What Laptop to buy for Real Flight sim?

[Navigator53]

Time to update my 3 year old laptop.

I'm looking for one that I can plug in via S-video to my 63 inch lcd tv for better viewing instead of the 15 to 17" laptop screen.

Seems the Dell's are the most upgradable for furture components, but I don't know what to put together :confused:

Links and suggestions?

Edit: my kids run their ps3's on the tv, so it may have more plugins available than S-Video, not sure, will have to check further.

Thanks guys

Mel

[TuDogs]

A laptop capable of gaming is my recommendation because of the fact that most laptops share video memory with internal memory. And the biggest part of the laptop market is aimed at business applications. These kind are very poor game performers. Some of the Dells might work. Ask Dell, they may be able to point you in the right direction. Dell bought out the "Alien" brand. They were a big time game machine provider and they have a couple of fine gaming laptops, but cost a bundle in my opinion.

TuDogs

[widower]

I've used a dell d830 successfully.

[mcnabbwr]

Dell makes a gaming laptop called the XPS system. I have used flight simulators on a wide rage of different laptops with no issues. The key is at least 2 GB Ram due to the fact the operating systems is a memory hog. My son has a XPS and loves it, and if the price doesn't matter it's a great machine.

[huskynox]

I'm still using a Dell Inspiron 9300 I purchased 3 years ago for RealFlight and am now running Phoenix. When I ordered the Laptop I was sure to get the 256mb Graphics Card. I'm now running Vista on the same machine and it all runs perfect. Spend the extra money on good hardware and your Laptop will be good for years.....

Specs:

1.6Ghz Pentium 4m
100Gb 7200rpm ATA HD
800mHz FSB
2G DDR RAM
256mb Nvidia GeForce 6800 GC

Still running strong!

Only thing the Dell Inspiron 1720 has over my ol' 9300 is the new Duo Core Processors, SATA drives, and even BETTER 256gb graphic cards. There's no reason to buy the over priced XPS. They have the same 800mHz FSB speed and graphics cards. I was originally running Real Flight on only 1GB of RAM too. It ran perfectly!

The key is the 256mb Graphics Card for Flight Sims! :thumbup:

[Navigator53]

Thanks for the help guys!

Our Son upgraded his Alienware laptop then gave it to my Wife, cool machine, she loves it, so I know better than ask her if I can trade her for Helicopter stuff http://forums.pcpitstop.com/style_emoticons/New_emoticons/fear.gif

Costco has the Dell 1720 for $1,200.00 but Realflght 4 says for an optimal system one should have a 3D accererated Video with 256 MB dedicated video memory.

I don't much about video horse power, but this one sounds like it shares memory?

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11161632&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1

[huskynox]

Thanks for the help guys!

Our Son upgraded his Alienware laptop then gave it to my Wife, cool machine, she loves it, so I know better than ask her if I can trade her for Helicopter stuff http://forums.pcpitstop.com/style_emoticons/New_emoticons/fear.gif

Costco has the Dell 1720 for $1,200.00 but Realflght 4 says for an optimal system one should have a 3D accererated Video with 256 MB dedicated video memory.

I don't much about video horse power, but this one sounds like it shares memory?

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11161632&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1

This is where the Costco one falls flat on it's face....It has a crap integrated video card. JUNK!

This is what I was stating in my prior post. The video card has to be a 256mb card and have it's own dedicated memory.

I built one for you on Dell's web site that is way better then the Costco one and is cheaper :thumbup:
Notice the 256MB Nvidia Gforce Video Card!

See attached

[Navigator53]

Husky, awesome, thank you for your help :noteworthy

When I tried building the 1720 on Dell I came up with over $1,900.00

I'm working again this weekend, but will take a closer look at what you built when I have a moment and try to print it out.

I tried to link my build but it didn't work out?

Thanks again for your help!

Mel

[Navigator53]

Ordered the 1720 Husky!

Thanks guys for your help :thumbup:

[ARCK]

Mine is a Toshiba A105-S4201, cheap and great for the sim,,,,,,

[huskynox]

Ordered the 1720 Husky!

Thanks guys for your help :thumbup:

Cool, congrats!

