AndrewPilot

Well we have flown it quite a bit. I think I need to bite the bullet and go into the cfg files! Since we are running three monitors it looks great, except that with the view pulled back as far as it will go, it is till too close. Too close to the glareshield. So need to fix that. Also, I am still not happy with the scenery. We live in So Cal, so if we takeoff from LAX, SNA etc,, it seems to draw the far away scenery, but then renders the big buildings that are closer, say 2-3 miles from aircraft, later. So you see these buildings sort of " pop up" as you go. So I'm not sure how to make that a bit better. I did put on GEX. I would also like to put on Photoscenery for so cal, i think that would look neat. So thats whats next! Tony

Well, Its up and running! I bought and installed GEX..and the terrain definately looks better! We also installed the Just Flight 767 Captain and Andrew really enjoys it. I have to figure out how to change the perspective with the three monitors. It just seems like it is quite " zoomed" up close and even all the way back is not far enough out. Jim did you end up doing any overclocking?

Ok What a busy Day. Got the updates done on the computer and went to remove and reinstall the Corsair cooling block with better thermal paste before I started running the stress tests...and the GTX770 Video card died!. So had to run it back to the store to get a replacement. So then I worked on overclocking and ran Aida 64...got a 4.6 multiplier right from the start..but then I read on another website that with these overclocked machines ..people were only getting a very small FPS increase on games like " crisis" and " far cry" ( Whatever that is)..so I decided to go back to stock on the CPU .....THEN.... I read what N. Needham said on the other forum and decided to put back in the overclock... So now my CPU is running at 4.5 GHZ and has temps below 80-83 while running AIDA 64. ( at 1.225 volts) Then I installed my new FSX Gold edition ( the one that would not register previously..and low and behold..it registered!!) whew! i then got all three monitors working in panorama mode..very nice! Few a flight shut it down and did a defragment. The visuals are impressive, but I still see a lot of rendering going on. For example only the scenery very near the airplane is in great detail, while maybe a few miles away I can see the simulation drawing in the scenery/buildings etc.... Also I notice when I'm in DX10 preview mode I do get a lot of shimmering flickering of the runway?! I have not put on anything else but FSX and the GOld acceleration pack. I do hear that Real Environments Extreme is a must have..what do you think? I was thinking of getting that as well as a California Photoscenery add-on...and eventually the PMDG 737. Andrew loves Just Flight 757 Captain, so we will put that on soon too. Thanks Tony

Hi ALL Jim, Thanks for all the observations, we appreciate them. I am still on the road, but will be home tonight, so planning on working on the computer tomorrow. I have to load the update disk for the MoBo, so I can get online. I also wanted to know what you guys recommend for security/spyware programs. I dislike Norton and Mcafee after two rather painful incidents. I currently use Avast(free). I am planning to go" by the book" ( Avsim guide)..thats why I bought two seperate SDD ( one for Win 7 64bit ) and one for FSX. I think I will use the 1TB drive for normal day to day. I will get a 2TB drive for backup soon ( was originally going to use the 1TB as the backup/clone drive). I will also take your advice and not install FSX onto the default folder. First my plan is to get the MoBo update done, then get online get a security download, then get all the drivers updated. Right now I only have the Sata cable on the one SSD connected, so I can install all the OS/Windows stuff on the SSD. ..then step two, is overclock!! THEN.....install stuff. ( what do you think? ) Thanks again for the help , support. Tony

Hello Jim, Glad you are happy with your system. I was aware that you were on the fence with the 4770K..glad you made the jump. The GTX780 seems like quite the card! Quite a bit more impressive than even the 770, but then everyone is murmuring about the " new" generation of cards that will make the GTX Titan look silly, in 6 months....etc.etc.. so I decided to go with the 770. Got the wires( cable management) done. Looks very neat and tidy. To be honest I was quite surprised that everything came on, first time..no problem. All those fans, and lights etc etc.. I unplugged all the drives except the BD and the one 240 SSD , so I can load the operating system. Loaded windows, and now I'm trying to get it onto the network(wireless) so I can update all the drivers and get Memtest, and Aida64 etc.. to start the overclocking. Then I have to load FSX. Does anyone have the phone number for FSX registration? Last time it kept saying the product key was already used. So slowly making progress. Now that the build is done, Andrew is anxious to fly FSX..but I know we still have quite a way to go..Unfortunately I have to leave town for a few days of work..then work on it again when I'm back. Cheers! Tony

