Building of "The Beast"

_AH_Poncho · June 07, 2009, 12:09:10 AM

I desperately need some help from all you fine folks!

Long story short, I'm coming into some extra dough in the next few weeks and one thing that tops my list is... I want the build one beast of a computer! The one I am currently using was purchased in 2003 and it has worked just fine for me up until now. :happy-112: I spent about $2500 on a ready made machine back in 03 and I doubt I would have to spend that much these days....but if I do, so be it. I want my next one to last me for a while. I see screen shots of the game and they don't even look anything like what I'm seeing from the cockpit.

So pretty much, I am an idiot when it comes to knowing the lingo on this stuff and exactly what is what. This will be my first one I will put together and there will be a bit of a learning curve associated with the process. So if everyone can give me some input, please do!

I want to build one from the ground up!

What I want to do with it:

Gaming for sure...duh...
Surfing the web
Home recording (mini music studio)

Questions:
Can I run IL-2 with multiple monitors...a panoramic deal? If so, what is the limit? 2 or 3 monitors? What kind should I stay away from?

Dual core vs quad core?

Dual video cards? What kind?

Rudder petals?

Should I keep the X-52?

Can you overkill it with ram?

Does anyone do any audio recording at home? I think I'll need a special sound card to have access to midi, mic, and instrument inputs.

Is "liquid Cooled" really needed? I see it every where on the net

Power supply? bigger = better?

Oh and I hate vista, should I not?

Please help me out guys!

_AH_Duff4r · June 07, 2009, 03:58:02 AM

Questions:
Can I run IL-2 with multiple monitors...a panoramic deal? If so, what is the limit? 2 or 3 monitors? What kind should I stay away from?Yes, I don't know the limit. Consider a BIG monitor instead of 2 or more. Something with a low response time

Dual core vs quad core?Quad Core

Dual video cards? What kind?IL-2 isn't all that friendly to Dual Vid Cards. Nvidia. MAKE SURE your MoBo is SLI compatible

Rudder pedals?Your call...I like the realism

Should I keep the X-52?Yes

Can you overkill it with ram? XP will only recognize 4 Gigs minus the RAM on your video card. Buy quality and SPEED

Does anyone do any audio recording at home? I think I'll need a special sound card to have access to midi, mic, and instrument inputs.

Is "liquid Cooled" really needed? I see it every where on the net Emphatically NO!! The new CPUs run cool. This is for the Over-clockers of the world.

Power supply? bigger = better? Yes, Buy quality

Oh and I hate vista, should I not?It's not the gamers choice ATM. Vista is also a RAM sink hole. If you have XP use it and wait for Windows 7 - Reports are good for this OS

HardDrive WD Raptor 10,000 RPM

Google Tom's Hardware. They can help you buy a beast. It will still only be good for 3 years max!

I like newegg.com - Look at this....for starters then, DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK!

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

EVGA 896-P3-1257-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920

CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C9

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives

More?
Duff

_AH_Col._Hogan · June 07, 2009, 04:21:48 AM

Duffr for President
S!

_AH_Bong · June 07, 2009, 04:31:15 AM

Can I run IL-2 with multiple monitors...a panoramic deal? If so, what is the limit? 2 or 3 monitors? What kind should I stay away from?
I agree with Duff4r go Big get one with a fast response time. Also an Idea is go with Track IR with the big monitor.

Dual core vs quad core? Quad definately

Dual video cards? What kind? I run Dual Sli love it for games.

