eracer1111

I hear you. None of this would even be relevant to my life if I hadn't discovered DCS. :doh:

I don't have anything but a humble 15" laptop. I'm going to buy a computer and I intend to use it with a Reverb G2 sometime in the future. For now I'm going to fly on a 27" 2K monitor (I've decided to go QHD instead of HD...) I don't think a GTX 1660 is a waste of money at this time (but may not be ideal for the Reverb...). A 2080 Ti would be a waste (unless all I want to do is get into a frame rate competition.) Why not get a decent GPU now capable of enhancing my DCS time, without spending 3X as much on a 2070 or 2080? My decisions here are fluid, and I'm trying to gather opinions as I go. So, in your opinion, would a 27" QHD monitor with G-sync pair well with a GTX 1660 Super? I'd rather not spend money I don't have to on a 2070 or 2080 until the Reverb hits my porch. And by then the 3xxx series will be available, which should drive down the price of the 2xxx models. I get your point about wasting money on the 1660. But it's either: A. Shelve the new computer until the 3xxx series is released. B. Buy the new computer and fly on a 1080P monitor with a minimum-spec GPU C. Enjoy the experience of a QHD monitor and a GPU that can drive it at decent frame rates, giving me a fall-back if I end up not liking VR. I think option C is the best plan.

Thanks guys. I figured the 3xxx series would be stupid expensive, but you aren't the first ones to suggest they'll be affordable (and worth the wait...) Since I'll only be flying on a {EDIT} 27" 2K monitor until the Reverb G2 is available, I think it's smarter to get a GTX 1660 Super and wait on the 3060.

I'm considering pre-ordering the Reverb G2. I'm building a new computer, and I have a question for you experts out there...Basic computer specs are: Ryzen 7 3700X Gigabyte AORUS X570 Master 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4-3600 2TB M.2-2280 NvME The question is: Should I spend the extra $$$ for an RTX 2080 Super, or will the RTX 2070 Super be enough? I have the budget for the 2080, but I don't want to spend money I don't have to.

How long does it take a pilot to earn his/her wings? Become carrier qualified? Master the art and science of air combat and ground attack? IMHO, DCS is hard to learn because the learning is its own reward. I've spent a LOT of hours trying to get my simple two monitor set up the way I want. I've learned how to use Helios, OvGME, what lua files are (and why they are so important, and I'm starting to explore the power of modding. None of these things are intuitive in DCS, and finding answers to issues that arise is often an exercise in frustration. But after enough research, and enough questions asked, and some experimentation, I solved those problems. Heck, I can barely land the SU-25T gracefully. :P I will practice in that plane, waiting to master my F/A-18C once I get better at all phases of the flight regime, and have put in the time to learn all the complex systems the Hornet has to offer. Learning to master a complex simulation like DCS is a challenge. One thing I've found, and am eternally grateful for, is the sense of cameraderie I feel in this community. Sometimes people have an answer to a vexing problem, sometimes they don't, but stimulate me to puzzle out a solution. I get what you are saying - we all want DCS to be a complete pilot training program that can get us up and killing bogeys in a week. But if you enjoy the journey, the ride will be that much sweeter.

That looks amazing.

Posting this because there's a reference to DCS at 6:30. Also, pilot is pretty hot. USAF pilot Col. Andrea Themely (retired) takes us through the cockpit of the F-15C. ${1}

Can you share the specifics on how you disabled the cockpit MFD's? I have a second monitor that displays them, and I'd like to experiment with turning off the ones on the main display.

