setting it all up

[FrontierProject]

I really wanna get this game, as I'm a big fan of the A-10 and hardcore simulations. However I don't have anywhere near the money to get a decent setup going atm. these r my system specs:

other than that I have an old Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, and the only flight simulator I'v played is Wings over Israel. (and countless hours of flight simulator 98 as kid)

 

I'm wondering,

1. could I get the game playably running on this machine? I can run Skyrim decently on lowest settings.

2. what would be the HOTAS throttle/stick combo you would recommend for a really tight budget?

slightly offtopic: 3. How does TrackIR work, I mean when u turn ur head ur looking away from the screen, kinda ruins the point...

 

By the way, no need to tell me the scope of this sim might be a bit over my head, I like the challenge of learning something new.

[cichlidfan]

I seriously question it being 'playable' on that machine but you can download DCS World and fly the Su-25 for free. That will tell you for sure what to expect rather than a bunch of folks 'guesstimating' your results.

 

EDIT: You are well below the minimum for graphics though.

 

As far a sticks go, there are people playing with just about any stick you can think of so I wouldn't worry over that too much. With a good configuration a lot is possible.

[thisisentchris87]

I ran it on less. My old laptop only had a 9800M with 512MB. Of course my laptop blew 8 months ago and I've just gotten back into this game, so I may be wrong

 

What's your processor like?

[FrontierProject]

well, that puts me in the crapper i guess... :cry:

I ran it on less. My old laptop only had a 9800M with 512MB. Of course my laptop blew 8 months ago and I've just gotten back into this game, so I may be wrong

 

What's your processor like?

ha, got ninja'ed, I got a Dual Core 2.4, how did it run on ur graphics card? Edited August 4, 2012 by FrontierProject

[thisisentchris87]

well, that puts me in the crapper i guess... :cry:

ha, got ninja'ed, I got a Dual Core 2.4, how did it run on ur graphics card?

 

Ok, but like a said it was 8 months ago. Your processor is faster than mine was if I recall correctly.

[FrontierProject]

Ok, but like a said it was 8 months ago. Your processor is faster than mine was if I recall correctly.

 

my card is smaller tho, newer maybe, but still only a 256...

 

edit: where would I find DCS world?

[thisisentchris87]

my card is smaller tho, newer maybe, but still only a 256...

 

Oh I didn't see that, the picture threw me off. I thought you had 2GB. :doh:

 

Like cichlidfan said, Try out DCS: World and see how at least the game world runs. It has an Su-25T that you can fly around. http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/index.php?ProductId=21&end_pos=137&scr=product&lang=en

 

This game mostly taxes the CPU, the graphics engine is much more efficient than anything Microsoft could come up with for FSX.

[ENO]

Shared system memory with what is basically onboard graphics aren't going to help. I'm running something similar just for travelling and use the mission editor. It's horrendously slow and while "testing" missions it's not horrible but settings are at the absolute lowest... But that's with absolutely nothing in the game- I was just browsing for good places to put targets.

 

I think people are being overly polite here. Of the 4 gigs of ram you have almost half is shared with graphics. It's a portable workstation- with "enhanced graphics" to run powerpoints and excel spreadsheets in hd- not intense 3d rendered graphics.

 

The 64 bit OS might help you if you had 12 gigs of Ram and a quad processor that could take up the load but in this case Im sad to say with only 4 gigs of total ram you might as well be on a 32 bit os. The dual core will be smoking hot in minutes as laptops are notoriously bad at staying cool.

Edited August 4, 2012 by ENO

[Revelation]

I ran DCS A-10C on a 2008 MBP that has a 2.4GHz dual core with 4GB of ram and a 9600GT with 256Mb of video memory.

 

I ran on low settings, with a decent view distance and it ran fine in single player. You should be fine, but you will need to spend a few minutes finding the sweet spot - graphics settings-wise.

 

With TIR, you only turn your head a fraction of a degree and in-game it turns a bunch. Look up some youtube videos on it.

 

Flgiht stick wise, I recommend picking up a used Saitek X52. Great sticks for the money!

Edited August 4, 2012 by Revelation

[FrontierProject]

Shared system memory with what is basically onboard graphics aren't going to help. I'm running something similar just for travelling and use the mission editor. It's horrendously slow and while "testing" missions it's not horrible but settings are at the absolute lowest... But that's with absolutely nothing in the game- I was just browsing for good places to put targets.

 

I think people are being overly polite here. Of the 4 gigs of ram you have almost half is shared with graphics. It's a portable workstation- with "enhanced graphics" to run powerpoints and excel spreadsheets in hd- not intense 3d rendered graphics.

