RE: i7 Core 975 EE CPU.The fact that you can adjust each element of your system, independent of the other...is true control of what you want to do.For instance, that you can overclock the CPU, without having to resort to boosting other clocks in your system...makes for great flexibility.I have my CPU 'clocked at 27 (bin) all four cores x 133.7 for an overclock of 3.609 GHz.I have my memory (stock Crucial 1066 MHz at 7-7-7-20-1T timings) set to 10x 133.7 for an overclock of 1337 MHz with the same fast timings.That I don't have to boost the BLcK-clock past 133.7 to overclock the CPU...allows you to address each component, rather than boost the BLcK-clock and effect other systems (like memory speed, to get a CPU boost).My system is running like a kid booking out to the ice-cream truck..with the money in hand! :) Now..you KNOW that has got to be fast! :)_Cheers,Mitch

Mitch,Thanks for this and your all other posts on this 975 topic. My next investment will be an upgrade from my 940 to the 975 :(

Mitch,Thanks for this and your all other posts on this 975 topic. My next investment will be an upgrade from my 940 to the 975 :(

----------------------------------------Hi UlfB,You're most welcome. I figure...in my own 'exploring' of my 975...I'll post a few 'finds' in working with the system. I really like the fact that I can go overclock and leave the memory at stock...OR...just the reverse...overclock the memory..and leave the CPU at stock..if that is my wish.Then...if you want to boost the CPU overclock INDEPENDENT of any large or small boost to the memory speed, can be your option. You'll love the chip, UlfB. With the massive cooling the 730x offers you, in the volume capacity of the case itself...and that every system has its own independently controlled fan, either auto, or manual, I have been at 4.2 GHz on the CPU, and stock on the Memory. No real VISUAL boost to FSX. No real visual 'payout' past what I feel is the FSX sweet-spot of cycles... between 3.5/3.7 GHz. You don't pound out heat, and you get lightning fast, clear and crisp visuals. For myself...having bragging rights to how fast my CPU is cranking, means NOTHING to me. I am, and was ALWAYS only after realism, clarity, etc.The i7-975/GTX285/nHancer combo at 3.609/3.743 27/28 bin x 133.7 on the BLcK clock pumps out 100 percent performance for the clock cycle. Anything beyond that, is only generating heat and no major gain (only 2-3 FPS), above the high of 3.743 GHz. On this chip, UlfB, it is about great internal subsystems playing nice in the sandbox with each other, about the chip playing with the features of the X58 chip. The days of only striving for raw GHz in my opinion through usage is over. From here on in, with Intel...it will be about finding the sweet-spot and staying there.My ramping up from 1066Mhz to 1377 MHz has made a very NOTICBLE performance boost, and bears out exactly what Nick stated one would find. The i7-975 likes and uses the potential of faster RAM freq's and with faster timings. My Crucial parts have proved to be quite robust, without fancy heat sinks (but...that could also be that the Dell 730x has taken care of all subsystems with great case volume, fans in the critical places, and the air-cooled solution on the CPU being of a large PUSH/PULL installation. My memory slots are also in the air flow of the CPU solution, as well as in the air flow of the PCI slot cooling.I was going to go with the Mushkin 1600's, but will stay with my 'new standard' speed of 1337 MHz at very respectable timing settings, for now. I probably am running as fast now at 1337 (stated timings) as those running 1600 MHz parts at 8-8-8-24, most likely. Most likely...out of sheer curiosity, I'll spring for the Mushkin REDLINE, but honestly...and being truly honest...my system's 3.609/1337 is spectacular. How much more in spending another $200.00 with tax...would I see over what is now happening on screen? But...as you know...we all have that morbid curiosity to see what's behind door number three, LOL.We'll see. But as for now....I'm in FSX Heaven and don't plan on drifting down anytime soon, LOLOLOLOL!Cheers...and oh....I can't remember the last time I went into the FL's....for heck..there is SO MUCH fantastic scenery to now actually SEE..and not imagine, nor squint at...LOLOLOLOL! VFR, low 'n slow RULES!Mitch

