I am currently researching hardware for an upgrade to my current specs.I am building this with the future of FS10 and WIndows VISTA in mind.What I am looking for is advice on the following :I want to go to the AMD camp and am wondering should I go with X2 or stay with the single core.My choices are :64FX55 $811.0064X24400 $497.00I would rather save the $314.00 if the performance gain is minimal.As far as the MOBO I see that the hottest board out there is the ASUS A8N32-SLI.I am wondering which board (Deluxe or Prem)is more of a benefit since I plan on not using the SLI.Graphics Card I will stay with the ATI platform and I am consideringASUS EAX850XT PCIE 256MBSapphire X1800XT 512MBI am currently configured in a RAID0 and plan on keeping the HD,RAM and the AUDIGY SB as is.I also would like a suggestion on what PSU I should buy with the above hardware.I believe my current PSU is at 400W.I appreciate any help you can offer.ThanksAndy

Hi mate,I have a Sapphire X850XT which I am verry impressed with.Not sure about the new Radeon but I would say it would be slightly better..It depends on whether you want to save you cash and put it into some more RAM or CPU..Regards,Ralf..

Hi Andy,If you're upgrading for the future, you'll definitely want the Athlon64 X2 4400+. The 4400+ is a dual-core chip, meaning it basically has two CPUs. The FX-55 is a single-core chip but it runs slightly faster than the 4400+. The difference is that the 4400+ will run (slightly) slower in the current-generation of games (including FS9) because they take very little advantage of the second core that the 4400+ provides and each one of the cores in the 4400+ runs slower than the FX-55. However, with future games (and with some hope and prayer, FS10), parallel instructions will take advantage of the second core of the 4400+, making for a far smoother experience. IMHO, it's well worth sacrificing a bit of performance now for a much better experience in the near future.I didn't know that the A8N32-SLI has a Premium version. Does it? I thought it was only A8N32-SLI Deluxe or A8N-SLI Premium/Deluxe. The "32" in the name makes a difference between it uses a different chipset. Not using SLI however, you won't see a difference. If you're asking about the difference between the A8N-SLI Premium and the A8N-SLI Deluxe versions, then the difference rests in the storage and other options - nothing at all to do with SLI. In fact, when I made my purchase, I went with the plain jane A8N-SLI (even though I bought top-of-the-line dual-core CPU and the 7800GTX video card) because I didn't need any of the added functionality provided by the Deluxe or Premium versions. There is no performance difference between the Deluxe or Premium versions.If using ATI, then you should buy the latest available if you can afford it. That would be the X1800XT.As for PSU, I have heard great things about the Antec NeoHE 550W. I myself am using a Antec TruePower II 550W. Remember that wattage is not the only important factor - brand name is equally, if not more, important. I would suggest at least 400W (obviously the higher the better) and brand names like Antec, Zalman, PC Power & Cooling, OCZ, Enermax etc.Hope this helps.Edwin

AndyPleased to meet you.If it were my decision I would certainly heed Edwin's advice here. His advice is, as always very thoroughly researched. Besides that, it makes perfect sense to me too. I have been contemplating doing almost exactly the same as yourself. I think you are wise to consider the future of both computing and FS9 rather than just to go for flat out performance for the here and now.Indeed, it appears that the dual core set up is the way in which processors are heading. As Edwin says, they do not currently offer anything of a boost to FS9. However, from the other aspect, if you happen to be running a lot of background programs, that could potentially speaking, increase the work load on your processor then it may be helpful to put FS9 onto one core and all other applications (especially anti-virus software) onto the other. If you want to go with an Athlon64 FX type and dual core, the FX60 I believe offers the best of both worlds, but at a heavy cost.If you have no plans to use SLi then perhaps an A8N32-SLi motherboard would not reach it's full potential. Do you intend to buy a second ATi card at some stage perhaps?I can't offer much in the way of advice with regards to PSu. Only to say that if it were me I would certainly be looking at a minimum of 550W bearing in mind possible further upgrades in the future.Good luck!Scratch1964

Thanks for your input. I am leaning more in the dual core arena as I believe this is where PCs are going.I am hoping that the next OS Vista will take full advantage of multithreading and that the game developers also follow their lead.I also must consider that DX10 is on its way that will also incorporate Shader3.0 and than 4.0.From what I have been researching it will be most prudent of me to wait until 3Q06 or even 1Q07 to see what FS10 has to offer and what technology is offered then.ThanksAndy

