HiI've started accumulating components for a new system to replace my current PC and I've reached the point where the next items risk introducing incompatibilities.I have already got: - a Superflower case - a Thermaltake 420W PSU - a Maxtor Diamondmax 10 200GB SATA NCQ disk - a Samsung Spinpoint 160GB SATA disk - a Sony DRU720A DVD writerThe PC is going to be used for more than gaming, and it is not going to be used for hard-out RPG like Doom, but it is going to do a lot of flight simulation (with a lot of scenery add-ons). Plus some video.I don't think I can afford to buy the complete package of the latest greatest 64bit chips, an SLI Mobo, 4GB RAM and two state of the art graphics cards right now, but I'd like to leave the door as wide open as I can for future upgrades.What recommendations would you make?ThanksTrevor

Hi Trevor,You seem to have a good set of fundamental "building blocks" on which you can build your computer. You didn't mention a specific budget so it's hard to give specific recommendations. Let me make an attempt here. Also note that while I understand your desire to "keep the door open" for upgrades, with hardware advancing as quickly as it is, there are no guarantees at all.CPU: AMD's 64-bit chips really aren't that much more expensive than Intel's 32-bit so I do advise that you get an AMD Athlon64. And if you do go the AMD route, avoid the Socket 754 chips, pay a bit more and go Socket 939. Perhaps the 3000+ or 3200+? 3000+ is approximately US$150. 3200+ approx US$190.Given the wide variety of AMD Athlon64's (at different speeds and therefore, different price points), I suggest you choose your other components first and leave your CPU choice last so that you can vary the CPU choice according to your budget. Bear in mind that FS9 scales a lot with CPU speeds so get the fastest possible.Motherboard: If you won't be going SLI, then get a Socket 939 motherboard with the nForce4 Ultra chipset. Perhaps the DFI LanParty nF4 Ultra-D? Approx. US$129.RAM: Jaap on this board tells me that PC2700 will work fine if you already have that in your existing system. Decent PC3200 RAM from say, Patriot, would cost ~US$45 per 512MB stick. I advise two sticks to make 1GB. So budget ~US$90 here.Video card: I know very little about value video cards so take this advice with a grain of salt. Perhaps the Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT? Approx. US$160.Sound card: use the motherboard.HDD, DVD writer, case & PSU: use existing. Except check that your PSU has a 24-pin motherboard connector.All told, the "new" system would cost ~$530. Obviously, if you can afford to spend more, then do get higher-end components. But what I've suggested here should be decent.Hope this helps.Edwin

Hi EdwinThe PSU has a 20-pin connector with a 4pin extension for 24-pin MB's.I'm not working to a fixed budget but I can go a bit further than your $US 500. Costs here in NZ are not necessarily comparable to yours, e.g. the GeForce 6600 GT 256MB PCI Express is approx $400 here, and the Lanparty MB about $280.The "if I can afford it" question will be asked a lot; the answer is yes I can if it's worth it! - but of course if I stretch myself on the CPU, I have to be more realistic about the MB and the VC, and all the other possible permutations. Of the "If I can afford it" options, which one is the sensible one to stretch for? I assume that an SLI-capable MB will still perform with a single VC, but keep the door open for an upgrade later, yes?Trevor

Trevor,On the PSU, I'm bit concerned that you are confusing the 4-pin ATX 12V connector as an "extension". As far as I understand, new motherboards require a connector from the PSU that actually has 24 pins. The 4-pin ATV 12V connector is separate from the motherboard connector (although it is also connected to the motherboard). There are adaptors (costing US$2-5) which can convert 20-pin to 24-pin but some motherboard manufacturers refuse to support this. In other words, if the adaptor works, great but if the adaptor doesn't work, then they won't help you until you get a new PSU with a 24-pin connector.As for SLI mobo with a single video card, yes, that is possible.If the prices are so different in NZ, you should find similar components from other brands. I'm surprised at the cost of the 6600GT though. Are you sure your price is for the 6600GT and not the 6800GT? (Even for the 6800GT, your price is a bit high but at least it's more credible.)All in all, I think it would be best if you first come up with a set of components that you want, given your budget and then come to us with comments. It's quite hard to give suggestions without concrete ideas of what you want and/or can afford (especially if the prices are so different!)Hope this helps.Edwin

Hi EdwinThe PSU announces itself as having "20/24 pin dual-use ATX connector". When I look at it out of the box there is a 4pin connector already clipped onto the 20 pin connector, and there is a separate 4-pin connector as well. So that's OK I think.6600GT 128Mb AGP is about $300, PCI is $3506600GT AGP 256Mb is about $400.The 6800GT is up around $600.OK, I'll do some more browsing and come back with a proposal or two.Thx for your patienceTrevorPS Incidentally my current PC is a P4 2.4, 512Mb RAM, ATI 9600XT 128Mb (that card is still on sale at c. $200).On FS9 defaults it is OK, but when getting into photorealistic scenery and turning some weather on, it isn't so fantastic.

