Best Computer for Flight Simulator
By Matt Thomas Hardware • 2 Comments

The Best Computer For Flight Simulator

The most common question I get asked is about products I do not make. For example, “What is the absolute best computer for flight simulator? BTW, I don’t want to spend very much.” First of all, yes I do help people make better flight simulators and I’ve done that for over 10 years. My videos and tutorials have helped thousands of people build a home cockpit and modify their flight sim controls. I show people how to use inexpensive materials from a hardware store to build functional, attractive DIY simpits. If you have a question about PVC pipe, lumber, Styrofoam, or self-drilling screws, I’m the guy to ask. If you want to know about graphics cards, or multiple monitors… well, read on.

 

Best Computer for Flight Simulator

Why don’t I focus on teaching people how to build fast computers for their flight simulators? Why don’t I help people set up their flight sim software? There are several reasons why I don’t offer these services:

  • There are already tons of free opinions about this on forums and YouTube. I can’t sell expertise that is already free.
  • I’ve watched other people attempt this type of service and they only last a year or two. That tells me it is an unsustainable business model.
  • The manufacturers and software developers already pay people to provide technical support. I don’t get paid anything by these big companies. More importantly, I’ll happily provide tech supports for my products.
  • I can’t really evaluate computers and graphics cards unless I actually have them. Nobody gives me this stuff, so I would have to buy it. That means buying multiple graphics cards, CPU’s, monitors, flight sim controls, etc. I don’t have a budget for that.
  • Computer hardware evolves rapidly. On the other hand, PVC pipe, lumber, Styrofoam, and self-drilling screws remain the same. That means the DIY projects I produced 5 years ago or even 10 years ago can still be helpful and valuable for people.

 

Cybertron PC
Cybertron PC

 

Computer Specs

Ok, maybe I’m not the authority on the absolute best computer for flight simulator, but what do I use? I used to buy computers from MicroCenter and then I immediately replaced the graphics card, power supply, and RAM… which is not my idea of fun. The last time I bought a computer I decided to delegate that work to someone else: Cybertron. I bought a gaming computer from Cybertron last year and I’m very happy with it.

 

Cybertron PC Model: TGMPALADGTX9ZBU
Palladium Desktop – Intel Core i7 – 16GB Memory – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 – 1TB Hard Drive

  • Hard Drive Capacity 1000 gigabytes
  • Hard Drive Type SATA
  • Operating System Windows 10
  • Processor Speed (Base) 3.4 gigahertz
  • Processor Model Intel 6th Generation Core i7
  • System Memory (RAM)16 gigabytes
  • Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
  • Cache Memory 8 megabytes
  • Type of Memory (RAM) DDR4 SDRAM
  • Number Of Memory Slots 2
Bravo Throttle Quadrant from Honeycomb Aeronautical
By Matt Thomas Hardware • • 7 Comments

The New Bravo Throttle Quadrant from Honeycomb Aeronautical

Here’s something we rarely get to say: NEW FLIGHT CONTROLS! The new Bravo Throttle Quadrant from Honeycomb Aeronautical packs a ton of features and options into one affordable unit. It’s a sorely needed solution for the flight sim community.

Throttle Quadrant

First of all, the Bravo Throttle Quadrant recognizes something that the community has known for a long time: dudes dig jets. Therefore, the six main levers include interchangeable handles that include options for turbine airliners. That’s right – you can set up a Boeing 737 throttle quadrant right out of the box, including spoiler and flap lever. Furthermore, you can set it up as a four engine airliner, and I assume a three engine airliner for you B-727 or L-1011 enthusiasts out there.

General aviation pilots can set up the Bravo Throttle Quadrant as a light twin with prop and mixture controls or a single engine airplane. Most noteworthy, you can remove the unused levers so they’re not in the way, which is very nice.

 

 

Trim Wheel

The Bravo Throttle Quadrant includes a trim wheel, hallelujah!!! Pilots from the real world know how important elevator trim is. On the other hand, if you were raised on home flight sims, you possibly underestimate its importance. If you know me, you know how much I liked the Saitek trim wheel. Tragically, it appears that Saitek stopped producing the trim wheel when the company was acquired by Logitech. Now Honeycomb Aeronautical has come to our rescue.

 

Other Features

If the Bravo Throttle Quadrant only had the interchangeable levers and the trim wheel it would be a solid product, but it also includes several other features. It has a landing gear handle with position lights, flap lever and annunciator panel. In addition, it has autopilot controls, and seven programmable rocker switches. Is that too much for a small unit? Is the annunciator panel hard to see? Does it seem like the rocker switches hard to reach? I will suspend judgement until I actually try one in real life.

 

Bravo Throttle Quadrant – Ok, How Much?

Honeycomb Aeronautical’s website lists a suggested retail price of $199.99 for the Bravo Throttle Quadrant. That’s a damn good price for so many features. It should be available “shortly after” the release of the Alpha Flight Controls in the 4th quarter of 2017. In addition, the Bravo Throttle Quadrant looks like it would be a delightful addition to the DIY Deluxe Desktop Flight Sim or the DIY Flight Sim Pod.

 

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