A-10C DCSW 2/NTTR and Win10

[bradleyjs]

I just ordered a new Alienware 18 (with all the latest hardware they offered) and it comes with Win8.1 and am looking for some feedback as to upgrade to the latest Win10 free install.

 

I've read some older posts that say it is slow in performance and other posts that say all is good.

 

My 5+ year old Alienware 18 died this last Saturday while training in the NTTR and somehow it killed both my Radeon 6900's. So, now I'm waiting for up to 3 weeks for delivery.... killing me... arrrgh.

 

What's your input me? Keep 8.1 or upgrade to Win10?

[Express0083]

Loving windows 10 so far just remember the free upgrade deadline end July 29

[bradleyjs]

Yep know all about that - thanks for your input.

[lobo]

Happy with W10 here.

[bradleyjs]

Well so far nothing but good new - that's so good to hear!

[FOXFIRE TWOONE]

All good here. :thumbup:

[Chief1942]

Sorry for your misfortune. That new system should rock with either OS. I moved to Win10 from Win7 with much trepidation. After all the anxiety I have had zero problems with Win10 when it comes to DCSW.

[lobo]

Also if you want DirectX12 it is exclusive to W10.

[bradleyjs]

Very good, and thanks for condolences - much appreciated.

 

So, I guess my plan is to reinstall it and test for a week or so, benchmark it, and then upgrade to Win10 and then re-evaluate it.

 

Based upon what you guys have told me thus far, it's Ok to do the upgrade.

 

Ps. I've never used Win 8.1, only Win7 - which works perfectly. I'm a System Admin/Software engineer + Private Pilot + Desert Storm Vet. I don't spend too much time on desktop systems - that's why I'm asking for your expert opinions.

 

Thanks to all!

[Enduro14]

All good here with win10 and my pit away from home is a Alienware 17 with the 970m. Its more than capable and i have almost max settings and maintain 60fps. Great power and runs Dcs world great.

I enjoy doing the jtac stuff on the laptop!

[MegOhm_SD]

As with any change in an OS, Navigation in Win 10 takes a little getting used to. But no problems really. I like it fine. Seems really solid and zero issues with DCS.

[bradleyjs]

This is sounding better and better. Starting to feel rather impatient now ... damn dell for taking 3 weeks to build the Alienware 18 -- you'd think it would take less than a week...

[StrongHarm]

Bradleyjs, I too am an engineer (Business Intelligence Architect), pilot, ODS Vet, and I also just purchased an Alienware Area 51 R2. I started my career in desktops after the military, moved to sysadmin, then DBA, then dev, then BI. I've beta tested every Microsoft OS since Win95, mostly so I could preemptively understand the OS, but also because I like to contribute functionality.

 

First of all let me congratulate you on your Alienware purchase, it was a smart one. Ignore the outdated opinions of anyone who tells you "all manufactured systems are slower and more expensive". I've built all of my own systems since the 90s until this one. The price point and performance points are excellent on the 'higher end' Alienware. With the lower end components you are indeed paying too much as you're paying for brand, but as you get into the expensive builds (i7 5960x, 2x980ti, etc) you're making up some of the difference due to the price they pay in bulk for these components. I couldn't have put the same parts together myself for less money (I did check), and the Alienware no longer has the 'vaporware apps' on it that slow down so many manufacturer systems. I'm getting frame rates beyond my wildest dreams with this system, it's rock solid, and I in no way regret my purchase in December. I hope your experience will be as good.

 

As to Win10; this is easily the biggest leap in feature/performance/reliability I've seen in any new Windows OS. The people who are complaining about crashes and bad performance are those who use antiquated hardware and apps. MS did away with a lot of the legacy code they kept up to Win7 to support deprecation and backward compatibility. With Win10 they were more focused on cleaning it up than on deprecation. I think this was a wonderful idea, but it has been painful for users of legacy hw/sw. Microsoft new it would be, but they 'ripped the bandage off' anyway and I applaud them for it.

 

In short; you purchased a great system and Win10 will run great on it.

 

and also.. thank you for your service, and happy 25th anniversary of a war that was harder than anyone can understand unless they were there. Did you see the full page 'thank you note' advertisement that Kuwait purchased in the Washington Post?

 

[bradleyjs]

StrongHarm,

 

Sounds like we have a lot in common. I am a MSSSQL DBa as well, in fact I been migrating a database ftom 2008 R2 Win2008 R2 legacy system to Win21012 R2 2008 R2 database instance the last few days and it's been a bitch due the transaction log corruption that I encountered. But, got it all squared away today. And we are VNware environment which is very flexible - snapshots can really save your ass if you screw something up.

