So would hitting these

That being said a user does not need to buy DDR3 2000 to obtain excellent results with i7. CAS 6 DDR3 1600 is quite fast however CAS 8 @ 2000 is a gain as compared to that

@Nick--Just to avoid confusion...You typed CAS 8 but I think you really meant CAS 7 @ 2000 in the example above. CAS 8 @ 2000 is actually slower than CAS 6 @ 1600 per the chart (and my trusty HP-41C) Or am I missing something? I ended up going with the CAS 6 1600 6-6-5-18 Mushkin, for two reasons. First and foremost, I'm putting 12 GB into the system to start with in order to try out a few very aggressive file caching schemes, and I know from direct observation that the Mushkin will run on an eVGA x58 mobo at rated timings and 12x/24x DRAM/Uncore mults with all six slots populated. Second, the only real contender I see out there is the OCZ Blade CAS 7 @ 2000 memory, and I know two people that have been having absolute fits getting their 965 memory controllers to deal with just one 3x2GB set. After seeing what you posted about bad DIMMs out in the distribution channels, I'm glad I ordered two sets! :( @djt01--what I think we don't see in the forums is stories from many of the people that buy 920s expecting to run 4 GHz on air and who hit the wall much lower than that. Or we see somebody do it long enough to take a screenshot, but have no idea how that OC will work out on a long term basis. And then there's the issue of running really high clocks and voltages on QPI to get that high on a 920, with no good way of monitoring temps on a seriously stressed memory controller and other support circuits. Sure, some people are doing it, so we know that it's possible, but for those that want a solid set of knowns within easy striking distance of the Promised Land with a modest to moderate push, it's worth a price. Some people buy $300 Huffy bicycles, and some buy $2000 Cannondales. The Cannondale owner thinks it's worth it...CheersBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO

@djt01--what I think we don't see in the forums is stories from many of the people that buy 920s expecting to run 4 GHz on air and who hit the wall much lower than that. Or we see somebody do it long enough to take a screenshot, but have no idea how that OC will work out on a long term basis. And then there's the issue of running really high clocks and voltages on QPI to get that high on a 920, with no good way of monitoring temps on a seriously stressed memory controller and other support circuits. Sure, some people are doing it, so we know that it's possible, but for those that want a solid set of knowns within easy striking distance of the Promised Land with a modest to moderate push, it's worth a price. Some people buy $300 Huffy bicycles, and some buy $2000 Cannondales. The Cannondale owner thinks it's worth it...

I have never been as indecisive with any of my upgrades over the last 3-4 years as I am right now with this i7 build.I even pulled the trigger and then backed out of what I thought was going to be the ultimate X58 mobo, the EVGA

Thanks again, Nick. You have been very helpful with your memory suggestions and charts. And also you are very close in persuading me to switch to Nvidia 285 GTX. Any particular brand? And the 295? I hope that I have not EXHAUSTED you with all the questions and requests.I do appreciate your input very much.Regards.Abe

@Nick--Just to avoid confusion...You typed CAS 8 but I think you really meant CAS 7 @ 2000 in the example above. CAS 8 @ 2000 is actually slower than CAS 6 @ 1600 per the chart (and my trusty HP-41C) Or am I missing something? I ended up going with the CAS 6 1600 6-6-5-18 Mushkin, for two reasons. First and foremost, I'm putting 12 GB into the system to start with in order to try out a few very aggressive file caching schemes, and I know from direct observation that the Mushkin will run on an eVGA x58 mobo at rated timings and 12x/24x DRAM/Uncore mults with all six slots populated. Second, the only real contender I see out there is the OCZ Blade CAS 7 @ 2000 memory, and I know two people that have been having absolute fits getting their 965 memory controllers to deal with just one 3x2GB set. After seeing what you posted about bad DIMMs out in the distribution channels, I'm glad I ordered two sets! :(

You still have one of those HP dinosaurs??? (I admit it.. so do I! LOL)Looking at my statement again, yes you are of course correct and the '8' was a typo in the context of what I said but I also see I should have qualified what I said further as I see now I did have something on my mind I did not address fully that appears may have influenced me to hit the 8 instead of the 7 when I typed that statement on the run. There is value running the higher bandwidth as long as CAS is not too far out of spec. CAS 8 @ 2000 is actually in the ballpark for providing a result with the application in question. (FSX)A user must not only look at the engineering involved but also take into account the bandwidth increase to the application in play and how/if that application does in fact make use of it. As we all know FSX is not a game in design but a simulation. With that in mind and knowing the titles poor code writing forces serious memory disambiguation issues between PM and proc cache both timing and bandwidth become important, timing of course being the most critical and should be addressed as the primary concern when selecting memory however there is also the memory speed in which CAS 3 800 will never be faster than CAS 6 1600 even though the analytical prediction will show they are somewhat equal on the buss.On the old board here about a year or so ago I provide empirical proof in result to FSX of increases in memory speed moving from a DDR3 900 to DDR3 1440 with all other factors remaining equal (FSB/STRAP/CPU SPEED). With FSX that bandwidth increase will in fact provide a better result although I too would personally opt for CAS 6 @ 1600 over CAS8 @ 2000 so thanks for catching that one!