----------------------------------------Hi UlfB,You're most welcome. I figure...in my own 'exploring' of my 975...I'll post a few 'finds' in working with the system. I really like the fact that I can go overclock and leave the memory at stock...OR...just the reverse...overclock the memory..and leave the CPU at stock..if that is my wish.Then...if you want to boost the CPU overclock INDEPENDENT of any large or small boost to the memory speed, can be your option. You'll love the chip, UlfB. With the massive cooling the 730x offers you, in the volume capacity of the case itself...and that every system has its own independently controlled fan, either auto, or manual, I have been at 4.2 GHz on the CPU, and stock on the Memory. No real VISUAL boost to FSX. No real visual 'payout' past what I feel is the FSX sweet-spot of cycles... between 3.5/3.7 GHz. You don't pound out heat, and you get lightning fast, clear and crisp visuals. For myself...having bragging rights to how fast my CPU is cranking, means NOTHING to me. I am, and was ALWAYS only after realism, clarity, etc.The i7-975/GTX285/nHancer combo at 3.609/3.743 27/28 bin x 133.7 on the BLcK clock pumps out 100 percent performance for the clock cycle. Anything beyond that, is only generating heat and no major gain (only 2-3 FPS), above the high of 3.743 GHz. On this chip, UlfB, it is about great internal subsystems playing nice in the sandbox with each other, about the chip playing with the features of the X58 chip. The days of only striving for raw GHz in my opinion through usage is over. From here on in, with Intel...it will be about finding the sweet-spot and staying there.My ramping up from 1066Mhz to 1377 MHz has made a very NOTICBLE performance boost, and bears out exactly what Nick stated one would find. The i7-975 likes and uses the potential of faster RAM freq's and with faster timings. My Crucial parts have proved to be quite robust, without fancy heat sinks (but...that could also be that the Dell 730x has taken care of all subsystems with great case volume, fans in the critical places, and the air-cooled solution on the CPU being of a large PUSH/PULL installation. My memory slots are also in the air flow of the CPU solution, as well as in the air flow of the PCI slot cooling.I was going to go with the Mushkin 1600's, but will stay with my 'new standard' speed of 1337 MHz at very respectable timing settings, for now. I probably am running as fast now at 1337 (stated timings) as those running 1600 MHz parts at 8-8-8-24, most likely. Most likely...out of sheer curiosity, I'll spring for the Mushkin REDLINE, but honestly...and being truly honest...my system's 3.609/1337 is spectacular. How much more in spending another $200.00 with tax...would I see over what is now happening on screen? But...as you know...we all have that morbid curiosity to see what's behind door number three, LOL.We'll see. But as for now....I'm in FSX Heaven and don't plan on drifting down anytime soon, LOLOLOLOL!Cheers...and oh....I can't remember the last time I went into the FL's....for heck..there is SO MUCH fantastic scenery to now actually SEE..and not imagine, nor squint at...LOLOLOLOL! VFR, low 'n slow RULES!Mitch

Hi Mitch,I finally got my 975, I was planning NOT to overclock, but I would like very much to set it up with TURBO and other simple tweakings. I heard you mention several things that would enhance the 975. Is it possible for you to go into SPECIFIC DETAILS on how to accomplish that? Much appreciated.Thanks.Abe

Hi Mitch,I finally got my 975, I was planning NOT to overclock, but I would like very much to set it up with TURBO and other simple tweakings. I heard you mention several things that would enhance the 975. Is it possible for you to go into SPECIFIC DETAILS on how to accomplish that? Much appreciated.Thanks.Abe

------------------------------------------------------Hi Abe...just came back from a great flight from CYYZ to KORD. :)Here is the recipe:Enter your BIOSFind in your BIOS where the TURBO MODE menu is. In mine, it is under Frequency/Voltage ControlHere are the settings you need to make:ADJUST CPU BClK (MHz) [ENABLED] Set to or make sure it is at the default of 133.0 MHzSPREAD SPECTRUM [ENABLED]ADJUST PCI FREQUENCY [AUTO]ADJUST PCI-E FREQUENCY [100]------------------------------------------------------INTEL TURBO MODE [ENABLED]1 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT Abe..either 27 for an overclock of 3.609 MHz, or 28 for an overclock of 3.743 (it will be 27 or 28 x 133) My BClK clock is actually by default, 133.7 Yours may be at 133.02 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT 27 OR 283 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT 27 OR 284 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT 27 OR 28TURBO MODE TDC LIMIT OVERRIDE [160]TURBO MODE TDP LIMIT OVERRIDE [180]Go into your OVER VOLTAGE CONTROL and set the following:DDR3 MEM VOLTAGE [AUTO]DYNAMIC CPU Vcore OFFSET [+80mv]IOH VOLTAGE [1.10v]QPI AND Uncore VOLTAGE [DEFAULT]Abe, about your system memory: If you have 1066 MHz Tri-Channel, and a good memory cooling solution (fans, or onboard module heatsink, etc)Try these settings for drop-dead gorgeous display and performance! The following settings:QPI FREQUENCY [AUTO]MEMORY RATIO [10] This will give you a memory overclock of: 10x133 for 1330 MHz system memory speed. It ROCKS as this overclock. Smooth, scrolling scenery like you've never seen. :)The Following timing settings will give you superb memory performance!:CL 7.0tRCD 7.0tRP 7.0tRAS 20tRFC 59 clocksCR 1T, or 2T if system seems flaky. 1T is good for INTEL based systems with FOUR OR LESS banks per channel. Newer memory modules mostly can run with a setting of 1T which gives you superior performance over 2T.That's the stew....put all the ingredients, along with your 975 into the 'pot'.... and enjoy FSX as on fire! :)Mitch

