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 Previous Item - AF5500 setup for Gamin Aera 796
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Anyone recommend a great simulator setup? |
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Ken Leonard - Jul 18,2020
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I want to earn my instrument rating and I want to get more comfortable and current flying into
towered airports. I am seeing some pretty sophisticated setups for simulators.
Interested in opinion from those who have a good simulator as to:
1. the value of starting my instrument training on it before flying with an instructor
2. The value of a good setup for currency - I understand there is a very realistic radio practice add-
on.
3. Cost and configuration of a setup as close to a Searey as possible or a 172 if Searey canâ??t be
met.
I figure $1000 and maybe 2000 if itâ??s really going to minimize needed IFR rental.
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Jim Moline - Jul 19,2020
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I am surprised this post has not been flooded (pun unintended) However I am also interested in
looking at a sim.
Ken, yes well worth hours on a sim. I did the Private IFR course in OZ, the sim made the real thing
sooo much easier.
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Ken Leonard - Jul 19,2020
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Yeah, I’m hoping it will kick off a good discussion. There is a lot of info on YouTube but I figure someone who has a setup already
could say what they like vs dislike.
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Mark MacKinnon - Jul 20,2020
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Ken, have you posted this question on any IFR forums? You may not get much response here.
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Ken Leonard - Jul 20,2020
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Nope. I was hoping someone had closely matched a sim to the Searey.
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Steve Kessinger - Jul 20,2020
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Ken Leonard - Jul 20,2020
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And there you go. That is the starting point.
Hardware recommendations? Pro/con?
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Steve Kessinger - Jul 20,2020
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You can throw as much money at it as you want. I'm running mine on an 9 year old self-built PC with 12Mb RAM, but I upgraded the video card a couple years ago and it made a huge difference.
PC Pilot magazine would be a great place to start, Avsim and Simaviation are great online resources. Warning: very addictive, especially when under lockdown.
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PC Pilot
Budget build
AvSim
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Simaviation
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Steve Kessinger - Jul 20,2020
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I just read that the new MSFS launches Aug 18, but based on past performance, I would not touch it for a while while it debugs.
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MSFS 2020
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Flight Sim 2020
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Shannon Moon - Sep 22,2020
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Yeah, FS2020 is shows promise, and two or three years from now might be worthwhile. I am currently certifying a simulator with the
FAA, and I'm using Prepar3D. The Searey model that is available for FSX doesn't even vaguely fly like a real Searey.
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Dan Nickens - Jul 20,2020
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Sportys did a webinar last week on simulators that you can view in their archives. I
have not seen it so I donâ??t know if it is helpful or just a sales piece.
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Sporty’s Webinars
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Dan Nickens - Aug 18,2020
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So, have you bought in. Ken? If so, what did you get? If not, why not?
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Ken Leonard - Aug 19,2020
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Did not yet Dan. Will at some point but was in analysis paralysis long enough that some other squirrel distracted me.
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Dan Nickens - Aug 19,2020
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Understand. It’s too much for me so I’m waiting for a fearless leader or an epiphany.
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Russ Garner - Sep 05,2020
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You have to check the minimum requirements for running some of these programs.
I built a gaming computer about six years ago and I'm running windows 8.1 I don't
like windows 10 but Steams version of the old FSX runs on Windows 7,8,8.1 and 10
the new FSX only runs on Windows 10.
I have an i5-2500 CPU running at 3.6 16 GB ram and 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 Video
card. The setup has been a good performer but needs updating before I can run
programs like X-Plane 11 that runs slow and choppy even on the low graphics setting
on my system. So make sure your system is up for the task on some of these newer
programs.
Minimum Requirements for the new FSX.
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel i5-4460 | AMD Ryzen 3 1200
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 770 | AMD Radeon RX 570
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space
RECOMMENDED:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 | AMD Radeon RX 590
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space
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Steve Kessinger - Sep 07,2020
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I upgraded to Win 10 years ago, Russ, and feel the opposite than you about Win 8, Even though there is a learning curve I think W10
is a much smoother and stable OS, W8 was perceived as being so bad they skipped W9 and went directly to W10 so they could get a
clean break from it. You might want to try it again.
I also upgraded to FSX Steam and got rid of all my old discs and addons, much as I hate online games the incompatibilities of
upgrades and patches that weren't supported started driving me nuts, so I finally bit the bullet. Now I just keep my internet disabled
whenever I can and play, my hangar computer is an old i3570 (trying to remember off the top of my head) with 8mb RAM, I
upgraded the video card last year and it made a huge difference.
