3-monitor SIm Support Update

For those who were interested in this - I posted a question about 1-2 weeks back,
MS Sim 2004 supports multiple monitors.
In general, the biggest performance hit relates to video
card memory and performance. Adding windows does affect your PC.

For less than $100 - I got tremendous improvement in the experience.

Here is some info:
- For as low as $59 (after rebates) you can get a PCI bus
video card and add 1 or 2 ports.
I added a 128Meg nVidia card at 400Mhz for $79
from Best Buy.
I now have 4 monitors across 2 video controllers.
The video board MUST support 3-D capabilities and
be Direct-X 9 compliant - but most cards you would
but for $50 or more will have these features (as long
as they are reasonably new).
- One adds a Virtual Cockpit view inside MS FS 2004.
- You should match the Video setup in FS2004 to the screen
settings (there is a hardware settings tab under video).
Note that there will be as many hardware tabs as monitors connected.
Extra screens should be extensions of the desktop.
- You put the sim in windowed mode.
Move the windows to the screen you want.
- Use Pan control for the left side to look out to the left.
Pan right for the right window to look out right.
(Actually, slight forward-side is best view)
- My side views don't have structural views on them with the
Cessna 152 add-on, but did with the 172 built-in.
- When ready to release the breaks, set the video mode
back to full screen (ALT-ENTER).
- Go FLY!!!

These 2 side views make the experience much more enjoyable.
It is a great upgrade to consider!
Figuring how to pan the views is a pain in the a$$.
In the main window, you select which wind you are going to control.

So, I did figure it out. There was some moderate assistance on the
Microsoft FS2004 support site.

You can have kneeboards or other controls displayed. In fact, there
are 6 or 7 things you can set a monitor to view!

Just FYI for those who are interested.
Email me if I can help!

Regards,

Gary