Good morning everyone. I am planing to build a new system shortly.(Few days hopefully) before I dive in, I just wanted to share and get advice to make sure I am on the right path. OK, It is an AMD 64 3800 X2 Dual core, ASUS A8N-VM MATX Motherboard, 1 gig DDR400 PC3200 Ram (I will add 1 gig from my current pc to make 2gigs), 80GB SATA 7200.7 HD,Integraded Raid 0,1, integrated sound , Geforce 6800GS 256 PCI -E Video card, and WinXP home edition. The other stuff is the usual. Is there anything I have to do for the dual core to run properly in FS9, or will it be very fast for me the way it is? Also, this new pc is in my budget so, What do you think of the specs? This is compared to my AMD2800xp 2.1ghz (3 1/2 yrs old) system with a Nvidia 6800AGP card now that struggles with add-ons and has been crashing all the time. I hope this will do. I am looking at approx $1,039.00. I already have a 22" hitachi monitor. I will eventually replace that with a flat panel. Thanks for any advice.

Anyone out there with a dual core system? I kind of need to know as much info as I can before the end of the day tomorrow as I am hoping to start compiling the hardware and start the build. Also, it's weird, my initial post was made in the wee hours last night, yet it shows as just a few hours before this additional post?? Thanks again everyone.

Hi Jeff,I would bump the processor up to 4200 or higher. I would also increase the size of the hard drive.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development TeamActive Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter

Hey Jim, thanks for your reply as always. I have to see what the dollar difference is between the 4200 vs the 3800. You don't think the 3800 duals will cut it? I thought the difference between the 3800 and 4200 would be pulling hairs, but with the new dual core technology, who knows, I could be way off. As long as it's within $75.00 - $100.00 or so I will go to the next level cpu. I'd rather do it right now than waste money. Like I said my budget is around $1,050.00. I guess a few bucks + or - won't hurt any.

Hi Jeff,Should be a difference of $60 or so. Go as powerful as your $$ will allow you to go.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development TeamActive Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter

Hey Jim, well $60.00, no big deal. I've heard alot of good things in regards to the 4200 with others here on the forum. As far as the HD size.. I am planning to add another drive down the road, as this computer will be my back up editing system to my G5. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is reinstalling everything, keys, reg#'s..and such. By the way, while I'm typing, I want to thank you for all your time you spend trying to help others on the Avsim forums with issues outside of Active Sky. (I'm getting soon) Thanks for your input Jim.

Hi Jeff Just an idea since the display adapter you're getting is very similar to the one you already have: Perhaps get a nForce3 mainboard with an AGP interface and continue to use your AGP card? For example one of these: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/products/mother...nForce3%20UltraJim's advise to get a bigger HD is right on (IMHO). 160GB or greater models usually are faster than 80GB species. HST, I would recommend looking at Samsungs or Hitachis. It's a bit unclear which mainboard you intend to get (I don't know that model). It looks like it has a nForce chipset but parallely looks like something VIA as well. :-) If it is a VIA board with a 8237 'southbridge' you might want to consider getting a P-ATA HD? Have fun, good luck and kind regards Jaap

ASUS A8N series boards are proven, and good boards.As was said, for FS, **get the fastest CPU you can.** Keep in mind the 4200+ only has 512kb cache...whereas the 4400+ has the full 1mb cache.Keep in mind an FX57 (single core) will outperform the 4400+ in FS...Also don't rule out an Opteron 165 or something similar.I agree with the others, if I were you I'd get more than 80 gb hd. You'll want more especially if you get add-on mesh, complex aircraft, etc. The 7200 rpm hard drives are cheap per gigabyte these days.Don't go too cheap on the power supply. Look at Enermax, Seasonic, or an OCZ powerstream. PC Power & Cooling is the best but too pricey for this application. I recommend that you avoid modular power supplies.Your old system crashing all the time may have as much to do with the p/s as anything else.You have a very big monitor! I wish I did, I still run a 17" flat screen. :)Rhett

Hi,He is looking to the dual cores! They all have 1MB cache!!Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development TeamActive Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter

true with the CPU, FS is such a CPU hog, get as much as you can afford with the CPU!

>Hi,>>He is looking to the dual cores! They all have 1MB cache!!>Jim,In my experience, generally when people speak of the cpu cache they speak of it in terms of cache per core. Isn't this how you have come to know the definition?The 4200+ has a 512kb cache for each *core*.Yes, that totals 1mb, but each core is operating with 512, not 1mb. This affects the performance of the cpu.Try overclocking a 4200+ (2x512 cache) vs. a 4000+ San Diego (which has 1x1mb cache). There will be no contest.Try benching a 4200+ (2.0 ghz) vs. a 4000+ (also 2.0 ghz). The 4000+ with the 1mb cache will outbench it in many tests.The price difference between a 4200+ and a 4400+ is only $60-$70, and for that difference I would rather get the 4400+ with it's 2x1mb cache.Rhett

Hi Mace,True in your core description!We are not going to bring overclocking into this equation or single core vs. dual core. Those are better left for the real hardware experts!! And we know the benchmaking can be questionable.The price difference at Pricewatch.com between the 4200 and the 4400 is $100. I had already bumped him up $60-70 by going from 3800 to 4200, so this jump may not be affordable.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development TeamActive Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter

"Geforce 6800-GS 256 PCI -E Video card"Go for the 7900-GT, heck of a lot more card @ $335 or for $275 at least go for the 7800-GT. Much more power + 7XXX cards can do transparencyAA, 6xxx not.

Good evening everyone, sorry for the delay getting back. I think I am going for the 4400 instead of the 3800 as it is $100.00 more. I am also getting a new file server case with at least a 500watt per supply due to the tremendous cooling fans and such. However, I am sticking with the 6800GS pci express as I think I will see ALOT of improvement over what I have now?? (6800gt agp), not to mention I am already over budget. I will upgrade the card down the road, but this seems good enough for me at the moment until the pricing comes down a bit. The 4400 does indeed have more caching than the 3800. I am now looking at about $1,250.00. Hopefully I can run FS9 with higher autogen settings and the complex planes with airport scenery without having stutters and unstability that I have now. My main problem now is CTD, after CTD, after CTD, blue screen, CTD, blue screen, error, after error...... $1,250.00 looks pretty good right now if you can relate. Thanks to all for your input. If I do have any questions when I can get the new rig, I will post here, as you have all shown the true dedication to helping each other. Thank you everyone. Hopefully I will have good news by the weekend:-hmmm :-hmmm

Jeff,looks like you have a good system, and not too bad for the price either. a good power supply and a case is a must. pci express is a lot faster and youre smart for not wanting to get the top of the line card right now, since the new ones for DX10 will be out by years end that FSX will run better on.CTD are sometimes caused by bad scenery files and bad AI. sometimes bad textures. and also duplicate afcads.blue screens are almost always driver related. the new hardware will probably help you out and not give you bluescreens as long as you update everything, hardware and software updates, windows updates, etc on your new rig.Best of luck with the computer, you will come out with a faster video card than me, and a processor almost as good, for half the price of what I paid at least!Anyway, take care and once you get the rig, and the bugs squashed, you will enjoy the game again! I keep running into CTD with dll errors and hopefully have fixed them with my latest look at the game (probably related to bad ai textures so I just converted them to dxt1)