Hello all,I have a Dell XPS 420. Its not a bad computer at all. It comes with the Intel E8500 series dual core processor @ 3.15 GHz.Windows Vista 64 bit90% of my planes fly at better than 25 FPS. But my PMDG 747 performs significantly lower than this. Now I am not complaining about this. Its an advanced plane. In the air 17-23 FPS. On the ground at lets say jfk >10 FPS. On the ground at lets say KVCV <13 FPS. This is not something I particularly enjoy at times, but it is something that I have come to accept. Well after watching some videos on youtube and whatnot, of others flying the 747 and seeing their framerates at the ground in the 30's (Im assuming atleast better than 20 FPS) it makes me quest for more. Through out my reading I have come to understand that FSX what would be considered a "processor" demanding game. I have a great video card, and for all intensive purpose a "good" processor.Now here's what the deal is. I have roughly $500 to spend, $600 if I can filter put my fiance's displeasure in spending $600. So with that in mind, I need some help. A.) I would like the Intel i7. Can this processor be installed on the stock Dell motherboard that this PC comes with. It is a Dell 0TP406 mother board with an Intel X38 chipset. I put an Nvidia XFX GeForce 9500GT video card in, and I have a 22" wide screen monitor. This is what I would LOVE to be able to do. BUT, can it be done.B.) Remember this is a Dell computer with a Dell windows vista OS on it, and a dell motherboard. If I were to buy an Intel motherboard, install it on my Dell, am I going to run into an issue when it comes to loading my OS, which leads me to:C.) will I have to buy a new Windows OS (Vista or 7, I really don't care) or can I some way utilize the Dell OS I already have with an Intel Mother board.OR........for roughly $600 what can do. Can I utilize anything from this computer I.e. Power supplies, Hard Drive, Etc. Buy a cheap tower, an intel motherboard (or whatever that can handle the i7) new OS and all that. and make a new computer, and use what I already have.ANY opinions are welcome, just note that I do not have $1000+ build an amazing computer (I want to, I just dont have the means in doing so)So in short: I want the intel i7 950. I want to drop it on my dell motherboard can this happen? and If not I'll probably want a better motherboard to to run the i7: If so, what are some good ones, that can use my power supply, 375W I think, But it might be 425 W.Thanks for your time.

Tim,You are not going to get the 950 on your current board. As for the question on the OS, I think that dell just use an OEM version of Windows. You should be able to drop in new components and have it start up as normal. Be aware that major component changes will require you to re-register the software licence. Your PC should have come with a Vista certificate with the licence details on it (possibly a sticky label on the PC)I would strongly suggest that you not go for the 950 as this is now old tec, go for an I5 2500K system. Your power supply is at the low end and you will need to check if it is compatible with the LGA1155 boards (Google is your friend here). I have done a quick search on the UK computer sites and found that you can get motherboard, cpu and new memory within your current budget. I would also move to windows 7 64 if you can push the boat out.justinpaull

Here is the short answer, sell the dell. Could you make a sweet gaming machine out of that dell? yes.Is it practical? Not even close.In the long run, it will save you money and lots of time by building a custom computer. Plus with the Dell bios you can't even overclock.If you want to hassel with that dell I am gonna tell you now, its not worth it. If you want that i7 its gonna require an ATX motherboard. Your current socket is 775 but the Core i7 950 is a 1366 socket so it WILL NOT FIT. Now since they don't sell BTX anymore, this requires you to buy a new case. Since your PSU is pretty low now, you would end up buying one of those also. At this point, you have bought half the parts to a new computer.This is what I would do. Wait until the end of the year when the new Intel processors come out (I think this is when they come out). By this time you will have more money to the computer fund. You could also just wait a few months(Marchish) when Intel starts manufacturing the FIXED P67 and H67 motherboards, which work with the new Sandy Bridge processors, that were just recalled and build a 2500K 0r 2600K computer.As for the OS, you could use the Dell disk but if you sell the computer I would give that to the buyer and just go buy Windows 7 64 bit OEM (any edition)For 100$ you can get Windows 7 64bit OEM(no microsoft support, and WAY cheaper) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754&cm_re=WIndows_7_64-_-32-116-754-_-ProductLast note, I just finished my first build 2 weeks ago and I am glad I did it. It cost me $800 almost to the penny and this is all after rebates. Of course I already had the keyboard, monitor, mouse and Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate OEMEDIT: Parts that you can use from your DELL are the hard drives, the opticals drives (DVD, blueray, CD) graphics card, the processor if find a motherboard that supports it and thats it. The power supply could work but I would not use it as its pretty low wattage and I am sure Dell use cheap ones.*I learned ALL of this when I tried upgrading my Dell XPS 410 which is essentially the samething as a 420 which I have also.

