Fold up Garage Sim V3 - UK - Par2Pro Stealth / SportScreen

[p3eps]

p3eps I am keen to go down the custom pc build (when the right parts are back in inventory, hopefully in the coming few months). I am not PC savvy in terms of parts and brands (value for money) but have been researching this and would welcome your advice where you can. I am trying to spec a future proof build so it may be overkill for golf sim but in future if I want to playback 4K, add other gaming etc the I’m sort of safe with this! I have come up with the following through some googling and asking ad hoc advice around gaming pc’s (I have a budget in mind but that might not translate easily to GBP or USD as things here in Australia are not comparable in cost!)

1) Starting with GPU 3060Ti (though not sure what specific model and pros/cons of each model)

2) ATX form factor with Z series chipset/motherboard + 16gb RAM - no idea how to compare cases though I’m not phased by RGB aesthetics! And for motherboard I’m thinking maximise on number of USB 3 ports and 2 Ethernet ports (I’m modelling build on Uneekor eye xo so looking at dedicated wired network connections from LM to PC and PC to my internet connection). I will start with some USB cameras as discussed in some recent threads re: Spinel, ESP, etc.

3) i5 10700KF 4.1 GHz 6 cores 12 Threads or i7 2.9 GHz 8 cores 16 Threads (trade off on higher GHz lower cores/threads vs higher cost). Similar considerations for LGA1200 vs 1151 series, depending on which intel chip I go for.

4) Noctua 12US cooler - just plucked this as a middle of the park model!

5) 650-750W PSU - no idea about which model

6) SSD and hard drive - presuming any capacity I wish with brands like WD will suffice

What of the above should I trade off on e.g. a cheaper case to shift money to other items? Get a lower GPU model in 3060Ti and up the chip to more expensive i7? Etc. Trying to figure out how to prioritise specs and shift amounts within overall budget to different parts, but end up with a decent build that will last quite a while. I know a pc’s shelf life might not be that long as newer generation components keep rolling off but this would be a significant spend for me so want to ensure I can sweat the asset for quite a while!

I’ve noticed you’ve gone through a few versions of your sim and pc builds over the years so was keen to understand how did you (or anyone else) approach the pc build, given your background here and around PCs.


Also, what kind of cabling should I be looking for re: HDMI, cat 6/5 etc (I’m in the planning stages of sim build so trying to plan for all this ahead of time).

Any pointers, brands/models, pros/cons etc you or anyone else can share their views based on experiences is appreciated - I am trying to absorb as much as I can, quickly, in putting all this together and looking forward to exciting times ahead. 2 weeks ago, LGA, ATX, PSU, etc were not in my vocabulary! 😂 Thanks

Sorry... I should clear this up rather than giving you any false hope. I USED to be a PC engineer! I haven’t been in that profession for over 15 years now.
As far as building a PC, nothing has really changed in that time / the assembly is still the same. As far as hardware spec goes, it’s night and day from back then.

I did very little research, and came up with a set of components that looked good on paper, and were within the price I was willing to spend.
I put them together in an hour, and hey presto... hopefully an upgrade that’ll be useful for the next 5 years.

I don’t keep up with computer hardware specs anymore, so am in no position to advise you what’s good and what’s not I’m afraid.
I’m sure there are plenty of experts out there that can keep you right!

[14MPH]

p3eps thanks for clarifying - still gives me hope that my paper exercise might be on the right track! I’ll cross check in the computers subforum once I’m closer to finalising specs, talking to a local gaming shop, even though I’m not their typical gaming customer! 🤓

[Keith]

p3eps Your setup looks great! I particular like the V3 ceiling protection. I've got emails out to Par2Pro for information about it but I know they are swamped right now. Can you describe the installation of the ceiling protection screen? It looks like you have 2x4 wood supports along each side with an angle on the front edge of the 2x4. Is there a reason that you didn't put a similar wooden structure along the front edge and attach the screen there too? Also, if you have time, please comment on Par2Pro's "swag" option.

[p3eps]

It's been a while since I posted on this thread.

My V3 has been great, and has stood the test of time. It must've been up for over 5 years now, and apart from putting a new motherboard / processor / ram / SSD in the PC, nothing much has changed. My kids are growing up (one now 9, and the other 5), so their bikes are getting bigger which causes a space issue - but other than that, all good. I'm really pleased with how this one turned out!

Anyway - a couple of major changes happening in the next few months - but more down to the hardware than the actual sim space.

I keep seeing FSX Play on videos and thinking how much better it looks than mine. Probably a lot of that is down to the detail, as I'm still running a GeForce GTX1070 card. It runs pretty smoothly... but I've decided to step up the game a bit and move to 4K. After investigating GFX cards, I'm going to hold back on that until January, as Nvidia are likely to release a 5000 series then. I should get either a 4090 / 4080 at a better price, or perhaps a 5090 / 5080 depending what's on offer.

In the meantime, I had a look at 4K projectors. A few websites actually list the BENQ TK710STI as a 'golf simulator' projector. Looking at the specs for this, and comparing it with my old BENQ TH682ST showed that both units have a Throw Ratio starting at 0.69, with the TK710STI having a 1.2 zoom instead of the 1.1 on my TH682ST.
I'm no projector expert, but that sounded like a green light for me to simply drop one, swap the bracket, and line the new one up.
I placed the order last week, and it arrived yesterday.


