SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Exxman · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:59 pm Post subject: The Monster is coming...

Heehehehee. The Monster is on it's way. FULL-ON loaded system! Can't wait to put it together and fire it up!! YEAH! FS2004 here I come!!

So...what to do with the old system?? Offers anyone?

PII Celeron 533 (o/c to 733)
320M SDRAM (double-sided) 1 64M (old)chip and one 256M (new)
ATi Excalibur 7000 PCI Vid card w/64M
Raider Pro Digital Joystick
SMC Network Card

Anyone who may be interested please email or pm me.

Exxman

Pilotwannabe · Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 7:16 pm Post subject:

or you could save it and use it for a firewall or somethin like that... i think they make pda's faster than 533 these days though...

Left Flyer · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:02 pm Post subject:

Exxman
You actually ran FS9 on THAT machine?! You gotta be joking!

kiddin! all the best..hope you have the ATI 9800 Pro in the new machine

Exxman · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:30 pm Post subject:

LOL. No, I didn't run FS9 on it Left Flyer! :) I did install it once but never got over 3FPS. And it took about 5 minutes for it to load! Naw, been running FS2002 Pro and am very happy with it.

Not going with an ATi card though. No disrespect to users of their products but I can't stand them. No driver support and soon to be inferior product line. Going with the GeForce 6800 GT PCI Express. Was going to wait for the dual PCI Express cards but that will be later when there is an actual mobo that supports it. These cards kick serious ass. Will let ya'll know of the results when I fire it up. This PC is going to be a big leap from where my old system is so there are going to be a lot of neat surprises. 8)

@Pilotwannabe- LOL. Yeah they do! I'm not going to do anything with the old PC. Part it out or dump it. Never want to see it's face around here again. Already planning a PC Burning Party...going to use the case as the grill for the BBQ...heheheehe.

Oh, and I'm not going to go with XP Pro. Don't really need to. Sticking with Home version. Sounds kind of lame...??? "Home"...

Exxman

Left Flyer · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:50 pm Post subject:

Tips I picked up along the way:

Minimum config if someone invests in a new machine on this lovely day:

1. 1024mb RAM minimum with 4 empty slots for further upgrades.
2. Min 128M vid card
3. 30Gb partitioned HDD out of the rest ONLY for FS.
4. Minimum 2.8 GHz + Processor on an Intel-865 motherboard -
5. DirectX9c & WMP 10
6. XP- doesnt matter whether its home or pro as the difference is evident to only those who sit in a cubicle (like me) and those who like the lounge chair with built in speakers in front of their machines..you only need XP for ur office.
(clear debate raging on whether to use SP2 or not, so I shall refrain from commenting..)
7. Minimum 17" TFT LCD Monitor (the HP 7 series laptops have these extra wide ones- even better!)

All - Feel free to add to this ...

Pilotwannabe · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 3:04 pm Post subject:

don't forget something that can really bring a game to life.. a good set of speakers! at least 2.1.

SpectroPro · Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:17 pm Post subject:

um...... just curious about something you said.... but how can you possibly state no driver support for the ATI cards??? Have you seen the new drivers??? Note: They upgrade their drivers regularly to fix problems and issues that users send in.

Yes, they are screwing the pooch on this next generation of cards, and I hope somone gets fired for it. They have destroyed nVidia for so long, and now with new technology they are just sitting by and NOT utilizing it. nVidia will be blowing away the new ATI's for a couple years. ATI even went so far as to tell the companies that have contracts with them (game companies) NOT to utilize or make use of the new technology.... WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!!!!????

I am almost PO'd enough to not support them, but they will come back. Will be a year or so behind for the next couple years, but I am sure they will take the lead again in the next 3-5.

Ok...enough..just wondering how you could possibly claim something that is so false I had to post.

Exxman · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 3:03 am Post subject:

I formulated my opinion based on my own personal experience with thier drivers and the support that came with my card. I stopped at page 53 while doing a Google search for "ATi driver problems" and was led to Driver Heaven where I installed their drivers and sort of fixed the problem. Thus, my particular card has little value to me based on my own experience. Because it was an older model, the new drivers were not acceptable for use. If you (and I know of many others) have never had a problem with them, then that is great, but that is not the case for all cards and systems. I am proof of that, as are many others that were complaining about their drivers. I play it smart, get something that has less problems than the other and that is one of the reasons why I am going with another manufacturer. And I know they have their problems as well, but not to the extreme that I have experienced with ATi.

