Ultimate flight sim/gaming PC

[Moby]

Howdy fella's,
First off I have to say I know shit about PC building. But especially in the company of (forgive the term) super geeks in this forum. You guys have forgotten more about PC's than I've ever known. That being said. I am a serious flight simmer and loving gaming. So this ol Cowboy (yeah I'm an ol fart at 53 that never grew up) wants an Uber gaming PC. I hope for one wicked ass, bull riding, ass kickin monster. One I won't have to up grade for a good while. I also need multiple PCIe slots as I need to add several USP items for flight sims because every darn thing I want, gauges, panels, TrackIR, etc is USP and some of them require big fast data transfers. I can also add a second PC of less power I already own if PC's can be networked together to do different stuff. But the one I currently have is old. I was good in it's day.

So with a $3000-$3500 budget (for the one PC), what would you folks recommend for a parts list? I want a big ol power supply and nothing middle of the road. All top shelf stuff. I've got a super geek buddy that will help me put the stuff together. I want clean wiring, I think I want liquid cooling. But to be honest I know more about dogs and bulls than PC's. This link will show you how passionate I am about virtual flying. I'll want three monitors (one being a 42" HDMI TV) and two 22" touch screens. I've already found those. The touch screens are for maps, communications etc. Only the 42" TV will be the in game monitor. (these are not in the budget for the PC)

Here's my current (or was) rig. It's stripped now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4BP8i4Wv20

All below not in budget
I'm thinkin this case
http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6653
This HOTAS
http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/x65f.html
These panels
http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/fip.html
These rudder pedals
http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/compedals.html
TrackIR
http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/products/trackir5/
X keys (already own)
http://www.piengineering.com/xkeys/xkbuttonp.php

I appreciate any help you big brain boys could give an ol man.

Thanks
Moby
=OUTLAWS=
www.beersims.freeforums.org

[AsRock]

Forget Saitek their flimsy pieces of crap try some thing like the Cougar, i cannot remember the names of another which is bugging the crap out of me but you could try checking out SimHQ and the guys at www.wingwalkers.org will help you happily.

cougar review
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ougar,458.html


Has for the TIR5 the 4 or 5 will do as excellent job. However keep away from 3 it's more fiddly as i always found my self always setting it up to were \ how i was seating were as with the tir4\5 once setup and got your settings how you like them you don't need any changing. and BTW TIR support is the best you can get.

Once you used a TIR4\5 or even 3 your in game flying driving will never be the same just watch out for feeling sick while using them for the 1st week or so as it makes some people that way.

[Darkleoco]

I can say only good things about that case, very spacious and has nice cooling but you do need to buy an extra 200mm fan for the top of the case to get maximum air cooling potential. Also very sturdy so it will support whatever you put in it, my HAF-X with my setup weighs about 50 pounds lol yours will likely run 60-70 depending what you put in it.

[CJCerny]

You want to stay as far away as possible from liquid cooling if you don't know much about PCs. Air cooling will suit you just fine.

[Delta6326]

Here's a nice quick build I put together.

NM was thinking of pci I just not for sure on the Motherboard as you need pci-E, but not many high end new boards have those...

EDIT: Updated pic's

[Neuromancer]

As a 5 year old game, I would imagine that you will be CPU limited more than anything, and would not need to go too crazy with GPUs.

socket 2011 is being released in 2 more weeks, so might be a good idea to hold off on purchases until that settles and you can see how it performs compared to sandyB as well. Get 2 dual channel kits of ram for now, to run 4 dimms on sandy bridge as well as being ready for socket 2011 and quad channel memory if you do decide to go that route.

(You can still get PSU, case, GPUs and such, but hold off on board/CPU).

[Darkleoco]

Originally Posted by Delta6326

Here's a nice quick build I put together.

