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Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!
https://canadianva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3513
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Author:  CVA1258 [ Sun May 03, 2015 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

Hello. I currently run FS2004 and it's all my old PC can handle (Intel Core2 6300 1.86GH, 3Gb RAM, on-board video..etc).
I see Microsoft is working on FS2015, and I know there are some other great FS out there.
I'm not a computer guy so I was wondering what kind of advice I might be able to get for a new system, considering I would like to run the newest flight simulators, and a few of the newer Games (like Obduction...when it comes out!).
Like to stay below $2000 for the Hardware, OS, and 27" Monitor, but I also want something I can use for 15 years like my old PC!! (asking too much?)
Any advice on the main components would be appreciated (CPU / Video / and anything else important to good simulator performance?).

Also, when something like FS2015 comes out, will it work with CVA and VatSim?
Thanks.

Author:  CVA9214 [ Sun May 03, 2015 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

I would try to get an I7 quad core, Digital drive min 8g ram. Also don't forget a god video card.

Author:  Lord Letto [ Mon May 04, 2015 2:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/2kP3XL
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/2kP3XL/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($385.00 @ Canada Computers)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.75 @ Vuugo)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($5.98 @ DirectCanada)
Motherboard: Asus MAXIMUS VII HERO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($239.99 @ NCIX)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($85.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($88.98 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB FTW+ ACX 2.0+ Video Card ($479.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case ($99.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: XFX XTR 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($21.25 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($99.99 @ Canada Computers)
Case Fan: Corsair SP120 57.2 CFM 120mm Fans ($27.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Monitor: BenQ GW2760HS 60Hz 27.0" Monitor ($239.98 @ Amazon Canada)
Total: $1974.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-03 22:49 EDT-0400

Author:  CVA1258 [ Tue May 05, 2015 10:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

Wow, that's fantastic! I didn't realize such a site existed.
Thanks very much.

Author:  CVA0014 [ Thu May 07, 2015 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

550 watts seems on the low side to me. I'd go for a 750 watt model and up, according to your budget.

You can not have a too powerful PSU, especially if you intend to add video cards and extra drives.

Author:  CVA1258 [ Fri May 15, 2015 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

Thanks Guys. The task of "building" a PC has me worried.
So before I go that route I'm still looking at some pre-assembled options.
I can get this Dell below on sale right now for $950.
Looks to have some of what you recommend, but not everything.
Not sure why this power supply is only 300 Watts, when you recommend 550 or more!
Am I too limited with this Dell PC?
Intel Core i7-4790 3.6 GHz
16 GB Dual Channel (1600 MHz DDR3 4 DIMMs)
2 TB HD 7200 RPM
16X DVD+/-RW CD/DVD Burner; Write CD/DVD
Windows 8.1 64-Bit
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 745 DDR3 4 GB
19-in-1 Media Card Reader
Cache 8 MB
5 GT/S
300 W Power Supply

Author:  CVA0014 [ Wed May 20, 2015 12:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

For FS-X, it is recommended to have a the CPU of at least 3 GHz to be able to turn eye candy up, or to have multiple displays.

To put things in perspective, look at my setup. It's an aging Q6600 2.4GHz overclocked at 3GHz, with three 22" displays connected on a GTX560 in full window via a Matrox TripleHeadToGo.

Three 19" displays on two 9600GT cards with an extra power supply are used for instruments, charts and stuff. And I get a decent frame rate.

CPU is the most important for FS-X, more so than video card.

300W PSU leaves no run for growth, and chances are it will be working hard (heat = shorter life).

SSD drives are becoming affordable,worth it if you can afford.

Author:  Lord Letto [ Wed May 20, 2015 4:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.as ... 6883102060
PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zqYnqs
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zqYnqs/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($284.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus Z97M-PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($157.98 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: G.Skill Value 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($140.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($58.95 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 970 4GB Video Card ($369.50 @ Vuugo)
Case: Thermaltake Commander G41 ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Memory Express)
Power Supply: Cougar 600W ATX Power Supply ($71.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer ($19.95 @ shopRBC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($107.92 @ shopRBC)
Keyboard: Thermaltake Commander Bundle Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Laser Mouse ($22.00 @ Vuugo)
Total: $1304.24
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-20 00:13 EDT-0400

Cost: $1310

That would give you $690 for a 27" Monitor, for that price I'd recommend this:
http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00KYCSRSG/?tag=pcp0f-20
That should give you ~$210 Extra to Play around with.

Author:  cva563 [ Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Time to Upgrade PC and Flight Sim, but to what? Help!

Well I am still using my old case from HP which I bought about 6 years ago and I have upgraded the insides with a Gigabyte Z77 Into Core i5 3470 cpu@340Ghz I have 8 g of ram its a 64 bit Have a 650 watt power supply total cost about $400. and I have added three SSD's one 240g and two 120g I got off Amazon in the US for $119 and $70 each for the smaller ones. Running a 25 and a 23 inch monitors with Nvidea 640 video card ..
All running Windows 10 and have FSX Prepar3D and X-Plane installed and running with all the other addons .. Not a lot of money laid out but working really well for me

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