Build Your Own PC

[dart15]

The object of this post is not to secure bragging rights but to encourage everyone who may have wanted to build their own FSX-optimised PC but felt a little intimidated by the whole process.

This was my third build over a period of 10 years – so you can immediately see that I am no more knowledgeable about this subject than I would be about anything else I have a passing interest in. I don't live breathe and eat IT ! And that's a problem because it means I have had to 'start again' with each build – not remembering anything I had previously learnt. The flip-side is the fact that technologies have changed so rapidly during that time that even if I had retained some information it's doubtful that it would have been of any real value! The point is: if I can do it anybody can!



Things are easier now than they were before. There seems to be less to actually fiddle with when it comes to getting the best performance out of the PC once it's finally built. (you will notice the lack of technical terminology here, again underscoring my lack of familiarity). Actually, the physical build is the most straightforward part – it's the optimisation and fine-tuning that take time.



There are some things which don't change: researching the build – identifying, sourcing and acquiring the parts is 85% of the process – with the emphasis on the research. Fortunately, with the aid of the vast resources available to everyone these days via the internet, even a relatively technically illiterate type like me can quickly get a good idea of the things to consider when approaching a build. It's then a process of working within your budget to marshall the appropriate parts to deliver the desired outcomes. Again, reviewing the contemporary information on respected web sites and forums is key and readily available. Don't neglect the basics: if like me you are determined to get the best bang for buck and will be overclocking, then the case and power-supply are going to be very important because you want adequate clean power and good airflow design for cooling. Heat is the enemy!



This is not a build guide – there's plenty of information available out there and from people much better qualified to provide it (see blow).



What I want to emphasise is that it IS do-able and the result is no small amount of self-satisfaction and the knowledge that you have a system built with the requirements of FSX in mind – rather than some off-the-shelf box , which for an equivalent budget, is almost certainly going to have inferior components and not deliver where it matters most – smooth FSX performance with all the detail you want!



I want to acknowledge the considerable assistance I derived from a guy over on SimForums who I only know as NickN but many here will immediatly know who I mean. He is not exactly shy about expressing his opinion and some might say that he uses far too many words but the guides he has written convinced me to do the job and do it well. I commend them to you. Read them, then read them again at least twice more before you make a start. Then read them again! Everything has a purpose and he attempts to explain that purpose in a way that even people like me can understand, however, it can be slow going and you need to focus. Not recommended reading after a few beers or pinot's on a Friday night!



Links here –



http://www.simforums.com/forums/the-fsx-computer-system-the-bible-by-nickn_topic46211.html



http://www.simforums.com/forums/haswell-48ghz-on-air-building-a-haswell-system_topic46180.html



http://www.simforums.com/forums/drivers-nv-inspector-fsxcfg-complete-guide_topic36586.html



I hope readers (if they have got this far) have found this sufficiently interesting and are encouraged to take the plunge!



Happy to provide my specs and build list on request.



Finally, a pic of the new rig under construction (as it was) which I have called Typhoon (previous PC's being Tornado and Spitfire respectively – yeah I know. Next project: rebuilding Tornado!



https://www.dropbox.com/s/0d8c21z2n68nf ... x.jpg?dl=0

[rocky289]

Some good links there.

What are the spec on your new system.

[dart15]

QUOTE (rocky289 @ Sep 22 2014,9:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some good links there. What are the spec on your new system.

Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz 8MB LGA1150 (@ 4.8Ghz; 1.33v)

G.SKILL Ripjaws X 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1866MHz 10.9.10.28 2T (@ 9.9.9.27 1T; 1.5v)

Crucial M550 256GB SATA 2.5" SSD x 2

Seagate 2TB Barracuda SATA3 7200RPM 6Gb/s 64MB Internal HDD x 2

EVGA GeForce GTX780 SC Version ACX Fan Cooling system , 3GB GDDR5 PCI-E 3.0 Video card , 967mHZ /

[omitchell]

QUOTE (dart15 @ Sep 22 2014,10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz 8MB LGA1150 (@ 4.8Ghz; 1.33v)

Devil's Canyon, nice

[rocky289]

Nice.
Now I know why you needed the cooler.
What mobo have you got.

[dart15]

QUOTE (rocky289 @ Sep 22 2014,11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nice. Now I know why you needed the cooler. What mobo have you got.

Ooops, overlooked that small detail didn't I!

ASRock Z97 Extreme 4 Socket 1150, Intel Z97 Chipset, 4 X DDR3 DIMM, 1 X M.2 SSD , Sata Express Connector, DVI/VGA/HDMI/Display, 8 X SATA3, USB3 ,




I selected this mobo for its power handling (low temps) and good feature set for the price. Compares very well against more expensive boards.

[rocky289]

I assume you will be running air cooling as well?

[dart15]

QUOTE (rocky289 @ Sep 22 2014,12:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I assume you will be running air cooling as well?

Only the usual case fans. The GPU has its own fans and I don't see the need to provide any further active cooling.

Core temps are mid 20's at idle; FSX pushes to low 60's. Memory and case temps all good.

[rocky289]

Oh, so it's all setup now.

Curious, did you install FSX on the Crucial or the Barracuda?

[dart15]

QUOTE (rocky289 @ Sep 22 2014,12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh, so it's all setup now. Curious, did you install FSX on the Crucial or the Barracuda?

OS on one SSD; FSX on the other SSD. HD's for storage and things like REX which don't need to be installed in the FSX directory.

[rocky289]

Ah, sorry, didn't spot the x2 after the SSD's.

It's not a cheap hobby is it.