Would two computers work?

[Elfmaze]

I have read thru some of the posts concerning Multiple computers for the one game FSX.

I am retiring a compleat computer AMD 1800XP with a geforce 5500 OC graphics card. I know this computer Is quite underpowered to play FSX and thats part of why it is getting retired. BUT Using windows Xp. Would i get a benifit(is it even possible) to use the two computers to my advantage?

New one is a Xp machine running an AMD 5000 X2 with a GTX 9800 and triple head to go running relativly small screens (15") Want the candy( additional traffic, buildings etc) more than high resolution.

[autocadplease]

Networked computers along with Peter Dowson's WideFS or FSX SimConnect will give you all sorts of possibilities. You can have your faster computer run FSX and the outside view and your networked computers be used to display panels/gauges.
I have four computers networked together one runs FSX and the other three run the panels and flight management computer using Project Magenta software. One of the computers running the flight management computer software is an old Pentium II-333 - so even old slow computers can benefit your cockpit.

[totalflyer]

Does anyone know of any other software for panels other than PM that would work on Multiple computers... especially for Airbus... :)

[fweinrebe]

You can try out vasFMC. The website is here: http://vas-project.org/. Use version 2.

[totalflyer]

Anyone know of a way to put the panels from software such as PSS on a seperate computer.

[fweinrebe]

Anyone know of a way to put the panels from software such as PSS on a seperate computer.

You will need another licensed copy of MSFS on the other PC with the PSS aircraft installed. Then link the two with WideView (http://www.wideview.it/). Then undock the gauges from the FS on the other PC. This will probably mean the other PC will have to run MSFS in Windows mode (Not Full Screen). Some vendor's gauges can be shown enlarged like PSS. You have to click on the gauge in a sensitive are to enlarge it. Not sure how to move it then. Possibly setup in the panel.cfg file.

Or you could use a Panel Editor program to build your own panel with the gauges set at the place you want them. (or do it the hard way in a text editor).

[nax228]

Does anyone know of any other software for panels other than PM that would work on Multiple computers... especially for Airbus... :)

FSXpand offers a great variety of panels both GA and jet. Take a look at their website -> http://cockpitsolutions.com/flyware/

For Boeing737 you have the newcomers FlightDeckSoftware. FDS is a complete system with logics. They are also developing this to run with x-plane, but still a way to this bit is finished.
FDS works with different hardware. Check out their website at -> http://flightdecksoftware.com/

[nax228]

You will need another licensed copy of MSFS on the other PC with the PSS aircraft installed. Then link the two with WideView (http://www.wideview.it/). Then undock the gauges from the FS on the other PC. This will probably mean the other PC will have to run MSFS in Windows mode (Not Full Screen). Some vendor's gauges can be shown enlarged like PSS. You have to click on the gauge in a sensitive are to enlarge it. Not sure how to move it then. Possibly setup in the panel.cfg file.

Or you could use a Panel Editor program to build your own panel with the gauges set at the place you want them. (or do it the hard way in a text editor).

Be aware!
I tried this setup, but one of the computers had crappy spechs and it seems like yor complete system only runs as fast as your weakest component will do.
..."A chain is never stronger than the weakest link" applies to this software.
Also came up with an issue with the panels had to be run on the FS pc, so this is really a software for generating views. Kinda say so in the name too.

[fweinrebe]

Be aware!
I tried this setup, but one of the computers had crappy spechs and it seems like yor complete system only runs as fast as your weakest component will do.
..."A chain is never stronger than the weakest link" applies to this software.
Also came up with an issue with the panels had to be run on the FS pc, so this is really a software for generating views. Kinda say so in the name too.

Thanks for the feedback on that. Very true.

This just reminded me of software that uses a second PC to extend your desktop. Called MaxiVista. Quote from their website: "Use any spare PC as a dual monitor screen for your primary PC. No extra hardware required.". Their website here: http://www.maxivista.com. That might work. Hope someone can comment if this worked.

[brynjames]

Thanks for the feedback on that. Very true.

This just reminded me of software that uses a second PC to extend your desktop. Called MaxiVista. Quote from their website: "Use any spare PC as a dual monitor screen for your primary PC. No extra hardware required.". Their website here: http://www.maxivista.com. That might work. Hope someone can comment if this worked.

I have seen maxivista being used in order to display the FMC through another computer and monitor. This worked fine, but I was told there is a big FPS hit if more complex functions are put on the second computer/monitor, for instance a different view window.

--
Bryn

[nosecone]

I have a question regarding FS9 and two computers. If I want to use one pc to display the instruments on a LCD and the other pc for the outside views throught a projector can I do this just using Peter Dowson's WideFS

regards

Rhys

[Michael Carter]

No. You need WidevieW to do this. Not WideFS.

[fweinrebe]

I have seen maxivista being used in order to display the FMC through another computer and monitor. This worked fine, but I was told there is a big FPS hit if more complex functions are put on the second computer/monitor, for instance a different view window.