 

My passion is software engineering that I use to make my sys admin duties far more automated - been doing that for almost 30 years.

 

So, you got the Area 51 desktops ... Ive had three top of the line Alienware systems for the for the ... Oh 9 years now and they've treated me well the years. I do believe that DCSWORLD A-10C app broke my video cards this past weekend. After reflection, I didn't notice the GPU fans running at high like they normally would after only a few mins of swimming. But, what the hell, it was almost 6 years old, so I needed a new anyway.

 

Just curious, what branch of the service were you in? I was USAF Actve duty for 10 years stationed out of Patrick AFB, FL since 1984. Not too long after ODS, I punched out and three weeks later, I was a software engineer/sys admin for Rockwell intl/United Space Alliance for four years before moving to Orlando to work as a computer engineer as IT contractor ever since (19 years now). Btw: I was stationed at Khobar Towers during my deployment - too bad those terrorists blew a small part of it away. Most of the casult were from our para- rescue squadron. I'd already been a civilian for several years by then.

 

Thank you for sharing your story with us/me - keep up the good fight and happy swimming.

 

Ps. I plan to post my successful status once I get my new Alienware 18 (which I maxed out with the options that Dell offered) when I get it setup and tested.

 

Just curious, what year did you get your pilots license?

 

Have a good one man!

Edited March 3, 2016 by bradleyjs
Edit: Damn iPad spell checking/auto-fill makes me sound like an idiot.

[FeistyLemur]

No problems whatsoever with windows 10. Did the "upgrade" path from 8.1 and it was seemingly flawless and fast.

 

I reloaded from scratch after that just because I'm kind of nitpicky that way and I was curious to see what the loading from scratch experience was like. It was really quick and problem free.

 

Overall I have almost no complaints. The forced updates are a little annoying but they haven't caused me a problem yet. I use DCS 1.5.3 mind you not 2.0, but should be the same. Also use TrackIR, voice attack with vaicom, TM Warthog drivers, autohotkey, mfg crosswind calibration software, all of it has worked flawlessly. Target for the TM warthog as well though I didn't keep using it because I just don't care for it. Other gaming has all been completely problem free as well. Objectively it was probably the most seamless Windows transition experiences I've had.

Edited March 3, 2016 by FeistyLemur

[bradleyjs]

Great post FiestyLemur - thanks for sharing such good positive info,

 

I was searching for how to do a clean install over Win8.1 and it seems overall the best course of action is to do a clean install. I'm in agreement.

 

However, I plan to do the upgrade initially then test the crap out of it. If I don't like it, I will do then plan to do the standalone intsall of Win10 to get a clean install. Again, I was curious to find away to do just that today when I was searching for it - how ironic.

 

Something that I forgot to mention in my earlier posts was my hardware rig: One dead 2011 Alienware M18X R1(both Radeon 6900s I [apparently] burned they seemed to burned themselves out while out while playing A-10C for hours). I did, however, put the computer into Sleep mode after each session that lasted @1.5 hours of training.... So, not sure WTF happened....

 

So, in approx 2.5 weeks I will have the Alienware 18 with the i7-4940MX Quad Core 4.4ghz, 2 Nvidia GeForce Gtx 970M w/6GB SLI 6GB GDDR5 each, 1 TB 7200 RPM SATA 6GB, 32 GB Dual Channel 1600 MHz RAM, plus a 4 year warrant, just in case.

 

FYI, I do know Dell makes most thier revenue via their warranty program; every time time I buy one they call and badger me to get more support. So, I bought the 4 yr extended warranty and will probably need the support down the road - been there and done that over the last 9 years or so.

 

Happy Flying (aka Training just like real pilots do)!

 

Thanks,

Jeff

Edited March 3, 2016 by bradleyjs
I used my iPad Air2 and it just sucks for long posts - I'm a PC/Windows Server guiy - the iPad is just a portable for info

[FeistyLemur]

The upgrade of 8.1 has an option to roll back to 8.1 for a limited time. At least mine did when I did it. I think it was 30 days.

[StrongHarm]

bradleyjs, I was aviation as a mech my last 4 of8 years in the Navy. I deployed mostly out of Bahrain and Turkey and went everywhere. Was never stationed on a ship. Did you fly for the USAF? I got my private license in 98'. It's interesting to hear that you like developing admin tools.. that's how I got started in Business Intelligence.. I created a monitoring environment for Citi back in 2002 that predicted data flow and transaction issues across 300+ MSSQL servers. BI was a natural progression. It's always interesting and pays really well.

 

Looking forward to your Alienware AAR. Cheers blackshoe.