AndyGood to have the opportunity to talk to you.There is a lot to be said for dual core processing, or so it appears. I to am pondering over whether to wait or plunge for a new system now. I feel I am leaning patiently towards the wait bearing in mind the growth of dual core and SLi technology. As you say, when Microsoft finally bless us all with FS10 and Windows Vista then we can perhaps better judge the path to follow. I feel there is a slight risk that any money spent now may just be in vain. My system is really aged now and i'm beginning to struggle to enjoy the latest airport releases (i.e Boston Logan, Milan Malpensa etc). If we weren't looking at the move to 64bit computing as with Windows Vista as well as possibly FS10 then I would probably already have bought my new set up.Regardless of the future of dual core processing in flight simming I personally feel, that, given the facility to put all those resource hungry programs such as anti-virus and internet based applications onto one core, thus leaving the 2nd core free to run games is a huge advantage over any single core technology.I may be wrong, but I feel that prudence here will pay off in the longer term.Best of luck.Scratch1964

If you will only run a single video card...The ASUS A8N-SLI Premium's benchmark slightly quicker than the A8N32-SLI Deluxe...I have also read...In the event you do elect to go to the SLI configuration in the future...The 16x2 on the A8N32 is really all that noticable...I am only running single video cards...I have one of each...The premium is a nice motherboard...If you intend to overclock the A8N32 would be a better choice..as the bios is set up more for serious overclocking...You can still Overclock the Premium up to about about 10%...The A8N32 bios gives you the ability to overclock about 30%...I would classify either the A8N-SLI Deluxe or Premium..in general...a bit more user friendly than the A8N32-SLI Deluxe...There have been a bad run of chipset fans on the A8N-SLI Deluxe's...Mine went bad...The Premium uses a "HeatPipe" design..much like the A8N32-SLI Deluxe for cooling the chipset...No Fan's to fail there...All in All...The A8N-SLI Premium would be a good choice...Unless you think you would benifit from the advanced features of the A8N32...The A8N-SLI Deluxe is nice too...Just the Chipset Fan issue may crop up on you...Hope This Helps...

Chuck you have an impressive rig ... How are you doing with FS9 benchmarks?Are you using SLI with your 7800s ??Andy

Well Thank You...I have only one 7800..so not running SLI...I just built the Rig in my signature...I have it up and running with FS loaded...But not much in the way of Scenery or Aircraft...I'm hoping to spend this weekend Wringing Her Out!! Initial impressions are it is pretty sweet!! I'm running two Raptors in Raid0...Thusfar I like it..I think it will Rock when it's all said and done..We'll see...It's not quite done yet...I hope to add a 512mb Videocard to it...So I can pass this card back to the 4000+...I also have a 4000+ system with a single BFG6800Ultra OC card...That is the one with the A8N-SLI Premium mb...In fact I'm typing on it right now!! he he..It is a really strong machine...When folks ask I will usually Highly Recommend the 4000+...The FX's just do not offer enough gain in performance to justify the cost...Of course that is just my opinion...The 4000+ is the Best "Bang for your Buck" single core processor going...Judging from your origional post...If I were building for now and the future...I'd Definatly go with an x2 processor...If I were a betting man I'd say I will have one by the end of the year myself...In anticipation of FSX and Windows Vista..Other than the planned 512mb Card...I plan to sit tight as allot of new hardware is expected to emerge by the end of the year...So I'm just going to chill and see how things shake out..Have Fun!!

Hey Chuck!(Sorry to hi-jack this thread) I wanted to ask you what all you are cooling with your DangerDen stuff? My old PC had everything cooled with DangerDen blocks (MAZE4s on CPU, GPU and Chipset) and I was planning on doing the same with the A8N32-SLI that should arrive today. However, with the heat-pipe setup, I may omit the chipset waterblock. Are you using the little fan that comes with the mobo to cool the chipset? Do you have a block on your GPU too? I have to wait a little longer though since I'm using an SLI setup and want to wait for the "low profile" GPU blocks that DD is making. Hit me up with a private message. . .I'd love to discuss systems with you! RegardsAndrewEdit: I'm not hijacking the thread: CaptAndy, I'd def. get a dual core CPU if you're thinking about the future. That's what I just did. :-)

Hey Andrew...See "Liquid Cooling" Thread...Sorry CaptAndy...Have Fun!!

Hey, I have the same problem problem as everyone else. Do I wait, or do I go get a new system. I have decided to wait, see what Windows Vista and the next MSFS to fully extend there legs before I buy my next system. My current setup will suffice until then :) And it's an old old setup :(Matthew Murray

HelloWhats the rush? both Vista and FSX are some way off yet.Write down the price of parts for the best PC you can build today, dont spare anything just spec the best parts available.Then wait for FSX and vista to arrive and see what the price of those parts are then, I bet you will have saved yourself at least a third of the price.