I just not for sure on the Motherboard as you need pci-E, but not many high end new boards have those...

http://img.techpowerup.org/111029/Capture0269.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/111029/Capture0271.jpg

The components he listed look good to me other than the processor the i7 2700k released a few days ago for only $ 15 USD more than the 2600K and it comes with 3.5 Ghz stock clock which if you don't plan on overclocking would be nice in itself but some people have suggested they are just particularly good 2600K units that have had the stock clock upped slightly and either way it seems to suit your needs better to get a 2700K, as someone has already said I would not dabble with liquid cooling if you don't know what you are doing, I would get a high-end air cooling unit such as the CoolerMaster V6GT, the Prolimatech MegaHalem or something to that effect, the HAF-X has more than enough fans to keep your system cool no matter what you do to it (unless you get ridiculous with overclocking).

HAF-X improvement:
-Get an extra 200mm fan to install in the top.
-Get a better 140mm exhaust fan for the back
-Get a nice fan controller like the Sentry Mesh so you have full control over your cooling.

Graphics Card suggestion:
I own 2 MSI cards myself and the Twin Frozr II/III cooling is superb even on 50% fan speed and 100% GPU usage my cards do not break 65 C if I crank the fans up to 100 % it may be loud but I can run 40 C at 100 % load on both my cards.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...065&CatId=7005

[Irony]

Sell all that junk and get a BD-5


Whats your budget?

Edit: I see it now. *facepalm*

[Darkleoco]

His budget is stated in the OP.

[Irony]

Originally Posted by Delta6326

Here's a nice quick build I put together.

I just not for sure on the Motherboard as you need pci-E, but not many high end new boards have those...

http://img.techpowerup.org/111029/Capture0269.jpg

http://img.techpowerup.org/111029/Capture0271.jpg

ummm...virtually all boards have PCIE. New high end boards have several 2.0 as well as 3.0. see below.


That looks pretty good. I concur with getting the 2700k for practically the same money.

Take a look at these 2 boards. they both have lots of PCI and PCIE slots.

GIGABYTE GA-P67A-UD7-B3 LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6G...

ASRock Z68 EXTREME4 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI S...

[Delta6326]

Originally Posted by Darkleoco

The components he listed look good to me other than the processor the i7 2700k released a few days ago for only $ 15 USD more than the 2600K and it comes with 3.5 Ghz stock clock which if you don't plan on overclocking would be nice in itself but some people have suggested they are just particularly good 2600K units that have had the stock clock upped slightly and either way it seems to suit your needs better to get a 2700K, as someone has already said I would not dabble with liquid cooling if you don't know what you are doing, I would get a high-end air cooling unit such as the CoolerMaster V6GT, the Prolimatech MegaHalem or something to that effect, the HAF-X has more than enough fans to keep your system cool no matter what you do to it (unless you get ridiculous with overclocking).

HAF-X improvement:
-Get an extra 200mm fan to install in the top.
-Get a better 140mm exhaust fan for the back
-Get a nice fan controller like the Sentry Mesh so you have full control over your cooling.

Graphics Card suggestion:
I own 2 MSI cards myself and the Twin Frozr II/III cooling is superb even on 50% fan speed and 100% GPU usage my cards do not break 65 C if I crank the fans up to 100 % it may be loud but I can run 40 C at 100 % load on both my cards.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...065&CatId=7005

Whoops I already forgot about the 2700k. And the Corsair water cooling is as easy as air cooling and it looks more high end. Also yes the 2x 6970 probably will be over kill but the OP said $3000

And my bad on the PCI-E thing I was thinking about old legacy pci stuff I was in a hurry.

[Darkleoco]

Originally Posted by Delta6326

Whoops I already forgot about the 2700k. And the Corsair water cooling is as easy as air cooling and it looks more high end. Also yes the 2x 6970 probably will be over kill but the OP said $3000

Depending on how he intends to run it they might not be overkill and could actually benefit from overclocking so thats why I suggested 2 MSI R6970 Lightning cards that utilize the Twin Frozr cooling system which would handle the extra heat from overclocking easily.

[Moby]

WOW...I only know a little of what you folks are talkin about but it seems to me I've got loads of great suggestions. I can't thank you enough!!!

