Hi Guys, I've been reading your posts on system spec's for the last few weeks and this is where I am. Before I bite the bullet I would just like to run it past you for comments? (Tear it apart if you want) I've saved up my my Euros and don't to make a major mistake. So here we go:ASUS SKT- 775 Maximus Extreme

I'm sure there are many here who can get into this debate in much more detail than me, but all I can tell you is over the past year and a half I've experimented with both card manufacturers a bit in 2 or 3 low and mid range systems and both are great manufacturers. I finally settled on ATI simply because their software interface seemed to handle multi-screens "easier" IMO and my nVidia cards required a bit more tweaking, but overall were excellent -- I think I had a problem with nVidia compatibility on my triple head to go, too, so that was another reason I ended up with ATI, as I recall. I'll be honest and tell you that I also got a bit tired of dealing with all the nVidia driver "confusion" and MSFS, nHancer yes or no, things like that. Either way, my advice is don't be cheap and go with what you know and are comfortable with. It's been my experience that if you follow those two simple guidelines you won't be disappointed.Hope this wasn't too nebulous and helps a little, but it's just my experience.

Take a look at 4gb of G.SKILL over the Corsair. (As always, check with ASUS site to make sure you get memory that is tested known good with the Maximus Extreme motherboard.)Chuck's experience and sentiments with nVidia and ATI drivers seem to exactly mirror everything I've heard and seen. I think the 3870x2 is an excellent flight sim card. Make sure the 3870x2 card will fit well in the Thermaltake Soprano case, and make sure it will not interfere with the motherboard SATA connectors and ram slots.That looks like a very nice setup you have proposed, if you build it all of us would be interested to hear back from you about how FSX is performing.Rhett AMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

Thanks very much to you both for your comments, especially with regard to ATI, it does support the general feel that I got from various discussions I've had, although I do appreciate the 2 different points of view! Somebody is actually building this for me so I'll sit down with him tomorrow to check out the fit to the case. I also think we might be able ti increase th O/C to 4.5 Ghz? I've done a quick search on G.Skill on the French web sites but haven't found it yet but will continue to search, is it better on performance or price? than Corsair.I'll certainly keep you informed on progress/performance in FSX.John

How do you plan to use your system? Is having the best graphics card important to you for reasons beyond fsx. Do you plan to have your os on the smaller 10000 rpm drive and fsx on the larger (slower) drive? What Display do you plan to run with? Resolution? You'll have enough guts here to do wonders, But you want the results to remain balanced or you may be spending more than you can experience.Best, Bobc2d E6600 @3ghz, 4gigs ram, 8800gts (g92) 512, and lots of other bits and pieces.

Hi John, nice looking system. Where are you getting your parts and if I may ask how much your spending on the box alone? I've been going through the forums trying to figure out whether to build the mid-mid, mid-high, mid-low, high-high, or high-low system to the point where I think I perhaps need a valium and a few hours of psychotherapy. My thinking also varies depending on what time of the day it is, how much and what I've had to eat, and what bills have come across my desk that day. After reading the DDR2 vs DDR3 discussions I'm on the fence as to whether it's worth the investment in the bleeding edge components (bleeding edge for this year, almost obsolete for next year) or should I build something that's fast but not insane and then wait for a year to build a faster machine at a more reasonable price at which point FSXI will be out and we can start all over again. See, isn't this a great guy hobby? You can spend infinetly and yet never be satisfied! Whoo-Hooo! Sorry I'm ranting aren't I? On a more constructive note have you looked at the box and cooling system on Toms Hardware Overclock marathon session for their high end system. I'm not familiar with the one you're getting but Tom's high end one looks very nice with a liquid cooling system. Also have you thought about monitors, are you going with a triple head to go or a wide screen set up? It will be interesting to see how your system does after you get it set up so keep those posts going and good luck on your build.Incisal Flyer

>Thanks very much to you both for your comments, especially>with regard to ATI, it does support the general feel that I>got from various discussions I've had, although I do>appreciate the 2 different points of view! Somebody is>actually building this for me so I'll sit down with him>tomorrow to check out the fit to the case. I also think we>might be able ti increase th O/C to 4.5 Ghz? In my opinion, you can get 4.5 since you're using water cooling...but 4.5 is a hefty o/c even for a QX9650. You'll probably want the 1000 watt power supply to feed the cpu at that ghz, and I rarely recommend a p/s that large for anything. I was going to say in my earlier post, a Pc Power 710 watt power supply will be quite adequate, but I think given that you want mid-4's ghz the 1000 watter would not be out-of-the-question.>I've done a quick>search on G.Skill on the French web sites but haven't found it>yet but will continue to search, is it better on performance>or price? than Corsair.>I'll certainly keep you informed on progress/performance in>FSX.>I have built a lot with Corsair (as you can see I presently use some of their modules in my FS computer) over the years; however there are certain brands I have historically preferred for high-end overclock builds, such as Mushkin and G.Skill. Really ultimately, if the memory specs to 1333, and ASUS says it works with their motherboard, you should be in good shape. Corsair's top end (used to be called XMS, in varying grades, and may be called something else now) should work as well as G.Skill's top end memory, if they are rated the same.Do not take my word for it though. Memory as it relates to overclocking changes over time, and so do manufacturers, and I have not built a true overclocker rig in the last year and a half. Your system builder sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders if he came up with the specs you posted above.If you get a 4.5 ghz stable overclock, FS should be great, and we would all like to hear back from you, as to how FSX performs on a Penryn at 4.5 ghz!RhettAMD 3700+ (@2585 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2gb Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 (1T), WD 150 gig 10000rpm Raptor, WD 250gig 7200rpm SATA2, Seagate 120gb 5400 rpm external HD, CoolerMaster Praetorian

John,I see no mention of a case in your proposed system. If you go for either the nVidia 8800 or the 3870X2 you will need a sizeable case as these cards are enormous. The 3870X2 weighs 1Kg!I have a Antec P182 and with the middle drive cage removed the 3870X2 will fit although it has to be removed to get access to the memory slots.nVidia may give you higher fps but the ATI will give you a better image quality and none of the issues with scenery artifacts that the nVidia suffers.No mention either of the size and resolution of a display. For a system of that quality you should be looking at a 24" 1920*1200 display and the 3870X2 excels in that department.Hope that helps.

I think I have done the mid-mid, high-high etc no sleep, Valium, DDR2 or DDR3 and this where I ended up. As to parts we are sourcing them here in France. I could order a similar rig from the UK and cheaper,(no over/clocking) but it would be a couriered delivery with a long way to go RTB if I had a problem so I had to go local and test my French language skills. Cost on the above system is around the 3100 + euros level (ouch)I know its expensive but I hope it will last me a reasonable time!(At least 6 months Ha- Ha) As to system setup e.g. O/s - FSX - storage- which drives, just trying to work this out this week, any thoughts please!I think the case -Thermaltake Soprano will be ok but am checking this out.As to the monitor, when I have picked myself up from the floor and chatted up my girlfriend I hope to go to a 24" 1920 x 1200 but this is later.If I can fly my Piper Cheyenne 11XL over Paris no blurrries/stutters with the sliders as maxed out as I can achieve, I will be extremely happy. Thank you all for your interest and help.John