------------------------------------------------------Hi Abe...just came back from a great flight from CYYZ to KORD. :)Here is the recipe:Enter your BIOSFind in your BIOS where the TURBO MODE menu is. In mine, it is under Frequency/Voltage ControlHere are the settings you need to make:ADJUST CPU BClK (MHz) [ENABLED] Set to or make sure it is at the default of 133.0 MHzSPREAD SPECTRUM [ENABLED]ADJUST PCI FREQUENCY [AUTO]ADJUST PCI-E FREQUENCY [100]------------------------------------------------------INTEL TURBO MODE [ENABLED]1 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT Abe..either 27 for an overclock of 3.609 MHz, or 28 for an overclock of 3.743 (it will be 27 or 28 x 133) My BClK clock is actually by default, 133.7 Yours may be at 133.02 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT 27 OR 283 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT 27 OR 284 CORE CPU TURBO MODE LIMIT 27 OR 28TURBO MODE TDC LIMIT OVERRIDE [160]TURBO MODE TDP LIMIT OVERRIDE [180]Go into your OVER VOLTAGE CONTROL and set the following:DDR3 MEM VOLTAGE [AUTO]DYNAMIC CPU Vcore OFFSET [+80mv]IOH VOLTAGE [1.10v]QPI AND Uncore VOLTAGE [DEFAULT]Abe, about your system memory: If you have 1066 MHz Tri-Channel, and a good memory cooling solution (fans, or onboard module heatsink, etc)Try these settings for drop-dead gorgeous display and performance! The following settings:QPI FREQUENCY [AUTO]MEMORY RATIO [10] This will give you a memory overclock of: 10x133 for 1330 MHz system memory speed. It ROCKS as this overclock. Smooth, scrolling scenery like you've never seen. :)The Following timing settings will give you superb memory performance!:CL 7.0tRCD 7.0tRP 7.0tRAS 20tRFC 59 clocksCR 1T, or 2T if system seems flaky. 1T is good for INTEL based systems with FOUR OR LESS banks per channel. Newer memory modules mostly can run with a setting of 1T which gives you superior performance over 2T.That's the stew....put all the ingredients, along with your 975 into the 'pot'.... and enjoy FSX as on fire! :)Mitch

Thanks very much, Mitch. I could not ask for anything more detailed and to the point. All I need right now is the TIME and the COURAGE to venture into this ADVENTURE.Just a simple question, can all this be done using the onboard INTEL heatsink without any repercussions? Thanks again, MitchAbe

Thanks very much, Mitch. I could not ask for anything more detailed and to the point. All I need right now is the TIME and the COURAGE to venture into this ADVENTURE.Just a simple question, can all this be done using the onboard INTEL heatsink without any repercussions? Thanks again, MitchAbe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------You are most welcome. Glad to help in any way. I have heard that the Intel heat-sink is quite robust. Also, Intel allows you to climb TWO (2) bin speeds and STILL be within their tolerance spec's. So, with your i7-975 stock at a bin speed of 25, you can go to 27 with confidence on ALL FOUR CORES. Just use the above spec's as I have sent, and you will be humming along at 3.6xx GHz. More than enough to drive FSX! I can't speak for any other i7 chip...but on the premium 975, more than enough. By using TURBO MODE, it will be like your 975 is packed in ice...LOL~!Have fun!Mitch

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------You are most welcome. Glad to help in any way. I have heard that the Intel heat-sink is quite robust. Also, Intel allows you to climb TWO (2) bin speeds and STILL be within their tolerance spec's. So, with your i7-975 stock at a bin speed of 25, you can go to 27 with confidence on ALL FOUR CORES. Just use the above spec's as I have sent, and you will be humming along at 3.6xx GHz. More than enough to drive FSX! I can't speak for any other i7 chip...but on the premium 975, more than enough. By using TURBO MODE, it will be like your 975 is packed in ice...LOL~!Have fun!Mitch

Much obliged, again, Mitch!!Abe