 

The 64 bit OS might help you if you had 12 gigs of Ram and a quad processor that could take up the load but in this case Im sad to say with only 4 gigs of total ram you might as well be on a 32 bit os. The dual core will be smoking hot in minutes as laptops are notoriously bad at staying cool.

 

I was aware of most of what u mentioned, but I keep choosing to pull a pager bag over my head about it. I definitely won't be purchasing the game until I update to a desktop powerhouse.

Been reading about Combined Arms last night, I have to say I really love what DCS is building up, can't wait to join in on the fun. :D

[AtaliaA1]

Technology has finaly outpaced this sim. In other words the graphics proccessing units on the market today are more than capable (gamer ver. of course).

 

And the CPUs are even better at running all of the displays (MFCDs) and the Targeting Pod. along with the RWR. that brought older systems and Processors to their knees.

 

Anyone that tells you how they "Used" to play this Title with this old card or that old card are not talking about the "Sim ver" of the A-10 that is on the market now. the older ver. of course ran with what was Tech. of that era.

 

You need a good Gamer System to run all the Computers and Displays and CMS, DMS, TMS and other programs that run simultaniously to the graphics engine that is darn good on its own in this ver of the A-10 made to be as realistic as DCS could get it.

[FrontierProject]

So I'v decided to get a low power computer and slowly upgrade it over time rather than save up for a big one.

 

Here is an older PC I found at work:

I'm gonna get 8gb Ram for it, which I can get for under $50 on Newegg, and I'd like ur ur opinions on which graphics card I should get, (it currently has none) preferably under $120

[Revelation]

Go with at least a Core i5 - easier to overclock. Overclocking my i7 2600k is night and day easier and more stable than my old Q6600.

[slug88]

I'd like ur ur opinions on which graphics card I should get, (it currently has none) preferably under $120

 

Not going to happen. Anything under $200 or so will be a complete waste of money for playing games. Not sure what the current peak value card is, but this article should tell you:

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107.html

[Revelation]

Technology has finaly outpaced this sim. In other words the graphics proccessing units on the market today are more than capable (gamer ver. of course).

 

And the CPUs are even better at running all of the displays (MFCDs) and the Targeting Pod. along with the RWR. that brought older systems and Processors to their knees.

 

Anyone that tells you how they "Used" to play this Title with this old card or that old card are not talking about the "Sim ver" of the A-10 that is on the market now. the older ver. of course ran with what was Tech. of that era.

 

You need a good Gamer System to run all the Computers and Displays and CMS, DMS, TMS and other programs that run simultaniously to the graphics engine that is darn good on its own in this ver of the A-10 made to be as realistic as DCS could get it.

 

Yes, yes I am. Go and look at my other post as to what the specs of my MBP are and that I usd to fly DCS A-10C on it when I was in Afghanistan.

[FrontierProject]

Go with at least a Core i5 - easier to overclock. Overclocking my i7 2600k is night and day easier and more stable than my old Q6600.

 

I'm planning on keeping the current processor for a while if possible. as you guys have probably gathered, I have an extremely tight budget for my simming n gaming right now.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but imo my current priority list is:

1. Graphics (cuz I got only integrated right now)

2. RAM

3. Stick (I don't have a throttle)

4. CPU (my first non-required upgrade)

 

Btw feel free to shoot me down if u think I'm delusional for trying to run it at all on such a machine. But it's the best I'll have for quite a while.

[FrontierProject]

overall best card for the money says tom's hardware.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125403&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Video+Cards-_-GIGABYTE-_-14125403

 

the reviews are overwhelmingly positive... I count 5 reviews saying they'r getting decent framerates from Skyrim on high settings

Edited August 8, 2012 by FrontierProject

[slug88]

That's their best card for under $110. Per the hierarchy chart on the last page, that card is roughly equivalent to an Nvidia 8800GT. That's what I had in my PC about four years ago. It might run DCS, but it will be neither pretty nor smooth.

[FrontierProject]

That's their best card for under $110. Per the hierarchy chart on the last page, that card is roughly equivalent to an Nvidia 8800GT. That's what I had in my PC about four years ago. It might run DCS, but it will be neither pretty nor smooth.

 

for the time being I can sacrifice pretty, but smooth...

[joey45]

...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but imo my current priority list is:

1. Graphics (cuz I got only integrated right now)

2. RAM

3. Stick (I don't have a throttle)

4. CPU (my first non-required upgrade)

 

...

 

With RAM it is a bit tricky.

 

No point buying DDR2 when down the line when you buy the CPU you would probably need a new Mobo due to a different socket and the need to buy new RAM cos it only supports DDR3.

 

What I did with my upgrade was

1] Figured out what CPU I would get (intel i7 2600K)

2] Decide on the Mobo (Asus P8P67 Deluxe)

3] Find what RAM would work.

 

But I would say your number one would be a GFX card.