Flight Sim on an OAP budget

B

Bobetto

Banned
Hi All,

First post to these forums so forgive any etiquette failings. Basically, i'm the go-to in my family for any sort of PC thing which was fine! (when i was 20 and knew about such things.) My Dad is OBSESSED with MS flight sim and is so excited about the new release he's asked me to spec up a replacement for his 6 year old monster (also PCSpecialist) which has served him well but cannot deal with the specs of the new flight sim. Ideally he wanted me to keep it in the £500 mark which ... doesn't seem practical but thats his target.

Looking at the specs i've come up with this and would REALLY appreciate any advice on where i've overshot (to get the price back in line) or where i've managed to make a casserole of component-Frankenstein nonsense. But the end result is Flight Sim on a budget. Any and all advice would be truly appreciated.

Rob

Case
PCS 3312B BLACK CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Quad Core CPU with Vega Graphics (3.7GHz-4.2GHz/6MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME A320M-K: Micro-ATX, AM4, USB 3.0, 6GB/s
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2400MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB AMD RADEON™ RX 590 - HDMI, DP - DX® 12
1st Storage Drive
256GB PCS 2.5" SSD, SATA 6 Gb (500MB/R, 400MB/W)
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W CV SERIES™ CV-550 POWER SUPPLY
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
WIRELESS 802.11N 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Home Installation
NONE
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Welcome Book
PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland
Price: £698.00 including VAT and Delivery
 
M

mrlip

Gold Level Poster
It’s not going to be possible on that budget unfortunately. What monitor will be used and do you have it already or need to buy one?
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
@mrlip is completely correct, flight sims take more power than a standard gaming pc, and a very entry level gaming pc would set you back more like £900

It’s just not possible at your budget.
 
B

Bobetto

Banned
mrlip said:
It’s not going to be possible on that budget unfortunately. What monitor will be used and do you have it already or need to buy one?
Click to expand...
Thankfully, we saw this situation coming and got him a pretty good monitor for Christmas last year. His previous one was so tiny and had a good inch either side of the screen so that was necessary. So he's got that sorted. It really is just the base unit.
 
M

mrlip

Gold Level Poster
Bobetto said:
Thankfully, we saw this situation coming and got him a pretty good monitor for Christmas last year. His previous one was so tiny and had a good inch either side of the screen so that was necessary. So he's got that sorted. It really is just the base unit.
Click to expand...

What resolution is it?
 
B

Bobetto

Banned
Nursemorph said:
If it was me and I was speccing up a system for playing MSFS20, this would be the minimum I'd want to run the game comfortably:


Case
CORSAIR 275R AIRFLOW TEMPERED GLASS GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT Six Core CPU (4.5GHz/35MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® TUF GAMING B550-PLUS (DDR4, USB 3.2, 6Gb/s) - ARGB Ready!
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
6GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2060 - HDMI, DP - VR Ready!
1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Home Installation
NONE
Delivery
TIMED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND - MON-FRI (BEFORE 2PM)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Price: £1,132.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am4-gen3-pc/Gdd7uyjFEY/

Not to say the above is the bare minimum needed to play but it would be powerful enough to play the game well and without getting bottlenecked by things
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for the advice, i'm not sure "we" can stretch to that cost but its good to know what we're aiming for.
 
Scott

Scott

Behold The Ford Mondeo
Moderator
It's just not going to happen properly anywhere near £1k IMO, never mind £500. The only way I can see around it would be to get the game on the Xbox when it arrives. The downfall here is it's more a gamepad style game going down that route than a proper simulator. It does cater for all uses though.

I genuinely wouldn't recommend a system below an 8 core chip paired with a 2060 Super. I would be more inclined to recommend the 3060(Ti) once it's released.

FS2020 really is something to behold but it's built with the future in mind. Even very high end systems struggle with the game. I'm running an overclocked 9900K with an overclocked RTX2080 at 1080p yet only managing 60fps for the most part. The game demands a LOT from the CPU and the RAM in order to make any use of the GPU..... which when called upon is taxed considerably.

As much as you can spec up a system to meet the minimum requirements, I wouldn't recommend it at all as it's just nowhere near as nice an experience. If insistent on going for it anyway either of the above is as good as you are going to get in that sort of ball park.

Out of curiosity. What is the current system? I guess it couldn't be upgraded to something more substantial rather than starting from scratch?
 
