Simviation Forum - How would you spend $250?

Oct 14^th, 2008 at 12:51pm

Milo1272 Offline
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I Fly Sim!

Posts: 50

Hello all,

I plan to purchase several software products in the future months (REX when available, and maybe one of the FTX regions or a new plane or two), but I have an additional $250 USD to spend on hardware. I'm curious what you all think I should get first.

My system is 10 months old. It was my first build (thanks to many on Simviation I actually did it!), and it was built within budget. Here are my details:

MSI K9A2 CF motherboard
Phantom 9550
4 G Ram (2x2)
HD 3850
OZC 700 Watts
Antec 192
Dell 17 inch CRT - left over from my old system
Vista 64
Logitech 3D Pro joystick

I'm generally pleased with what it can do with FSX, but I'm trying to decide which upgrade (or combination) would most improve my FS experience:

22 inch LCD (estimated $160-$250)
HD 4850 ($130-150), 4870 ($250) or another card?
TrackIR (up to $140) or FreeTrack and a web camera ($40)
yoke, rudder pedals, new joystick/throttle combination (above $150 each)
new CPU and motherboard (but certainly out of my budget, no?)
more RAM?

I'm leaning toward a new monitor and the Freetrack, but I would appreciate some advice. Would I do better with a 4870 (or its equal/superior), or a 4850 and more RAM? Or, should I just save my money for a major rebuild a year from now?

Thanks,

Milo

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Reply #1 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 1:33pm

expat Offline
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Deep behind enemy lines!

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If I had $250 to spare, I would fill the petrol tank of my car to the brim Grin

Matt

PETA People Eating Tasty Animals.

B1 Boeing 737-800 and Dash8 Q-400

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Reply #2 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 1:52pm

Wii Offline
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Space

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Get a new graphics card, next might be the monitor, then trackir, then a new CPU maybe not in that exact order. Spread that out over the next 6 months and your good to go. But graphics card first. Go from an 8800GTX. Super cheap and works amazing with FSX from what I have heard. Maybe $150 on newegg or $120 recertified...I might get one haha!!

&&http://352photography.webs.com/

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Reply #3 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 2:15pm

jime59 Offline
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Streamwood,Il

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Hey Milo, I'm in the same boat as you. I have my eye on the 8800 Ultra for $199.00 at Tiger Direct but it would be somewhat a waste without the monitor to go with it, say a 22".
I currently use the 8800GT which is more than adequate for my lil 17" but that Ultra waters my mouth, If you know what I mean.

I read where it's a waste to have a "big" card that you can't use to full potential. Any comments anyone?

The mind is like a parachute...it only works when it's open.

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Reply #4 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 2:39pm

Milo1272 Offline
Colonel
I Fly Sim!

Posts: 50

Hey Jime59, I'm sure tempted to get a big new card, but I wonder if I would be limiting it with my old and small monitor. I haven't seen FSX on anything but my monitor, but all the postings here and elsewhere suggest the upgrade to a 22 would be huge. But, if my current 3850 can't keep up, what is the point of a new monitor?

Since I can't afford both a new monitor and a new card, I'm off to buy a lottery ticket.

Milo

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Reply #5 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 4:22pm

jime59 Offline
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Streamwood,Il

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Then my suggestion would be to pick-up an 8800GT going for $125. It would be an improvement compared to what you currently have. Start saving for a 22" monitor beginning with the $125 you have remaining from your $250.
I love my 8800GT and am going with the monitor first. If the Ultra is still around later, maybe then I'll get it.

Good luck with whatever choice you make and please post what you end up with.

The mind is like a parachute...it only works when it's open.

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Reply #6 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 5:55pm

Brett_Henderson Offline
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If you're getting satisfactory performance out of that hardware, sit tight on it. Don't piece-meal upgrade... wait and do a TOTAL upgrade down the road.... because....... if you're an avid simmer... you MUST get a yoke and pedals.. it's a whole different simming experience.. you won't regret it..

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Reply #7 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 9:57pm

flavio Offline
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USA

Posts: 157

i agree with brett.

also, when you really think about it, one of the most important things is the monitor. its your gateway into flight sim. its what links us to the simulator. the better and bigger it is, the more immersed you are, in my opinion. however, that is worthless if you dont have a pc that can support a ceritain monitor. still, 17 in is pretty small..

however, yoke throttles and especially rudders have completetly changed the way i sim. i cannot do it without those anymore, it just doesnt feel right, and i think they add the most realism for the money.

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Reply #8 - Oct 15^th, 2008 at 10:12am

JBaymore Offline
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hombuilt cockpit!

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Brett_Henderson wrote on Oct 14^th, 2008 at 5:55pm:

If you're getting satisfactory performance out of that hardware, sit tight on it. Don't piece-meal upgrade... wait and do a TOTAL upgrade down the road.... because....... if you're an avid simmer... you MUST get a yoke and pedals.. it's a whole different simming experience.. you won't regret it..

Yoke and pedals vote from me too. And I THINK you can get the pair for less than $300.

best,

..................john

PS: Then you can stop down into the Homebuilt Cockpits forum section as an "honorary apprentice member" and join the REAL sim hardware addicts. Wink

Intel i7 960 quad 3.2G LGA 1366, Asus P6X58D Premium, 750W Corsair, 6 gig 1600 DDR3, Spinpoint 1TB 7200 HD, Caviar 500G 7200 HD, GTX275 1280M, Logitec Z640, Win7 Pro 64b, CH Products yoke, pedals + throttle quad, simpit

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Reply #9 - Oct 15^th, 2008 at 10:58am

jime59 Offline
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I totally agree about the yoke/rudder pedal set-up but I don't have the "luxury" of saving for one big upgrade. Being a Father of 4 boys does not allow for that so I upgrade when possible. I found a Hanns-G 22" marked-down $60 to $166 so I'm going to grab it while I can.
With the holidays right around the corner, it'll be next year before I can even think about the other things I want. Embarrassed

The mind is like a parachute...it only works when it's open.

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Reply #10 - Oct 15^th, 2008 at 7:22pm

Milo1272 Offline
Colonel
I Fly Sim!

Posts: 50

I appreciate the advice to pick up a yoke and a rudder, but I will probably invest in a monitor. I guess I am just too tired of looking at the world through a 17 in window. I just hope I don't get too frustrated if my card can't keep up.

John - I went to the homebuilt cockpits for the first time to look around. Wow, you guys are really obsessed. I love the enthusiasm you have for FS, and I think your guide looks fantastic. I am always surprised with the generosity and creativity in the FS world!

Jime59 - I know where you are coming from. I have 5 kids under 13.

Milo

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Reply #11 - Oct 22^nd, 2008 at 1:33pm

homebrewer Offline
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Hello! I'm using FS9 and
FSX-DE.
United States of Good Beer

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I just want a video set-up that can keep up with my right index finger...

My system: AMD Phenom 9500 cpu, 2 x eVGA e-GeForce 8800GTS Superclocked vidcards (640Mb DDR3 each), Zalman "sunflower" 9700 fan, Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4 mobo, 4Gb G.Skill PC2-6400 DDR2 800Mhz RAM, 2 x Sony 20X DVD writers, Thermaltake Toughpower 850W modular p/s, 7 x 120mm fans, Windows XP Home and SP3, 2 x 250Gb Western Digital SATA-300 HDs (1 for apps, 1 for storage and precious files backup), CoolerMaster CM 690 case, NOD-32. Won't run FSX. Locks up a lot with FS9, too.

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