Thanks Bryn, that was my experience too, but I tested with 2 slow computers. Was hoping something better with a more powerful "Server" PC.

I think the best option if you have one fast computer and one slower one as in totalflyer original request, is to use FSX/FS2004 on the fast computer and third-party gauges on the other slower PC. Then use Pete's WideServer / WideClient.

Wideview on the other side then can be used if all the computers are fast enough to run MSFS. One should keep in mind that you can run an older version of MSFS on the slower PC. As long as that version of MSFS has the gauges that one want. If the second PC's needs to run an outside view then it is a different ballgame. I would not like it if my center screens have the quality of FS9/X and the sideviews still showing FS2000 scenery.

[fweinrebe]

I have a question regarding FS9 and two computers. If I want to use one pc to display the instruments on a LCD and the other pc for the outside views throught a projector can I do this just using Peter Dowson's WideFS.

Rhys if you do use the WideView (http://www.wideview.it) option to do this, it is recommend that the PC running the outside view to be the best computer CPU, RAM and graphics card wise. Use the slower PC for the gauges. This option is if you want to use the MSFS panel drawn gauges on the 'gauges' PC.

If the gauges are only third-party Windows based gauges, in other words if they are run outside of MSFS, then you can use WideServer / WideClient. WideClient is a program that actually gets the MSFS data from WideServer over the network. I'm planning to us this option for my PC9M sim.

In short MSFS's (FSPUIC's) data are distributed over a LAN by WideServer. The Wideclient(s) connect to WideServer over the network and 'fools' a program connected to WideClient to think it is talking to FSPUIC. It does not know where MSFS is.

[nosecone]

Thanks fweinrebe and Michael


Networked computers along with Peter Dowson's WideFS or FSX SimConnect will give you all sorts of possibilities. You can have your faster computer run FSX and the outside view and your networked computers be used to display panels/gauges.
After reading this reply I assumed that all you needed was WideFS
I plan to use 2 pc's both with the same specs p4 2.8, 2gig of ram and gforce 512meg EN9400GT silent pci e.
The gauges a pretty much default MSFS for my simpit and I only plan to run FS9

[nax228]

I have a question regarding FS9 and two computers. If I want to use one pc to display the instruments on a LCD and the other pc for the outside views throught a projector can I do this just using Peter Dowson's WideFS

regards

Rhys

You are saying views. Do you mean that you are planning to use several projectors?
If not, then you should have no problem getting both panels and view from one PC. Since it's FS9, you don't need much PC-power to run a dual/tripplehead from matrox or just use both your outputs from graphichscard.

[nosecone]

Hi nax228
I plan to use only one projector (due to budget) for the outside visuals and just one LCD monitor for the instrument panel

Cheers
Rhys

[nax228]

In that case one PC should do the job just fine. There is a minimum of computerpower for this of course, but a dual CPU about 2,5GHz and a 8800 GPU or better will do the job just fine.
Good luck with your setup. I post a pic of my testsetup with WideView, but the view is here rearranged for perfomance testing. During tests i had normal 2dview without panel on projector and 2x19" for panels and a networked laptop for FSCommander. It was crap. PC1 had C2D@3,6GHz/GTX8800 PC2 had P4@3,0GHz/GT7900 and a system FPS of 5!! with LVLD.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e55/gosttveit/rigg.jpg

[Matti V]

how wideview can install working 2 pc ? i no understand how this confic and made work 2 computer. step by step help to software, same i no understand anything how install wideFS and were need use this ?
fsuip i have wife fs but were need and how use ?
newermind, important have only now how made 2 computer show fsx all, main pc show windows and second pc show all gauges and other what need.

[jonesthesoftware]

how wideview can install working 2 pc ? i no understand how this confic and made work 2 computer. step by step help to software, same i no understand anything how install wideFS and were need use this ?
fsuip i have wife fs but were need and how use ?
newermind, important have only now how made 2 computer show fsx all, main pc show windows and second pc show all gauges and other what need.

Hi Matti
Wideview is normally used to display the outside views only

install FSX and Wideview on both computers.
Use your fastest computer for the outside views
When you open FSX WIdeview will be available in the ADDONS part of the top menu
OPen Wideview configuration on your main computer which you use for your gauges and set it as the SERVER
OPen Wideview configuration on your outside view computer and set it as CLIENT.
Both computers should be connected to a network hub if you want to get live weather or fly online.
If no online use then connect together with a network crossover cable and set the fixed IP address for each PC for example 192,168,1,0 and 192,168.1.1
so that the pcs can communicate.
Read the WIdeview manual for more details
If you don't want any window frames or bitmaps on your outside view PC then install the "dummy" aircraft form Wideview.
regards
geoff

[Matti V]

hmm, both computer need install fsx and wideview, oh. i have win8 both computer and old adsl modem hub connect and shared both ok, (can move files pc to pc good) i understand first widev need both computer but not fsx, only main pc, ok, i must try make all new, thanks.