Which is more important for FSX? I'm looking at buying 2x4GB RAM modules for my upcoming Sandy Bridge system and I think I have two choices:1) Buy 2000MHz with CL9 and try to drop CL to 72) Buy 1600MHz with CL7 and overclock towards 2000MHzIt would be nice to know which is more important before I buy anything. If bandwidth is more important, it would probably be better to start with the 2000 MHz ram and try to drop the timings. If latency is more important, then I'll get the CL7 ram and try to increase the bandwidth.Right now, these two sets look pretty good:Corsair XMS3 8GB DDR3 2000 (9-10-9-27)Mushkin Ridgeback 8GB DDR3 1600 (7-8-7-24)

How about neither... the most important for FSX is the new L3 cache and Integrated memory controller presently found on the i7. Just remember RAM doesn't facililate operations of any kind, you can read , you can write data, but everything has to pass through the L3 upto L1 first before it can be manipulated. For Sandy Bridge and an overclock definitely go to 2000mhz.. I wouldn't worry about latency too much unless there is a drastic difference, but it's definitely the lowest priority of all three numbers.

All the benchmarks suggest Sandy Bridge (2600k) is faster than anything else available, I expect that would apply to FSX as well.

Definitely a new series and I'd sooner get a SB than the current extreme chips. But I think the current SB can be matched with an i7 overclock, where as the LGA2011 you won't be able to do that so easily.

I think the current SB can be matched with an i7 overclock

Good luck overclocking an i7 to 4.8GHz 24/7. As for socket 2011 - that's anywhere from 6 to 12 months away and I won't be able to afford it for at least another year beyond that. Must keep in mind that you will need some monies saved up for the release of Kepler later this year - so buy cheaper 1155 now. Then you will come into 2012 with a well balanced machine ready for 22nm socket 1155 upgrade!I've decided I'm going to get the i7-2600k regardless of whether or not it improves FSX over i5-2500k. FSX isn't the only thing I use my computer for after all.

Yeah I would never buy something that's going to be obsolete in 6 months...especially if it's already planned that way.

Yeah I would never buy something that's going to be obsolete in 6 months...especially if it's already planned that way.

But it's always planned that way.Hardware and software industry never mix global strategy (product release) and R&D.

Hi,Remember that the actual latency is affected my the timing and the speed of the memory.CL7 @ 1600mhz is 8,75ns latencyCL9 @ 2000mhz is 9,00ns latencyso both sets have pretty much the same latency.I have done loads of testing into how different memory speeds and latency affects FSX performance.Do not expect any more then 1% difference between the two sets. The memory is barely affecting FSX at all as long as you run dual channel.

But it's always planned that way.Hardware and software industry never mix global strategy (product release) and R&D.

I think thats the beauty of it all, milk the consumer for what it's worth. Why should an Integrated Memory controller run at core speeds when you could make more money scaling it up slowly.