CPU: You seem to still want a 2600k, so I will tell you this: FSX is all about clock speed on the CPU. Usually you get a higher overclock when HT is off. Remember that many times heat is a consideration with how high you can overclock, and HT generates a lot of heat. So, if you do get the 2600k, my recommendation would be to turn HT off in the bios, and then if MS Flight uses HT, you can turn it back on. Also, you will absolutely need an aftermarket CPU cooler to overclock. The intel coolers are crap. I have the H70 and it is a fantastic cooler! Somebody above posted a link to the H70.

GPU: You NEED to upgrade you GPU, no question. That is a very old chip with a very old architecture. It will be a serious bottleneck for your new system. You will still see stuttering and bad texture load times, etc if you keep that card. Besides, Ryan has already stated that 1GB is the minimum recommended for the NGX, and you have half that. I don't mean to sound harsh or anything, but it would be a serious shame for you to go through all of this work, and when you finally run fsx you're disappointed. http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=193_1193&products_id=16576I have the EVGA version of this card, and it performes great! no stutters at all. It is pretty cheap too. I would still get a new HDD for your new build. What I would do is get this HDD http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=210_344&products_id=13197 Then I would create a new partition on your old HDD, (don't overwrite anything, just use free space for the parition). I would put your old and new HDDs in the computer, and install W7 onto the new partition that you made on your old HDD. Confused yet?? Then I would use your new HDD for fsx, and other "special" programs. So fsx would be installed on your new HDD, and w7 would be on your old HDD. Got it? This will give you a nice performance boost. Also, you will still be able to access your old files and programs from your old disk by having it on a separate partition. This allows you to perform a clean install, whilst keeping your files. I would use a bootable partition manager to perform the HDD setup. I would rename the partitions as well. C for your windows 7 partition, D for the new sim HDD, and E for your old partition with your files etc. Also, when you install fsx, don't let the installer put it in the default location. (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games.......) You want to first make a folder right on your new HDD called SIM. Then when the installer starts, direct it to the new folder that you made. Example: E:\SIM. I sincerely hope this helps! If I'm forgetting anything that you asked about, ask again. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them! Take care. =)

GPU: You NEED to upgrade you GPU, no question. That is a very old chip with a very old architecture. It will be a serious bottleneck for your new system. You will still see stuttering and bad texture load times, etc if you keep that card. Besides, Ryan has already stated that 1GB is the minimum recommended for the NGX, and you have half that. I don't mean to sound harsh or anything, but it would be a serious shame for you to go through all of this work, and when you finally run fsx you're disappointed.

Yes I know, I just want to know if it will be compatible. I will eventually upgrade to either gtx 560 ti or gtx 570 so is the rest of the system good (my budget is sort of tight, ok, I may give in, I will look more into the i5 2500k)

CPU: You seem to still want a 2600k, so I will tell you this: FSX is all about clock speed on the CPU. Usually you get a higher overclock when HT is off. Remember that many times heat is a consideration with how high you can overclock, and HT generates a lot of heat. So, if you do get the 2600k, my recommendation would be to turn HT off in the bios, and then if MS Flight uses HT, you can turn it back on. Also, you will absolutely need an aftermarket CPU cooler to overclock. The intel coolers are crap. I have the H70 and it is a fantastic cooler! Somebody above posted a link to the H70.

I will be using other programs and I will only overclock when I have descent cooling.

PSU: I have heard bad things about OCZ PSUs. Corsair and Sesonic make the best PSUs. Here is a great seasonic PSU that is the same price as the OCZ that you were looking at. http://www.pccasegea...oducts_id=13567

Would this be good with the GTX 570, multiple HDDs, i7 2600k, lots of big fans on the HAF 32

Hi Andrew. Here's my advice:Ram: You chose 6GB kit. The 1155 platform is a dual channel platform. You shouldn't go with 6GB because that is for the triple channel platform. (1366) You should buy either 4 or 8 GB for the 1155 socket. Also as stated above, 1.65 volts is not recommended for this platform. Most people report no issues using this voltage, but the max recommended is 1.5. Here is my recommendation: http://www.pccasegea...oducts_id=16929For memory, I almost always get G.Skill. They are very reliable, friendly, and have a lifetime warranty. Any RipJawsX (note the X at the end) is designed specifically for the P67 boards. The set quoted above is an 8GB set. They make the same kind of memory (RipJawsX) in a 4GB kit as well.