Rudder petals? definately

Should I keep the X-52? yup

Can you overkill it with ram? Yes again I agree with Duff4r

Does anyone do any audio recording at home? I think I'll need a special sound card to have access to midi, mic, and instrument inputs. I suggest one of the Xfi series cards. I prefer the Fatality Platnum

Is "liquid Cooled" really needed? I see it every where on the net Water sounds cool till you take into account all the possible problems. You can even check with Slikk on it I think he lost about $1500 on his build due to water cooling issues before he got it sorted. Also take into account the cost to upgrade yuor new system if its liquid

Power supply? bigger = better? Yes bigger is good. A bigger supply actually draws less power when running cause its not working as hard to make your power demands requirements. Also aids in cooling

Oh and I hate vista, should I not? again with Duff go xp 64bit and wait

Now I have questions for you?
AMD or Intel?
Motherboard ideas?
Full or mid size case?
Budget?
How many hard drives?
It gets a little daunting but its fun and Idiot proof most things only plug in one place:) Asking is the path to tranquility on this.

_AH_Poncho · June 07, 2009, 07:26:17 AM

Thanks guys!

_AH_Toccs · June 07, 2009, 09:22:57 PM

Ponch, now that you won the lottery, here are my suggestions if you want to increase your flight immersion experience:

- go the single biggest monitor you can afford.

- dump the x-52 and go CH all the way. Fighter Stick, Throttle, Rudder Pedals, and MFP. I did, never regretted it. The MPF comes in handy for other games like COD4. X-52 wore me out with driver problems, hangups, and equipment jams. The CH is well built and can take a lot of punishment.

- Blow a few more bucks on Track IR 5. Lotsa pros and cons on this, and nothing will start an argument quicker in AH except when Johnny downloads a new plane. :happy-016: I happen to be strong pro on this.

- logitech G-15 keyboard, program the 12 extra keys for things like starting, landing, maps, lights etc. Only have things on the joystick that involve flying and fighting. For example,you can write a carrier startup script that will lock tailwheel, open canopy, drop flaps, turn on lights, WEP, open radiator, order beer, all in one key stroke. Ring has one of these keyboards too, some others may also.

-Staples has a solid black student desk ($26) that makes an excellent starting point for a flight deck. I went through 4 or 5 desks before I stumbled over this one. lotsa wire ties and double back tape does the trick. It's so ugly no one else in the family will go near it. Perfect.

_AH_Stiffy · June 07, 2009, 10:22:23 PM

i agree with most of what the others have said.......most

the point that i disagree with is when it comes to a stick you like, stick with it. I'm not here to knock CH products but i have a set of rudder pedals from them that arent worth the box they came in. sent them back and they said nothing was wrong with them and sent them back or sent a new pair back and still are junk. so if you like the x52 then go with it
presently i use the x52 AND the microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2.
i also have a keyboard that has extra buttons i can program, and i couldnt live without it

trackir rocks

good luck on the set up you end up with

_AH_Bong · June 07, 2009, 10:45:41 PM

http://dhs-electronic.de/index2.php?id=200&lng=en

Heres a link to the Simped Vario pedals I have used for almost 10 years. Yup one set no troubles great feel and just well built. They have a new series out with toe brakes thats awsome. The only real problem is when ordering have a German /English translater running. Mine have been flawless. they run about 150 bucks.

_AH_Poncho · June 08, 2009, 02:36:09 AM

Thank you all so much!

I have a first or second generation Track IR VMF-214_Pappy sent Corona, then he gave it to me. He rigged up a LED light with a 9 volt battery and a wire and taped it to my hat. I tried it only a couple times and it made me kinda dizzy... I guessing there are many improvements on the 5th generation...

_AH_Poncho · June 10, 2009, 12:23:43 AM

AH_BONG
Now I have questions for you?
AMD or Intel?
Motherboard ideas?
Full or mid size case?
Budget?
How many hard drives?
It gets a little daunting but its fun and Idiot proof most things only plug in one place:) Asking is the path to tranquility on this.

I really have no preference on the MB or Processors
As for the case size, I guess bigger allows more room to cool?
2 hard drives, Mirror drives (right?)

_AH_Bong · June 10, 2009, 12:48:12 AM

_AH_Twisted · June 10, 2009, 05:14:58 PM

Quite and impressive rig Bong !

~S~

_AH_Poncho · June 13, 2009, 07:46:55 PM

AWESOME BONG!

