Maverick1202

After reviewing these comments but it's looking like I will go ahead with the purchase of the laptop. It looks like there were no hard "don't do it" responses but great advice around cooling and throttling. Thanks everyone!

So I reviewed Steve's channel. Yes most of the Dell/Alienware desktop OEM computers are not right out of the box and you have to do some things as an upgrade before even using them. The first upgrade is moding them to run cooler. If you go with one of their desktop computers, you have to make sure there is enough cooling in the system case and on the CPU. I would want to add more fans, etc. Most OEM computers (Dell, HP, Sony, etc.) are not so flexible for upgrades. You can usually upgrade RAM, HDs, and video cards, but most often than not their proprietary system cases only allow their deigned custom components (motherboards, power supplies, etc.). It is not easy to upgrade core components of an off the shelf brand. It is costly to buy an Alienware desktop system and they should be designed better for the money they are asking. There is another market of prebuilt systems that are out there that directly compete with the Alienware desktops such as Corsair and Digital Storm that are way better gaming systems. I have been doing a fair amount of research on current laptops and Alienware seems to be respected. I would give an Alienware desktop PC away if it was given to me though.

What happened here? Was this is youtube?

Yes I meant that I have been thinking about traveling in a motor home and the Laptop seems like the most portable solution. I have not thought a lot about a mini ITX solution but this next computer I go with will not be a dedicated flight sim computer. I will also be using it to create content , building WBT courses, and using it as an overall personal computer. I can take a laptop into Starbucks to use their WiFi while traveling much easier than a mini ITX. the real issue here is the newest fastest gaming laptops are actually a cheaper and easier way to go vs. building a gaming desktop when you consider the current cost of GPU and DDR5 RAM prices. What happened here? Was this is youtube?

I have always heard that it's best to have a dedicated boot drive and a separate drive dedicated for the game for the best performance. Is that right? Does it matter?

It's all about making the $$$. there is a backlog of people that are waiting for cheaper prices. Screw the miners, sell to more gamers!

You said "i went to VR and well it's not the same." Do you mean the 1440P monitor (and probably TrackerIR) are a better solution than VR?

That is a good system. I would think about 2 1TB drives though instead of the 1 2TB drive.

Seems like maybe his bottleneck is the GPU. From what I have researched, you really need a GTX 3060 or higher to run VR... Everyone is recommending going with the RTX 3080 for VR now. From everything I reading, they all say that VR works best with the most powerful GPUs and at least 32GB RAM. Does he run DCS with a monitor? Does it crash still? Upgrading a desktop is hard right now. Good luck finding a desktop GPU if you can even afford it or you want to spend the money on it.

He has a 17 inch M17 R5? What are his system specs? CPU (i7 10, 11, 12 Gen? 16 or 32 GB RAM? GPU (30XX)? VR in single player or multiplayer? What brand/model VR? What resolution in VR? What are his settings set at (Ultra, High, Medium)? Is he running it on a cooler pad? What is making it crash? It's not that much more up front cost because of the cost of the GPU and monitor if you are going the desktop route. You actually can save money going down the laptop route vs. a spec'd out prebuilt gaming desktop rig. It's about the same cost for a prebuilt desktop right now with the prices of the GPUs being so high.

thanks! good to know.

You can run discord for comms and or music player to listen to itunes… pandora music streaming, watch a movie while taking a long flight….

This is a great build. Although, I would go for the 15" screen myself and spend the extra money on the monitor.

Yes. Heat can be a constant issue. I don't know if the laptop cooler pads help but I'm thinking about traveling on the road in an RV with this setup... I know Internet might be an issue too.

So, I need to upgrade my old system and get a new PC for DCS but I also do some content creation and digital photography and it would be great to have the portability. I know most games run great using a gaming laptop but flight sims (DCS, MS2020, Il 2), eh, not so much. I am looking at an Alienware M 15 R7 - i7 12700H, 64GB DDR5 RAM, 3070ti or 3080ti GPU, 1 TB M2.PCIe SSD. I would use a cooler pad to help keep the temps down. I might be looking at VR in the future but not right now. If I go with a solution for right now I will probably go with a 34" Ultra Wide monitor and Alienware has a sexy one of those too. I have a pretty good budget (3k-4k) so $$ is not an issue. I know that laptops will be about 30% slower than a comparable desktop configuration but the portability factor and sexy small thin and light laptop pleases the eyes. How bad is it in DCS with a laptop vs. a desktop build? I'm trying trying hard to not get sucked into all of the marketing and the idea of the laptop.

I am experiencnig the same error and I have copied the unzipped Hercules foder all over the place. It does show up in my module manager and it is checked. I cannot fly it or build a mission with it to select it. When the game starts, it eoors out and says the hercules is disabled. Does the game have to be installed on the same drive as where the c130 files are installed? Has anyone fixed this? This video did not help me any.

I could not get to your web site. It's telling me that it is expired...

Thank you for all of your input! I wish I knew someone that had VR flying DCS that I could demo here in Arizona. Wish there was a way to try before buying. It sounds like a great experience especially while I'm upgrading my system right now. I'm currently attracted to the Alienware laptops vs. upgrading my motherboard, CPU, RAM, and video card in my currently system case. It's appealing to just buy a power gaming rig all complete and not mess with the upgrading. Buy the laptop gaming rig and put it on top of a laptop cooler with fans? I know it's better to have a desktop but the laptop gaming rigs are coming pretty much loaded these days (as long as I spend the money for the power house). I'm also quite a power user for work and need a power house to do my work. Oh the choices and selection process... Then we consider upgrading our old monitors and we have choices there. 34" UW curved vs. VR, etc. I'm trying hard not to over analyze everything but it's hard not to. I have about $3000 - $3500 for a budget. Looking to upgrade my aging mouse and keyboard as well. Might as well. Looking at the Warthog HOTAS. I currently have an x52 setup with a Trackr 5. The only thing I think I would consider keeping is my system case, my 250 GB SSD, a few 1 tb drives, my power supply and of course my Trackr if I do not get VR. So, that is why I'm looking at just buying a new system...

I am in the process of upgrading my system or buying a new gaming rig and in that process I have been looking at a new monitor. I also have been researching VR with DCS and have read some reviews. So I'm on the fence about upgrading to a new Ultra Wide HD Monitor (34" curved) or going VR. Some say they will never go back to a monitor and others say stay with monitors and that VR has not evolved yet enough for them to make the move over to VR. Confusing.

Can you go to to simple start and fly mode with the high fidelity flight modules the same way to can fly the low fidelity modules?

This hobby is going to send me into the poor house. Is this a better setup than one 43" curved fast monitor?

So if we want full high fidelity clickable cockpits buy the aircraft separately is what I'm reading...

Sorry getting back into Flight Sims and I have all of the stupid questions. I have an old x52 (non pro). What benefit would I get in upgrading to the very expensive Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS setup at the whopping $450! Is it that much better?

What should I buy to get the best experience with the F-18 and Persian Gulf?

3 monitors? Do you need 2 video cards in SLI? How do you run a 3 monitor setup? Is there anything you need to do in the game?