After the drop in prices, I succumbed to the temptation to upgrade my AMD 4000+ processor to a 4800+ Dual Core.I had one crash which looked like the hang I've always gotten when I try to go back to full screen from windowed mode (black screen with blinking wait cursor). Hopefully this was fixed by reinstalling the Omega Drivers. Whatever happened also reset my BIOS settings.....I have occasional annoying but not serious stutters and questions about what to try next:(1) The BIOS (which is not the latest for my MB by several versions) did recognize the new processor so I didn't update it. Should I have?(2) I installed the AMD Dual Core Drivers (July, 2006) and the Microsoft KB896256 dual core hotfix. Do I need the AMD Dual Core Optimizer (June, 2006) too or instead of the hotfix?Thanks,

Dual core optimizer? That was news to me may have to try it. I obviously don

You can check on the ASUS web site as to whether or not your BIOS revision supports the 4800+ or not. Since you have it working, it must support it, I would think.I have an ASUS A8N-E and am running BIOS revision 1008. I too have thought about upgrading to a 4800+ (presently running a 3700+) but if I did that, I would have to 1) flash BIOS to revision 10102) reinstall winxp??3) install dual core hotfix4) install nForce4 chipset driver5) install AMD dual core optimizerIs that the right order?Rhett

I played this same upgrade game last week! I found this link very helpful on the stutter front: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=81429Gary

Ah nice link. They seem to be knowledgeable.If I decide to get the 4800+ at some point (only if it drops to <$220, and only after FSX reports) that could be very useful. Thank you.Rhett

Gary,Thanks for this link - I have followed the instructions and stuttering seems to be reduced/eliminated.One question - GAR of Xtreme Systems later posted a correction that the DWORD value should be zero not one his post based his reread of the hotfix.However - my read of the hotfix says that 0 will disable the fix while 1 enables it. The parameter of the hotfix test contains "idle" which would be consistent with a 0=TRUE value for the parameter disabling the hotfix.What are you using?Thanks again,

Hey Steve...I just did the exact same swap..4000+ to 4800x2...Thanks for the link Gary!! I'm having some studdering also...Gonna get right on this...So Steve..I'd like to hear how your expierence is/has been...I did a fresh install of both XP and FS so I'm just now starting to get stuff re-installed...Thusfar I'm thikin I liked the 4000+ over the 4800...I guess I just need to hang in there with some more tweeking ect...Not impressed thusfar though..I may wind up dropping the 4000+ back in here and building up the 4800 with some extra stuff I have laying around...The 4000+ was My Favorite FS rig...I thought it would be an plain even swap to the 4800x2...But I'm not convinced of that just yet...I havn't had any "problems"(hangs or ctd's ect)...I have only done a couple 4 or 5hour flights so far...I'm really not at 100% re-installed either..Maybe some more tweeking is in order...Would love to hear your impressions also...Have Fun!!

>to get stuff re-installed...Thusfar I'm thikin I liked the>4000+ over the 4800...Wow. I have a 3700+ (@ 2.4 ghz) for my FS rig, and it's ABSOLUTELY GREAT. Runs the FSX demo nicely too. From what you report here, I may just not touch my FS rig for a while.My only reason to go dual-core on it, would be to help ActiveSky run in the background. When it refreshes in the background, ActiveSky taxes the cpu enough to slow down FS.I'm not so sure that's enough of a reason...for all the hassle and $$ involved in a 4800+ swap.Rhett

I upgraded from a 3200+ to a 4600+ (I also use Active Sky in the background)...My framerates had a slight bump up (I wasnt expecting much)...But overall its much smoother and the blurries are gone (I have Ultimate terrian for the US and Europe)I have read others reponse regarding Dual Core, but for me it was worth it (espcically at the current price)

Installation - Cumulatively(1) Worst problem encountered was forgetting that I needed thermal compound to install the new CPU(3) Had to reload Omega Drivers(3) Updated the BIOS per Par Oqvist's suggestion even though my BIOS was recognizing the 4800x2(4) Did the steps in Gary's post above (AMD Driver and Dual Core OPtimizer and Microsoft Hotfix(5) Tried affinity setting using Task Manager - FS9 to one CPU and AV6, ASG, Explorer, NOD32 (anti-virus), etc. to other CPU.With the 4000+ I sometimes had:(1) A sharp stutter right after takeoff(2) VC and aircraft textures slow to load on view changes(3) Stutter with transitions in spot view if lots of clouds(4) Blurry ground textures(5) The ActiveSky update crawl was jerkySo far, with the install above (I didn't bother to try one thing at a time) (1),(4), and (5) seem to be eliminated and (2) and (3) are much improved.