[hansangb]

LOL. I too worked at Citi. Network Architect role for 13+ years. Great fun building such a large network. And an Army vet to boot. :)

 

Small world.

 

And to stay on target...Win10 is GREAT!. Zero issues. Win 7 was great, 8 was meh....10 is back to being great.

[bradleyjs]

bradleyjs, I was aviation as a mech my last 4 of8 years in the Navy. I deployed mostly out of Bahrain and Turkey and went everywhere. Was never stationed on a ship. Did you fly for the USAF? I got my private license in 98'. It's interesting to hear that you like developing admin tools.. that's how I got started in Business Intelligence.. I created a monitoring environment for Citi back in 2002 that predicted data flow and transaction issues across 300+ MSSQL servers. BI was a natural progression. It's always interesting and pays really well.

 

Looking forward to your Alienware AAR. Cheers blackshoe.

 

 

StrongHarm,

 

"Did I ever fly for the USAF?" - No, but to a small extent, Yes. I joined the USAF in 1983 and had a guaranteed job to be an Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic working on Fighter/Attack/Recon birds. I put on my "Dream Sheet" to come to Patrick AFB, FL (just South of Cocoa Beach, FL) and I was assigned to work on the O-2A [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_O-2_Skymaster]. I subsequently assigned a plane of my own (even with my name on it!) as a flying crew chief. At the time I was getting my pilot's license and still working full-time while I went I to night school, taking 5-7 classes a semester, while still working full-time... It was tough way back then, but I did get a 4 year degree from Rollins College (BS in Computer Information Systems and Business Management in just 3 years flat). Being so young at the time it was a relativity easy set of goals - it just took a lot of hard work and little sleep,

 

Anyway, I have logged more actual flight time in military aircraft than I do flying privately. And it was the USAF Instructor Pilots (IP) that let me fly the aircraft, shoot rockets at the range, land, takeoff, cross-countries (as far away as Dayton, OH and Davis-Monthan, AFB, AZ, also to include more than a dozen other TDY's [you're Navy so that would be TAD - my step-father was a Master Chief and taught me well about the Navy] back in the late 80's. I was given a big latitude by the IP's as they knew my goal was to be a pilot like them and they help every which way they could. I was truly blessed.

 

I've also got some stick time in the OV-10A [i worked them in Phase Dock for 2 years prior to changing career fields] and the OT-37B over the course of my maintenance years. In fact, I re-enlisted over just east of Cape Canaveral at FL85 and then we did some similar air-to-air combat training with #2 and I was allowed to fly 98% of the mission [i spent a week reading the Dash-One - the USAF Flight Manual]. The IP then let me do 4 touch-and-goes at the Shuttle Landing Strip at KSC. It was a piece of cake - as the OT-37B was so easy to fly...

 

Finally, after the squadron/group was disbanded in 1989, I had to retrain into another career field and chose to go into the Personnel Systems Unit to be the NCOIC of the Readiness Unit and we worked with used/maintained the classified computer systems (to include the old STU-3 encrypted phone) that was designed to perform deployments of personnel world-wide. I spent months sending airman to Operation Desert Shield (to include the entire E-8A JTARS personnel and contractors - they were still in dev mode out of Melbourne airport [KMLB] at the time).

 

So, after Operation Desert Storm (which Space Command sent me with without choice - cause I was the only qualified person in the command that had the training and computer experience [the system was on a TEMPEST 286 daughter card that used Clipper as database compiled .exe code which derived from DB4]. It was a good experience overall in Dhahran, SA overall.

 

So, I was never able to get my commission because they weren't looking for pilots back in 1989 - my package got reviewed 3 times (and I even had a LT General's endorsement) and finally went over the grand old age of 27 years, which disqualified me to apply again.

 

After I graduated from Rollins in 1989, I started a masters in Computer Science at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) and took several classes before I got too busy to and just had to handle the ODS/S deployments - I never finished that degree.

 

In 1993 I pulled the ejection handle and left the USAF and was unemployed for only 3 weeks and had a job as a contractor [Rockwell / United Space Alliance (USA)] doing Software/Systems engineering with the Space Shuttle program (which I believe I iterated in an earlier post).

 

Like your passion for building admin tools to automate the systems admin and such, I loved that aspect of my job. I still get to do it today as I support the Simulation and Training environment for the US Army IT infrastructure.

 

Gotta love writing software - we're currently semi-restricted to only use PowerShell/PowerCLI (VMware) to do it - it's a very flexible language - as it really uses .Net as its base. I used to be a very low level 'C' programmer years ago, but needed to switch to 'C#' - which I love.

 

As soon as I get the new AW18 as I will post an AAR - I just have to be patient for the time being ..... and it's hard !!!