Current project on the layover (since we're supposed to be quarantining in our rooms) is taking the Discover Arabia/SeaRey package
and trying to figure out how to repaint it in different versions of OspRey. The good news is that I got the default paint scheme to
blank textures, bad news is I got it too far, and the software company is not supporting the product any more. Working on it....
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White SeaRey
IMG 4046
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20200530 044055
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Russ Garner - Sep 17,2020
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Steve, I have some old games I still play that 10 doesn't support. I had 10 never had a problem understanding the change to
a app based system but I really didn't like how windows 10 took over my computer and slowed it way done, I felt like Bill Gates
was setting next to me.
Microsoft wants to know everything you click on so they can sell the info to big companies for big bucks so they can help Google
put adds on you home screen. I don't need windows 10 looking into everything I do on MY computer. I don't have to update 8
or run all the supposedly constant security upgrades Microsoft wants you to. I don't even use Google to do my searches I use
DuckDuckGo who doesn't track your every search and try to sell it. You can keep 10 my computer runs faster 8 then any
running on 10.
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Steve Kessinger - Sep 18,2020
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Amen on Big Brother, Russ, Giuliana has tons of apps on her phone, I have the bare minimum and undid as much of the spyware on 10 as I can, use Pale Moon as my browser, and other stuff. When in doubt, I put down M Mouse and Disneyland whenever I have to resigter on a website.
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Mark MacKinnon - Sep 20,2020
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I disabled Cortana on mine. Do a web search on how; it's not too difficult. Requires getting into the registry.
Amen on the constant Win 10 updates, especially the huge "Cumulative" updates that sometimes takes half a day to do, and forces me to find a public Wi-Fi since I have a limited data plan. I believe these updates are mostly just job security for some of the Microsoft techs.
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Russ Garner - Sep 05,2020
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What about operating in IMC with your SeaRey, how many of you really fly in real IMC on a regular basis in your SeaRey.
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Wayne Howie - Sep 20,2020
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I use FS2020 at the moment. I have been using sims since the very early days of Flight Simulator
and even can go back to a
rudimentary IFR simulator on a C64. Although I am in no way an expert on the subject I can offer
everyone my input.
The new FS2020 that I have had for about a month or so is absolutely stunning, but so is the
hardware you need to run it at
high settings. With a Gforce 1080Gtx the simulator is runnable in lower settings. It gets a bit
chunky at times when rendering
cities So I decided to upgrade my desktop PC to a Gforce2080. I also upgraded my motherboard,
memory and hard drive at
the same time, so not for the feint of heart if you want to show off the capability on 3 HD
monitors.
FS2020 side by side to Xplane11 I prefer FS2020. There are only a few things I would like to
add to the Christmas list, but
certainly no complaints. 2020 uses real time weather and renderings off what I assume is Google
Earth and I am never at a
loss of dead reckoning in my own neck of the woods. Would I recommend it as a flight trainer?
No. Would I recommend it for
IFR training? I think it has a ton to offer under the hood, specifically with familiarization of
instruments and avionic controls.
The garmin on the 172 I fly is an exact replica, as well as the Garmin on the Icon.
The challenges are interesting but could use some more refinement. The game is always being
tweaked and it is very
common to have a 10-20GB patch so if you have internet speeds in the range of 10mbps you may
be waiting every once in a
while half a day to play. It can not be used if a patch comes out, you have to wait for the install...
It is also very easy to set up Foreflight to flight track in real time with a small program called
FlightEvents running in the
background which is very neat. Overall, an excellent way to fly in and out of airports all over the
world. Like where else can
you try to land a Citation jet on your home 2300' grass strip??!?! 
More planes would be nice with the standard installation but you can buy more as an upgrade.
The small amount of aircraft
they do have are done very well and there is an ICON A5 for us to play with.
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IMG 4694
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Harold Roberts - Oct 15,2020
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Wayne, I don't like the MS2020 because they don't have true 3 screen support and the side monitors look distorted. I do like the Icon
in MSFS. Are you OK with the distortion? We have stuck with X-Plane until MSFS supports 3 screens.
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Wayne Howie - Oct 16,2020
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Harold, That is a great question!
The distortion is a bit annoying and I have adjusted settings in the hardware device drivers to make it as negligible as I can. The
Monitor frame accommodation is actually ok and to be honest my settings rolled back inadvertently and I didn't even notice after
flying a solid two hours around new york in a A5 and water taxiing up to the Statue of Liberty!