That's $1424.91 , including having 4 hard drives to run paired raids. Not bad at all.. would that be everything I need?

So, how difficult is it to really "build" it and get it running? I'm sure I could manage to put it all together correctly... but will it just turn on and work? (lol) I have changed out my video card and ram...that's it! I have never installed the OS before, so I don't know what it exactly entails.

check out this find....looks good to me!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254026

_AH_Bong · June 13, 2009, 08:47:41 PM

Poncho recheck my earlier post I updated it to include everything for the build.

Good luck have fun with it.

_AH_Moby · June 14, 2009, 10:18:00 AM

~S~!

Ok, you guys really got me going on this rebuild/build thread!!!!

I have in my current system...

-GTX 260 OC Nvidia video card
-Intel 915PGN Mobo
-660 watt gaming power supply
-512 Mb (x4) sticks of Kingston PC3200 RAM for 2 Gb total
-250 Gb Western Digital Hard Drive
-Also have a 180 Gb external hard drive to save my game files/missions/skins/mods etc. for when I reformat, when I have to...

I use the onboard sound software that came with the Intel disc for the mobo, and have a large case, three extra case fans and a large CPU fan I installed after the games made the CPU temp go through the roof, they are much lower now.

I use Windows XP and have a 22' wide screen LCD 8ms monitor.

My games run perfect, no issues, and have mid range FPS for IL2 and COD 5.
(And yes I know you should mess with it if it's running fine...but I think it's time to upgrade a bit since the old girl is almost 5 years old now, the CPU and mobo I mean...)

In order to increase general perfomance in general, am I wrong to think that a newer dual or quad core CPU/mobo will be compatible with what I currently have...???

Would I have to reformat my hard drive if I get a new CPU chipset and mobo? And would a Ram upgrade be necessary as well?

The reason I am asking is cuz my birfday is comin up and the wife is asking what I might want..... in and around the $200-300 range...

Any recommendations...???

Love you guys!!!

Mobes.

_AH_Bong · June 14, 2009, 05:25:55 PM

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4691267&CatId=3508

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4692733&CatId=3508

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=4815094&sku=B69-0097

Heres a few ideas mobes :)

_AH_Moby · June 15, 2009, 02:32:54 AM

~S~!

Thanks Bong! I figure if I play my cards right I can keep it under $300 bucks Canadian for a speedy dual or quad core CPU and mobo, and hopefully include some new faster RAM, but we will have to see what the birfday girl has in store for me I guess..... either way, it's going to happen, just have to shop around a bit more... maybe if I find something alot cheaper in the states, I could send the cash and get one of the boys to send the parts back to me... it looks like that might be an option too based on some of the prices I have seen in the past couple days of searching the net.....

Thanks again!

Mobes

_AH_Moby · July 05, 2009, 03:04:00 AM

~S~!

I did it!!!! Finally got the upgraded parts and going to have the system rebuilt on Monday....

Purchased an Q9550 Intel Core 2 Quad processor, 4Gb of Corsair XMS2 PC 8500 1066MHz 7-7-7-20 RAM (2 x 2 Gb sticks), and a Gigabyte Ultra Durable 3 (GA-EP45-UD3L) Mother board.
All for just under $500 bucks and can't wait to get it to get it up and running! I was hoping to have it installed by the weekend but the service girl says she will have it all done for me on Monday ready for pick up Monday night..... Can't wait!!! My FPS should finaly hit the roof and hopefully won't need to upgrade for at least 2-3 years....hopefully..... I just hate reformatting, but it's gotta be done I guess.... with all the spare parts I have now, I'm pretty sure I have enough laying around to build a computer for the kids and keep them happy too!
Thanks for all the advice guys... I asked a ton of questions based on all the chat here on this thread and I think I should have a pretty amped up system now.... I got talked out of having an SLI capable Mobo, based on the specs with new sytem apparently I will have no need for it anyway.

~S~!

Mobes