Hello,to get max performance in FS2004 it does not only need a good graphics card like NV5950 or ATI 9800XT but also a good overall system configuration.These are my results in optimizing the RAM to CPU connection.Companies like ASUS claim to offer a speed improvement with their mainboards up to 30% without loosing warrenty.Let's see.In my case the ASUS PC-DL mainboard offers to overclock the FSB (Front Side Bus) from 133 to 165 Mhz in the BIOS. (Using special software tools I can raise to FSB much higher from within Windows.) Additionally, you can select a 5:4 RAM-FSB ratio in the BIOS which means the RAM modules will be clocked always 25% faster than the FSB. In 1:1 configuration the FSB and RAM clock rate is synchronised.The default setting I had for some time was this:FSB 166 Mhz, 1:1, giving 6.8 fps in my FS2004 stress-test scenario.Let's set 6.8 fps as the base value.Boosting the system to the maximal FSB of 189 Mhz in 1:1 mode gave me 7.2 fps. This results in a performance increase of 5.8 %. Not much faster :)Now comes the magic trick: Set your system to 5:4 FSB-RAM ratio !Setting the FSB to 166 Mhz again results in the RAM modules to be clocked at 207 Mhz. FS2004 now shows 8.4 fps, thats a performance increase of 23,5% !As I know the current limt of my system, I set FSB to 180 Mhz which results to 224 Mhz for the RAM modules. Now FS2004 runs the test scenario with 8.8 fps which results to the final speed improvment of --> 29.4% :)

Welcome to the forums... Although you used MSFS as a lead in, what you've really opened is a discussion of hardware tweaking, overclocking, etc.... It's best placed in either the hardware subforum here, or the central hardware forum. That said, it's been often discussed here that one can boost FS2004 performance by a similar amount once one starts playing with FSB settings. That's true of any MB, as long as you know what you're doing. Of course the flip side to that is the risk of blowing components. Chasing fps to have the fastest system on the block isn't worth it, and just about every overclocker I have met has fried something, or complains of odd lockups on their system. What's interesting is I've been professionally supporting and building PC's for over fifteen years. I've never seen as many buzzwords in one post as this one :) You'll learn soon here you don't have to talk above the crowd to impress them. Just talk to them...Again, welcome aboard...-John

"Chasing fps to have the fastest system on the block isn't worth it, and just about every overclocker I have met has fried something, or complains of odd lockups on their system."I don't think he was chasing anything, except to extract as much performance from his rig as possible. OEM's, understandably, have a conservative approach to things, often keeping hardware 'tuned down' a bit. No harm going after what might be available. A little adventure and risk taking (if one can really call PC overclocking taking a risk) is a healthy thing for those that choose to do so. Oh, BTW, this simmers been overclocking for 8 years and never fried a thing. Currently running a 2500XP barton at 2.2GHz (that's what, 17% boost?). System has been stable for 6 months at this setting. Meanwhile, it seems odd that setting the CPU FSB and RAM bus asynchronously yeilded better results. Not doubting it, just very curious, as usually it has been the opposite. HMMMM.

I gotta agree, I have been overclocking my hardware conservatively for years. A bit of extra cooling air flow and smart decisions with hardware and I have NEVER had a problem in over 7 years overclocking various bits of hardware. Right now running a PIV 2.8 ghz at 3.0 and overclocking my Radeon 9800 by about 8%. It gets me up to almost cutting egde system wise and she is smooth as glass with no problems running anything. Its the guys who get power crazy that fry stuff. :)Hornit

No overclocking can be done as safely or as hazardous you want to. The fact is that computer parts are designed to run faster then stock speeds. If they wheren

I have to agree with all of your replies--overclocking done right is fairly safe. The problem I often see is the novice jumping in with blinders on, thinking "I'm gonna boost fps 30 pct--wow....". Do it on the wrong MB, and you could end up with problems. ASUS is arguably a great OC MB--perhaps the best. I was surprised to find years ago even my own IWILL MB is pretty decent, although I could only bump it up 20pct. or so.... But I always coach people to optimize their operating system first, then go after the hardware. I think the biggest fps gains in MSFS are found in getting the sliders high enough to allow a quality visual experience, but not so high as to extract a fps penalty. Only then should one go after the "gravy" if they have a capable MB, and see what hardware improvements can be made. One reason I suggest this approach is once you establish a stable sim and O/S, you can know exactly when to back off when tweaking the hardware. If your O/S and sim are either unstable or poor performers, stability problems when OC'ing could easily be masked. I suspect there's more than one of us (at leasr I'll admit it), who had to set the reset jumper on the MB because we tweaked it a bit to far. :) OTH, that's part of the fun...pushing the envelope whether we're flying or pushing our hardware...-John

I have to clear my cmos everytime I install a new or reinstall devices on my mainboard. No matter if overclocked or not. It

The only component I currently have overclocked is my CPU (P4c 2.6 running happily at 3.8). The other day just out of curiosity I dropped it back to 2.6 and FS9 ran terribly. I don't use the FPS counter, but had all kinds of stuttering. So, you can get very substantial improvements by overclocking. Havn't messed with vid card or RAM as I don't have the knowledge.David

>>The only component I currently have overclocked is my CPU (P4c>2.6 running happily at 3.8). The other day just out of>curiosity I dropped it back to 2.6 and FS9 ran terribly. I>don't use the FPS counter, but had all kinds of stuttering.>So, you can get very substantial improvements by overclocking.>Havn't messed with vid card or RAM as I don't have the>knowledge.>>David>Tell me that was a missprint? You overclocked it to 2.8 right? I mean I can

Oops, ya caught me on that one. It's actually 3.38, a 30% overclock. I'm using an Asus P4P800, stock cooling on the CPU, and no change in voltage. According to the Asus Probe thing it's about 50 deg C when FS9 is running. The reason I only overclocked the CPU is because I could monitor the temperature and so felt fairly safe doing it. Also I've heard that overclocking the vid card or RAM gives only a small performance boost compared to overclocking the CPU. Is that true by the way?Sorry about the errorDavid

Well 3,38 is still an impressive overclock especially on stock cooling at stock voltage so congratulations on a good chip :) Yes if you are around 50 there is nothing to worry about. Those probes aren

Can you guys help me how can I overclock my VC Nvidia FX 5900Ultra??My system: P4 3.0 Ghz @ 3.39, RAM 1G 466 Golden Dragon, FX 5900Ultra, Case Thermaltake. Thank you David