I would like to see more missions and not just landing challenges and bush flying. It would be great if they would set up missions
such as leaving anchorage airport in cub to deliver waterpump housing for CAT dozer at mining camp.... Well, I guess I can just
make up my own and do it tonight!
I am sure they will be feverishly working on improvements. For the most part I would give it a thumbs up when weather isn't
good enough to take my own plane up. My wife asked why I would spend so much money and time pretending to fly when on
plane in a hangar and one mid build...
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Harold Roberts - Oct 15,2020
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I put an instructional YouTube video plus plans and a detailed google document up on the web on our
flight simulator. It is more
than you wanted to pay at $3,000 but I'm sure this is saving substantial money in the long run. For
IFR training it is a no brainer.
The video has links to the documentation.
https://youtu.be/ob4UMlD6wMI
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Trimmed Sim
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Mark MacKinnon - Oct 17,2020
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Harold - very nice settup. One thing I noticed right away is how your computer is boxed in tight. I've seen computers overheat when enclosed similar to this. They need plenty of airflow especially when working hard to run software like this. You may want to check that it's not running hot even though you haven't had any problems.
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Harold Roberts - Dec 23,2020
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Mark, I guess this forum doesn't alert on replies. I only just saw this. The computer is boxed in but it has its venting above and
below, not on the sides. We have it lifted above the ground for good ventilation below and above.
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Don Maxwell - Dec 24,2020
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Hal, this forum CAN alert on replies--in one or both of two ways. Click on your name at the top of this page and you'll find:
OPTION 1: "Notification Email option:"
The choices are:
No email please
Daily
Twice weekly
Weekly
Monthly
OPTION 2: "Click here to Receive Real-time EMails"
The description is:
"The Real-Time EMail function will email you every time a item/reply is entered or modified on your site. To turn this on, click on the new option "Click here to Receive Real-time EMails". If you want to stop these emails, just go back to your member information and click "Please Stop my Real-time EMails".
"In the email, you will receive the last 3 replies to the thread, including pictures and a direct link to that reply.
"Only the actual member can activate this option. These emails will be sent out between 10-15 minutes after the item is entered."
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Harold Roberts - Jan 27,2021
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Don, I had the twice weekly notification already set under my profile, but I've never gotten an email from a reply to my post or any
posting by any member.
I have gotten emails saying that I registered with this site. That's it.
I have changed my settings to get real time reply. We will see if that does anything.
Next Day: Don, I am getting notifications now. This is strange because it had been set for twice weekly already. Maybe setting real
time notifications did the trick.
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Don Maxwell - Jan 28,2021
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Hal, it's good that it's working now--even if the mechanism is mysterious.
The origins of this site might interest you. I've just posted a summary of it in the History tab.
| | Attachments:
The History of Splash and Dash
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Mark MacKinnon - Dec 23,2020
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Harold - I think there is a way of setting up your email for alerts here, but I haven't bothered with it. I just check in here and STS several times a week to see what's going on, and I find responses to my posts that way.
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Ken Leonard - Oct 16,2020
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Very cool Harold. Thank you for that.
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Ken Leonard - Dec 22,2020
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So the kids are getting me the MS Flight Sim for Christmas.
My wonderful wife will let me build prety much anything I like but wants me to prove I will use it before going big.
So looking at my options...holy cow.
You can buy a yoke for a couple hundred and call it done. Or a yoke, rudder pedals and throttle quadrant for under $400.
But once you go above that, the choices are insane. Very realistic physical or screen panels in steam gages or all glass.
Full motion chairs with your rig attached for $5000! (Looks like autopilot actuators are moving the setup).
If you were willing to drop 10 thousand, you could have a sim that competes with anything under $100,000. And oh, your kids and
grandkids will be begging to come play their car racing or space shoot-em-up game at your place.
Or you can buy an FAA approved sim that you can log approaches in for something like $6000. (Without motion)
I wont be spending many thousand on the rig but a PC strong enough to not get in the way is $2000-2500. Then say $500 for basics
and another $500 six months later if I pass my ground school and am taking IFR training.
Again, its insane options but its mostly thanks to the gaming industry, not aviation. So thank those kids who are living in their
parents basement.
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Steve Kessinger - Dec 22,2020
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Ken, these guys built the flight sims for our projects at the Heritage Flight Museum and Historic Flight Foundation about 11 years ago, they did us solid and have grown quite a bit since then. If they still have the same great customer service now that they did then I'd highly recommend them. (And I think you'd have a couple things in common.)
