WideFS "basic" question....

[Sim2Flight]

Pretty simple question, but I couldn't seem to find my answer anywhere before I purchase.

WideFS, from what I see you can network two computers together and use multiple displays to run programs. However, here is my question:

If you use WideFS to run ActiveSky/SB3 on a seperate computer, and on the main computer, you use Flight Simulator, is the computer running Flight Simulator going to receive better frames because the other machine is running the programs? Or does it simply use the Flight Simulators resources.

Ultimately, I'm looking for a "frame saver", but I wasn't sure if this program would use the other computers resources to save them up on the main computer.

Appreciate the help all!

-Chase

[Pete Dowson]

If you use WideFS to run ActiveSky/SB3 on a seperate computer, and on the main computer, you use Flight Simulator, is the computer running Flight Simulator going to receive better frames because the other machine is running the programs? Or does it simply use the Flight Simulators resources.

I find it produces not only better frame rates but less stuttering, smoother results. but it really would depend on how heavily loaded your main PC gets. With modern fast multi-code processors and fast video cards FS2004 probably isn't really overloading the system. It cannot use the "spare" processor cores in any case, so other programs could run in those without too much affect on FS itself. Of course FSX is another matter.

Regards

Pete

[Sim2Flight]

Pete, thanks for the quick reply! Here is the setup, and hardware that I intend on using:

Main Computer (Flight Simulator 2004/FSnav):

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (Stock Speeds)

Freezer Pro 7 HSF (Stock thermal compound)

eVGA 680i NF63 mobo (Stock thermal compounds)

2GB DDR2-800 HyperX RAM (OCed)

eVGA 8800GTS 320mb

Antec 650WPS

Antec 900 gaming case (All fans high)

Sound Blaster Audigy SE (Free, LOL!)

WD 500GB Harddrive 7200RPM

Windows XP Pro

Slave Computer (ActiveSky/SB3):

Intel P4 w/ HT

3GB DDR2-800

X800Pro PCIe 256mb

80GB HDD

Onboard Sound

Standard motherboard

Another question for you Pete, is there a chance that the older computer (Slave) could become "bogged down" by ActiveSky/SB3 and actually give less frames on the main computer, regardless of how fast the new computer is? (Hopefully you understand what I'm asking, lol)

Older computer begins to lose FPS ---> Newer computer performs only as good as the slave?

[Pete Dowson]

Pete, thanks for the quick reply! Here is the setup, and hardware that I intend on using

That's pretty good for FSX. FS2004 won't be using all of that, so it isn't terribly likely that the frame rates will change by moving stuff off.

Another question for you Pete, is there a chance that the older computer (Slave) could become "bogged down" by ActiveSky/SB3 and actually give less frames on the main computer

No, no way. The transactions between them are slight compared with the activity in FS.

Regards

Pete