Hi,Since the DX10 update for FSX is expected not sooner then Q3 2007 (my own guess, based on blog PM Aces), I decided to stick with FS9 for about another year before buying a new PC and migrating to FSX/DX10/Vista.Therefore I'm considering to update my current system with either a new CPU or GPU.My system specs:- Athlon 64 3500+ CPU (Single core)- ASUS A8N-SLI S939 Mobo- Radeon X850XT 256MB GPU- 2 GB Corsair XMS RAM- etc, etcI can update my system with:1. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Manchester (S939, 2x2.4GHz, 512KB, Dual core): 220 euroor2. Radeon X1950 XTX 512MB DDR4: 370 euroor3. Both are a waste of money, performance gain is very small.What do you advise?

Hi Egbert, if you want to get that X2, hurry, looks like they're becoming rare. ;-) The speed of application switching and the 'snappyness' of the OS are things I wouldn't want to miss anymore. For FS9 itself, a X2 doesn't seem to make much of a difference I'ld say. If you don't multitask a lot, I'ld buy a water cooling system - Davis will be delighted to tell you more about 'em and make you jealous! :-) - and then overclock it like nobody's business. OTOH, with multiple monitors at high resolutions, a > 256MB card might be indicated as well? Hard to tell wihout knowing more specific details about use and resolutions. Hope this adds to thoughts, kind regards Jaap

Hi Jaap,Thanks for your reply.I indeed forgot to mention my resolution. Using a TFT screen I'm bound to 1280x1024 and have no multi monitor setup.The PC is only used for FS purposes.I checked tweakers.net and there seem to be still X2 on the market.

Well, Egbert, then a 512MB card would maybe make little sense? If you like to multitask, X2s are very nice. OTOH, you wouldn't be upgrading the CPU as such too much. IMO, it comes down to how you use the sim. Loads of AI i.e? Kind regards Jaap

Well... It seems my choices re CPU are indeed limited, in fact there are no S939 X2 CPU's avaialble anymore.I checked Tweakers.net and at first glance it looked like there were plenty, but going to each listed shop that is not the case :-( I don't want to change my mobo as well for only a years time. If I would I also could swap back to Intel.I'll stick with my current setup and buy a new system in about a year.Thanks for your advice though.

Hi Egbert, just in case you aren't aware. There's a shop in Germany called alternate.de which has a Dutch branch (alternate.nl). The German HQ usually has stock much longer than any shop I know of and i.e. some 'X2' s939 Opterons are still available. However, that might require a mainboard which supports them? Indeed a bit of a guagmire. Anyway, in a years time we'll probably be looking at the first mainboards for DDR3. ;-) The Intel NetBurst lapsus has been good for us users. Intel was forced to show some great technology. They did. I'm also hanging in there with my X2 systems. For FS9 they're more than sufficient and what happens to FSX remains to be seen. Succes en groetjes Jaap

>Hi,>>Since the DX10 update for FSX is expected not sooner then Q3>2007 (my own guess, based on blog PM Aces), I decided to stick>with FS9 for about another year before buying a new PC and>migrating to FSX/DX10/Vista.>>Therefore I'm considering to update my current system with>either a new CPU or GPU.>My system specs:>- Athlon 64 3500+ CPU (Single core)>- ASUS A8N-SLI S939 Mobo>- Radeon X850XT 256MB GPU>- 2 GB Corsair XMS RAM>- etc, etc>>I can update my system with:>1. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Manchester (S939, 2x2.4GHz, 512KB,>Dual core): 220 euro>or>2. Radeon X1950 XTX 512MB DDR4: 370 euro>or>3. Both are a waste of money, performance gain is very small.>>What do you advise?>>Personally, I would not recommend an X1950XTX. I believe there are better cards for the same money, as well as similar performance for much less money. I just bought a GeForce 8800GTS (640MB) for