B

Bobetto

Banned
Scott said:
It's just not going to happen properly anywhere near £1k IMO, never mind £500. The only way I can see around it would be to get the game on the Xbox when it arrives. The downfall here is it's more a gamepad style game going down that route than a proper simulator. It does cater for all uses though.

I genuinely wouldn't recommend a system below an 8 core chip paired with a 2060 Super. I would be more inclined to recommend the 3060(Ti) once it's released.

FS2020 really is something to behold but it's built with the future in mind. Even very high end systems struggle with the game. I'm running an overclocked 9900K with an overclocked RTX2080 at 1080p yet only managing 60fps for the most part. The game demands a LOT from the CPU and the RAM in order to make any use of the GPU..... which when called upon is taxed considerably.

As much as you can spec up a system to meet the minimum requirements, I wouldn't recommend it at all as it's just nowhere near as nice an experience. If insistent on going for it anyway either of the above is as good as you are going to get in that sort of ball park.

Out of curiosity. What is the current system? I guess it couldn't be upgraded to something more substantial rather than starting from scratch?
Click to expand...

Thanks Scott. Umm. I honestly couldn't tell you the spec of the current box. Its 6 years old and was (not at all coincidentally) bought so my dad could play the previous flight sim with SOME graphics. But i think that was FS2000 which probably has similar spec requirements to the current version of microsoft word.

I actually explained the situation to him earlier (i felt bad that i'd not done ^this^ research before he noticed the new flight sim) and he was on board with the £700ish thing i mocked up, so i'm thinking i might chip in the rest to get it up the £900 mark. I know its not gonna be flashy AF but... keep it in context, he's in his 60s. I dont think he knows what antialiasing is. It will still look nicer than anything he's ever played before.

You said Nursemorph's spec would be as good as i'm gonna get, so i think that will be what i aim for. So thanks @Nursemorph , really, thanks for the help there.

And thanks for the candid advice @Scott and everyone else. It really is very much appreciated.
 
G

Gavras

Master Poster
Bobetto said:
Thanks Scott. Umm. I honestly couldn't tell you the spec of the current box. Its 6 years old and was (not at all coincidentally) bought so my dad could play the previous flight sim with SOME graphics. But i think that was FS2000 which probably has similar spec requirements to the current version of microsoft word.

I actually explained the situation to him earlier (i felt bad that i'd not done ^this^ research before he noticed the new flight sim) and he was on board with the £700ish thing i mocked up, so i'm thinking i might chip in the rest to get it up the £900 mark. I know its not gonna be flashy AF but... keep it in context, he's in his 60s. I dont think he knows what antialiasing is. It will still look nicer than anything he's ever played before.

You said Nursemorph's spec would be as good as i'm gonna get, so i think that will be what i aim for. So thanks @Nursemorph , really, thanks for the help there.

And thanks for the candid advice @Scott and everyone else. It really is very much appreciated.
Click to expand...

as someone approaching 60, that started on assembly and machine code at 20, followed by other fun stuff, that comment is exceptionally patronising.

The majority of those that cut their teeth on codemasters, microprose, on the like of Amigas, Amstrad 128’s ibm PCs etc.

Oh and still go mountain biking and other fun stuff.

best I cancel my order for my new monitor

www.scan.co.uk

Acer Predator 35" Quad HD UltraWide 200Hz G-Sync HDR Curved Gaming Monitor

Buy from Scan - 35" Acer Predator X35 Curved UltraWide Monitor, VA, 3440x1440, 200Hz(OC), 2ms, HDR, G-Sync, 100M:1, 1000cd/m², HDMI/DP - Refurbished
www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk

and get a one slipper and black n white TV.
 
AccidentalDenz

AccidentalDenz

Lord of Steam
Gavras said:
as someone approaching 60, that started on assembly and machine code at 20, followed by other fun stuff, that comment is exceptionally patronising.

The majority of those that cut their teeth on codemasters, microprose, on the like of Amigas, Amstrad 128’s ibm PCs etc.

Oh and still go mountain biking and other fun stuff.

best I cancel my order for my new monitor

www.scan.co.uk

Acer Predator 35" Quad HD UltraWide 200Hz G-Sync HDR Curved Gaming Monitor

Buy from Scan - 35" Acer Predator X35 Curved UltraWide Monitor, VA, 3440x1440, 200Hz(OC), 2ms, HDR, G-Sync, 100M:1, 1000cd/m², HDMI/DP - Refurbished
www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk

and get a one slipper and black n white TV.
Click to expand...

