For the ProSim737 folks. How many computers would I need to run ProSim737 complete?
Whether it's FSX or P3D sim for now, I am putting the ProSim primary on a separate pc and not the sim pc.
Thus, if that's one pc for the primary, how many more pc's would it take to run the Capt and FO PFD/ND displays, the Upper and Lower EICAS, as well as the CDU's?
Let's say I go with 3 or 4 mid range PC's, what specs would be doable for these 4? Prefer not to use AMD/Ryzen.
Lastly, if you have a setup like this, please post your specs of everything; don't need them for the sim pc(s), got that covered....
John ;D
John,
We Use 3 Pc's at Sams.
1 - Sim
2 - Prosim
3 - Instructor Station
Trev
Hi John,
As Trevor mentioned, 3 is a good number, I use 3 as well. One powerful one for the sim, two mediocre for Prosim displays and other various addons. Idea is to free up as many resources as possible on the Sim PC.
Ed
I am a SimAvionics user.....so off-topic in that regard....but this is how I have mine setup for those who may be interested....
1- SimA Server (instructor station)
2- SimA Client
3- P3D Server (with second SimA sound module)
4- P3D Client (left visual)*
5- P3D Client (center visual)*
6- P3D Client (right visual)*
*I am using SimSync for my P3D visual displays
The P3D computers are all high-end. My SimA computers are older hand-me-downs previously used for P3D. You really do not need a lot of CPU or GPU power there.
A consideration when using multiple computers is heat generation particularly if you are in a confined space. Older computers are cheap but also throw-off a lot more heat than the circuit board architecture of more modern computers.
I am using a dual network arrangement for data traffic....avionics data is managed by one network, visual data traffic by the other. It does make a noticeable improvement.
USB connection management is also more efficient in a multi-computer distributed arrangement.
Fred K
Thanks Guys, this helps a lot!
I do have a question though, about all the displays.
So, if you use one PC only for ProSim, and you have the CA & FO displays, the Upper and Lower EICAS and the CDU's, how many video outs are you using and what method?
Method as in, 2 dual head video cards, or USB to VGA devices or something else?
I can do either of these, but which cards per se and what type, what CPU and how much RAM? In other words, in the one PC setup for the PROSIM part, would a Gen 2 I7 2600k, 16GB RAM, and two GT 580's handle that?
By the way, the reason I ask is my setup as been dormant for 5 years and the tech in use is 1 year before that, so 6 year old tech. Thus, with updating ProSim737 to current version and .Net Framework 4.8 requiring more then just Win7, I am behind the curve.
One last question, if you're running the networks, are you running managed or unmanaged switches? I have several 16 port 10/100 manageable types, but just purchased two 8 port non managed 100/1GHz types. So, do you think non managed is doable; whereas, I always setup managed network resources before...but if I don't need too, it's one last thing to worry about.
John
I believe Sam's avionics machine uses 4 video cards, with 2 outputs per card.
I shy away from USB displays for a sim. Each USB device takes more CPU resources to run than a dedicated video output.
Awesome, thanks Kyle!
John
I use a single PC drving all in-cockpit displays including P3D and Prosim. I use a 7 output video card. There are no high demands on any of the video to require using expensive NVIDIA cards.
Hey Jim,
What's the specs of that 1 PC...CPU, Motherboard, Ram amount and type, Hard Drive type, and etc.
Also, I'd love to check into the multi head video card, so what brand and model are you using please?
Thank You,
John
Custom built rack mount i-7 fully loaded to 64 Gig RAM and 2 terabyte hard drive using the VisionTek Radeon HD7750. And I was wrong, it was a 6 port not 7 port card.
I had a second high-end NVidia that drove the remaining displays in the cockpit. Used that card purely because I had it available. This is running in the P-8 simulator at Jacksonville Naval Air Station.
My full setup here, I haven't installed my new master PC yet but that won't effect the set up. Note: Prosim recommends being installed on the same PC as the sim program. I wouldn't do it any other way.
http://www.aerosimsolutions.com.au/boeing-737-simulator/
Cheers Gwyn
Good News! I already have an mid range PC with an I7 930 and 32Mb Ram, as well as two ATI RADEON HD 5770 Video cards. This what I was using just for the ProSim737 only.
So, I hooked up the ProSim CAPT and FO displays, along with Upper and Lower EICAS displays. Then, setup four instances (folders) of ProSimDisplay and renamed them for each monitor they goto. Placed shortcuts on the desktop, and from there did all the positioning.
Thus, this will keep everything in the same place each time I run everything. I'll place these same icons in the Start Up folder so when the computer gets turned on all the displays will be running.
At this point, all the displays are running fine, and the ProSim Main Program is running just as good for not being on the Flight Sim PC.
I still have the ProSim MCP on a separate PC, but most likely will run it from the same PC as everything else....
John
The new version of Prosim that is coming out eliminates a separate MCP program - that will be nice.