The old one was still running perfectly - so a couple of pics for eBay before I removed it! It's still got the original protective coating fitted!

It was fitted to the ceiling using a Vogel's EPC 6545 projector mount, which has a 'quick release' function. Slide a lever, and twist the projector about 45°, and it comes off in your hand.
Simple! I then spent the next 30+ minutes trying to figure out how to get the bracket off that was screwed onto the projector. Thankfully I managed to find details on the bracket, and eventually managed to find the manual - and figure out how to get it off.
Once the bracket was transferred, the new projector was mounted, and then positioned using the setup utility.


Thankfully my calculations were right, and with a little bit of zoom, the projector was in the correct place. Once again it is setup pretty much bang on without any keystone. I may need to make a minor adjustment as my 'swag' ceiling protection is slightly drooping into the picture.
I didn't have much time last night to perfect it - but I'll try it with my curtains shut tonight. It may just be that I need to zoom out slightly, as I think I might be over the velcro on the edges on the screen anyway.


The projector came with a free "Google TV" dongle, which you fit in the back. Handy, as it has Netflix, Amazon Prime, and I can install my Synology software too so I can stream stuff from my Diskstation. I'll probably never use this as a 'theatre' as it's a garage full of tools etc... but at least the option is there if there was a big football match or something. Standing close up with the projector running Amazon Prime, there was a very noticeable difference in quality. From further back, not so much. I'll have to see if FSX looks any better, as the projector will 'upscale' the 1080p image for now until I get a GFX card powerful enough to output at 4k with the detail on max!

Now I need to wait for the DHL man, who's bringing the next part of the sim upgrade... hopefully today 😁

[p3eps]

My next upgrade has just arrived... what a lovely looking box!

I currently have it sitting on my office floor charging so that I can have a go at it tonight! Foresight have told me the FSX licences are now locked to a device by serial number. I guess that may involve some messages with support trying to get my new licence onto my existing account, and getting all my courses transferred over. Sounds like a lot of hassle, but will see how it goes!

[p3eps]

A couple more updates to add...

The QuadMAX is amazing. The GC2 / HMT were brilliant, and the QuadMAX doesn't offer much 'new'... but the thing I'm finding best is how quick it is to setup (plonk it down, switch it on and connect to WiFi), and also the much larger hitting zone. The WiFi connection is so much better than the Bluetooth one on the GC2. I've not had a single drop out.
There are a few new data fields, and the customisable touch screen is handy too. Realistically, for simulation, there is no difference though!

Anyway - the day I got the QuadMAX, I had it out in the garage hitting a few balls testing it out. I was then messing about with the WiFi trying to figure out how to connect it - when my 5 year old son came out and wanted a shot. He hit some balls, whilst I messed about with the PC. 'CLUNK' - I turned round to see him standing with a rather sheepish look on his face. "Did you just hit that?". He burst into tears - "yes...". We had a laugh about it - no damage done as he's only hitting at about 15mph... but it gave us both a bit of a scare.
My next immediate purchase was a shank tank! I ordered this one from Golf Bays: https://golfbays.co.uk/products/gc-q...a7f6bd44&_ss=r

Unfortunately, when the QuadMAX was placed in there, it didn't see the ball at all. I emailed them, and they advised to return for a refund. I managed to find another on Etsy, who also sold on eBay. It was called the QuadLock, by Forward Design. It has the ability to lock the Quad in and also bolt it to the ground for commercial use. The QuadMAX works perfectly in there, and the height adjustable feet means that I can take it up to match the height of my mat without the need for a stand.

I still have the same issue with the QuadMAX that I had with the GC2. As my garage is a garage 95% of the time, the launch monitor is on a shelf when not in use. Each time I set up the simulator, I need to place the launch monitor on the floor. I need a way of consistently putting it in the same place so it lines up with my tee, and is square.


I achieved this by making a jig out of a couple of offcuts of wood. I made an 'L' type shape, and then added a second layer of the 'L' which presses against the QuadLock case. A quick spray with black paint, and there we go. You can see a faint score mark on the surround of my mat. If I line the wood against the mat at that point, and then push the QuadLock into the 'L', then it's in the optimum position for my mat. The mat surround never moves as it weighs a tonne. Even if I have a car in here, I lift the mat out of the surround and drive the car over it!


My next addition was a pin spotlight. £17 from Amazon - and I swapped it out with my wider spotlight. The wiring was already there, so it was a 20 min swap over - using a plumb line to get it above my tee position. The previous spotlight lit up too much of the screen. I've turned my rear facing Hue spotlights up a bit which give the golfer a bit more light, without sacrificing the projected image.

The good thing about the pin spotlight is that the circle almost mirrors the hitting area of the QuadMAX. If the ball is within the light circle, the quad will see it.


My other recent purchase is a Geforce RTX5090 to swap out the GTX1070 in my PC. Hopefully the rest of my PC is good enough to run FSX Play on high detail at 4k. If not, there will be a new motherboard / processor / RAM required. The RTX5090 is on pre-order, and I'm hoping to have it by the end of the month.

I still have 1 thing on my ToDo list to make the setup complete... which is get a bigger bit of 'landing turf'. The bit I have is 4m x 1.5m, and I really need 4.5m x 2m. The issue there is that rolls are always 4m wide, so I'd have to get 4m x 5m, and then throw half of it away. I've asked a couple of places, and they're keeping a look out for a suitable off-cut for me.