Laptop and projecting onto TV

[Marc5180]

I’ve just bought a quad which is my first foray into the simulator world.
I don’t have an impact screen yet because I want to try using it with a net and projecting the image onto a large TV that I have in the room.
My question would be regarding the power of the laptop/graphics card that I need. At present I have a Microsoft surface book 2 that I was hoping to use. If this is powerful, how would the quad connect to this and then my laptop to my TV to project the image there?
can anyone advise?

[intrinsic]

I have a Surface Book 2 and FSX will not run on it. You have to look at the minimum specs that the Foresights sales rep should have shared with you. If you plan on getting TGC2019 to use with your GCQ, you'll need to look at a higher spec'd laptop/PC. IF you want to try it, you'll need an adapter to plug into your laptop which will allow you to link up a HDMI cable to your TV.

Instead of buying a gaming laptop which may have overheating issues or components that could break and unable to replace, I just built a portable desktop PC. It's a Ryzen 5 3600 with a RTX 2070.

Internet Connection is Required for FSX 2020 Online & Foresight Fairgrounds

Operating System: Windows 8.1 or 10 (64 Bit Required)

Processor: Intel i5 or i7 processors (AMD processors not recommended)

Memory: Min Spec: 8GB system memory Recommended: 16GB for best performance

Video Card: Min Spec: Nvidia GTX 1050 ti or greater (AMD GPUs not supported) Recommended: GTX 1060, 1660 or 1070, RTX 2060 Premium: RTX 2070 or 2080

[Marc5180]

I didn’t think TGC was available on Quad? I thought I would be stuck with FSX only? How do I go about getting TGC?

Ref the laptop/tower - what adapter will I need, something so I can plug in hdmi to my laptop?

[Hubbahub32]

You purchase the TGC19 game from Protee. there is a link at the top bar of this forum. From there you just specify that it is for protee. You will be sent an email with the game download and the Protee interface download. Download both. Then you will need the GSQX interface. I can email it to you if you can't find the link in the search bar. It is very simple and works great!

[intrinsic]

I didn’t think TGC was available on Quad? I thought I would be stuck with FSX only? How do I go about getting TGC?

Ref the laptop/tower - what adapter will I need, something so I can plug in hdmi to my laptop?

Officially speaking, no, TGC2019 is not available with GC Quad (*wink wink*).

UNofficially, you can get it to work following Hubbahub's recommendations. Look for "GSQX" in the search bar and you'll get the instructions.


I use something like this for my laptop though I use it for work:

https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-FOINNEX-Thunderbolt-Converter-Projector/dp/B01GX7WP56/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=mini-dvi+to+hdmi&qid=1593461466&s=electronics&sr=1-11

Main thing is you need the mini-DisplayPort for your laptop.

[Marc5180]

Thanks guys. I’m looking at building an indoor enclosure so I’ll need a mat and other bits and bobs, once I’ve got this, I’ll look Into this a bit more.

[The Real Pacman]

Hi everyone, I’m basically in the same situation as the OP. I just purchased a GCQuad, and am currently shopping for a good laptop to run FSX and TGC 19. Does anyone have recommendations on laptops (desktop won’t work for me) or have any recs on what specs I should steer toward. I’ve been looking into Lenovo Legions, Gigabyte Aero 15s, and Razer Blade 15s. Most of the laptops that meet the min specs for GPUs are gaming laptops, and I’m trying to get something that doesn’t look so crazy. Any advice will help, thanks

[soupy]

i just bought an MSi ge75 raider at costco for 1199 and it comes with a 2060 which should be fine unless you want to run ultra high or 4k settings.
I do not think they have any left( OOS online) but i would call the store if you are a member and ask

It is definitely and gaming laptop and does look like it as well. Most non gaming laptops do not come with high end GPU's

[Brettster]

I would not recommend a laptop, as they are prone to overheating, and eventually shutting down, or becoming unusable much faster than a desktop. I'm saying that from 30+ years as a software engineer having to replace computer after computer and how long each last.

Most laptops can only be upgraded a few times, and then your stuck. This is because the bus (the data transfer mechanism inside the computer) is usually running in a tighter space and not designed to handle faster and faster transfer speeds to the hard drive (or SSD). There are many engineering feats being pulled off in a laptop, and none of them are optimal for upgrades and long-term continuous use.

You will often find that similar spec'd desktops run less than laptops too. I bought a Lenovo Legion desktop on sale for around $700 with plenty of horsepower for my simulator computer.