Thanks, Makes sense so far. To be honest, i want to get rid of this dell motherboard all togather. I was just concerned with it giving me issues with my OS. And I believe you are correct with the OEM version. I want windows 7 and seeing as I have vista 64 bit, I can save a few dollars and buy the Win 7 upgrade version, as opposed to the full on edition which I don't think I'll need. This is a really solid computer............I bought it before I got into FSX and now seeing as I am pretty much in a full blown addiction to this game, I need to upgrade on performance. Thanks for your input. I have checked out the motherboard that I want to get, and I will look into the i5. If you say its better than I'll take your word on it. If I need a new power supply then so be it, I can get one off amazon or ebay if needed. Maybe this one will work, maybe not, I'll look into it. Thanks again for your help.I'm open to ANY suggestion at this point as i wont be dropping money until my tax return comes in anyway and that wont be for a few weeks. So if anyone has any other suggestions, I'm all for it.Thanks.

Here is the short answer, sell the dell. Could you make a sweet gaming machine out of that dell? yes.Is it practical? Not even close.In the long run, it will save you money and lots of time by building a custom computer. Plus with the Dell bios you can't even overclock.If you want to hassel with that dell I am gonna tell you now, its not worth it. If you want that i7 its gonna require an ATX motherboard. Your current socket is 775 but the Core i7 950 is a 1366 socket so it WILL NOT FIT. Now since they don't sell BTX anymore, this requires you to buy a new case. Since your PSU is pretty low now, you would end up buying one of those also. At this point, you have bought half the parts to a new computer.This is what I would do. Wait until the end of the year when the new Intel processors come out (I think this is when they come out). By this time you will have more money to the computer fund. You could also just wait a few months(Marchish) when Intel starts manufacturing the FIXED P67 and H67 motherboards, which work with the new Sandy Bridge processors, that were just recalled and build a 2500K 0r 2600K computer.As for the OS, you could use the Dell disk but if you sell the computer I would give that to the buyer and just go buy Windows 7 64 bit OEM (any edition)For 100$ you can get Windows 7 64bit OEM(no microsoft support, and WAY cheaper) http://www.newegg.co...6-754-_-ProductLast note, I just finished my first build 2 weeks ago and I am glad I did it. It cost me $800 almost to the penny and this is all after rebates. Of course I already had the keyboard, monitor, mouse and Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate OEMEDIT: Parts that you can use from your DELL are the hard drives, the opticals drives (DVD, blueray, CD) graphics card, the processor if find a motherboard that supports it and thats it. The power supply could work but I would not use it as its pretty low wattage and I am sure Dell use cheap ones.*I learned ALL of this when I tried upgrading my Dell XPS 410 which is essentially the samething as a 420 which I have also.

Thanks Taylor,This is something that I had put deep in the back of my head, and was something I didn't want to tell my self was true. But what you are saying is just confirming what I already knew......and that trying to tweek a dell is like trying to polish a xxxxx. I can junk this computer in 2 min, Everything important is already backed up on an External HDD. Thanks for the suggestion, as its most likely the road I am taking.

The new processors to get that just came out that are good for fsx are the Core i7 2600K and Core i5 2500K. The only difference is the 2500K has no hyperthreading (useless in games) 2mb less cache and is clocked .1ghz slower but overclocks insanely. 4Ghz+ on both. Personally I WOULD NOT get the upgrade version of windows 7. One reason is to reformat your drive requires you to install Vista everytime then 7 which is a PAIN! Plus they dont' even sell OEM upgrade. You are gonna actually spend more buying the upgrade then the OEM versionhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116713&cm_re=windows_7-_-32-116-713-_-Product The link above is the windows 7 64 and 32 bit upgrade version of the same OS(home premium) I linked in my previous post above and its about 12 bucks more! SO YOU ARE NOT SAVING ANY MONEY! The upgrade version is more money and more of a hassle to install.The problem with replacing the motherboard in your machine is its BTX form factor. BTX is not sold anymore so getting a motherboard that fits will not work.By the way if you are going to build a computer here are the steps in determining yours products(this is how I did it)Look for the CPU you wantA good aftermarket CPU cooler Haven't gotten one yet but planning on getting one after seeing how bad the stock are.Look for a motherboard that works with thatLook for ram that works with that mother boardLook for a case(this is important as some graphics cards are too long and actually don't fit it)Look for a graphics card you want that fits the caseLook for a power supply (I went with 650 wattage)... and between the case, motherboard and power supply will determind if you can do SLI or crossfire for your computer (which is useless for FSX)I suggest looking at http://www.newegg.com/ for all computer parts.

