Hello,Im planning to get a completely new gaming rig to run FSX and Orbx with very high settings which Im getting from a computer company - http://www.hiteksystems.co.nz/. I've brought a pc from them before which Im using now.Here are the specs: (not finalised yet, still adding/removing some hardware)Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout Motherboard: Asus P6T 1366 MBCPU: Core I7 950 3.06Ghz - hoping it to be overclocked to 4ghzAir Cooler: i7 1366 aftermarket coolerRAM: Corsair 6GB (3x XMS3 2GB) PC-12800 (1600MHz) XMP, DOMINATOR GT +DHX +AirFan, DDR3 For X58 MB/i7 Core, 3x240-pin DIMMs, Triple Kit, 7-7-7-20,HDD: 4x 500GB Fast SATA2 HDs RAID 5 array Optical Drive: Samsung DVDRW DriveGPU: GTX 580 Graphics CardPSU: 1000W Silverstone PSUOS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitCost: NZD $3450 + GST Labour to Build, Install Win 7 O/S, Configure & TestIm not building my computer. I don't even know how to build one in the first place, lol. Steve, one of the guys at HitekSystems is ordering, building, installing OS and testing my computer. He has worked with computer for 15+ years and he suggested that I should go with RAID5 as it's fast or w/e and doesn't fail. But thanks for the offer. :)Here's what he said on one of my emails:"RAID 5 is the next up the list and you can have between 3 to 6 drives and once you start getting 4 drives or more the RAID 5 arrays end up very fast as youend up getting the read speed of all 4 drives combined together, this is why a good & fast RAID 5 array with std fast 7200 RPM Drives can end up faster than a single SSD and even A RAID 0 SSD Array, plus you get the redundancy if you have a single drive failure you get no data loss which is nice."Im still thinking about SSD RAID0 and a 800W PSU if that what other FSX people have said.So what do you guys think?

FSX won't see this "extra speed" through raid 5. If it's onboard raid, it'll drop your FSx performance, if it's a card, then only a slight increase in performance. For FSX, a Vrap or SSD is more beneficial.

Hello,Im planning to get a completely new gaming rig to run FSX and Orbx with very high settings which Im getting from a computer company - http://www.hiteksystems.co.nz/. I've brought a pc from them before which Im using now.Here are the specs: (not finalised yet, still adding/removing some hardware)Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout Motherboard: Asus P6T 1366 MBCPU: Core I7 950 3.06Ghz - hoping it to be overclocked to 4ghzAir Cooler: i7 1366 aftermarket coolerRAM: Corsair 6GB (3x XMS3 2GB) PC-12800 (1600MHz) XMP, DOMINATOR GT +DHX +AirFan, DDR3 For X58 MB/i7 Core, 3x240-pin DIMMs, Triple Kit, 7-7-7-20,HDD: 4x 500GB Fast SATA2 HDs RAID 5 array Optical Drive: Samsung DVDRW DriveGPU: GTX 580 Graphics CardPSU: 1000W Silverstone PSUOS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bitCost: NZD $3450 + GST Labour to Build, Install Win 7 O/S, Configure & TestIm not building my computer. I don't even know how to build one in the first place, lol. Steve, one of the guys at HitekSystems is ordering, building, installing OS and testing my computer. He has worked with computer for 15+ years and he suggested that I should go with RAID5 as it's fast or w/e and doesn't fail. But thanks for the offer. :)Here's what he said on one of my emails:"RAID 5 is the next up the list and you can have between 3 to 6 drives and once you start getting 4 drives or more the RAID 5 arrays end up very fast as youend up getting the read speed of all 4 drives combined together, this is why a good & fast RAID 5 array with std fast 7200 RPM Drives can end up faster than a single SSD and even A RAID 0 SSD Array, plus you get the redundancy if you have a single drive failure you get no data loss which is nice."Im still thinking about SSD RAID0 and a 800W PSU if that what other FSX people have said.So what do you guys think?

HelloChris is correct in saying that raid 5 on a motherboard chipset will give nearly zero benefit on FSXThe guy just wants to sell you some of his old stock mechanical drives.

Get 2 SSDs: One for your Windows, one for FSX. Period. Make sure the SSDs you get allow FirmWare updates and implement the "Trim" command.And if you're not in a rush, on January 9, 2011, Intel is releasing "Sandy Bridge" CPUs implementing the next micro-architecture. Expect 10-15% more performance for the same clock rate and expect prices of older pre-Sandy Bridge CPUs to fall.Cheers,- jahman.