Just Finished the new build and loaded windows.. This is what we ended up with: Intel I7 4770k Asus Z87-Deluxe Nvidia GTX770 Superclocked ACX 2GB Patriot 16GB 1600 memory ( 8cl) Corsair Carbide 300 Case Corsair AX850 PSU Samsung Pro 250 SSD(x2 !) WD Caviar Black 1TB HDD for cloning and backup LG Blue Ray RW Windows 7 Home 64bit The Corsair cooling was hard because the radiator interefered with the CPU power plugs etc , so I had to drill new holes and move the radiator 1/4" .. I just loaded windows on the one SSD and will work on the rest tomorrow.. Whew.. Andrew did most of the work with dad looking over his shoulder..Now tomorrow I plan on going in and cleaning up the wires and connecting to the internet to download all the new drivers..then I will start the " tweaking"...and then install FSX! Thanks for the help so far. We decided to get the dual 250 Samsung SSD 's as the Avsim guide recommended. I also have the HDD for regular stuff. -Tony

For Cases... We were looking at the Corsair Carbide 300R and the Cooler Master HAF 912 Mid Tower cases. Also the Antec 902 seemed nice. The Full towers look huge and we ( I ) would really like it to sit under a desk. * Tony

***FRom DAD*** Thanks for the answers and replies. We BOTH appreciate it!! Ok it looks like Windows 7 -64 bit is the clear choice. I told Andrew that we should go with the new Haswell chip, because of the new Socket and slightly higher speed tests..so far. Intel Has this new chip priced at about $280( after discounts). I wanted the motherboard to be slightly future proof with the new socket and chip. VR Baron we live in Orange County and would be happy to drive up to Burbank, if you would be able to help with the software setup and install. I would compensate you for your time I can't even get a new livery put on without causing Chaos! lol. I know the new chip is a bit underwelming...but lets see what some Overclockers can do. ;-) Tony.. Andrews Dad

**UPDATE** Hello, There has been a lot of new chips introduced in the last two weeks..so here is our updated build list. I'm just not sure which versions of Windows to use...7 or 8? Build List: Intel i7 4770K Asus Z87 -PRO Corsair Vengeance 16GB /2400 Samsung 840 PRO 256 SSD WD Caviar Black 2 TB Corsair H80i Cooler EVGA GTX770 Superclocked 2GB Liteon DVD Burner Corsair HX 850 PSU Windows 7 or 8? We will order next week! What do you think? Thanks everyone

*** Reply from Andrews Dad **** Hello Guys, I'm Tony, Andrews Dad. Andrew has done a great job earning all the parts for this computer build. I am also going to contribute the funds for a triple 23"monitor setup. I always check/proofread his posts before he submits them. I forgot to mention that Yes it is the Samsung 840 Pro 512 SDD and will have a 1TB WD Black HDD. I was going to use windows 8, but ?? Things change so fast I don't know if it is worth waiting for the Haswell line of Intel CPU's? Thanks. Tony and Andrew **** Is there anyone who lives in the Southern California area who we might be able to call upon for things like Program / Add-on s installation and general optimizing? Thanks Again!

Hello All, I have been playing FSX for 3 years and just love it. Unfortunately my old Toshiba Laptop died, so my dad and I are building a proper gaming computer. We were wondering if there was a FSX " expert" who could guide us through the build and installation of all the add-ons. My dad wants to help me build the computer myself so I can learn, instead of buying one from the store. Its taken two years to earn all these parts! If I have written this in the wrong spot I am sorry, but thank you for your help Andrew 9 years Computer Build List: i7 3770K Asus P8z77 Pro Motherboard GTX680 Video 3x 23" Monitors ( will it work with the video card?) 16 M 1866 RAM Samsung 840 SSD Corsair H80i Cooler Corsair 850w Power Supply