[quote=About us]
Jetline Systems was founded in late 2006 by a Veteran U.S. Air Force Flight Engineer. The vision behind Jetline Systems was to create a high-performance PC company that would directly support the flight simulation pilot community. While there are many PC companies worldwide, few understand what hardware is really “best” when configuring a top of the line simulation rig.
Right from the start, Jetline Systems developers and engineers invested hundreds of hours into research, development, and programming. Our mission was to discover what Microsoft Flight Simulator required to create a realistic flight environment. Although PC technology is always growing, today and every day, Jetline stays committed to constant research and development to provide enthusiasts and actual pilots a single resource for flight simulation hardware needs.
[/quote]
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Jetline Systems
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Ken Leonard - Dec 23,2020
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Steve - yup, these guys are about 7 miles south of me in Tampa. Wrote them this week.
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Harold Roberts - Dec 23,2020
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One comment on MSFS 2020: They do not support multiple screens, making it useless for our 3-screen setup. They say it is near
the top of the list for new features and it will come in 2021 or 2022.
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Ken Leonard - Dec 27,2020
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I will post all the hardware as I order it but bottom line, I believe I have the initial config figured out for the sim.
MSFS is probably going to be superior soon, but they do not have many of the fixes out yet and many things are not yet
supported. So i will go with wingX first and then MSFS when its mature.
So the primary consideration for me was going with a product that allows me to avoid having to buy physical imitation of
instruments. There is software called airmanager that allows you to build or buy avionics or complete panels that function just like
the real thing. Add a physical device called a knobster that allows any selected knob to be twisted like a radio button, and it all
becomes exceptionally realistic. And cheap to reconfigure to new instruments. Two touchscreen monitors act as your complete
instrument panel and off you go. For example, you can purchase a Garmin GNS-430w that behaves and looks like the real thing, for
$35. I hope someone makes Dynon sim stuff.
The two recommended touchscreen monitors are Wimaxit 15.6” @ ~$180 each. Then whatever primary monitor or monitors to act
as your windshield and whatever PC you are willing to pay for. The PC you buy, if built by a company specializing in game PC set for
preferred sim operations, will set you back $1800-2500 and you can certainly go much higher. I will build mine with my son-in-law
for about $1500.
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Ken Leonard - Dec 28,2020
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Turns out - not so easy.
It appears that between covid forcing a whole lot of folks to be stuck home (hence upgrading their game system) and the fact that MS
flt sim 2020 came out a few months ago and its a huge CPU and GCU hog, GCUs are unavailable unless you want to buy a complete
computer or pay double the “normal” $500-750 price. Yes, you now pay $1400 for a high end graphics card. Some folks have been
waiting many months. Willing to take a card thats a generation or two older? Yeah, NO. Still not available.
So my son, unbeknownst to him, is about to lose his older PC to his old man. I will set up and run X-Wing while the market calms.
We can upgrade his box one part at a time. Sheesh. MSFS 2020 is immature. GCUs unavailable, knobster unavailable, Honeywell
latest yoke unavailable, honeywells latest throttle unavailable. Someone doesn't want me to build this thing.
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Harold Roberts - Jan 27,2021
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We must have got in under the wire when COVID was early and supplies were still available, we got a great deal on a high end
computer for around what you are finding for a high end graphics card.
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Russ Garner - Feb 03,2021
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When this thread started I had not yet upgraded my computer. Since then I have upgraded my rig to a i7-9700K on a new MSI MPG Z390 GAMING EDGE AC LGA 1151 (300 Series) Intel Z390 MB and 32 GB of CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 DRAM. I can now run XPlane 11 full throttle, the only draw back is I had to buy Windows 10 because the MB needs it to run.
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Steve Kessinger - Feb 03,2021
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Hell, Russ, with that rig you could run a sim in our training center!
FWIW, even though I run W10 I've dumbed it down so it looks like W7, no tiles, etc..
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Russ Garner - Feb 04,2021
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Steve. It took me a couple of weeks to pull together the components I wanted for this build. I already had a Corsair ATX fan and water cooled tower and a 800W power supply. I decided to keep my old GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 970 4 GB graphics card after discovering there is a shortage on high end components for gaming computers do to the virus and all us old kids getting stuck at home playing on our computers. So, this is my entry for best sim computer. The i7-9700K chip can now be had at a good price around $300 on Newegg this do to it being replaced by the new Intel LGA 1200 platform.
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