Why not post our various FSX performance results, synthetic benchmarks and/or stress test results on this forum so that we can know how particular hardware combinations work together. I guess I'll go first, so here goes: Here are the PASSMARK performance statistics of this particular i7 2600K CPU (batch L041B204) stabilized at 5.0Ghz with hyperthreading, as recorded by PassMark. The hardware also includes a 580 GTX @ 900MHz, 8g of Mushkin 1600 6-8-6-24 RAM, 2x120g G.Skill 120 SSD (non RAID) on a ASUS P8P67 Deluxe MB. All equipment is air-cooled with CPU temps in mid 60C and GPU at + or - 50C.Click here for the PassMark Website:PASSMARK SOFTWAREPassmark testing results of January 29, 2011CPUi7 2600K ResultsComplete system results compared to other leading hardware combinationsComparative Link 1Comparative Link 2Average performance statistics of the top tested CPUs as of January 29, 2011Passmark Results 1Average performance statistics of the top tested overclocked CPUs as of January 29, 2011Passmark Results 2The data seems to support the idea that the Sandy Bridge Platform provides an opportunity to upgrade hardware at a lesser cost than ever before, and at the same time to achieve excellent performance. It also indicates what can happen when a fast CPU, GPU, RAM, SSD and MB work together.Now it's your turn...

Coming from a QX6700 @2.94 8800GTX 2X2gb@800GHz Striker Extreme Board, Passmark 1749.My experience in having completed two flights CYQG/CYYZ in the PMDG MD11 (Scenery Tech, FsGenesis, GEX, ASE, UTX) on the new system is:1) I lucked out (I hope?) in that I just swapped the drives onto the new board and W7 ran with it. I was surprised given I was coming off a 3ware controller and Nvidia chipset. I just had to reactivate Windows and FSX.2) Other programs MS/Office, seem to open and respond quicker. Internet surfing not significantly affected.3) Images are more clear and sharp. I even see the grain on the panel now.4) Generally smoother operation, far less stutters but I still get some stuttering (I significantly increased FSX settings with the new system vs. old settings). 5) Plane operates different now, needs a more realistic N1 to start to roll on taxy. 6) Overall about a 46% improvement over the old system but not sure something I would jump to buy if I had an i7-9xx chip, If I was coming from a socket 775 for sure an i7-2600 is the way to go.PassMark @4.5GHz 1.3v. 1-hour OCCT maximum temp 57c. I am still stabilizing this may or may not be final.

Another sticky! <_<

specs in sig

Another sticky!

Super! Another post of uselss benchmarks completely irrelevant to FSX, woot woot!!!Come on guys!

Super! Another post of uselss benchmarks completely irrelevant to FSX, woot woot!!!Come on guys!

I'm gonna be posting my FSX benchies here. How many of those have you posted even though you keep claiming you've done tones of them?Thanks for your useless post and another stupid signature

Hello Stephen,Could you please report your 580GTX GPU load(reports by inspector) in your upcoming 2600K FSX benchmarks. Just for comparison with 930.ThanksBob

Super! Another post of uselss benchmarks completely irrelevant to FSX, woot woot!!!Come on guys!

The sarcasm is a bit over the top, don't forget this the other hardware forum so not directly related to FSX.However I echo your sentiments, these benchmarks don't mean a thing, what counts, and why we are all here is to find out how this new tech benefits FSX.Bryan.

benchmark are a good "first view" of a product, but the most intersting things for simmers as us, is a benchmark in fsx, with particulary a/c, addon, sceneries, ....I just finished my new rig this week-end with i72600k and it works very well on Aerosoft mega airport, ORBX airport, with the wilco airbus and UTX, GEX, REX.the worst fps I had was 16fps, on taxi or take off, with 100% traffic, thats very great (100% for ALL traffic!)

Tempted to get a Sandy lookin at these benchmarks, but I just dropped my upgrade money into a RevoDrive.

Is there any reason why we cant just use a mission to judge relative performance? How about Tokyo Executive Transport? It used to be a killer. Just post your system and settings and say what FPS you are getting in the first 30 seconds.

Is there any reason why we cant just use a mission to judge relative performance? How about Tokyo Executive Transport? It used to be a killer. Just post your system and settings and say what FPS you are getting in the first 30 seconds.

good idea, i will try it this evening

Why not use something like FSRecorder and then playback the same loop.

+1, Nobody plays benchmarks.

I'm sorry, but cute remarks don't add to the real discussion at hand - they may sound good, but usually come off as pretty offensive. Don't you think it's funny how the processors that do better in the benchmarks also generally do better in FSX??? I think benchmarks can be useful, you just have to be smart about which benchmarks you use and what settings your using to create an apples to apples comparison. Your time would be better served finding which benchmark best correlates to FSX performance or coming up with a repeatable FSX specific benchmark.

Don't you think it's funny how the processors that do better in the benchmarks also generally do better in FSX???

Wow is that wrong, and what is even funnier is this -Try to answer, leaving the platform and memory subsystem out for the moment why is it that a core duo is as good for FSX Clock per clock to an I7? Core 2 vs I7 in FSX The same reason that the SB is no faster clock per clock to an I7 IN FSX, there are no new instructions in the SB CPU that old FSX can take advantage of vs what those irrelevant and very missleading benchmarks show, clock per clock the advantage is - Zip, Nada ZERO.Its a great new affordable platform that has the potential for a bit more overclocking headroom, Everything else is just wishful thinking but I am sure we will see those numbers just going up and up because this new tech is just soo great! You need to scrap that I7 and buy it!- cough - what a joke.