How many?

[P-40_Warhawk]

Do you need more than one computer to run a simpit? (One to run the sim... the other to run the pit)

[JBaymore]

P40warhawk,

You will likely get the best performance by having at LEAST two machines.

[P-40_Warhawk]

Lets say I need 3 monitors to show all the glass gauges. Do I need 3 towers to go with them or can I paowere them all from 1 tower?

[JBaymore]

P40-Warhawk,

If the machine running the glass cockpit gauges was powerfull enough (to process all the data and display it fast enough) then you could use a single machine with something like a Matrox Parahelia triple head graphics card to drive three separate displays.

Or maybe you could use a cheaper (but still expensive) dual display agp card and then an additional PCI display card.  The glass cockpit gauges are NOT all that demanding graphically.....but to get a dual display capability.... the card is not at the rock bottom of the cost scale.

Remember that such a machine and video cards will be a bit costly.  Particularly the Matrox.  Three "junker" machines that can handle a single display each at a fast rate could be had likely for free.  Ditto the monitors.  Look around.

My hope is to eventually go to a single machine to handle a triple display also.... but I'll start out with three free junkers........ I don't have THAT much money to devote to this project  ;).  

The main reason to cut down the number of machines is the power consumption and the heat generation factor.  If all the machines and the monitors are encased in the simpit structure....... therre is a real heat issue.  And the simpit may take a whole 15 A circuit to power it up  ;).

best,

................john

[P-40_Warhawk]

to overcome a heat issue ill just mount some small electronics fans on the outside. (They can be disguiesd as the A.C. nozzles you see on some panals.)