FSX Notebook/laptop

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Thinkin my 11 year old xp based desktop may soon retire. What I would really like is something like a surface pro 3 capable of running fsx but I don't believe there is anything like that with enough power - particularly the lack of dedicated graphics (or does integrated Intel 4400 graphics run fsx with I5 and 8 gig ram) and I doubt the speed of an usb3 is fast enough to run fsx through which means using SSD space. That would mean a smallish fsx install (approx 75 gig maybe) and I've no idea how that would work with addons. I sure like the idea of a surface pro but not win 8.1 I dont think.

Anyway at work I'm used to being portable and think I prefer it with the ability to plug in monitor, keyboard, joystick etc as needed. And I like small. So I'm kinda thinking maybe one of the 13.3 zenbooks with 2gig nvidia card.

Anyone fsxing regularly on a small notebook? If so what is it. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

-Ed-

 

[Lane Street]

I would be concerned about heat with something as small as a Surface.

And the lack of an optical drive makes installing from discs a bit tougher.

I use FSX on a laptop and the thing gets hot!

It is a cheap Acer model so maybe a better model would run cooler.

cheers,
Lane

 

[greybeardgil]

Here at GAS I have been using Laptops for Modeling and Simming for 8 years, Currently using an ASUS with never a problem.I do however use a Laptop adjustable Stand which elevates and thus keeping vents clear and airflowing.

 

[Victory103]

Ed,
A few more threads on this, but I'm running FSX and DCS on my ASUS gaming 17" laptop. Not in the market (yet) but I might go with another ASUS gaming model.

 

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Thank You guys for the replies. I guess it can be done - I always wonder about addons and the additional load they impose. That said I guess I could always just continue with FS9 which I have spent a bunch of money on. I bought FSX Acceleration and installed it a few - probably more than 5 years ago but have used it probably less than 5 times. I always look at it and say how can I justify starting to invest in FSX when I've spent so much on FS9. It is absolutely nothing but a game - just a game. Anyway as I see more aircraft I am interested in I think maybe I will go to FSX - being the early adopter I am.

That said I spent today specing out a new desktop build which I am thinking about. Trouble is it costs about 2x what I want to pay - I have other things I want to buy like guitars or lenses or jeep stuff or food. That said I do need more horse power to process photographs as well.

I am considering something like this...

It is an itx case so the motherboard is small like 7in by 7in.

I am tired of reaching around behind a small tower under the table to plug things in.

You can click the light blue...

Case - $80 - Amazon - Corsair Obsidian 250D Mini ITX Case
Power supply - $70 - NewEgg - RaidMax 630W Modular Power Supply
Motherboard - $175 - NewEgg - ASRock Z97 with bluetooth and wireless
or Motherboard - $190 - NewEgg - As above better wireless and sound
CPU - $240 - NewEgg - Intel I5 3.3 GHz no overclock
or CPU - $290 - NewEgg - Intel I5 3.5 GHz k version so over clockable
GPU - $225 - NewEgg - MSI R9 280 3GB 384Bit PCI Express GDDR5
Drive(s) - $130 - NewEgg - OCZ 240GB SSD
Drive(s) - $130 - NewEgg - Crucial 256GB SSD a bit faster and more capacity than OCZ above
RAM - $75 - GSkill Rip Jaws 8 Series DDR3 1600 8GB - one memory module - add one more later?
Windows - $110 - Newegg - Windows 8.1 upgradeable to 10 or I'd want 7
Other items as an optical RW/CD and maybe a 3.5 in storage drive I can salvage from what I have. Irrespective these two items like terrabyte drives are not expensive and probably less than $125 total. Maybe a cooler too.

I'm not sure all the parts "mesh" well as it is itx so I have to be careful but I thought an itx would be fun.

Around $1300 ($1050 US) all in so double what I want to pay.

How does this look and is it possible to build a good FSX computer for half or so?

About all the laptops I have looked at cost near as much as this desktop so I don't know that I am gaining much buying a laptop when a powerful surface pro type tablet/pc is where I eventually wanna be..

Appreciate any comments and thank you again.

-Ed-

 

[Bjoern]

The component list looks solid.

You could still save some $$$ by going for a regular tower, cheaper motherboard (without WLAN), CPU, GPU and storage solution, but dumbing down a well balanced build isn't quite the point...

 

[Dumonceau]

Ed,

Forget about the MS Surface tablet. At best it is a gadget, but definitely not for gaming/simming. Overheating is a problem on this things.

I know because I'm staging (installing) 40 of them at work. Colleagues installing netflix and stuff on it complain about serious heating problems and even shutdowns.

Something that small will never ever be good for what us simmers want.

Johan

 

[strykerpsg]

Ed,

Forget about the MS Surface tablet. At best it is a gadget, but definitely not for gaming/simming. Overheating is a problem on this things.

I know because I'm staging (installing) 40 of them at work. Colleagues installing netflix and stuff on it complain about serious heating problems and even shutdowns.

Something that small will never ever be good for what us simmers want.

Johan

??? I run Netflix, Hulu and have multiple games installed, though mostly strategy (CMBS, CMBN, Civ5, CMANO and others), RTS (Ruse, Warfare Red Dragon) and Simulation (World of Tanks, Steel Beasts Pro) all with very little heat problems. Never once has it shutdown, especially due to heat. However, that being said, I stay away from FSX because I only have 1 USB port and FSX is a hog on a limited space SSD. I also agree it's not a gaming platform, but it's no slouch of a tablet, in my opinion. Now, that being said, mine is also the i5 4300 processor SP3. I think the heat issues arise from the faster processor, which makes sense to me but I could be wrong.

I do also have an Alienware 17 that I run FSX on though and it handles it quite well and I too running a cooling pad under it to assist with dissipating the heat.