Wait a sec, I just realized... are the prices that you quoted in New Zealand dollars? If so, then of course they aren't comparable. I was giving you prices in US$ (since when I wrote the first post, I didn't know you lived in New Zealand!)Edwin

NZ$. But even so your US$160 VC should be close to NZ$250 - and not $400.You mentioned shimmering with certain brands of VC?Edit: no you didn't, somebody else did :-)Trevor

OK, just looking at the P4 options first, I like the look of the Asus boards, either the P5AD2-E Premium or P5WD2 Premium (which hopefully has a longer upgrade path), and I would probably look to couple that with a P4 640 (3.2GHz FSB800 2MB L2 CACHE) - for the time being anyway.That would set me back about NZ$850, and I could spend almost as much on a VC, either 6800GT or X800 Pro.Reasonable deal?Trevor

Here are the prices in HK:P4 640: HK$2,143P5AD2-E Premium MB: HK$2,000Total: HK$4,143 or approx. US$532 or NZ$786So again we run into this currency issue. If you're quoting in NZ$, it's about right but if you're quoting in US$, then your prices are quite high.I just checked on Newegg & Zipzoomfly (online stores in the US) and they are reporting similar prices as in HK (~US$275 for the CPU and US$200 for the motherboard).US$850 for a 6800GT is WAY too high. Even the brand new 7800GTX should only cost US$600.Any chance you could try another store?Hope this helps.Edwin

I'm quoting NZ$. Those are best available prices from a range of about two dozen importers and dealers.What's your opinion on the ATI/nVidia choice?& is it wiser to stick with 925X (tried and tested, P5AD2-E has loads of commendations) or go with newer 955X?ThxTrevor

Now the Athlon option:Asus A8N-SLI NZ$350A64 3500+ $420 or 3800+ $570Same choice of VC:nVidia GeForce 6800GT $650GB Radeon X800 Pro $650Thoughts?I'm still tossing up between Athlon/Pentium, leaning slightly towards Athlon I guess.Then the last choice is what memory to go for...Trevor

Trevor,Yes, AMD Athlon64 is the way to go in games (including FS9).I've heard good things about the ASUS A8N-SLI but I've heard GREAT things about the DFI Lanparty nF4 SLI-DR. Cost in Hong Kong is HK$1,530 or around NZ$300.As for CPU, make sure you get the BP cores (slightly more expensive), which are 90nm. Prices in HK: 3500+ is HK$2,355 or NZ$450 and 3800+ is HK$3,150 or NZ$603.Your VC prices seem to be more in line now with the rest of the world. NZ$650 would be roughly HK$3,400 or US$440 and that's roughly the same in Hong Kong and US (10-20% higher). Newegg is showing between US$375 and US400.Hope this helps.Edwin

HiDoes BP core = Venice core?Trevor

Yes. See: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2418&p=3For video card, you may want to consider the ATI X800XL? See: http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2299&p=8Hope this helps.Edwin

OK, here's the latest.Already purchased/on orderCase: Superflower SF-201 Black with side window and no PSU ( there's the version with PSU and without side window here: http://www.dansdata.com/atlas.htm#201sb )PSU: Non-badged Thermaltake/Purepower 420W HPC-420-102-DF ( see it here: http://www.highpowersupply.com/product-ps-hpc420102df.htm )MB: Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe ( http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=...375&modelmenu=1 )CPU: AMD Athlon64 3500+ Venice core ( http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/de...n=ADA3500DAA4BP )HDD: Maxtor DiamondMax10 200Gb SATA NCQ (the url to this is about 2kb long...) Samsung Spinpoint P120S 200Gb SATA NCQ ( http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDr...ies_SP2004C.htm )DVD-RW: Sony DRU-800A (long url ditto)So far this has cost approx NZ$1600, with memory, video card, and o/s (at academic price!) to follow. I'm hoping to achieve a pretty powerful system coming in at around $2500, with plenty of scope for future upgrades.More questions...1) Will standard PC3200 memory work OK in this rig or would you make specific recommendations there?2) The MB has an nVidia chipset; does this mean that an nVidia VC offers some benefits over an ATI Radeon?Thanks for all your good advice so far.Trevor