One last note: Here are the specs of the computer I just bought and built.Case: Antec 300 (great budget case)CPU: Intel Core i5 2500KMOBO: ASUS P8P67 ProGPU: EVGA GTX 460 SE SCPSU: Corsair 650TX 650WattRam: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB DDR3 1600HDDS Samsung Spinpoint F4 320gb 7200RPM WD 500gb 7200rpm caviar(I think, ripped it out of my external) Hitachi 320gb 7200RPMDVD: Sony Optiarc AD-7261S-0BThe only things I didn't buy for the computer(just parts laying around) were the Hitachi 320gb HDD and the WD 500Gb HDD

I like it.My tax returns are what is going to fund this "project". I wanted to beef this computer out, and wanted no problems in doing so. Its abundantly clear now that, there is just too much risk in taking a Dell and trying some things here and there, and looks like it would have been a LARGE waste of my money and time. I hate......HATE waiting for things, but I want to do it right. I wanted to build a custom PC ,Two and a half years ago when my girlfriend and I (at the time.....since then weve gotten engaged) got this thing. She just looked into dell and remembered that she had a $1500 line of credit with them, so we looked into it and found that the XPS 420 would be a good match, and to be honest, this is actually a really great computer. Its quick online, opening programs and all of that nonsense, but its a dell, its a name brand PC and unfortunately, not up to my standards of a gaming PC. And to be even more honest, this thing actually runs FSX very well. Like I said earlier my frame rates for some other 3rd party add ons are in the 20-27 FPS range, and that's really not bad at all. But with the PMDG 747 its just really REALLY lagging, and this is NOT a jab at PMDG. My game looses the frame rates when normal things, like weather, location, and other kinds of environmental factors come in to play as well. But I can only use the Iris A-10 ,or the Lotus Sim L-39 albatross for so long, these planes are fun, and the VC's are AMAZING, but the systems aren't at all complex. The 747 not only has a brilliant VC, but the systems, and everything else involved with it are where the frames are taking the hit. I fly the 747 more than anything else that I own. I would rather take an 11 hour flight with a plane that I LOVE than some 30 min training, or airshow sim with an A-10 that is fun, but not something that I can say holds my interest very long. And with the impending 737NGX release I want my computer to be top notch. FSX is the only game I play on the PC and the only game on this PC. I don't clog it with junk, but its time to upgrade. I am going to build my PC this time, and get it right. I'm not going to start a new thread on where i should go, as new egg is a site that I am familiar with. But, I am open for any and All suggestions in what I should get in terms of this brand over that brand, this processor over that processor, and so on. Lets take the money out of the equation, as the $600 was if I was going to spend it in the next 3 weeks. Given taylor's suggestion, and pretty much something I knew I was going to need to do anyway. I have told my self to just be patient and save my tax money and build apon that. Meaning that if i need to look into putting $1000 together then so be it. In closing, I would like 30+ FPS out of ANY PMDG product. I do not care what the performance is on any other add on plane. I LOVE PMDG......LOVE them, so I want THEIR product to run at better than 30 FPS on the ground at KJFK or KLAX in a thunderstorm, in any time of day at any time of the year, with smooth taxing, and moving my head around the VC. Whom ever can tell me exactly what I need to to to achieve this I'm all ears. Money is no longer an option............as I will just save up from this point forward.

LOL Thats the attitude. Any CPU you get, you are most likely gonna overclock to get more out of FSX. .I had my 2500K at 4ghz briefly and with the PMDG 747 at flytampa KBUF I was getting 15 to 20 fps. With default scenery in the PMDG I get 30 to 45fps(its locked there) depending location though...I can't guarantee the computer you build you will get 30fps with the PMDG anywhere in the world but in the long run when newer technology comes out you will be able to replace the part needed with breeze. The computer will be most likely better than that Dell.FSX is just a poorly coded game and honestly after building this computer I got recently I realized there is no such hardware that exists right now that can play FSX maxed out with the addons at 30+FPS all the time. Default there is but not with addons.Here are a few videos I have created showing my performance if you want to see what to expect if you got my hardware. Not trying to spam, you don't have to check them out. Just for referencehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDWPOEG0woY at 3.7ghz with PMDG 747 KSLChttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihEWLkCxXWA at 3.9ghz with PMDG MD11 at KLAX*Keep in mind my recording software (Fraps) does take away FPS* All the videos are shot at default scenery with PMDG aircraft and Real environment Xtreme 2 + overdrive.Here are pictures of my settings:

I'm doubting to take an Intel Core i7 2500k aswell. Not sure if my ATI Radeon HD5570 would be a good graphics cards for Flight Simulator X. But I think it is.

