My computer specs

[brianc]

Hi guys,

For many years I was running FSX on a laptop. It was okay but the later PMDG products (737 NGX and 777) began to show the limitations of my equipment.

One day I was in a Harvey Norman store (a homewares store) and saw they had a gaming computer for sale. I had a look at the specs and decided to buy it. That was about three or four years ago.



I am running FSX with Acceleration (out of the box).
The FSX settings are mostly average, but a couple of sliders are full on.
I have the frame rate set at unlimited but it is externally limited to 30fps. The Connie flight was running at about 60fps.
The scenario that still kills my computer with an out of memory error is: (PMDG) 777 landing at (Flytampa) YSSY at night.

Add-ons:

Weather: REX Essentials plus Overdrive for the textures. Active Sky Next (ASN) for the weather engine.

Scenery: ORBX Australia and England.
Airports: ORBX: YSCB, YMML, YBBN, YWOL, plus Ayres Rock, Tamworth and Milford Sound.
             Aerosoft: EGLL, EDDM, LOWI and PANC.
             FSDreamteam: KJFK (V2), KLAX, KLAS, KORD and KDFW.
             Flytampa: YSSY and Kai Tak.
             Flight1: WSSS.
Lots of freeware airports as well to bring FSX up to date with areas I usually fly to.

A2A: Accufeel, Shockwave 3D lights Redux, Cessna 172 and Stratocruiser.
Lots of aircraft, some payware some freeware.

For the PMDG 737 and 777 I have Immersion and FS2Crew running at the same time.
I still prefer to fly the PMDG 747-400 even though a new one is around the corner.

I have the Aerosoft Airbus A320/1 but don't use it much.

The computer is okay for me but is getting old now as well. I've just had to replace one of the 5 cooling fans.

Cheers

[robau707]

Thanks Brian,
I was just curious because for months now with FSX I have been suffering freezing usually around 20 minutes into the flight, no crash to desktop, just freezes.
I have a good i7 processor with a HD 4600 video card and I am suspecting that the video card is the problem, fs appears to run okay with the resolution 1600-900-32 but the graphics are crap, was looking to going to Nvidea which seems the most popular.
My VAS is fine, no probs with the task manager and I must have read every so called fix on the web.
My other option is to dump FSX and install FSX Steam, I believe that steam is much more stable so might be worth a go.
Thanks for posting

Cheers
Rob

[brianc]

Hi Rob,

Sorry, I'm not sure what is going on with your system.
I have heard recently that the GTX 1080 is very good with FSX. www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/05/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1080-australian-review/
I can't find the FSX reference now but I will keep looking.

I found this useful: www.simforums.com/forums/the-fsx-computer-system-the-bible-by-nickn_topic46211.html
He doesn't mince his words though!

Sometimes I get a freeze as a kind of pause every now and then when going through the flight set up but not during the flight.
I hope you get it sorted soon.

I've recently replaced my 27" monitor with a 32" monitor running through the HDMI port. I also have the Saitek yoke, throttles and pedals.

[robau707]

Hi Brian
I actually got to complete a 2 hour flight last night KSFO to KSEA in my IFLY 737-800 without any problems. I turned off my AVG anti-virus.
So tonight I am going to try a 5 hour flight KSEA to PHNL in the 73 and see what happens.
I also have the Saitek yoke / throttle which works fine along with an addition Saitek throttle quadrant four flying the 4 engine jobs.
The additional throttle gives me no end of problems even though all calibrations work out fine. As soon as I touch it engines 3 and 4 jump to around 30 percent, increase power and I only get 80 percent, decrease than back only to 30 percent, very awkward trying to land a B707.
FS is a great hobby but for me over the last few months I have been tearing my hair out with it.
Anyway will keep tweaking.

Cheers
Rob

[brianc]

Hi Rob,

I have the paid version of FSUIPC which is good for controlling throttles etc. It is also good for taming winds and turbulence. Not sure if the free version can do it too.
I only have the one throttle set but it is permanently set up for piston engines. My throttle lever is wearing out and causes problems trying to keep the MAP steady. The other two are for propeller rpm and fuel mixture respectively. For jets I just use the one throttle lever for multi engine jobs and ignore the other two levers.
Good luck with your flight.

[robau707]

Hi Brian,
Started my long haul flight to PHNL with FSX and as usual end up with the big freeze after around 30 minutes.
Deleted FSX and all my addons then purchased FSX-Steam.
Flew the flight again using the default 747 and landed in Honolulu 5hrs 53 minutes without a glitch, so fingers crossed.
Will now do a few short flights with the default 737 and if all goes well then start adding my addons once I figure out how to do that.
I have no idea what Dovetail tweaked in the sim but it runs much more fluidly and the aircraft fly very smoothly.
Very happy at this stage.

Cheers
Rob

[Allen Peterson]

Hi Rob,
For what it's worth, I remember getting a pop up flying FSX saying something like "Apple has a software update". After slicking the x to close the pop up, FSX was not running.
I had to mouse click anywhere on the panel and then FSX would resume. I, too, think FSX SE is more stable than FSX and more tolerant of interruptions.
I have moved several of my FSX addons to FSX SE with no problems, just copy the aircraft file from FSX to FSX SE. You may have to resolve guage calls.
Allen

[robau707]

Hi Allen,
So far, so good with steam.
Did the long haul flight as above and today did a short haul flight in the default 737 from Honolulu to Hilo International and all went well once again.
I was tearing my hair out with FSX freezing, that is why I decided to give steam a go, so far very pleased with steam.
FSX I new well for adding planes, scenery, settings and config files but steam is a whole new ball game, but slowly learning it and gathering information.
Just got a response from PMDG regarding their 737 NGX which I purchased back in 2014 for FSX on how to download the newer version for steam at no cost, most helpful.
I am finding steam to run more fluidly than FSX and the aircraft handling very smooth, whatever Dovetail did to it, it appears a lot more stable.

Thanks Allen and cheers
Rob
PS hope you are up and running for the NZAR in September.

[Allen Peterson]

Waiting for the NZAR, i'll be steaming.
Allen

[robau707]

Hi Allen,
All went well with downloading and installing the PMDG 737 into Steam, step one out of the way.

Rob

[brianc]

Hi Rob,

I'm glad the Steam experience is working out for you. Best wishes with the rest of the installs!

[robau707]

Thanks Brian,
So far so good.
I have added the PMDG 737NGX and Captain Sim Boeing 707, both are working perfectly.

Cheers
Rob

[brianc]

Good news Rob... speaking of the CS 707... have a look in the Screenshots.