There is nothing false about my claim my friend. It is a fact, with evidence to back it up, of one of ATi's many misfortunes as you have stated yourself. Just because the majority of customers who bought a 69 Mustang find it a great car doesn't mean that there are no lemons...guess I got a lemon and I'm a tainted customer now.

I'm not about to wait around for them to get their act together. Their loss...my gain...heehehee.

Peace,
Exxman

SpectroPro · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 2:38 pm Post subject:

I find it amazing that the new drivers work just fine on with my ATI All-in-Wonder 7200. That card is 4 years old, btw. That's how I base my opinion. I also know that if you contact their tech support, (well, when I have contacted them) they bend over backwards to get things up and running or let you know why something won't work.

It sucks if you got one that had a problem. And I know others that have had problems as well. For example, I sold 2 ATI 9200 cards. One to groundsquirrel and one to Pingponggame. Both cards were under 100 hours of use, and honestly, probably both under 20 hours use. Both went into computer systems that were almost identical in features. Groundsquirrel updated to the new drivers and all worked great. Pingponggame was never so lucky. It simply wouldn't work right in his computer. Go figure.

Anyways, hope you like your new one. They are sweet. And yes, ATI is beyond stupid for this major *beep* up they have endeavored on. I honestly can't imagine several people didn't lose their jobs over this one. I mean they litterally are looking at 2-3 years now where they will be not only behind, but way behind. And because of it, and their contracts with game companies, they will be losing a few of them as well I fear. They came out of no where to blow by everyone else and be the best in the world....I am sure they can do it again. But, I have given myself to the fact that for the next couple years, nVidia users will be able to honestly say (if they have the NEWEST cards coming out later this year) that their cards are better. DOH!!!!!

Let us know how your new card does on the Futurmark Benchmarking tests on your new computer. Will be interested to see the numbers.

Exxman · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 4:27 pm Post subject:

Apology accepted... 8). Will keep you informed of the benchmarks and other anomalies (please NNOooooooooooooooooooo) if there are any.

Going to be fun being able to edit regions in 'real time' without pops and clicks. Or loading up full songs without hesitation. But the best of all...I'll be able to land on any runway of my choosing without it jer or disappearing on me altogether!!! YEAH!

Had a dream last night. It was the ATi Holocaust. People were piling up their cards in the streets and burning them...heheheee.

Exxman

SpectroPro · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:59 pm Post subject:

LOL...

Ok....btw, I have found something interesting out.

Seems, after tons of testing and benchmarking, that the information I have given and was given to me that you SHOULD lock your frame rates is wrong. Well, partially. Does it give you better CPU performance...YES. However, if you set your frame rate to unlimitted, you lose some cpu usage, but you GAIN better graphics loading.

Apparently, when you set it to unlimitted, the 'pieces' of terrain load faster. Just wanted to pass this along...

Left Flyer · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:09 am Post subject:

Greg

methinks you should post this new found info in a separate topic to inform all and sundry who took ur advice (me for e.g.!)...I even propogated it further to a lot many pm'ers who wanted advice.
Fact is it does help CPU usage but if there is an extension to the truth, all should know!

SpectroPro · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:26 am Post subject:

I posted it in the hardware area as well. Yeah, it's sort of a catch-22. You get better cpu usage with it limited, but it slows down the graphics processors ability to load the squares. So, you have to figure which one you want more... argh! it never ends..

SpectroPro · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:14 pm Post subject:

hehe...

Ok...all of that was a good read. Anyways, please note, that I asked and was granted removal of OPS in many of the forum areas. Thus, I can't dlete things in many of the places. I did this because on the forum, I would rather be one of you all than someone that is told contantly I have to do things this way, or that way, because I AM A MODERATOR. Well, now, in MOST of the forum areas, I am just a normal ding dong. This allows me to post things that I otherwise would be chastized for.

Much happier this way. Unfortunately, MANY of the mods are not around that often anymore and thus, if things need done or deleted, they may not be done for some time. Best thing is to pvt message someone like Insured Disaster or Groundsquirrel. Either of them will take care of it for all of us.

Pilotwannabe · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:34 pm Post subject:

how's that PCI video card? I currently need one... i don't know anything about the one you have... any good? I'd be interested in that... maybe..