Thats pretty much what I'm looking for. Thanks Taylor. I have a few pieces, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Video card. So yea, I'll see what I come up with. Thanks for all the help, Its been useful. Yesterday, I was about to get a new motherboard and processor, and frankenstein it in my dell, against ALL of my better judgement, simply because I didnt want to wait, or save up. Clearly that would have been a giant mistake. And now, finally, I get to do what I've wanted to do for a very long time, and customize and build my own PC to the specs that I want, to run the way I want it to.Once again, Thanks guys, for givin' me your opinions and input, it has been useful. I'll post some videos (whenever that is) when I get it everything together and all that.

Thats pretty much what I'm looking for. Thanks Taylor. I have a few pieces, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Video card. So yea, I'll see what I come up with. Thanks for all the help, Its been useful. Yesterday, I was about to get a new motherboard and processor, and frankenstein it in my dell, against ALL of my better judgement, simply because I didnt want to wait, or save up. Clearly that would have been a giant mistake. And now, finally, I get to do what I've wanted to do for a very long time, and customize and build my own PC to the specs that I want, to run the way I want it to.Once again, Thanks guys, for givin' me your opinions and input, it has been useful. I'll post some videos (whenever that is) when I get it everything together and all that.

I know a lot of people here have strong opinions about dell and alienware and I totally agree. I had the dell xps 720 which i got rid off and bought the xps 730 which after a year it went caput, after a long 5 month of trials and errors to fix the pc they decided to offer me a repalcement or a refund which I chose the 1st opt. Since the xps 730 was not manufactured anymore they gave me an alienware area 51 alx which in my opinion it was a bloody good pc (plus more expensive then the 730 not by a lot though) but knowing my luck I was having problems with display driver which again it took a good 5 months to try to fix so finally had enough and got a full refund. Anyway i do appologise for the lecture but the reason behind this is that alienware have a new pc that starts from £999 which is £2000 cheaper then the one I had and they are using the i5-2400 I think its woth having a look. This the link : http://www1.euro.del...s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1If it does not work just go to alienware website and you ll find it very easily.Patrick

Thanks,I think I'm going to stay away from buying a pre built PC. But I will say, that things looks crazy.I have always bought pre built PC's because I was always a console gamer (xbox), so PC gaming meant nothing to me. Then I took a flight to San Francisco, and said "well, that was fun, let me buy FSX and a joystick"....and then the addiction started. On this computer with my video card. I can get 45+ fps with the default planes NO PROBLEM.......but those planes are bunk. I found PMDG, bought the 747 , and thats when the snag hit (a little...) I wasnt getting the 45+ FPS, but I didn't care, because this thing is as real (as far as my non pilot self knows) as it gets. I just cant fly out of KJFK in a thunderstorm, with out taking a serious hit. Now there have been posts about things to configure on the .CFG.......I did it, and it worked but my video card wasnt liking it, and I didnt really see THAT much of a difference. So here I am, I cant stop flyin' the 747, I just cant. So I need a serious upgrade, but in a budget and with parts that I pick and choose.Thanks Patrick, That alienware PC looks insane, but its a thousand euros, and that looks like 1200 American dollars give or take. I can probably make something comparable, for half that. But for those that want it done for you, and something that seems to be really nice, I think will benefit with that option. Thanks for your input.

It'll cost you about $350 for SB 2500k and motherboard, $50 for a decent case, and $50-70 for a better PSU. That's well within your range, and if your current dvd drive and HDD's are Sata, not IDE, then you can transfer those to the new build. It's very doable.PM me if you would like, with questions.. I build computers for a living/side job.My current 2500k at 4.8ghz

This was with FRAPS so I reduced AI traffic (UT2) to compenstate, and I was running at 16xSQ as well, going to 8xSQ gets me better performance at the same visual quality.

Very Nice video David, FSX flyer can you confirm the micro pauses when I'm watching your video is due to FRAPS? I don't call that smooth and couldn't fly with that.And can someone explain why the I5 has integrated graphics? I guess I've been out of the loop for a while.http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-360-INRegards