Thanks again, Nick. You have been very helpful with your memory suggestions and charts. And also you are very close in persuading me to switch to Nvidia 285 GTX. Any particular brand? And the 295? I hope that I have not EXHAUSTED you with all the questions and requests.I do appreciate your input very much.Regards.Abe

a 295 is useless to FSX. FSX will only use ONE core on that card and 1/2 the memory it providesA 285 is the card of choice. The only other option with a 285 is the 2GB model over the 1GB. The ONLY factor that 2GB may provide relief is in a series of high res monitors in use off the same card. In that scenario a user can see faster frame buffer queuing (items on the screens have no lag in appearing in pan operations with several large res monitors in use) but also no performance increase whatsoever. the 1GB card is more than enough for the typical user as FSX itself will only use 512MB with the rest going to any bufferpool reserve and the frame buffer for higher res and MM.

a 295 is useless to FSX. FSX will only use ONE core on that card and 1/2 the memory it providesA 285 is the card of choice. The only other option with a 285 is the 2GB model over the 1GB. The ONLY factor that 2GB may provide relief is in a series of high res monitors in use off the same card. In that scenario a user can see faster frame buffer queuing (items on the screens have no lag in appearing in pan operations with several large res monitors in use) but also no performance increase whatsoever. the 1GB card is more than enough for the typical user as FSX itself will only use 512MB with the rest going to any bufferpool reserve and the frame buffer for higher res and MM.

Hi Nick,I am using 2 monitors. 1st: 42" @1920x1080, 2nd: 27" @ 1920x1200. I'll look into the 2GB 285.Again, a TON of THANKS, Nick. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help.Abe

I'll look into the 2GB 285.

Make sure that if you go with a 2GB version of the 285 that you get a factory overclocked card or plan on overclocking the card yourself. The memory on the stock 2GB version of these cards is clocked ridiculously low.I purchased an EVGA 285 2GB FTW (702 MHz on the GPU and 2448 MHz on the memory) a couple of weeks ago and so far it

Hi Nick,I am using 2 monitors. 1st: 42" @1920x1080, 2nd: 27" @ 1920x1200. I'll look into the 2GB 285.Again, a TON of THANKS, Nick. You have no idea how much I appreciate your help.Abe

The 1GB should handle that just fine.. I was speaking of TH2go use and those who exceed 2 monitors and run above 1920although that extra video memory may come in handy with other applicationsAnd djt01 is correct.. those 2GB cards sacrifice memory amount for memory speed, regardless.. the best bet is to pony up and grab the highest clocked factory card (either way 1 or 2GB)

The 1GB should handle that just fine.. I was speaking of TH2go use and those who exceed 2 monitors and run above 1920although that extra video memory may come in handy with other applicationsAnd djt01 is correct.. those 2GB cards sacrifice memory amount for memory speed, regardless.. the best bet is to pony up and grab the highest clocked factory card (either way 1 or 2GB)

Thanks again, Nick and djt01, I'll just play by ear regarding either the 1 or 2GB.aBE

@Nick--Just to avoid confusion...You typed CAS 8 but I think you really meant CAS 7 @ 2000 in the example above. CAS 8 @ 2000 is actually slower than CAS 6 @ 1600 per the chart (and my trusty HP-41C) Or am I missing something? I ended up going with the CAS 6 1600 6-6-5-18 Mushkin, for two reasons. First and foremost, I'm putting 12 GB into the system to start with in order to try out a few very aggressive file caching schemes, and I know from direct observation that the Mushkin will run on an eVGA x58 mobo at rated timings and 12x/24x DRAM/Uncore mults with all six slots populated. Second, the only real contender I see out there is the OCZ Blade CAS 7 @ 2000 memory, and I know two people that have been having absolute fits getting their 965 memory controllers to deal with just one 3x2GB set. After seeing what you posted about bad DIMMs out in the distribution channels, I'm glad I ordered two sets! :( @djt01--what I think we don't see in the forums is stories from many of the people that buy 920s expecting to run 4 GHz on air and who hit the wall much lower than that. Or we see somebody do it long enough to take a screenshot, but have no idea how that OC will work out on a long term basis. And then there's the issue of running really high clocks and voltages on QPI to get that high on a 920, with no good way of monitoring temps on a seriously stressed memory controller and other support circuits. Sure, some people are doing it, so we know that it's possible, but for those that want a solid set of knowns within easy striking distance of the Promised Land with a modest to moderate push, it's worth a price. Some people buy $300 Huffy bicycles, and some buy $2000 Cannondales. The Cannondale owner thinks it's worth it...CheersBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO

Does anybody know if there is an e-shop in the EU that sells mushkin 998729 (3x2GB) Redline XP3-12800 (preferred) or998691 (3x2GB) Redline XP3-12800?I live in Greece and can't find anywhere 6-6-6 latency DDR3 1600MHz tripple channel kit. I can't order from USA/Canada due to customs/law restrictions.Thank you in advance for your response.