Have a 2

An overclock would help, all you would have to do is get a decent cooler for the CPU. You should be able to get that thing to 3.0 fairly easy. The Q6600 have been known to go to 3.6, but that takes some effort.

An overclock would help, all you would have to do is get a decent cooler for the CPU. You should be able to get that thing to 3.0 fairly easy. The Q6600 have been known to go to 3.6, but that takes some effort.

I have a similar setup but with a Tuniq Tower cooler on the Q6600. I also have a 9800 graphics card in there. I have my CPU at 3.4Ghz and it took no effort at all to get it that fast, simply set the FSB in BIOS and it was done, simple as that. However my FSX performance is still limited, with good scenery and the PMDG 747 I struggle a bit with frames but I do run at high 1080p resolution on a large screen. However it's still not much better on my 1600x1200 22" LCD. Let me put it this way, I fly with FS9 pretty much all of the time because it's the only sim I can fly in that's fluid. I'd love a system that could cope with FSX and run it to the same standard but my Q6600 even at that speed won't manage that.As for upgrades, when it comes to FSX I am not convinced there is a bang for buck option. To run that thing you need something pretty meaty. To run it like I run FS9 I'd be looking at a I7 950 clocked at about 4.5Ghz, that'll involve water cooling etc and some serious expense.. and of course most likely a new graphics card to go with it.. although I believe that's less important... If anyone thinks otherwise and has another idea I'd love to hear it, as at the moment from what I've seen, read and my discussions with others this really seems like the only option available to get fluid FSX.My advice, spend money on FS9, buy a Tuniq Tower and clock that Q6600 to 3.4Ghz, and you're away on FS9 for the time being.CheersCraig

An overclock would help, all you would have to do is get a decent cooler for the CPU. You should be able to get that thing to 3.0 fairly easy. The Q6600 have been known to go to 3.6, but that takes some effort.

I have the stock Intel cooler now. I'd love to find the right cooler that won't require a bracket on the underside of the motherboard, as I really don't want to disassemble the entire rig.

I have the stock Intel cooler now. I'd love to find the right cooler that won't require a bracket on the underside of the motherboard, as I really don't want to disassemble the entire rig.

I hope you don't find offense in the following remark, but if you're not willing to tinker, you've got the wrong hobby ;)