Hallelujah! I had to puzzle this one out, but here's what I found out. With my touchscreen stacked on top of my laptop monitor (both physically, and in Windows Display Settings) I had to set the following parameters: DCS: - Game Resolution = 1920x2160 - Aspect Ratio = 1.125 2_monitors-FA18C.lua settings (Here was the magic key. I needed to force the cockpit down onto the main monitor.) Center Viewport X=0, Y=1081 The other viewports needed to have their Y start point on the top monitor (closer to 0.) You can check out my updated file which I've attached. The viewport settings are working with Capt. Zeen's FA-18C_b_beta_Helios profile. Well, three of them are. I next need to figure out why the IFEI, RWR, and UFC data aren't being displayed. In terms of X/Y coordinates, they should be. I think that data is coming from somewhere else. I'll figure that out eventually... I swear, I'm spending 20X as long getting my displays set up as I am flying a plane. FYI - the options.lua files are still a bit of a puzzle. I don't understand why I've got them in two different folders in my 'Saved Game' folder. the one in the 'DCS' folder has the wrong aspect ratio (3.55555556 vs. 1.125) while the 'DCS.openbeta' has the aspect ratio of 1.125, which matches my in-game setting. I hope this helps someone who might be struggling with stacking monitors and getting the viewports' coordinates correct. 2_monitors-FA18C.lua

Yes, I was able to get it working. Thanks for the reply. I understand better now.

:helpsmilie: My current settings are: Windows Display Settings: - Extended Desktop - Laptop Monitor (onboard Intel 630 controller) 1920x1080 set as Main Display - Touchscreen Monitor (HDMI on GTX 1060 Max-Q) 1920x1080 - Touchscreen is stacked on top of laptop (i.e. Monitor 2 is above Monitor 1) Windows desktop looks correct, with my icons on the Main (laptop) monitor. DCS Settings: - Resolution set to 1920x2160 - 2_monitors-FA18C.lua (located in E:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\Config\MonitorSetup When I launch DCS, the main menu page opens on the touchscreen, which is not the Main display. When I enter the game (Instant Action) the cockpit appears on the touchscreen, and the viewports appear on the laptop. Why is DCS not running on my Primary (Main) display? This makes no sense to me. I've attached a copy of the 2_monitors lua. If I stack my Main (laptop) display on top of the touchscreen, DCS opens on the Main display, but then I have to move my cursor down below the taskbar on the laptop monitor to get to the touchscreen (which is physically on top.) This is a PITA! Also, in my Saved Games folder, there are 4 subfolders: - DCS - DCS Updater Utility - DCS.openbeta - DCS_AJS37 Both the DCS folder and the DCS.openbeta folder have options.lua files in them. Why the two DCS folders? I only installed OpenBeta. I've set the resolution to 1920x2160 in both of those files. 2_monitors-FA18C.lua

I'm sure this is mostly due to my being a complete noob when it comes to User Mods and OvGME. But here goes... What purpose did it serve to copy the FA18C-CPT-TEXTURES.zip file from my game installation directory and paste it into your Mod...Textures folder? By leaving it in your textures folder, will DCS reference it instead of the zip file in its own textures folder? Because I'm using OvGME? Sorry for the basic question, but I'm not really comfortable with the whole Mods process yet. And OvGME is like witchcraft to me. I see it working, but I don't know why. And I hate that. :smilewink: When I dragged your Mods folder (with the updated zip file) into my 'OvGME Mods' I was able to enable it, and it looks great! ETA - I disabled your Mod and things went back to the fat fuzzy green. So I guess I answered my own question. OvGME essential 'forces' DCS to use certain files.

Like I said earlier, I'll never buy another ASUS product again. I know they make quality stuff, but a recent experience with their horrendous tech support (and I mean the worst I've had in 25 years of dealing with tech support in a professional capacity) I've completely soured on them. New motherboard ended up with a bad T3 port. After troublehooting the external drive first (understandable) they ran me around to eight different techs. I got eight different case numbers (one from each tech.) WTF??? And NONE of the cases had documentation from any of the others. Never again.

If you mean one bigger than 27" I'm limited by desk space. 27" is about as big as I can go. If you mean I'll appreciate upgrading my 15" 60Hz laptop display to a 27" 155Hz monitor... Heck yeah I will!

I understand. This is more a thought exercise at this point - seeing what I and gamers like you guys think are the best mid-range components to target right now. In six months some prices will come down, and other parts will become available.

