Hello Team!OK! I have done some parts and price research and have determined the type of machine I'm want to build. I seek your opinions and suggestions for changes where you think I should in order to gain some power please!!!Case - Thermaltake ArmorPower Supply - Antec True Power Quattro 1000WWireless Network adapterMoBo - MSI P6N SLI PlatinumCPU Cooling fan - Zalman CNPS9700NTRAM - 4GB PC6400 800mhz OCZN800SR4GKHard Drives - 2X Western Digital Raptors 10K RPM SATAVideo Card - Nvidia 8800 Ultra 768MB of RAM from EVGPDVD/CD/RW - 2X LG SATA GSA-H62NMedia card readerWindows XP Professional with all service packsThanks for any input.Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

>Hello Team!>>OK! I have done some parts and price research and have>determined the type of machine I'm want to build. I seek your>opinions and suggestions for changes where you think I should>in order to gain some power please!!!>>Case - Thermaltake Armor>Power Supply - Antec True Power Quattro 1000W>Wireless Network adapter>MoBo - MSI P6N SLI Platinum>CPU Cooling fan - Zalman CNPS9700NT>RAM - 4GB PC6400 800mhz OCZN800SR4GK>Hard Drives - 2X Western Digital Raptors 10K RPM SATA>Video Card - Nvidia 8800 Ultra 768MB of RAM from EVGP>DVD/CD/RW - 2X LG SATA GSA-H62N>Media card reader>Windows XP Professional with all service packs>>Thanks for any input.>>Sincerely,>>Dennis D. MullertHi Dennis,I personally would save some money by replacing the Raptors with the Raptor-like Seagate ST3250410AS (Raid if you wish and read the reviews at the 'egg)) and you will have similar/better performance for alot less. You didn't list a CPU, but I would look at the P35/X38 boards because I don't think SLI is worth it for FS9/FSX. I would also look for an 8800GT (or even a 7900GTX for the short term) and you'll get the same performance in the sims as the 8800 Ultra and save a boatload for other things. You could back off on the 1000watt PSU too as long as it's still quality. JMHORegards, Kendall#1: [email protected]/Coolermaster HyperTX2 Gigabyte P35-DS3L 4GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers PC6400 Seagate 250GB 7200.10 SATA2 Gigabyte X800XT -Cat 6.12's CH Yoke/Pedals/Saitek Throttle Dual Monitor: Dell 2405/1905 #2: Dell 8400 3.2 H.T. 3GB PC4200 Diamond Xtreme/Logitech X-530's

>Hi Dennis,>I personally would save some money by replacing the Raptors>with the Raptor-like Seagate ST3250410AS (Raid if you wish and>read the reviews at the 'egg)) and you will have>similar/better performance for alot less. You didn't list a>CPU, but I would look at the P35/X38 boards because I don't>think SLI is worth it for FS9/FSX. I would also look for an>8800GT (or even a 7900GTX for the short term) and you'll get>the same performance in the sims as the 8800 Ultra and save a>boatload for other things. You could back off on the 1000watt>PSU too as long as it's still quality. JMHO>>>Regards, Kendall>>#1: [email protected]/Coolermaster HyperTX2 > Gigabyte P35-DS3L > 4GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers PC6400 > Seagate 250GB 7200.10 SATA2> Gigabyte X800XT -Cat 6.12's> CH Yoke/Pedals/Saitek Throttle > Dual Monitor: Dell 2405/1905 >>#2: Dell 8400 3.2 H.T.> 3GB PC4200 > Diamond Xtreme/Logitech X-530'sKendall. you are making the assumption he will only be using this machine for FS! If he uses it for other gaming, he may want the power of SLI! If that is the case I would go with a 680ISLI board, as through BIOS updates can be made Penryn compatible, if he want's to upgrade at some point in the future. I don't think you can do this with a 650ISLI board. Also pair it with either a quad Q6600 or if you prefer a dual core go for a E6750, or an E6850.

>Kendall. you are making the assumption he will only be using>this machine for FS! If he uses it for other gaming, he may>want the power of SLI! If that is the case I would go with a>680ISLI board, as through BIOS updates can be made Penryn>compatible, if he want's to upgrade at some point in the>future. I don't think you can do this with a 650ISLI board.>Also pair it with either a quad Q6600 or if you prefer a dual>core go for a E6750, or an E6850. >Hi again Tom, He didn't state he played other games so we are both making assumptions there. This being the MSFS Hardware discussion, I logically figured his questions pertained hardware performance with the sims. Even in other games, which I admittedly don't play, from what I've read I don't think SLI, at this time, is worthy of the investment vis-a-vis performance. Again, one person's opinion. I agree with the 680sli chipset though being more future-proof. Happy Holidays.Regards, Kendall#1: [email protected]/Coolermaster HyperTX2 Gigabyte P35-DS3L 4GB Crucial Ballistix Tracers PC6400 Seagate 250GB 7200.10 SATA2 Gigabyte X800XT -Cat 6.12's CH Yoke/Pedals/Saitek Throttle Dual Monitor: Dell 2405/1905 #2: Dell 8400 3.2 H.T. 3GB PC4200 Diamond Xtreme/Logitech X-530's

Hey Guys!You are most helpful and I appreciate both your inputs. This machine will only be used ofr FSX and X-Plane. Other than that, just the basic stuff (Internet, MS Office, iTunes, etc). I do want FSX to move well on this new rig - I'm tired of the 5fps performance flying in New York or LAX.Questions regarding your input:1. The Seagates, Kendall! How big are they and are they 7200 or 10K RPM??2. The 8800GT video card you recommend....Any particular brand, and how much video ram?3. The P35/X38 MoBo you recommend...what brand? I need a butt kicking MoBo.4. On the CPU Dept., I was thinking of the fastest Core Duo I can find since I know that FSX does not efficiently use the Quad Cores at this point.Thanks again guys!Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

In that case the P35/X38 would probably be a better choice! As Kendall said SLO will give you zip in FS9/FSX. Also I was just reading some forums. It seems there are problems with the 680ISLI supporting the Penryn Quad (Yorkfield), although the Dual (Wolfsdale) could be supported. The P35/X38 are definitely Penryn upgradable!

>3. The P35/X38 MoBo you recommend...what brand? I need a>butt kicking MoBo.Do you plan on overclocking your new processor?? If so, you need to take that into account when making your choice for a "butt kicking MoBo".

Hmmmm! What do you mean?What should I be looking for??Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

Dennis, if you want to overclock, you need to get a motherboard that easily allows you to do this, via the BIOS settings.The ASUS P5K is such a board, an Intel manufactured board typically does not support this.Secondly, regarding the Raptors... I found them too noisy, kept one for FSX and returned the other one and got a 7200 RPM WD drive instead.Got $100 back in the trade and gained 150GB.. :-)If doing this again, I would just get two 7200 RPM 250 GB drives.

Weather you are keeping the two Raptors or not... you would definitly need more Hard Disk space...get another 500-750Gig HD 7200RPM. Manny

Definitely. The performance of the 750Gb Western Digitals is similar to the Raptors: http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3061&p=9