qrazi

There will be, and these system requirements will be around for a while. So IMHO it's not strange to put it like that. Besides, if software is optimized for more then two cores, the fastest X4 Phenom's are actually pretty equivalent with a Core 2 Duo at 3GHz.

Well, not way beyond. Phenom's used to be able to do 2.8 GHz most of the time, with some of them going on 3GHz or slightly beyond. AMD has changed a few settings with that new 790GX with 750SB southbridge chipset gives most Phenoms better OC capability, doing 3.0 -3.2 GHz most of the time. Still, Phenom's are not the amazing overclockers we know from the Core 2 series, or even from the Brisbane era Athlon64 X2's. That said, Phenom sure isn't a slow CPU, and I'm sure ir runs DCS:BS very well...

I don't see why SF would make it impossible to use GPL software. As long as the source (of mumble in this case) is made available. AFAIK GPL is not broken by having copyprotection on the implementation of the software...

Tomshardware has a lot of charts, although not always exactly up to date: http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/

Looking at the choice of videocard, I guess you have a pretty hefty budget, and then I have to agree with the previous posters; the Q9550 is way faster then the X4 9950. The only reason I would recommend a Phenom over a Core 2 Quad to anyone is in case of an upgrade....

Perhaps a faster videocard? 9800GT is actually pretty mainstream. Then again, the lower the resolution, the more CPU bound any game is, and on top of that is DCS:BS already more sensitive to CPU performance then most games. If your budget allows, better videocard. If not, so be it... :)

How about ED puts it on their to-do list, and focuses on the western release of DCS:BS for now? :D

Ai, not good... Guess this will mean further delay DCS: A10..... :) Honestly, it was to be expected at one point or another. Old aircraft, and they have their most active duties right now...

Honestly, no experience, but somehow emulating a joystick seems to me as a second-best option, compared to using a native TrackIR interface... Then again, it is probably better then using what I do now: use the joystick Hat switch....

Really? I didn't know that.... Too bad, because it is going to be a long time before I can invest in TrackIR..... Sigh, I guess the PPJoy route will have to do for a while....

If the choice is between those two CPU's, then I'd go for the Q9550. The clockspeed difference isn't that big, and I use enough other software that benefits from 4 cores. Besides the argument that DCS will get support later on. However, there is also a big price difference between the two CPU's, and being dutch as I am, I would go for the E8500. The main goal in this choice is gaming, and the E8500 just has the best value of the two.

I picked up Flanker 2.5 from a bargain bin some years ago, and it was great gameplay! Both online and offline. The moment I went to look online, I found the first postings on Lockon. When Lockon was released, I immediately went out, and paid full price for it. Even though i knew it didn't work on my Voodoo5... :) I am really into freeware, and opensource, and linux and everything. I hardly buy software, because for almost everything there is a free alternative. In fact, the last software I actually bought was BattleField2. I really don't like all the protection schemes of registration, activation etc. All this aside, I am going to buy DCS:BS when it comes available for us, and I swear I will leave that torrent alone! In fact, I'll try and get FC to keep me busy till then... ED has my support for great products...

IIRC ED has already started working on at least the A10 module... Which makes sense since they made simulator for the USAF and got permission to use that code to make a commercial simulation.

Depends mostly on whether there are drivers available that work. Lockon itself should work, because of WOW64. And looking at the other reactions in this thread, Lockon seems to be working under 64-bit versions of Windows... CH Products lists XP-64 support for its pedals: http://www.chproducts.com/retail/pedals.html. Couldn't find the MSFF2 for sure, but google results indicate it probably works out of the box, for instance: http://forums.driverguide.com/showthread.php?t=11683 and http://forums.techarena.in/vista-hardware-devices/737973.htm

Hehe, sure don't hope so, since the Quadro FX 4600 is hardware-wise almost identical to the old 8800GTX. And we all know there are much faster option out there, for a quarter of that price.... Sorry, could refuse to make a remark about. IMHO, DCS:BS is already to taxing, how about a lighter engine? Guess I'll be playing Flanker 2.5 again... (see sig.) :D

I think the KA-50 in some form or other has also been offered to China and India. IIRC China didn't go ahead, mainly because they have their own combat helo program coming along. Don't know about India though.

As far as I know, FreeTrack use the TrackIR protocol of a game. So if a game supports TrackIR, it is most likely to work without problems with FreeTrack. edit: Just had a look at http://www.free-track.com, and let me quote them:

You probably know the number better then me... :) The Mig-35 is contending in India with the Eurofighter Typhoon, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, JAS 39 Gripen and F-16 Falcon, from what I could find on Google. But aren't at least the Typhoon and F/A-18E/F similar in size, range etc as the Sukhoi's? So why not just buy more SU-30MKI's?

Would it be weird to try and use an old twist rudder stick as a rudder? I still have an Saitek ST290 Pro lying around.... :-/

I see no pictures, but I guess the description is scary enough.... :D

But the Migs still have the disadvantage of short range. So is the Mig that much cheaper in purchase, maintenance etc. to be chosen above the competition?

nice one...

As said by some others in this thread, creditcards are really not that common everywhere in the world. I think buying online gives a bigger financial cut to ED? That, combined with the fact that all my CD/DVD media somehow get broken (damn kids... :) ), would be the reason for me to buy online. Its just that I don't have a credit card, and am not planning to get one (what a nightmare if the wife gets hold of it!). Then again, I could always ask my colleague who does have a credit card.... Actually, I still have to get FC first, so what I am I even posting in this thread for? ( :D )

Not wanting to stray to far offtopic: http://en.expreview.com/2008/10/06/intel-core-i7-965-50-more-performance-than-qx9770.html claim up to 50% faster in games compared to a Core 2 Quad. Quite impressive...

I guess we should get the Core i7 then... :)