Get 2 SSDs: One for your Windows, one for FSX. Period. Make sure the SSDs you get allow FirmWare updates and implement the "Trim" command.And if you're not in a rush, on January 9, 2011, Intel is releasing "Sandy Bridge" CPUs implementing the next micro-architecture. Expect 10-15% more performance for the same clock rate and expect prices of older pre-Sandy Bridge CPUs to fall.Cheers,- jahman.

I plan on waiting until the new architecture is released but the Jan release will be the less complicated CPU's such as the I-3 today. The good high end stuff "may" be released in the 2nd quarter and that will be your 6 or 8 core processors - http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20100209194503_Intel_to_Release_Sandy_Bridge_Processors_New_Infrastructure_in_Q1_2011_Source.html . I'm not sure I can wait that long for the high end CPUs but my current system is aging pretty fast. I just need a little more patience.... I think I'll still be able to order the 6 series chipset MB and get most of the other parts for the system architecture. Best regards,Jim

Ok I've gone for this:1x 120GB SSD for FSX / addons1x 1TB F3 drive for OS, games, etc

Here are the final specs. Hitek Systems Custom Built Gaming PC using the following components: Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout PSU: 1000w Silverstone PSUMotherboard: Asus P6T X58 1366 CPU: Intel I7 950 3.06Ghz - Overclocked 4GhzAir Cooler: Aftermarket I7 PerformanceGPU: Geforce GTX580 RAM: 6GB Corsair CL7 Triple Channel DDR3 1600 Mhz HDD 1: Corsair Force Series 120GB MLC SSD Drive - For Flight Simulator X Acceleration and addons etc HDD 2: 1TB Samsung F3 HDD - For OS, other games, etcOptical Drive: Samsung DVDRW DriveOther: - 1 Year RTB Hardware Warranty on the entire PC, extended warranty options available. - Includes Labour to physically build the PC, install Windows 7 HP 64bit Operating system + latest updates & drives then burnin test the PC to ensure running nicely before client comes to pickup.

I plan on waiting until the new architecture is released but the Jan release will be the less complicated CPU's such as the I-3 today. The good high end stuff "may" be released in the 2nd quarter and that will be your 6 or 8 core processors - http://www.xbitlabs....011_Source.html . I'm not sure I can wait that long for the high end CPUs but my current system is aging pretty fast. I just need a little more patience.... I think I'll still be able to order the 6 series chipset MB and get most of the other parts for the system architecture. Best regards,Jim

That article was written back in February. Mainstream Sandy Bridge (LGA 1155) will be released in JanuaryHigh-end Sandy Bridge (LGA 1356 and LGA 2011) will be released Q4 2011 or Q1 2012

What's an "aftermarket high performance air cooler"? That could be anything from a $20 cheapy with no cooling power, or a noctua nh-d14, with tons of cooling power. Make sure it's a well rated CPU cooler.

What's an "aftermarket high performance air cooler"? That could be anything from a $20 cheapy with no cooling power, or a noctua nh-d14, with tons of cooling power. Make sure it's a well rated CPU cooler.

Good question. I don't know myself. I'll email him now or soon. :)

The cooler is the Aywun A1-V10.

If you're getting 1600 DDR3 - insist on CL6 timing - it's readily available.Vic

update: 04/12/2010 - see RAM, HDD1, Case & GPUHere are the final specs. Hitek Systems Custom Built Gaming PC using the following components: Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid Tower PSU: 1000w Silverstone PSUMotherboard: Asus P6T X58 1366 CPU: Intel I7 950 3.06Ghz - Overclocked 4GhzAir Cooler: Aywun A1-V10 GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX580 RAM: OCZ Reaper HPC 6G DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) , Triple Channel Kit (3 x 2GB) , CL7 Edition Low Voltage , CAS 7-7-7-24 , 1.65 Volts , Ultimate HDD 1: OCZ Vertex2 120G Solid State Drive 2.5", High Performance , SATA II , 3.5" Bracket Included . (Max Write Speed 275MB/s ) - For Flight Simulator X Acceleration and addons etc HDD 2: 1TB Samsung F3 HDD - For OS, other games, etcOptical Drive: Samsung DVDRW DriveOther: - 1 Year RTB Hardware Warranty on the entire PC, extended warranty options available. - Includes Labour to physically build the PC, install Windows 7 HP 64bit Operating system + latest updates & drives then burnin test the PC to ensure running nicely before client comes to pickup.

That cooler looks somewhat suspicious. I looked it up and there's very few sites it can be purchased and none have reviews. For the ~$50 it costs you could get a more well known cooler

Like the noctua nh-d14.