Hi Guys!Wondering if someone would mind giving me their opinion on this:My current PC spec is a Core2Duo E8500 running at 3.16ghz, with 4GB of DDR2 ram, running W7 x64.Iv seen a good deal for a new PC, with an I7 860 (2.8ghz), and 4GB of DDR3 ram.Both machine have an nVidia GTS250.On my current machine, i can run FSX nice and smooth, but i have to sacrifice traffic (UT2) and light bloom and a few other addons; ideally id like to have these!Question is... Is it worth buying the new PC with the I7 chip, and faster (?) ram...? Are we talking a big difference, or not much?Thank you for your help! :-)

I'm pretty sure it will be significantly faster, especially if you overclock that I7 to 3.8 or 4GHzhow much is it?

I'm pretty sure it will be significantly faster, especially if you overclock that I7 to 3.8 or 4GHzhow much is it?

Cool, thanks for your help. Its a Dell machine, and the BIOS is locked right down, disallowing the CPU settings.... I may buy a new mobo for it tho.Can the mobo affect performance?

the mobo is important for overclocking, and overclocking for performance, so it can in a way, yes1156 boards are not too price though. you can find good deals for 100-150$

Cool, thanks for your help. Its a Dell machine, and the BIOS is locked right down, disallowing the CPU settings.... I may buy a new mobo for it tho.Can the mobo affect performance?

the mobo is important for overclocking, and overclocking for performance, so it can in a way, yes1156 boards are not too price though. you can find good deals for 100-150$

See what you mean... I thought the I7 860 was socket 1366?

no man those are I7 9xx :(it's the same chip, but with dual channel memory. no need for tripple channel anyway IMO

no man those are I7 9xx :(

Yeah, i just saw on Intels site!So - would you recommend this set upgrade? Even if i didnt overclock?

I think that's a great option for FSX. nice bang for the buck and it will certanly be an upgrade, but it's a shame that you can't overclockI see you're from london. have you checked out OCUK overclocked bundles?

something like thishttp://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct....rodid=FS-252-OKit comes with a I5 cpu, that's a I7 without Hyperthreading (useless for FSX anyway)

I think that's a great option for FSX. nice bang for the buck and it will certanly be an upgrade, but it's a shame that you can't overclockI see you're from london. have you checked out OCUK overclocked bundles?

Im looking on their site now at the Gigabyte boards.

something like thishttp://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct....rodid=FS-252-OKit comes with a I5 cpu, that's a I7 without Hyperthreading (useless for FSX anyway)

ok, so it NEEDS an I7 chip for sure?I like the look of this:http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct....amp;subcat=1495I take it ill need a new fan and PSU as well? :)

you can also join the forums if you want to ask fellow brits for advise on particular itemshttp://forums.overclockers.co.uk/

you can also join the forums if you want to ask fellow brits for advise on particular itemshttp://forums.overclockers.co.uk/

Ill have a look on there, see what i can find. Thanks for helping me out. :)

no, not only I7 860, you can also fit any I3 and I5 CPU in that boardI guess that mobo will do, but if I were you I would ask in their forums just to make sure. there's plenty helpful people there and they will let you know if anyone had any issues with that board

Im looking on their site now at the Gigabyte boards.ok, so it NEEDS an I7 chip for sure?I like the look of this:http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct....amp;subcat=1495I take it ill need a new fan and PSU as well? :)

I don't believe that an i7 860 at 2.8 GHz is going to be a significant improvement over a dual core Wolfdale CPU at 3.2--in fact it may be no improvement at all.If you can't overclock the i7, you're really going to be underwhelmed at 2.8 GHz.And it *really* doesn't make sense to buy an OEM Dell PC with the intent of immediately replacing the mobo...with the Dell you're also going to get a marginal power supply, and probably a case that won't permit fitting a large aftermarket CPU heatsink needed to get the best out of an overclock. It's also possible the case will have air ducting specific to their motherboard that just won't fit another.Personally, I think this is a very risky way to go about upgrading.RegardsBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO

I don't believe that an i7 860 at 2.8 GHz is going to be a significant...

I have the case from my old PC and a beefy PSU. Can these CPUs take a lot of over clocking?