BS 2 on iMac, Eyefinity & Joystick Advice

[Juris]

Hi to all. I'm coming back to PC simming after years in exile. I'm from the era of Enemy Engaged: Comanche vs Hokum and Flightsim 2004, so BS is going to be a major jump for me. Just looking for advice on whether BS2 will run on this hardware (I know it meets the recommended specs but you guys will know better than anyone what its like in real life). Its an iMac 27" 2011 model, 2.7ghz i5, 24gb ram, ati 6770m 512mb running on Win 7 pro 64-bit via Bootcamp, native res 2560x1440.

 

I also have it hooked up to 2 23" cinema displays (1920x1200 native each) left and right so ideally would love to run Eyefinity across the 3 displays although I know I may be pushing my luck with a 6770. Any idea if this is even slightly realistic. I'm not in a position to upgrade the hardware at present.

 

Also has anyone an opinion on Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS in BS2. I can find one for around 300 euro which is very expensive but I'm a firm believer in making sure if your buying a controller spend the money up front on something to keep and enjoy for 10yr rather than buy a new cheaper one every year for 10yrs. I'll be using it on BS2, X-Plane, FSX and likely DCS: A-10 (naturally) later on in conjunction with a Razer Orbweaver for keyboard macros etc. Anyone seen them cheaper than the 300 mark in the EU?

 

I was also wondering if its possible to offload someone of BS2's processing to another machine. I have heard that its not possible but thought I'd ask to see if anything has changed. I know its possible in FSX. I have a Vaio Duo 11, touchscreen windows 8 laptop tablet hybrid. Is there a way I can employ this as having a touchscreen would be the icing on the cake.

 

Sorry for the long 1st post, just wanted to get it all said upfront. Thanks in advance for any help as its all a bit daunting coming in from the console cold. Cheers.

[Erforce]

Hi and welcome !

 

not sure i've understood everything but :

 

CPU : good for DCS

GPU : OK for medium detail (much because of 512Mb VRAM)

Eyefinity 3 screens : hmmmmm, 6770M 512Mb will probably cause some troubles here. i'm not even sure to make it work with my GTX 670 2Gb (I'm looking for a 3rd Cinema Display 16/10, but 200€ a nonfunctionning unit is crazy in 2013) So do not count on it too much.

 

Warthog HOTAS : FOR A10 OK / For BS2 : NoGo. It's working, but not very designed for helicopters. I don't have any other advice. I'm using X52pro, it would be a blast if it had ForceFeedBack.

Try to do some search, for Warthog + BS2, i've read some time ago interesting users experiences.

 

Did not really understood the last paragraph. I'm not a Qmaster expert in term of services sharing.

 

I'm from the era of Comanche mac. and F/A-18 3 on Mac.

Switched to W7 PC in november :(

[Napa]

The graphics card doesn't look so powerful to run on 2 screens. I recommend to invest on a faster GPU and a bit cheaper HOTAS like the X-52pro to balance your budget.

[Juris]

Hi guys thanks for the replies and advice (and welcomes) much appreciated. Regards the Thrustmaster Warthog I think I'm going to go ahead with it. I know it has no twist to emulate rudder control but I can pick up a rudder or at the worst use my G27 pedals as a makeshift rudder until I can find a replacement. As I'm going to be playing not only BS but also X-Plane, FSX, A-10C and Star Citizen when it arrives it seems like a food compromise. I don't have the space for a dedicated collective so I'll adapt to the throttle on the Warthog. I found one for just under 280 euro new so its close enough to my acceptable 250 psychological barrier for controllers. I had an X-36 years ago and although it was a nice stick for the price the plastic construction and centered dead zone did put me off. I'm sure the X-52 is an improvement but I was hoping to go all metal and hte Warthog seems the only one to really do this without re-mortgaging.

 

As for the iMac your advice is as I feared but I'm kind of stuck with what I have. Unfortunately iMacs are more like laptops strapped to an LCD panel and graphics are non-upgradeable. The promised external GPU's for the thunderbolt ports never materialised so I'll have to make do until I can justify an upgrade or Apple release an iMac that isn't worse than the last (its becoming a trend). At worst I'll have to run on 1 screen in single player. It'll be a while before I'd dare tackle BS in MP as I'm not feeling like dying young-ish against you guys. I'll just have to start tweaking like crazy to eek out the best performance possible from some of the threads on the forum and some have had great gains so it can only help. And then there is always hope when Occulus Rift arrives (RIP Andrew Reisse, too young to leave us).

 

Regards offloading processing to another pc (or multiple as I have a few that could help out if possible) FSX can offload processing for certain functions, navigation, waypoint planning, ATC, you name it, off to another PC. This is a tutorial on it. Theres no point in watching through it past a few minutes unless your also interested in trying it on FSX but it'll give you the idea.

 

 

BTW does anyone know where is the cheapest place to buy BS2 and A-10C at present. I know the Steam sale is coming but its no guarantee they'll be in it. Cheers.

Edited June 3, 2013 by Juris