Hello Gang!I've finally gotten my new machine. I am happy because it runs FSX100% better than my old P4 1.7. The one thing I am not happy about is that I still get the infamous 7-14 fps on heavily populated airports such as KSFO, KLAX, KJFK, KDFW, etc. My machine specs are supposed to make FSX screm regardless of where you are but it does not seem to be the case for the moment. Here are my specs:1. Case: Thermaltake Armor Full tower (Black case), with the 25mm fan on the side.2. CPU: Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 8MB Cache3. MoBo: Asus Maximus Formula Intel X38, DDR2 1066/800/6674. CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9700 Blue LED5. Hard Drive: WD Raptor 150GB 10K rpm 16MB Serial ATA6. PSU: PCP&P Silencer 750W7. RAM: 4GB DDR2 PC6400 Dual OCZ8. Wireless network adapter: D-Link DWA-5529. Video Card: EVGA 8800GTX PCIE 768mb (169.25 drivers)10. Media Reader: Silverstone FP-34B11. OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit (All updates done)12. DVD/RW drives: 2 x LG 20X GSA-H55LI13. Fan controller: Silverstone FP52-B Fan controller & system monitor.My understanding is that overcloking my CPU may be the ticket to getting FSX to run faster and better. Where do I start? I've never O/C'd any of my previous computers and I'm new at this game of overclocking, but I'm willing to give it a shot, especially since my Maximus has a safety mechanism to prevent me from turning my Quad Core into a BBQ.Thanks for any guidance!Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

Dennis, there is no way to make FSX scream, regardless of where you are. Happy though that it is running much better for you !First of all, keep your FSX settings to what you really need / want...Water on 1X low, and cutting back on Autogen can help you get through busy airports. And traffic is the number one framerate killer...Having said that, here is what I did to overclock my Q6600 from the factory standard 2.4 to 3.0 GHz. BTW, there are overclocking guidesto read... just use Avsim or Google to search !1. When booting, hit the del key to enter the BIOS.2. Under the Advanced tab, set Overclocking to manual3. Increase the FSB frequency (this is the actual overclocking setting)4. Fix the PCIE setting at 100 (may not be strictly required, but safer)The FSB frequency is set at 266 to get 2.4 GHZIf you go to 333, you get 3.0 GHz.Most folks suggest you try 300, 315, 333 in steps to see if your system remains stable. If the system does not run well after, or will not boot at all, back off the setting a bit.That is the simple way.The real hardcore overclockers will increase voltages, cooling, RAM timings etc, but that is not required to achieve what you are after.

Set the FSB to 400, Vcore (CPU voltage) to 1.4 volts and booter 'er up. Go fly. The CPU will run at 3.6Ghz and the ram at its rated speed of 800mhz. Your only variable is that cooling solution. I have the junior version of that board with the Q66, 4Gs of DDR2 and the Thermalright 120. It has been running fine. No smoke, no fire, actually, no drama at all.

3.6 GHz is pretty darn good if you can get there.... mine is still stable at 3.2 but will not boot up at 3.6..

Hello Bert, Sam!Thanks a bunch for your input. My ASUS brought a program called AI Suite that allows you to overclock directly from the program instead of doing it from the SetUp/BIOS. Is this a good way of accomplishing the same result??? Also, once I overclock, is there a utility that tells me at what ghz/speed my processor is now running???Thanks again!Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

You are best off to make the changes directly in your bios and not use the ASUS AI Suite.

HiI am a newbie as well in Overclocking the CPU, so I was wondering if you give me a few hints with my overclock situation.My System is: CD2 E6600 2.4ghz, 2GB of 667MHZ ram, evga 8800gt VC,P5B Mobo, Thermaltake Tsunami dream case with three fans. Coretemp is37C for both.Will these instructions apply to my situation as well?? I don't plan on pushing it to the max in order to avoid problems.Thanks for any advice you can give.Helmut

Dennis, just use the BIOS. Your CPU has a 9X multiplier so you can do the math.. FSB X 9 = CPU speed.When you are in Control Panel, select System and it will say something like Q6600 2.4 GHz, at 3.0 Ghz..Rightmark is a CPU monitoring utility you can download.Don't be surprised if it tells you that you are running at 2.0 Ghz with a 6X multiplier ! The Asus board will clock back to 6X when there is no application load to save power. If you start running FS, the multiplier will immediately go to 9X and stay there.

Hey Bert!Thanks again!I got her pumping 2.84 at the moment. When I first tried the 333 to push her to 3.0ghz, it did not like it, so I scaled back to 315. I will run tests and see where this takes me in terms of FSX - it will be interesting. With this rig, I should be able to push her real good - I'd think past the 3.4-3.5 mark don't you think??? What could cause it not to like further pushes???? Just wondering!Thanks - You've been most helpful!Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert

Same advice applies... just go in steps and make sure all is running well.. if things get unstable, scale back..

OK, now we are getting outside my comfort zone... I am running with stock cooling and don't want to increase the voltages on my machine.Since you have heavy duty cooling.. based on the earlier message, I guess the next step is to increase the CPU Core voltage to 1.4V and seeif you can get 333 to work.Each processor chip is an individual... remember that Intel only guarantees 2.4 GHz... and anything beyond that is "gravy".

Gotcha!Not gonna mess with that for now. I want this thing to last me at least a couple of months - : - ))Thanks man!Sincerely,Dennis D. Mullert