I haven't actually built the system yet, but this is the current plan:AMD 64 FX572GB DDR400 RAMAsus A8N64-SLI Deluxe Mobo2 x GeForce 7800GTX XT (475MHz Clock) SLI-linkedMy question is simple - is it too much. I want to run FS with really fluid frame rates, but want to use lots of stuff with it ie: PMDG/LDS aircraft, high detailed add-on scenery, ActiveSky 6, Ultimate Traffic AI.I'm pretty confident that this system will achieve what I want. Question is, can I get the same performance with only 1 graphics card, or with a lesser CPU. No point spending all this money (I think it totals at about

It has been mentioned many times on these forums that SLI is absolutely useless for FS9. Michael J.http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/pmdg_744F.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

Your building a fast system but FS9 can't take advantage of SLI, dual video cards, etc.

Thanks for the info. Best to go with the single card then and a fast CPU. Saved me a few

Hi Phil, the only detail I'ld like to point out, is, perhaps considering a mainboard without a 'southbridge' fan. AFAIK, the deluxe versions still have one. In case you get one without - up goes the budget! :-) - maybe install a couple of additional case fans? That's something I would recommend anyway (1 blowing inward towards the HD(s) and a sucker on the back of the case). Hope this adds to thoughts, have fun and kind regards Jaap Edit, heatpipe mainboards must be vertically mounted with the CPU at the top (and sowith usually require a traditional ATX case)

Re. CPU. I think it can never be too fast for FS9. If you have the funding and willingness to go for the top CPU (FX57) then you should. But if we go into details regarding CPU choices you'll probably hear things like you are spending three times the money for a 15% performance gain...

Hello Phil,I agree with the others in general. I would say this:Keep in mind that FSX will be out next year this time, and keep that in mind in your build. I am not sure if FSX or DX10 will be helped by SLI or by dual processors. You'll be fine with your FX57 though, that will be a fast cpu for several YEARS in my opinion.Also if you are getting a 7800 series card, keep in mind that you'll want at least 480 watts on the p/s.For your info and reference, here's what I'm looking at building. I am not going "all-out" on the cpu as you are, though I probably should:3700+ San Diego (considered 3800+ but probably not)ASUS AN8-E (was going to DFI, but not now)2 gb OCZ Performance ram (was going to Corsair TWINX pack)eVGA 7800GT (was going to 6800GT, but I can't resist 7800 :) )Cooler Master Praetorian caseAntec Tru Power II 550 watt p/s (was going to PC Power 510 SLI)I am not going SLI nor do I plan to any time soon with this purely FS-oriented rig. If need be, I could always upgrade to a dual core, 4400+ etc. with the same mb and p/s.

If I remember this correctly, 3800+ has 1MB L2 cache while 3700+ half of that. That would be worthwhile IMO to go for the 3800.Jason Zhang

Hi Jason, it actually is the other way around. 3700 --> 2200MHz/1MB; 3800 --> 2400MHz/512kB For the OP, Greg (SoarPics) added this link in another thread: http://extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1876715,00.aspThis is the best CPU graph I've come across to date. Good luck and kind regards Jaap

Thanks for the link.What's AMD64 X2?And why is a AMD64 X2 4600+ performance comparable to a AMD64 3800+?Also I have a 64 3200+. Looking at this chart I think upgrading to anything short of a FX won't give me a significant performance boost.Jason

X2 = dual cores Since FS9 doesn't utilize 2 or more cores --> no difference I totally agree with your conclusion regarding 'significant performance boosts', Jason. FWIW, I have 3 AMD64 CPUs from 3200 to 3800 and couldn't say one is significantly quicker than the other. :-) Kind regards Jaap

wow that's good to know. Thanks Jaap for your confirmation. I won't think of upgrading until FX cpus' prices are low enough. What do you think of V-card in this sense? I have a 6600GT pci-e. Will anything else make a significant different for my sim?Thanks.Jason

Hi Jason, no worries. :-) Regarding your display adapter question; hard to tell... It depends on numerous factors like addon software or hardware (other games?) and last but not least, the required resolution. FWIW, this is my personal, general rule of thumb: @ 1024 a 128-bit/128MB card with at least 4 pipelines will do fine. @ 1280x, almost any 256-bit/256MB (they usually have 8 or more pipelines) will do fine too. At higher resolutions the sky is the limit! :-) For your reference, the following site contains great listings with GPU details. Re Geforces: http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=1Re Radeons: http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=0Hope the links are still active and that it adds to thoughts. Good luck and kind regards Jaap Edit-1, the links were obsolete... Edit-2, FWIW and to avoid misunderstandings, I do believe users should get as much CPU as they can afford (or think is reasonable) when they acquire new systems. It's only so, that one will probably not really notice a big difference when the denominations are pretty close to eachother like in my case. :-)