Make sure you DON'T run Norton Anti-Virus because it is a virus itself. Run Trend Micro or Bit Defender. Hopefully you didn't order it with Norton because it will take about 2 hours to get it fully removed from your new computer! Norton is :BSS

[itsparks]

I have a Macbook pro :) using RFg4 with 128mb video card and 2gb ram running vista, YES I KNOW im sorry, vista is crap, but it works :P

[chadjay]

Dell XPS M1530 with 256mb graphics card.....

[helinewb78]

A gaming laptop? There is only one way to go in my opinion. I've been a computer geek alot longer than I have been a heli freak...lol.

Alienware (http://www.alienware.com)

You can use HTML?! SWEET!!!

[itsparks]

A gaming laptop? There is only one way to go in my opinion. I've been a computer geek alot longer than I have been a heli freak...lol.

Alienware (http://www.alienware.com)



Cough, WAY OVER PRICED!!

Plus most would buy a computer that worked, then use the rest on a nice heli, buying a Alienware would be dipping into costs of heli upgrades :)

[dlesnick]

If you are on a budget but want a laptop with a good processor and decent video card look at the ASUS M50sv-AI

http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=M50SV-A1&Category_Code=

It has the newer 9600m GS (Pretty much a die shrunk 8600GT) with 512mb of video ram, the newer Penryn version of the Core2 Duo running at 2.5ghz, 3GB of ram, 250GB HD, HDMI out and some decent speakers for a laptop. It only has a 15.4 wide screen at 1440x900 but for the price it is a killer simulator/game machine.

The 3DMark06 scores come in better on it than my old reliable DELL XPS laptop with a 7900GTX. It has become my new favorite traveling companion.

[Edwardn]

I have Dell Precision M90 with nvidia Quadro FX 3500M , 4GB RAM (3GB switch "ON") with docking station and 22" monitor hooked. She runs as sharm-never glitches, freezing or anything. Just thinking it will be great to hook second controler and run 2 sim at the time LOL. Doesn't lnow how.
Laptop costs me $1100 (bought it brand new as a "DENT and SCRATCH" from Dell Outlet) have for a year now and still can't find one dent or scratch. For $100 upgrade to 4GB and for $250 docking station and screen.
I recomend to visit Dell Outlet on-line-very good machines available as "Dent/Scratch" brand new with HUGE discount. 2 of my friends got the similar after me, one have single tiny scratch on the top cover (1/8 long) and second has sckratches on power supply (!!!!).

[teeson]

what ever you buy, dont buy an asus. itll be cool for a while then fall apart

[itsparks]

I use this :P


http://odie.ath.cx/spec.png

[frankyg]

i am about to order this laptop! luckily my friend stopped me before i bought an XPS from dell.

a toshiba satellite.

better specs than the high end XPS and a lot less in cost

http://explore.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/X205/X205-S9810


and here it is on newegg.com
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114471

and here is a video from youtube showing what this MONSTER can do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_3wxHEWk24


hope this helps with the search.

[itsparks]

i am about to order this laptop! luckily my friend stopped me before i bought an XPS from dell.

a toshiba satellite.

better specs than the high end XPS and a lot less in cost

http://explore.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/X205/X205-S9810


and here it is on newegg.com
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114471

and here is a video from youtube showing what this MONSTER can do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_3wxHEWk24


hope this helps with the search.


YUK!!!


Graphics Memory

767MB total: 512MB DDR3 discrete memory + up to 255MB shared memory w/NVIDIA® TurboCache™ technology


Its a HUGE laptop, more like a desktop..

[frankyg]

yeah, well, it isn't for those who don't feel like hauling it around! :tongue

[itsparks]

yeah, well, it isn't for those who don't feel like hauling it around! :tongue

a 10lb laptop may not seem like much but do it, then youll see, especially one that runs vista.

YUK! lol:arggg::arggg::arggg:

[frankyg]

well i dont see myself carrying it over my head, while i run naked through the wilderness. The weight is the only real bad thing about the laptop. But this thing can handle any sim you throw at it. My friend plays crysis on his, and that should take up more of the system than realflight would ever dream of.

[itsparks]

well i dont see myself carrying it over my head, while i run naked through the wilderness. The weight is the only real bad thing about the laptop. But this thing can handle any sim you throw at it. My friend plays crysis on his, and that should take up more of the system than realflight would ever dream of.

Yeah, i know how fast they are and how big and bulky and heavy they are, did i tell you i fix alot of them at work too ? and how hot they get, ? its more like a desktop id never put this thing on my lap.

Jase