I just turned 35 and appreciate a good pair of slippers! :ROFLMAO:
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
Gavras said:
as someone approaching 60, that started on assembly and machine code at 20, followed by other fun stuff, that comment is exceptionally patronising.

The majority of those that cut their teeth on codemasters, microprose, on the like of Amigas, Amstrad 128’s ibm PCs etc.

Oh and still go mountain biking and other fun stuff.

best I cancel my order for my new monitor

www.scan.co.uk

Acer Predator 35" Quad HD UltraWide 200Hz G-Sync HDR Curved Gaming Monitor

Buy from Scan - 35" Acer Predator X35 Curved UltraWide Monitor, VA, 3440x1440, 200Hz(OC), 2ms, HDR, G-Sync, 100M:1, 1000cd/m², HDMI/DP - Refurbished
www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk

and get a one slipper and black n white TV.
Click to expand...
Don’t take it personally ;) You’re amongst the godly PC gamer crew.

We have to recognise where a firm budget is in place, sacrifices have to be made, and at least the platform is solid for upgrades down the line.
 
B

Bobetto

Banned
Gavras said:
as someone approaching 60, that started on assembly and machine code at 20, followed by other fun stuff, that comment is exceptionally patronising.

The majority of those that cut their teeth on codemasters, microprose, on the like of Amigas, Amstrad 128’s ibm PCs etc.

Oh and still go mountain biking and other fun stuff.

best I cancel my order for my new monitor

www.scan.co.uk

Acer Predator 35" Quad HD UltraWide 200Hz G-Sync HDR Curved Gaming Monitor

Buy from Scan - 35" Acer Predator X35 Curved UltraWide Monitor, VA, 3440x1440, 200Hz(OC), 2ms, HDR, G-Sync, 100M:1, 1000cd/m², HDMI/DP - Refurbished
www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk

and get a one slipper and black n white TV.
Click to expand...

Sorry Gavros, it wasn't meant to be. We all have specialisations and while yours may lend you to understand the nuance of speccing a PC, my dad was a policeman for 30+ years and has a very different skillset. He can fix literally anything. He's a monster under the bonnet of a car, but this world he doesn't get. I dont think its patronizing to state that to give the conversation some practical context. He simply wouldn't spend the kind of money this game clearly demands, he would argue its only a game and do without it. He also wouldn't appreciate the incremental improvements that big jumps in spending can bring. But oh my God he loves flying planes even though its all virtual.

So please don't be offended. It wasn't meant that way at all. This forum has been incredibly helpful, and i now feel like i have a plan which may not do the games higher settings justice but will provide my dad with an enjoyable game. If i'd have built one to the minimum spec and it ran like a bag of spanners i'd have been gutted.

Rob
 
G

Gavras

Master Poster
Bobetto said:
Sorry Gavros, it wasn't meant to be. We all have specialisations and while yours may lend you to understand the nuance of speccing a PC, my dad was a policeman for 30+ years and has a very different skillset. He can fix literally anything. He's a monster under the bonnet of a car, but this world he doesn't get. I dont think its patronizing to state that to give the conversation some practical context. He simply wouldn't spend the kind of money this game clearly demands, he would argue its only a game and do without it. He also wouldn't appreciate the incremental improvements that big jumps in spending can bring. But oh my God he loves flying planes even though its all virtual.

So please don't be offended. It wasn't meant that way at all. This forum has been incredibly helpful, and i now feel like i have a plan which may not do the games higher settings justice but will provide my dad with an enjoyable game. If i'd have built one to the minimum spec and it ran like a bag of spanners i'd have been gutted.

Rob
Click to expand...
Don’t worry no offence taken, my reply was partly tongue in cheek.

it’s always humorous when age is attached to things and assumptions made😂

Have you thought about getting him a remote control one, or even a drone?

BTW, you are still digging holes lol, I was in Forces for 30 years, working backgrounds don’t always matter with hobbies and pastimes etc.

I am also a member of couple car groups where we modify cars to around 400bhp - 800bhp, big petrol head.

one of the problems with forums, is how easy it is to take out of context and also generalise stuff 😊

There was zero offence taken, if anything it made me chuckle.
 
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