Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[NIGHTFIGHTER]

I know, this question has been done to death on this forum but bear with me.  My system has finally died, and I have 700 pounds to get a new computer, now this new system not only has to handle Il-2 HSFX but FSX and the likes of Call of Duty and Silent Hunter III, but has to be the family system with windows 8 on it.  Now looking through these pages I see many of you build your own rigs...which is amazing so long as you understand computers ( which I don't ! ).  Now as far as I can see, I can try and work out the configuration and specification myself ( and get it totally wrong ) or ask the folks who Know what to look for in a good system...So when I come to order my build I don't look a complete idiot. I must explain, my computer knowledge is non-existent, at the moment my computer supplier could sell me a cuckoo clock with shiny lights and id be happy........So please take time out and please advise me on what I should look for.
This forum has many helpful and talented people on it and at moments like this and in respect of the Il-2 game you have come to my rescue.....Many thanks in advance folks...Gary     

[Mcoady]

http://www.portatech.com/products/category.cshtml?id=1239

This is who I just used. I just got a motherboard and CPU but you can build an entire custom system. Just start with a CPU and built from there. You can search to see what CPU level is needed for the games you want to play.

[NIGHTFIGHTER]

Thanks Mcoady, but that's what I mean, I couldn't build my own system ( bad enough trying to build model aircraft ) as one of our KC-135 pilots said to me about his aircraft "I fly it mate, don't ask me how it works" that's just how I am with computers.  With my old computer I went to our local computer shop, gave him the game and asked him to build me a system to play that game...pretty soon I was having graphic and memory problems and got him to upgrade it.  Now the graphics card has burnt out and the system ( which is 5 years old ) is in dire need of replacement but I need to know what specs to look for.
   

[NIGHTFIGHTER]

O.K I think Ive worded this wrong.  Lets try a different angle.  If you had to bye a computer off the shelf, what specs would you make sure it had to play IL-2 and FSX....Forgive me for my lack of computer technology know how, but some can drive Trucks and Buses (like me) and some can build computer systems in their sleep (unlike me)...Many thanks again   

[SGT68]

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/gaming/gaming-pc/pcs-by-range

[DougW60]

Nightfighter

This may be helpful to develop your understanding of PCs components:

http://www.tomshardware.com/

Look immediately below the second red line on the page titled: "Archived Articles." Click on "Build Your Own" (it is in very small font) and building articles links appear.  See the price listing for PCs to begin learning what can be put together for said price. 

Even though you will not build your PC, the articles do provide advice on what to look for at the price range you are using.

[NIGHTFIGHTER]

Great links guys, you are of course right it's time I tried to understand things a bit more....Many thanks again..Gary

[LucShep]

I know, this question has been done to death on this forum but bear with me.  My system has finally died, and I have 700 pounds to get a new computer, now this new system not only has to handle Il-2 HSFX but FSX and the likes of Call of Duty and Silent Hunter III, but has to be the family system with windows 8 on it.  Now looking through these pages I see many of you build your own rigs...which is amazing so long as you understand computers ( which I don't ! ).  Now as far as I can see, I can try and work out the configuration and specification myself ( and get it totally wrong ) or ask the folks who Know what to look for in a good system...So when I come to order my build I don't look a complete idiot. I must explain, my computer knowledge is non-existent, at the moment my computer supplier could sell me a cuckoo clock with shiny lights and id be happy........So please take time out and please advise me on what I should look for.
This forum has many helpful and talented people on it and at moments like this and in respect of the Il-2 game you have come to my rescue.....Many thanks in advance folks...Gary    

Hello there,

You already mentioned a total budget of ~700 pounds for the PC.
You also mentioned that you don't understand much of the subject, but then, as you figured already, it's basically a matter of having a good and complete list of PC components (hardware parts) to order your build, in a trusty PC shop at your location.

If you want to have an example of a good gaming PC within your budget, and all its listed components, the following article is very recent and accessible (won't be confusing) and will be usefull:

• PCGamer - PC build guide: budget gaming PC  (~600 pounds)  NOTE: does not include Windows Operating System (~100 pounds) and CD/DVD Reader/Writer (~13 pounds)

That article lists all the components to build a complete gaming PC, and the total price is right up your alley. (but again note, it does not include Windows, nor the CD/DVD Reader/Writer)
Find a PC shop that can build a computer with those exact components (or direct equivalent ones) and include a cheap CD/DVD Reader/Writer (from LG, or Asus, or Samsung), and also install Windows for you (the latest one is Windows 10). You'll get a nice gaming machine that will do the "the family system" just as well.
I sincerely doubt that you can get better than that for the price.

[NIGHTFIGHTER]

LucShep, that's awesome and the sort of answers I was after, because my current system is so old and also the O/s is Windows XP , i felt I had been out of the loop so to speak.  I once had a copy of PC pilot that gave a pretty concise run down of flightsim / gaming computer  spec's, but somehow (the wife seems the prime suspect!!) it has gone missing.  many thanks for a great link and pointing me in the right direction.....Thanks a lot to everyone for the help given

[LucShep]

No problem, very glad if it can help.

I've just built a PC gaming rig for a friend here, which is virtually a mirror copy of that one (just different manufacturer of Z170 motherboard and DDR4 2666 memory, and a bigger wattage quality Power-Supply-Unit).
I was pretty shocked with the performance. We've put ultra demanding games like DCS, IL2 BOS, ArmA III and Witcher 3 (with a 1920x1080 resolution monitor) and they ran even better than initially presumed.

I think you'll be over the moon with such computer. 

[NIGHTFIGHTER]

well that link you supplied has now become my bible ( idiot guide for computers, I am that idiot ) I wish I had the confidence to build my own, but if I tried I fear there may be a huge mushroom cloud over Norfolk...so better to let someone who knows what they are doing build it for me.  What has amazed me is how much computer specifications and technology has come since my rig was built 7 years ago.

[NIGHTFIGHTER]

Thanks for all the help folks, in the end this is my new rigs specs.

Intel i7 @3.6Ghz
Gigabyte motherboard
16 bg Ram
250 Gb samsung SSD
1 TB data drive
DVD/RW
850W PSU
Gigabyte Graphics Large Fan GTX 750 Ti
Tower case 2 front fans 2 side fans 1 back fan and additional top mounted fan.
windows 7 Pro

Now all I have to do is get the Graphic setting right

Again many thanks to those who were so kind with help and advice......Gary