 

ps. Bahrain is so much better than SA - you can actually drink a beer there!

 

Later and happy flying,

Jeff

Edited March 4, 2016 by bradleyjs

[StrongHarm]

Interesting history bradleyjs! You're lucky you were in the cockpit in the 'old military'. I got plenty of stick time with pilot friends but was never allowed to solo, or even land the plane. I didn't finish my degree in CS either as the professors were still just reading out of the manual in those days (late 90s) but I'd been working with higher tech in the military for years. I was basically teaching two of my classes when I left for an engineering position with Gateway (which was a decent company at the time). I wouldn't mind going back to school to close the gaps since they actually somewhat understand the tech these days. You mentioned something else we have in common; spaceX offered me a position to lead one of their teams but I had to turn it down since I couldn't move my wife to Texas. It's not Space Command or Rockwell, but it's amazing how closely our paths intersect.

 

Congrats on your new Alienware. I hope it serves you well.

[bradleyjs]

You're right we do have a lot in common overall. That's good!

 

Speaking of SpaceX, after 5 attempts they finally launched the SES-9 satellite at 1835 tonight. I can just walk out my front door and see it (for that matter all launches) here in East Orlando.

 

They attempted an "experimental landing" on the barge but from what I saw on SpaceX's video feed it looked like another failure.

 

Have a good one -- and am still checking the estimated delivery date for the Alienware 18 to arrive approx. 3/18.

[bradleyjs]

One thing I forgot to mention to you is that my wife (2nd wife - who just fell asleep) and now I have some idle time, is that I have my rig located at the end of the dining room table and she's hated it for many years.

 

I've had many different types of rudder pedals over the years and I really need some now - to get the total control of the A-10C. My wife (she) refuses to let me add one more piece of hardware on or around the table - aka rudder pedals. I currently have a TM HOTAS A-10C, 2 MFDs, and various other cables/hubs in order power the devices to include charging my iPad, Kindle, MP3s, etc.... And, she's fed up with it. I was told - NO RUDDER PEDALS are going under my table.

 

Anyway, we came to an agreement, that if I moved my rig to one of the guest rooms I could get the pedals. So, I ordered a brand new computer desk, new rudder pedals [saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals], and a new 10 port USB hub to host the hardware [my old 7-port ran out of connections].

 

So, instead of just waiting for the new AW18 to arrive, I'm now waiting for the other items too - and she doesn't know this - I'm essentially making a man-cave in the other room...sneaky... LOL

 

In less than 2 weeks or less, I'll have a brand new hang-out for some serious simming.

 

Don't get me wrong, I totally understand her issues with me being in the living room with all this un-sightly shit sitting on the end of the table. She's a NY Puerto Rican and has this thing about white guys (me) making the house look - for a lack of a better word - ghetto. Again, I just laugh it's so sterio-typical of NY Puerto Rican women to have such vanity about their household.

 

Hell, I've been sitting out here for 13 years and she hasn't complained too much over the years about it .. except now that I want the a new rudder pedal system [haven't used any since circa 2004]. Being that I'm the one that pays the mortgage and I told her that if she want's to pay 1/2 of that bill then I'll move. Seriously, we hardly ever argue over anything, but I struck a nerve on that one.... Again, I'm still laughing.

 

So, I conceded yesterday to move as soon as the new table arrives. And, what was weird, is that I had to convince using her own words to let me proceed. We keep our financial separate and I can spend money on what ever I want and whenever. But, being a good husband, I always coordinate big changes - that's only fair. Overall, I got no problem - but it has been an interesting week for me to say the least.

 

Just thought that I'd share that with you because I'm laughing my ass off right now as I'm thinking about it. In essence, I might have gotten the better end of the deal - at least - in the long run.

 

The point is: make your wife happy while making yourself happy at the same time. This exercise has given me the implied approval to upgrade/refresh to the newest systems - as it has been years since I've upgraded.

 

Later - Jeff

 

EDIT: You mentioned in your above post that you used to work for Gateway back in the 90's, especially when the company was expanding back then. This is another similarity we have, I've owned @5 Gateway Tower systems during the 90's - their not especially too expensive, but, had reasonable performance. Then Dell entered the scene, and they made Gateway pretty much disappear.

Edited March 5, 2016 by bradleyjs

[hansangb]

Dang...you should have looked at Milan's MFG Rudders. It's soooo much betther than anything out there. And the way it looks, WAF is very high! :)

[bradleyjs]

Very, very nice set of pedals. I didn't know they existed ... so maybe next time down the down the road.

 

Thanks for you input - are you also a Win10 user of DCSW?