HELP! Novice building a PC for flight simulator, FSX 10 (full on cockpit build)

[mick73]

Hello All,

I am very much a novice with computers and looking to build a PC to run my homemade flight simulator (crazy.....I Know). Would anyone be willing to look over what I am attempting to build here & let me know if I am on the right track? Are my selected parts compatible or unnecessary? Will there be enough headroom for further expansion? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Here is the system I am looking at building.

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHZ Quad Core
Cooler: Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 74.3 CFM
Motherboard: AsRock Z97 PRO4 ATX LGA 1150
Memory: G.Skill RIPJAWS X series 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1866
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal
and Samsung 840EVO 250GB 2.5" SSD
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 780Ti 3GB
Case: Rosewill Blackhawk -Blue ATX Mid Tower
Power Supply: Rosewill 1000W 80+ Bronze semi-Modular ATX
Optical Drive: LG WH16NS40 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD- Writer
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium SPI OEM (64 bit)
Monitors: 3x 19" Element HDMI Monitors
1x Dell 19" Monitor (instrument panel)
1x GPS Monitor 7.25" x 5.25" display

Software: Microsoft FSX 10
Microsoft FSX Expansion Pack
VOXATC 6 (air traffic control simulation w/ voice recognition)
SIM Plug Ins Panel Builder (instrument panel)

Controls/Hardware: Saitek Pro Flight Yoke (USB)
Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals
2x Saitek Radio Panels
Saitek Trim Wheel
Desktop AviatorGPS Model 2450 B w/7.25" x 5.25" monitor
Desktop Aviator Model 1015 switch panel
Desktop Aviator Flaps switch
** All controllers listed above are USB plug & play. I bought a powered USB tree to connect all of the to the PC once it is built.

Again....ANY help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!! Thank You in advance!

 

[Karsten75]

As a matter of curiosity, how many USB poerts do you need to connect all that gear? What other connectors do you require?

 

[Karsten75]

I pieced together, best as I could, your build and this is what I found:

In general it's not too bad, but I htought there were areas I'd not choose the components you did. But yours may well be sufficient.


One concern I have is how you're going to hook up that 4th monitor. I know the graphics card says it can support 4 monitors, but there are only connectors for 3 in the card, so I guess you need to look into some adapter or something?

Anyway:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($327.99 @ NCIX US)
CPU Cooler: Deepcool GAMMAXX 400 74.3 CFM CPU Cooler ($29.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock Z97M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($94.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($51.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($95.89 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($62.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 780 Ti 3GB Video Card
Case: Rosewill BLACKHAWK-BLUE ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: Rosewill HIVE 1000W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($114.75 @ OutletPC)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0 DVD/CD Writer ($13.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 OEM (64-bit) ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Total: $882.36
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-11-19 09:27 EST-0500

 

[Finkledbody]

Why would you go with a 780 ti? If you are starting a new build, there is no sense in building with old technology. The 780ti still sells for $500 bucks and is out paced by the 980 and 980ti. You'll definitely want more GPU power if your looking to push 4 HD monitors + 1 mini monitors.

 

[mick73]

Karsten75, Thank you for the input. I will try to answer your first question by describing the USB Matrix I plan on putting together. Please ANYONE let me know if you foresee any problems here. In a nutshell, I will have 5 USB cables plugged into the PC. These 5 will branch out into 12. The tower I selected has 4x USB 2.0 & 2x USB 3.0 All of my devices are 2.0 however my understanding is that they will work in a 3.0 port. Here is the plan;

1 Keyboard - direct to PC
2 Mouse - direct to PC
3 Yoke (powered w/ 3 USB ports)
Connected to the Yoke will be the following
- Rudder Pedals
- Throttle Quadrant 1
- Throttle Quadrant 2
4 Powered USB Hub that will connect the following devices to the PC
- Radio Panel 1
- Radio Panel 2
- Trim Wheel
- Flaps switch
- Avionics switch panel
5 GPS w/ Monitor

Monitors
1 HDMI to a Matrox Triple Head To Go Port to the 3 main monitors (windshield)
1 VGA to 19" Dell screen (instrument panel
1 VGA to GPS unit w/ mini monitor

Sound
will add sound card later but plan to use the 1/4" jack on back of mother board to start for a small set of speakers

 

[mick73]

Finkledbody, great input! Thank You. I will look into the 980.