage of 1.3625.You can check on your memory box/case for the its voltage.I used CPUz to find the default CPU voltage, and used it to start.Q9450's FSB is 333x4 default, so I would start at 350 FSB or so and increase,once Prime95 errors found then increase the CPU voltage keeping under Intel's min.Use a good cooler when o'c the quads.Keep reading, don't start until your ready, but once you do its really not that difficult.

Just do an upgrade install if offered or a repair...

Depends on the TV and how you connect to the TV.Just try it. If the boot text is seen the gui should be fine too.

Check the bios settings for the CPU, FSB , voltage etc .Check to be sure the CPU fan is running as expected,open the case have a look, also in the bios you should be able to see the RPM of the CPU fan.If the fan is running as expected, next reinstall the CPU cooler:Remove the CPU cooler, clean with rubbing alcohol, put new thermal paste on then reinstall the cooler. If those fail you have a bad CPU.If you tell your computer guy,the CPU he installed is running at 100C,and he says impossible you have a good fan,you need a new computer guy :)

For FSX you want the fastest CPU speed, go with the e8500.If you do decide to, its a great overclocker too.A quad can speed up FSX loading times but framerate will be all but the same between and quad and dual at the same speed.

>>Question 1. Is there any way to upscale FSX to a higher>resolution such as 1440 X 900 on a 720p projector? I>understand some basics about pixels and that 768 is the>maximum number of vertical lines. The reason I want to check>is because projectors such as the Optoma HD65 are quite>cheap.You want to run FSX or anything for that matter at the native resolution of the display device. In this case a 720p projector is 1280x720 60Hz. Upscaling or downscaling will only make the image worse. Some 720p projectors are actually 768p, 1280x768.>>Question 2. If the 720p projector is only going to show a>fairly low resolution, if I purchase a 1080p projector (which>I'm willing to do), will I be able to run FSX in 1900 X 1080>mode or would it still run at 1366 X 768 maximum?Your windows/video card would pick up the max resolution of a recent display, so yes you would run at 1920x1080, if using a 1080p projector.>Question 3. If I bought a 1080p (lets say the optoma 800x, for>example) projector if the 720p is indeed only able to show as>low 1366 X 768, would I be able to downscale FSX via the>settings menu to run at 1440 X 900 (or any other resolutions)>in order to conserve frame rates? Or is 1080p only able to>show 1080p (1900 X 1080) and 720p in terms of PC games?You can run FSX at any resolution you want that is supported by the display, but only the native resolution will look crisp and sharp.You also want to make sure the projector is in a 1:1 pixel mapping mode, that is without overscan.>>I know thats a lot but I would be soooo grateful if someone>could help as I don't want to waste that kind of money to find>out my dream of using FSX on a big screen is over. Someone>mentioned to me that my graphics card might have to be 1080p>compatible for games. I'm not sure if the 8600gt is but I was>planning on buying a new rig for FSX if it does run on at>least 1440 X 900 resolution to make the purchase of a new rig>worthwhile. Running FSX at 1920x1080 needs a decent system, running a 1280x720 a moderate system. You could try your card at 1920x1080 but would be best with a 8800GTS 640MB or 8800GTX or one of the new GTX260 / 280 card, and a 3Ghz plus CPU, like the e8500.If you have any other questions just ask.I'd recommend a 1080p projector, for HDTV, PS3 use etc.FSX will be fun on it for a while, but I find I prefer a monitor for regular FSX use. Problem with FSX and projector is you have to sit in the dark, and graphics limitations, flicker etc, of FSX are bigger.Benq offers a value w9000 1080p DLP projector for about 2.5K, you read about it on AVS Forums. Many other LCD low cost 1080p units too.

IF you have not tried it, I would disconnect the original CD drive IDE cable and power, and just hook up the new DVD burner. Set jumper on the DVD burner as master.If that does not work, do the same with the other drive , hook it up my itself as master.Good luck

A lot of people dont want to build, maybe a local small computer store will let you pick parts then they will build if for you.If not, consider a 3GHz plus, Dell prebuild.Good luck.

If your really just looking for a prebuilt FSX system, I'd suggest going with a dual core 3+ Ghz CPU system. CPU speed is key for FSX framerates.The Intel E8500 is a good value at 3.16GHz.For GPU look at the 8800/9800 series from nVidia.Another option is to build your own quad based system and overclock it, then you can get the right video card to start too.Dells are not overclockable, no options for that in the bios,something to think about. The quad based system at 2.4 will run FSX but performance would be much better if you get to 3GHz or more.Little difference in FSX between dual and quad, quad will load somewhat faster, but framerate will be the same.

Any who follows Phil's postings here or elsewhere, what is the hinted time frame for FS11 mentioned above?

The 8800GT is a nice value card, just note its single slot fan can be on the loud side, and its performance can fall off with AA/AF turned up at 1900x1200 and above. Consider looking for a used 8800GTX / or Ultra too,if you have room in the case for it and the price is right. For FSX and more, the new GTX280 and GTX260 are nice, again both big cards so check for fit :)

Never had one on my Eee PC its worked fine XP sp3, but I dont run FS on it :)