I'm looking at a system that can have either one GTX295 card, or TWO (2) in SLI format. The CPU is an non-overclocked i7-975Would FSX ***BENEFIT*** from an SLI dual-card setup, or would it run better under one really fast card?For memory it has 6 GB at 1066 MHz, or I can go with 12 GB's of same speed, if FSX can truly benefit from having 12 GB's on tap.For now, it would be VISTA Ultimate 64 bit, with an option to upgrade for free to Window 7, Ultimate.Also, would having either a Velociraptor 300 GB (10,000 rpm) truly be of a benefit in keeping the system fed (smooth scroll of scenery) or perhaps two of them in RAID PERFORMANCE MODE,or....would I just as well have one or two 1TB (7,200 rpm) hard drives either as one alone, or two of them also in a RAID PERFORMANCE MODE?I'm ....in a stall, lol, until I can read some advice, as I truly have not had personal experience with the above configurations and am running at present a P3.4 GHz with a single ATI RADEON X1950 PRO (256MB).Finally, what do you think FSX would give up in FPS, if most sliders were 3/4's to full, and/or to all sliders full-bore?!? Just wondering!Thank you in advance for any advice from those that have some of the above setups already, or knowledge of same.

While FSX might recognize SLI or Crossfire modes, it does not utilize them to any advantage. Your best bet for FSX only is the fastest single GPU video card you can find. At least that's what my research recently has discovered.Is the 6GB of RAM DDR3 triple channel? Seems to me you might want slightly faster memory (1333 or 1600). I would get 6GB and use the savings to upgade to faster memory. 12GB is probably big time overkill for FSX.Don't think I would go for the 1TB HDD but rather the WD VelociRaptor or even 2 as you suggested. I recently had to make this decision and went with the VelociRaptor 300GB.No way to even begin to guess at your FPS. So many factors involved and every system is different.BTW, years ago I had that ATI Radeon X1950 card - gave me some good years in FS9. :(

While FSX might recognize SLI or Crossfire modes, it does not utilize them to any advantage. Your best bet for FSX only is the fastest single GPU video card you can find. At least that's what my research recently has discovered.Is the 6GB of RAM DDR3 triple channel? Seems to me you might want slightly faster memory (1333 or 1600). I would get 6GB and use the savings to upgade to faster memory. 12GB is probably big time overkill for FSX.Don't think I would go for the 1TB HDD but rather the WD VelociRaptor or even 2 as you suggested. I recently had to make this decision and went with the VelociRaptor 300GB.No way to even begin to guess at your FPS. So many factors involved and every system is different.BTW, years ago I had that ATI Radeon X1950 card - gave me some good years in FS9. :(

----------------------------------------------Thanks Mike for the above!Yes, the memory is DDR3 triple channel. I'll take a look at faster RAM to spec, and would then most likely go for two 300 GB WD VelociRaptor's in Peformance RAID mode. Being that I don't 'game' and only use FSX/FS9....I probably then would not consider any further going to SLI. Thanks again for your opinion! :) The vid would be the GTX295. I'd overclock the CPU, and the whole system is water-cooled.Mitch

Skip the GTX 295 - get a 285 insteadCore i7 920 D0 revision, overclock with this:http://www.crazypc.com/products/ultra-120-1366-50985.html6GB ddr PC3 12800 would be besthttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227381A good Power supply like:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817703009Get a single 300GB velociraptor Dont forget a solid motherboard such as:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131365

Skip the GTX 295 - get a 285 insteadCore i7 920 D0 revision, overclock with this:http://www.crazypc.com/products/ultra-120-1366-50985.html6GB ddr PC3 12800 would be besthttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227381A good Power supply like:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817703009Get a single 300GB velociraptor Dont forget a solid motherboard such as:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131365

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank you very much! Will check out all of the above ASAP!

I forgot to add, overclocking guide for the 920 D0 steppinghttp://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=30486