After deciding that going back to AMD (64) right now would be too much work and not sure if I want to overclock, I'm thinking of simply going to a 3.4 Prescott processor from my existing 2.8. Have any of you done this and is it work the money (approx. $300US) for the frame rate increase payoff?Thanks.Ed Lin, D.O.S.

Hi Ed,Funny thing I just did exacty what you plan to do. I went from a 2.8 Northwood to a 3.4 Prescott. WoW! what a difference. I knew there would be some improvement but better than I had hoped.Started actually as sort of a repair upgrade of my MB but then I added the CPU, new RAM, new AGP card (I just couldn't stop!). I planned to do some OC to 4GHz but to be honest I haven't the need to so far. I am getting 20-30's on the ground 50-70's in the air, all maxed, real weather, 100% UT AI. What can I say... go for it!New rig:Intel P4 3.4 Prescott, Asus P4P800-E Deluxe MB 800 FSB2gig DDR500 4000MHz RAMATI X800 XT A-I-O 256MB DDR3 (Catalyst 5.10 DirectX 9.0c)1 Terabyte WD Harddisks (3) HP Trinitron 21" Monitor setupCH Throttle Quadrant, Pedals, YokeAudigy2 ZS sound systemWinXP Pro (SP2)

Hey Ponyboy -- interesting...your specs look a lot like mine too. Thanks!Ed Lin, D.O.S.Windows XP sp2ASUS P4P800 Deluxe motherboardIntel 2.8 mhz processor h/tATI Radeon 9800 video cardDell 2405 24" widescreen1 Gig Kingston ramSB Audigy Platinum sound cardCH Products VP Pro Yoke LECH Products VP Pro PedalsWD Rapter

>Hi Ed,>>Funny thing I just did exacty what you plan to do. I went>from a 2.8 Northwood to a 3.4 Prescott. WoW! what a>difference. I knew there would be some improvement but better>than I had hoped.>>Started actually as sort of a repair upgrade of my MB but then>I added the CPU, new RAM, new AGP card (I just couldn't>stop!). I planned to do some OC to 4GHz but to be honest I>haven't the need to so far. I am getting 20-30's on the>ground 50-70's in the air, all maxed, real weather, 100% UT>AI. What can I say... go for it!>>New rig:>>Intel P4 3.4 Prescott, Asus P4P800-E Deluxe MB 800 FSB>2gig DDR500 4000MHz RAM>ATI X800 XT A-I-O 256MB DDR3 (Catalyst 5.10 DirectX 9.0c)>1 Terabyte WD Harddisks >(3) HP Trinitron 21" Monitor setup>CH Throttle Quadrant, Pedals, Yoke>Audigy2 ZS sound system>WinXP Pro (SP2)Hi,I am now running P4 3.4GHz Prescott. FS9 runs fine, (over 100fpsat high alts). But I have to say you need plenty of cooling.With FS9 running for a few hours I reach 56DegC on CPU temp!!!How high does yours go to?Mind you it is all packed into a MicroATX case So I'mnot complaining.H.A.N.D.

56c? LOoL! Try 60-65... :-) Running at 4.0. I could mistake my PC for a heater... But oh man, helluwa fast thing!

>56c? LOoL! Try 60-65... :-) Running at 4.0. I could mistake>my PC for a heater... But oh man, helluwa fast thing!aha! I knew you would be running hot at 4.0 ghz, from the other thread! If I had your sys I would not be upgrading right now...And with your rig running, you can turn down your thermostat in your house, and save on your electric bills this winter...if you are in a cool climate that is...

Same thing here...upgraded from a 3.06 Northwood to a 3.4 Prescott. Largest increase in FPS of any hardware upgrade I've made.Intel 3.06 Northwood 533FSB (512 L2) -> Intel P4 3.4 Prescott 800FSB (1MB L2)1GB DDR3200 -> 2GB DDR3200 400MHZRadeon 9800Pro -> ATI X850XT PE