Cockpit PC choices?

[GodAtum]

I am planning what PCs to get in order to run PSX in my cockpit. I have come up with 2 options.

Option1, 9 of these small PCs for redundancy to run:
CP PFD/ND
Upper EICAS
Lower EICAS
Left CDU
Right CDU
FO PFD/ND
MCP
Over head
Pedestal

Intel NUC - QS77 Express
Intel Core i5 4250U
8GB Corsair Vengeance - 1600MHz
On-board Intel HD 4400 graphics
250GB Samsung 840 EVO mSATA

or

Option 2, 1 of these to run all the screens and avionics.

Corsair Obsidian 650D
Asus Maximus VII Hero
Intel Pentium K Anniversary G3258
16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro, 2133MHz
2x 2GB XFX Radeon R9 260X
250GB Samsung 840 EVO

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

I would not go for one.

Consider line replaceable units. When something breaks or unconfigures, you want to have a spare on a shelf. Just plug out, plug in. Nothing worse than PC trouble during taxi... Just as the real thing.

This calls for three or four machines plus a spare or two. Even your tiny machines are way big enough to pull a lot of load. The exception is the scenery generator.


Hoppie

[GodAtum]

I was thinking about the same thing. With tiny units I could either VESA mount them on the back of the screens or stack them in a server rack.

For scenery, I'll be using 3 separate PCs to drive 3 projectors.

[kiek]

I was thinking about the same thing. With tiny units I could either VESA mount them on the back of the screens or stack them in a server rack.

But with 9 PC's you need to run 9 instances of PSX (1 server and 8 clients). I believe the license only allows you to run 4 of them ...

[Hardy Heinlin]

However, note that there is no technical limit: You are allowed to run, for example, 40 PSX instances if you purchased 10 DVDs ...

[GodAtum]

I was thinking about the same thing. With tiny units I could either VESA mount them on the back of the screens or stack them in a server rack.

But with 9 PC's you need to run 9 instances of PSX (1 server and 8 clients). I believe the license only allows you to run 4 of them ...

Ah yeah I forgot about that! So 3 PCs running the avionics and 1 laptop for the instructor station might be a good balance. I have 6 screens to run so need enough GPUs. A 260X can support 4 monitors. So perhaps 3 of these:

Corsair Obsidian 350D
Asus Z97 Maximus Gene VII
Intel Pentium K Anniversary G3258
16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro, 2133MHz
2x 2GB XFX Radeon R9 260X
250GB Samsung 840 EVO

or even perhaps 2 Mac Minis in one of these?

[Ray_CYYZ]

2 machines is all you need:

Machine One: PSX + addons with a couple of graphics cards.  Most medium priced graphics cards will be able to drive 2 to 3 monitors directly.

Machine Two: Scenery (PSX/FSX/etc) with monster graphics card, 3 displays in wrap around format, etc ...

With the ability to do cdu's on 8"ish ipad/android (soon i hope) - you free up licenses and cut back on system needs too, CDU's do not need 70+ fps. While having actual buttons is beyond cool, the price difference is staggering.

[GodAtum]

The issue is I have 6 LCDs:

CP PFD/ND
Upper EICAS
Lower EICAS
Left CDU
Right CDU
FO PFD/ND

just thinking about how to arrange PSX to cover all those off one PC

[jlpilot]

Hi GodAtum,

Have you considered the AMD Eyefinty 6? You could run six displays using one graphics card.

I see your issue though, as you can only run 4 instances of PSX.

[Edit]
Not sure what your set up is like but would it be possible to combine your FMCs and Lower EICAS into one screen? For example maybe something like a 22" Touch Screen? That way you could cover everything with 4 instances of PSX.

The issue is I have 6 LCDs:

CP PFD/ND
Upper EICAS
Lower EICAS
Left CDU
Right CDU
FO PFD/ND

just thinking about how to arrange PSX to cover all those off one PC

[Ray_CYYZ]

Hmm, think this through ...

You can have 2 screens joined as 1 display with PSX ... that cuts your monitor count by 1 each time ... one less license needed each time.

Display 1 and 2, use as license 1, make them a 50 / 50 split of Capt - F/O views

No law says you have to have those monitors sitting side by side ... move 'em apart

Now, take 2 other displays shift them vertical and do the same thing ... second license now drives the center and lower console.

You end up like this:

[ display 1][display 3][display 2]
 ------------ [display 4] -----------

That is 2 licenses only used, 2 remaining for CDU/Upper Panels/etc

[GodAtum]

Hmmm interesting, something like this?



http://www.gliffy.com/go/publish/image/4740028/L.png

[Pierre Theillere]

Hi "GodAtum"!

On your synoptic, I see you're using many PCs to split PSx into visuals parts... and very strangely only use 1 common audio output. But... PSx also enables a very convenient audio distrubution! For example, a PC could provide engine sounds (to a subwoofer-equipped setup, another one air friction to "behind the displays", a 3rd could drive MAWEA on dispaly's speakers, 4th for COMMs on a headset...
A long time ago, a (real airline pilot) friend of mine told me that in full-flight sims, audio makes quite a big part of the experience. Luckily, it's very easy to re-create this, using a PSx-based setup.