Is 1200 watts more than I'll ever need? I want to be sure I've all the power needed plus a bunch. And is there a big difference in Battery backups? We've a crappy grid here in Texas and one of my gaming buddy's says one of those protects stuff. I also read (and appreciate) that I do not need liquid cooling. As for 3.5 Mhz on the CPU that will be just fine I think. Flaming Cliffs 2 is CPU intensive I'm told. I also fly FSX, DCS tittles, and like shootem up games. If I don't need to overclock (and I wouldn't know how anyway) that's good. I hear if makes heat and that's bad. So I'm good with the suggested CPU. If ya'll don;t mind I may need to PM some of you fella's to ask a question or two about some of the suggestions. It's all a bit much to digest at a glance when ya really don't know what your doing.

I am really surprised at how quickly this crowd offered help to me. My hat's off to all of ya.
I sure am grateful. One things for sure...Ol Mrs. Moby is gonna kick my ass!!!!!
But she just always sends me to my Man Cave....which is often where I'd rather be.

Again thanks fella's. This build is probably a month off maybe two. But no doubt!
This will be the Rockin Rig I've been wanting. Might have to sleep in the barn for a week. But Ol Dundee (horse) He won't mind much.

You young fella's are alright!

[Darkleoco]

1200 watts is likely more than you will ever need for the setup unless it draws an insane amount of power for some reason which I find unlikely, the processor I suggest at 3.5 Ghz will literally laugh at anything called CPU intensive so no worries on that, also heat would not be a major concern if you use the HAF-X and get some nice fans into it.

If you need any questions answered just shoot me a PM.

[AsRock]

You don't need a TIR5 if you already have a TIR4 as their is barely any thing different with them.

As i said in the pm reply i understand you not liking TM after your experience with them, as for the other company i was on about it's called CH Products. Although remember to shop around for their gear as the prices can very a lot.
http://www.chproducts.com/index_no_flash.html

I got out of flight sims due to the cost as i was going go for a CH product some 18 + month ago as i was after a true left handed one which there is some one who makes the casing for at least one CH Product i was after but wanted yet another $200+ for the casing after spending over that to get the gear.

I got out of it really as it was getting way to expensive and with being left handed did not help even getting used to using a expensive right handed joystick ( Couger ).

If you want user reviews on a joystick as i said in my last post a great place to ask would be at www.wingwalkers.org some some of those guys have the top gear and the lower stuff. Their great people to fly with too..

[LordJummy]

Originally Posted by Moby

WOW...I only know a little of what you folks are talkin about but it seems to me I've got loads of great suggestions. I can't thank you enough!!!

Is 1200 watts more than I'll ever need? I want to be sure I've all the power needed plus a bunch. And is there a big difference in Battery backups? We've a crappy grid here in Texas and one of my gaming buddy's says one of those protects stuff. I also read (and appreciate) that I do not need liquid cooling. As for 3.5 Mhz on the CPU that will be just fine I think. Flaming Cliffs 2 is CPU intensive I'm told. I also fly FSX, DCS tittles, and like shootem up games. If I don't need to overclock (and I wouldn't know how anyway) that's good. I hear if makes heat and that's bad. So I'm good with the suggested CPU. If ya'll don;t mind I may need to PM some of you fella's to ask a question or two about some of the suggestions. It's all a bit much to digest at a glance when ya really don't know what your doing.

I am really surprised at how quickly this crowd offered help to me. My hat's off to all of ya.
I sure am grateful. One things for sure...Ol Mrs. Moby is gonna kick my ass!!!!!
But she just always sends me to my Man Cave....which is often where I'd rather be.

Again thanks fella's. This build is probably a month off maybe two. But no doubt!
This will be the Rockin Rig I've been wanting. Might have to sleep in the barn for a week. But Ol Dundee (horse) He won't mind much.

You young fella's are alright!

Where in TX are you exactly, if you don't mind me asking? I'm in The Woodlands (northwest of houston).

[Moby]

Originally Posted by LordJummy

Where in TX are you exactly, if you don't mind me asking? I'm in The Woodlands (northwest of houston).

I'm in Midlothian near Waxahatchie, about 30 south of Dallas buddy.