[Marc5180]

Hi Brettster, as much as i would prefer a laptop, i think the sensible option would be to get a PC instead.

Is there anything else that should be specced on the PC to make the integration as a simulator easier?

HDMI ports, anything for projector, bluetooth etc?

[Brettster]

Tons of USB ports Get as many as you can, the Lenovo Legion I picked up has 6 or 8 USB ports on it, and they are all over on the desktop computer: Top, Front, and Back of the computer, should make it easier hooking everything up. I can't speak to the video yet, as I'm not up to that point in my build, but I will be soon - I would think the graphics card will likely have at least 2 HDMI outputs and that should be all you need. I'm hoping to have a computer monitor/screen next to my launch monitor, and then the projector.

Maybe others can speak to that?

[soupy]

I normally build my own so I can spec everything in it. The prebuilds always skimp on some things. The only issue with building right now is most components are over priced due to supply chain issues. Power supply's are one of those. If you want an nvida gpu they are also expensive even starting with 2060 super. I would want a 2070 super or even a 2080 super but at 500 and 800 it is a ridiculous price. I was never a fan of the AMD chipset or video card but they are far more reasonably priced and many like to go that route. I have always been an intel/nvida person.

[soupy]

the only reason I went for the laptop is I have 90 days to return it if I do not like it

[Brettster]

soupy - I would never recommend AMD chips, because there is some software that will find them incompatible. They also run hotter than the Intel chips, also speaking from experience, I did run AMD a while ago now, and had those exact issues: some software would not run with it, and the computer was always overheating.

Regarding your 90 days return, of course the problems that will occur, with upgrading etc, will always happen after the 90 days - its more like in the 1year-3 year time period where you will notice it, so you will be tempted to keep it Just my 2 cents on this...

[soupy]

i am really hoping that supply chain rebounds and prices become more reasonable and then I return it and build my own. It has nothing to do with reliabilty

[intrinsic]

+1 for building your own for all the reasons that Brettset mentioned. If you REALLY want to go down this path now, take a look at pcpartpicker.com to give you an idea of costs for your build.

For me personally, I wanted portability (but not so much that I'd be tempted to travel on a plane with a gaming laptop) but also upgradeability AND raw horsepower.


I bought this case: https://www.newegg.com/p/2AM-000Z-00...2AM-000Z-00056

The case has a top handle to walk around with it and move it around the house easily. It's a tight squeeze to get your components in and cooling isn't as great as a larger case but portability was important in case I wanted to play some other games on the PC in my office. Usually, the PC stays in my garage where my sim setup is.

[Brettster]

Nice one intrinsic - that case looks a lot like my Lenovo Legion (though my case is black) as it also has a handle on top... Was your build more than $700? I often find that building up my own takes more time and is likely not that cost effective in the end, that's why I just buy stock machines that have the horsepower to do what I want...

Here's a link to the Lenovo Legion specs:

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/desktops-and-all-in-ones/legion-desktops/legion-t-series-towers/c/legion-t-series-towers

I purchased the T530 (Intel chip) with a NVIDIA GTX 1660 graphics card in it.

[intrinsic]

+1 for building your own for all the reasons that Brettset mentioned. If you REALLY want to go down this path now, take a look at pcpartpicker.com to give you an idea of costs for your build.

For me personally, I wanted portability (but not so much that I'd be tempted to travel on a plane with a gaming laptop) but also upgradeability AND raw horsepower.


I bought this case: https://www.newegg.com/p/2AM-000Z-00...2AM-000Z-00056

The case has a top handle to walk around with it and move it around the house easily. It's a tight squeeze to get your components in and cooling isn't as great as a larger case but portability was important in case I wanted to play some other games on the PC in my office. Usually, the PC stays in my garage where my sim setup is.

Brettster Yes, the entire build was easily over $700 ($1121 to be exact) but I had some specific needs.

1. Portability but not a laptop. I would be too enticed to travel with it if I went away for work. This drove up the cost considerably
2. A light weight case (this case is 9.9lbs vs 27lbs for a full tower case)
3. Ability to run VR games for children if the case arises
4. Upgradeable and replaceable components if desired



I re-used my SSD (512GB Samsung Evo) and also had a 2TB WD hard drive that I dropped in. I've contemplated adding a 1TB nvme drive but no point with the storage/speed I already have available to me. I added another WiFi adapter to work with the GCQ while also being online. The GPU was my biggest cost.

If I trimmed away some of my requirements around size, portability, etc., I could get this to $770 with a GTX 1660 GPU.


How much did the T530 end up running you in the end?