System edit... Moved a little money around. Coming in right at $3000 right now. CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 3.9 GHz 8-Core Processor ($329.00 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: Fractal Design Celsius+ S28 Dynamic X2 PWM 85.71 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler Motherboard: ASRock X570 Phantom Gaming X ATX AM4 Motherboard Memory: Kingston HyperX Predator RGB 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL15 Memory Storage: Gigabyte AORUS NVMe Gen4 2 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive Video Card: EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8 GB XC GAMING Video Card Case: Fractal Design Define R6 ATX Mid Tower Case Power Supply: Corsair RMx 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit Monitor: Dell S2719DGF 27.0" 2560x1440 155Hz Monitor

Overblown fake board? I thought Gigabyte has a good rep with gamers? I recently had an awful experience with ASUS, and I swore I'd never buy their products again. I'll check out Asrock. PCIe4 seems like a good reason to get a board with a 570 chipset. Not needed in DCS? RAM suggestion seems good. 4x4GB is better than 2x8, right? I've already heard that more interleaving = better performance, all else being equal. Power supply: What do you like? Corsair? Coolermaster? Other?

I've always been an Intel guy, but the AMD seems like a good value. I'm willing to spend $$$ on a good case, cooling, and power supply. I've built a computer around the Fractal Design case, and I really like it. Looking to keep the whole thing around $2800. I'm hoping that by the time I build this in 6 months I can get an RTX 2080 Ti for what the 2060 Super costs today. CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 3.9 GHz 8-Core Processor CPU Cooler: Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 280 Liquid AIO GPU Cooler: Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora 120 Liquid AIO Motherboard: Gigabyte X570 AORUS MASTER ATX AM4 Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury 32 GB (4 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 CL16 Memory Storage: Intel 660p Series 2.048 TB M.2-2280 NVME SSD Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER 8 GB Video Card Case: Fractal Design Define R6 ATX Mid Tower Case Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower iRGB PLUS 1200W (80+ Platinum Certified) Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit Monitor: Dell S2719DGF 27.0" 2560x1440 155 Hz Monitor

Or that! :thumbup:

In the MDG_strokesDefs.lua file... (specifically for this discussion in (Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\Multipurpose_Display_Group\Common\indicator) ...there are two separate sections that can be modified for stroke thickness and fuzziness: One modifies the fonts in the L/R MFD's, while the other modifies them in the AMPCD. Unfortunately, the stroke thickness//fuzziness for the MFD's also affects the HUD. The problem is that when the MFD's look good, the HUD looks worse, and vice versa. It's really a problem to find a balance in the clarity of the MFD's and the HUD. My request is that you allow us to modify the HUD data stroke thickness/fuzziness separately from the L/R MFD's.

The only Helios Discord I found that seemed relevant was for this: https://discord.gg/23aj6vp "Helios is a Social VR game made in Unreal Engine 4 by SubLight Games." ETA - Nevermind... I found the Capt_Zeen Helios Profile server here: https://discord.gg/sS66aJf Thanks

Thanks, that did it. Know any Helios gurus?

I'm giving up on Helios for the time being. But the real issue is that I chose to launch DCS with one of the built-in views (Camera + RMFCD on left side). The bloody Settings windows doesn't scale to the camera portion, and I can't get to the OK button. Is there a keystroke I can use to close the window and save it when I switch it to 1 Screen mode? Because right now it's completely stuck. Why wouldn't ED allow you to move/scale the Settings panel when other view modes are enabled? Is there a lua file I can edit to force it into 1 Screen mode? I tried launching the program from the SkateZilla app. The 'Launch' button says it will run the program with 'Default Settings.' It does not.

Does anyone else see this when they try to play the Wilhelm Scream? Or is it something with my computer? "An error occurred. Please try again later. (Playback ID: ywIujwhb1UtEoisB) Learn More"

Thanks. without the profile turned on I only see data from the left/right MFD's and the AMPCD. Is there another lua file I need to edit to get the data from the other panels? Capt. Zeen's tutorial only mentioned needing to edit the 2_monitors_FA18C.lua. I couldn't find anything in the Controls list regarding the RWR. I searched for 'Radar' and 'RWR' and didn't any power switch commands. I will review the manual for the location of a clickable button. Thanks for that tip.