I've got a brother in Katy. I don't get down there enough though.

If you're ever in the area...I burn a mean steak!

Moby

[LordJummy]

Originally Posted by Moby

I'm in Midlothian near Waxahatchie, about 30 south of Dallas buddy.

I've got a brother in Katy. I don't get down there enough though.

If you're ever in the area...I burn a mean steak!

Moby

Right on! I have family in Katy as well, and I do some contract work for a security firm there.

I've been thinking about planning a TX LAN party / gaming BBQ type thing for next spring. That is something that no Texan could pass up. I'm a bit of a pit boy myself I spent a lot of time out on our family farm in Trinity too. My grandparents used to own and operate a badass country restaurant / grill house out there right next to the farm land. You should have seen his main pit. It was a gigantic custom cast iron smoker pit. Instead of a regular smoke stack / pipe it had a gigantic bull's head made of pure iron also. The smoke came out of the bull's head lol, it was so awesome. I think it was all iron anyways, maybe steel w/iron. Can't remember. I wish I had pics of that thing. Budweiser used to do some small events out there with bands and such. I loved it out there...

Anyways, way off topic. I'll have to PM you sometime.

[Moby]

Originally Posted by LordJummy

Right on! I have family in Katy as well, and I do some contract work for a security firm there.

I've been thinking about planning a TX LAN party / gaming BBQ type thing for next spring. That is something that no Texan could pass up. I'm a bit of a pit boy myself I spent a lot of time out on our family farm in Trinity too. My grandparents used to own and operate a badass country restaurant / grill house out there right next to the farm land. You should have seen his main pit. It was a gigantic custom cast iron smoker pit. Instead of a regular smoke stack / pipe it had a gigantic bull's head made of pure iron also. The smoke came out of the bull's head lol, it was so awesome. I think it was all iron anyways, maybe steel w/iron. Can't remember. I wish I had pics of that thing. Budweiser used to do some small events out there with bands and such. I loved it out there...

Anyways, way off topic. I'll have to PM you sometime.

Please do buddy. Love to chat

[n-ster]

Noone suggested X79 / LGA 2011? It is the obvious choice...

Granted I didn't read through much of the thread lol

I'm tired of posting at TPU atm lol, I've posted far too much lately... I usually build high-end builds so if you have any questions etc, PM me a way you'd like to chat and I can respond much better. Else I'll make an effort and respond here

[LordJummy]

Originally Posted by n-ster

Noone suggested X79 / LGA 2011? It is the obvious choice...

Granted I didn't read through much of the thread lol

I'm tired of posting at TPU atm lol, I've posted far too much lately... I usually build high-end builds so if you have any questions etc, PM me a way you'd like to chat and I can respond much better. Else I'll make an effort and respond here

Actually they did.

[n-ster]

Originally Posted by LordJummy

Actually they did.

Yea I see that now xD Well I am putting in my opinion here too, SB-E is the way to go, maybe even the 3930K

[Delta6326]

Originally Posted by n-ster

Noone suggested X79 / LGA 2011? It is the obvious choice...

Granted I didn't read through much of the thread lol

I'm tired of posting at TPU atm lol, I've posted far too much lately... I usually build high-end builds so if you have any questions etc, PM me a way you'd like to chat and I can respond much better. Else I'll make an effort and respond here

I would have brought it up but usually people don't want to wait for who knows how long last i heard it will be Q1 or Q2 of 2012 that can be as soon as 3 months or 6months. But I would say X79 / LGA 2011 would be a awesome route.

[n-ster]

It's November 15th LOL

And I think he will be following my advice of waiting until he wants to buy the rig before deciding anything... He said it could be at least 90 days (I chatted with him).

[Delta6326]

Originally Posted by n-ster

It's November 15th LOL

And I think he will be following my advice of waiting until he wants to buy the rig before deciding anything... He said it could be at least 90 days (I chatted with him).

Hm, I think I'm thinking of AMD's 7k series. Im slowly going insane I think.

In that case LGA2011 is the way to go 3D transistors!!