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Hello
I've bought and used quite a lot of hardware over the years in effort to get FSX to feel right.
Here is a brief list of my findings and thought, and what I have settled with. (Note; I am not going to get into details about the computer or graphics card itself, though I will list what I have);
Computer: I have a duo core, with X1950 ATI card, 4Gb memory running FSX. This gives me very good frame rates with most graphic setting sliders near max.
Forget using several monitors. I have tried this and it's not that good (though better than 1). I use a TrackIR headtracking system. So you actually move your head to look around (just as you would in real life of course). It has to be tried to be believed. BUY ONE NOW! I can never fly FSX without it now. You can literally look where you want , left right, up down, you can even look round the side of the yoke! Or move forward to get a closer look at the panel. YOu can 'stand up' And look over the nose! You can glance up under the wing!
I have tried the CH yoke. That was a nightmare to trim. Also tried the Saitek Yoke which is much cheaper and better. But they are all awful to trim. I now use a Sidewinder2 joystick. It has force feed back. As standard the forcefeedback is rubbish. But there is some 3rd party software called FSforce. And this gives you realistic forcefeed back. And it really does work! You can now trim accurately. You can feel the resitance as you pull back for a climb - and you can then trim out this force. You feel a bank, you feel bumps as you go down the runway. Buy a used sidewinder 2 and use FSforce.
I use a 22" widescreed monitor. Xerox. Cost about £200 new. The field of view (when combined with headtracking) is truly awesome.
I use headphones, with mic. It's possible to set windows up so you get ATC voice only though the headset, and engine noise, etc through the speakers. Much more realistic.
But, I have yet to find good rudder pedals. I have only tried CH pedals, they have a terrible 'notch' in the centre and it's hard to get fine control like you can with real pedals. I might try the saitek pedals next. But my sidewinder2 joystick has twist rudder on the stick. Though not 'realistic' at least I can use the rudder feature to help taxi.
I have also tried Elite hardware avionic which is very good. though a bit of a luxury. I sold them now because I had a few problems getting them to work on vista.
I also have tried Simkits instruments. Expensive, good, but stick with the screen instruments. With trackIR, you can look down at the virtual instruments so Simkits not needed.
Lastly, I have in a box the simkits controls; real aircraft throttle and mixture, trim wheel, flaps switch which I have yet to mount in a box and wire up.
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