txnetcop
February 15th, 2007, 12:39
Many of us were crying about the fact that you needed a CRAY computer to run FSX decently...honestly it isn't really true. The Intel Core 2 Duos handle FSX pretty well with the right parts on in your computer. Yes FSX has it problems, but so did FS9. Yes it is an unfinished product, it doesn't take advantage of the dual core, but it is also here to stay and I like what I see from ACES. So I want to offer some help if I may.
Granted what I am about to put here is not the fastest gamer on the market but for those of us who lack deep pockets this unit is fast and DX10 ready. It is a complete system including the flat panel monitor. Obviously you can substitute anything in here to your liking, but the point is you can build a nice UPGRADABLE unit for under $1500.00. I am not trying to plug any one vendor but only pointing out deals I have used to build units for others. I am not plugging my own business...my goal is to impress upon you that you don't have to hit Hey Moe up for his wife's credit card to enjoy FSX. Seriously this is a great little unit and you can expand it as your budget allows you to so.
You may bash me if you feel like it but I have the proof as to what these units will do and some very happy friends who really wanted to fly FSX on a budget.
Ted
Power Supply
Dependable 600 Watt Power Supply - $79.00:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817121002
DVD-RW
Lite-On Super Allwrite Drive $64.00 (no it ain't Blue Ray but it writes everything very well)
Tech Data:
Technical Details
Super AllWrite DVD Writer, Write and Re-Write On All Formats
ABS system reduces vibration and noise during recording and reading
Automatically adjusts writing strategy & running OPC to provide the best burning quality
SMART-X function adjusts CD-DA / VCD / DVD data extraction to fastest allowable speed according to both data request rate from host and disk quality
One year warranty
http://www.shop.com/op/aprod-p53517009-k24-g1-~Lite%01-On+Super+Allwrite+DVD%01-RW-nover
CPU (chose Intel because it runs all over AMD right now even the quads)
Intel 6300 $187.00 (why not the 6400, 6600, or 6800 Extreme or a quad core-because you're on a budget silly, and Moe's wife ain't gonna lend you her credit card and the 6300 overclocks to 3.1 GHZ with stock air)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
read this article:
http://www.techspot.com/article/13-intel-core2duo-e6300-e6700-overclocking/page7.html
VERY IMPORTANT: Be sure and use Artic Silver 5 paste for overclocking CPU)
Motherboard (we are on a budget so you ain't gonna get Hey Moe's baby cray unit, but this is a great board!)
ASUS P5L-VM 1394 LGA 775 Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail-$94.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131046
Memory(budget but fast and dependable):
BUFFALO Firestix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail -$199.00 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820150054
Case: (subjective area according to taste but pick one that allows great cooling and upgrade capacity- FULL ATX minimum because of the DX10 video card)
I bought a RAIDMAX SAGITTA full ATX with 550 WATT ANTEC power supply for $78.00 so cound on anywhere from $85.00 to $150.00 for yours)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156181
Video Card (frame rate difference was not that great at this time from GTX version for $599.00...besides you are still on a budget and want to run DX10... remember?)
EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail -$299
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130038
Operating System
If you want DX10 ya gotta have VISTA settle for Home Premium for gaming) $119.00 for OEM no manual...what do you need a manual for just Google!!!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116202
Hard Drive
(250GB minimum 8 or 16MB cache_ SATA or you will be so sorry)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $74.00 (no you don't need a manual again just google their site and get instructions)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=RATING&Page=1&Category=15&N=2010150014+103530105&Submit=ENE&Nty=1&SubCategory=14
Monitor (again you are on a budget and the deal is to get this whole thing below $1500...OK?)
Sceptre is a great monitor with almost zero problems and is Vista certified...make sure it says Vista Certified) $229.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824112006
shipping came to for all came to $77.00 anywhere USA
Total price $1421 for a Vista and DX10 ready pretty decent gamer...I just built two of these and FSX runs avg 30-32 fps almost anywhere-25fps in Tokyo-what is up in Tokyo?
If you need instruction on how to build it PM me...it is easy anyone can do it!
Ted
Granted what I am about to put here is not the fastest gamer on the market but for those of us who lack deep pockets this unit is fast and DX10 ready. It is a complete system including the flat panel monitor. Obviously you can substitute anything in here to your liking, but the point is you can build a nice UPGRADABLE unit for under $1500.00. I am not trying to plug any one vendor but only pointing out deals I have used to build units for others. I am not plugging my own business...my goal is to impress upon you that you don't have to hit Hey Moe up for his wife's credit card to enjoy FSX. Seriously this is a great little unit and you can expand it as your budget allows you to so.
You may bash me if you feel like it but I have the proof as to what these units will do and some very happy friends who really wanted to fly FSX on a budget.
Ted
Power Supply
Dependable 600 Watt Power Supply - $79.00:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817121002
DVD-RW
Lite-On Super Allwrite Drive $64.00 (no it ain't Blue Ray but it writes everything very well)
Tech Data:
Technical Details
Super AllWrite DVD Writer, Write and Re-Write On All Formats
ABS system reduces vibration and noise during recording and reading
Automatically adjusts writing strategy & running OPC to provide the best burning quality
SMART-X function adjusts CD-DA / VCD / DVD data extraction to fastest allowable speed according to both data request rate from host and disk quality
One year warranty
http://www.shop.com/op/aprod-p53517009-k24-g1-~Lite%01-On+Super+Allwrite+DVD%01-RW-nover
CPU (chose Intel because it runs all over AMD right now even the quads)
Intel 6300 $187.00 (why not the 6400, 6600, or 6800 Extreme or a quad core-because you're on a budget silly, and Moe's wife ain't gonna lend you her credit card and the 6300 overclocks to 3.1 GHZ with stock air)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
read this article:
http://www.techspot.com/article/13-intel-core2duo-e6300-e6700-overclocking/page7.html
VERY IMPORTANT: Be sure and use Artic Silver 5 paste for overclocking CPU)
Motherboard (we are on a budget so you ain't gonna get Hey Moe's baby cray unit, but this is a great board!)
ASUS P5L-VM 1394 LGA 775 Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail-$94.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131046
Memory(budget but fast and dependable):
BUFFALO Firestix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail -$199.00 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820150054
Case: (subjective area according to taste but pick one that allows great cooling and upgrade capacity- FULL ATX minimum because of the DX10 video card)
I bought a RAIDMAX SAGITTA full ATX with 550 WATT ANTEC power supply for $78.00 so cound on anywhere from $85.00 to $150.00 for yours)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156181
Video Card (frame rate difference was not that great at this time from GTX version for $599.00...besides you are still on a budget and want to run DX10... remember?)
EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail -$299
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130038
Operating System
If you want DX10 ya gotta have VISTA settle for Home Premium for gaming) $119.00 for OEM no manual...what do you need a manual for just Google!!!)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116202
Hard Drive
(250GB minimum 8 or 16MB cache_ SATA or you will be so sorry)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $74.00 (no you don't need a manual again just google their site and get instructions)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=RATING&Page=1&Category=15&N=2010150014+103530105&Submit=ENE&Nty=1&SubCategory=14
Monitor (again you are on a budget and the deal is to get this whole thing below $1500...OK?)
Sceptre is a great monitor with almost zero problems and is Vista certified...make sure it says Vista Certified) $229.99)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824112006
shipping came to for all came to $77.00 anywhere USA
Total price $1421 for a Vista and DX10 ready pretty decent gamer...I just built two of these and FSX runs avg 30-32 fps almost anywhere-25fps in Tokyo-what is up in Tokyo?
If you need instruction on how to build it PM me...it is easy anyone can do it!
Ted