Whoops, boo-boo! I am learning lots though. Could I please have a link to the 4GB kit.

That PSU should be plenty. If you have doubts, see here: http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

I don't see it on the site that you have been using. It might be on there, but I didnt see a way to sort he results. It seems like you just have to look through all of the results and hope to pick out the product you want. I am browsing on my iPhone, so there may be some sort of compatibility issue. Anyway, I'm sure this is available in OZ, but I'll leave it to you to find a store that you like. Here is a link from the US. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231443Technically the 9800 is a PCIe card, so it will fit, it just won't perform.

Yes I know, I just want to know if it will be compatible. I will eventually upgrade to either gtx 560 ti or gtx 570 so is the rest of the system good

I am posting so frequently, that my new posts are just being added on to previous posts. So in case you didn't see this above:

I would still get a new HDD for your new build. What I would do is get this HDD http://www.pccasegea...oducts_id=13197 Then I would create a new partition on your old HDD, (don't overwrite anything, just use free space for the parition). I would put your old and new HDDs in the computer, and install W7 onto the new partition that you made on your old HDD. Confused yet?? Then I would use your new HDD for fsx, and other "special" programs. So fsx would be installed on your new HDD, and w7 would be on your old HDD. Got it? This will give you a nice performance boost. Also, you will still be able to access your old files and programs from your old disk by having it on a separate partition. This allows you to perform a clean install, whilst keeping your files. I would use a bootable partition manager to perform the HDD setup. I would rename the partitions as well. C for your windows 7 partition, D for the new sim HDD, and E for your old partition with your files etc. Also, when you install fsx, don't let the installer put it in the default location. (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games.......) You want to first make a folder right on your new HDD called SIM. Then when the installer starts, direct it to the new folder that you made. Example: E:\SIM. I sincerely hope this helps! If I'm forgetting anything that you asked about, ask again. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them! Take care. =)

Then I would create a new partition on your old HDD, (don't overwrite anything, just use free space for the parition). I would put your old and new HDDs in the computer, and install W7 onto the new partition that you made on your old HDD. Confused yet?? Then I would use your new HDD for fsx, and other "special" programs. So fsx would be installed on your new HDD, and w7 would be on your old HDD. Got it? This will give you a nice performance boost. Also, you will still be able to access your old files and programs from your old disk by having it on a separate partition. This allows you to perform a clean install, whilst keeping your files.

Yes, very confused. I would like to know exactly how similar the i5 2500k is to the i7 2600k. I am a bit suspicious because the i5 has a 6mb cache and the i7 has the 8 (no idea what the cache is but better to ask than to not) and it runs at less mhz (or khz or maybe even hz i have no idea) i believe it is 3000 on the i5 and 400 on the i7. The Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency is less so I was just wondering how much of a difference this would make. Regards,Andrew CaryP.S. Ethan, I tried the PSU calculator and it came to 495 W but I got confused and I don't think I put everything into it so although 620 W will be enough I may go up to a 700 W just to be safe.

Is this the RAM you were talking about Ethan:Gskill 4GB 1600 C8 TD Sorry haven't got a link. if it is no good could you please send me to a link on the PCCG website for the best 4GB of G.Skill or if you can't find it there could you please take a look at:www.msy.com.auwww.cpl.net.auThanks

I think I should find a place to sell the old pieces that are working from my old pc. I don't actually know if I have asked anyone but what sort of problem does this sound like:The computer will not start up. The blue light on the side will come on for a fraction of a second but absolutely nothing happens on the inside of the computer. I have a surge protected powerboard with lights signifying the power is on. When I switch it off on the pc's switch, it sort of fades down so it is not the PSU in my mind. I have also tested the CPU in my older computer, it definitely works but my old pc's PSU wasn't strong enough so it shut down. Very odd, any idea's to what I shouldn't and could sell.RegardsP.S. I think I should be able to get a bit from the E8400 as it is no longer in production and silly people like me that blew their pc up could buy it or it could be worthless.

Anyone know what I could get if I sold:Intel E8400Gigabyte EP45-UD3Antec Basiq 500WCooler Master 333 Elite2x2GB Carsair XMS DDR2One of these is not working and I have suspicions that it is the mobo.Thanks

96 posts, am I nearly a member.

99; one more to go!!

Carefull...747dash8 just got banned for doing the same thing. I think you may be joking, but David may not see that.

Anything more than 4GB for FSX or FS2004 is a waste, because, even if they run on 64-bits windows, they will be running in 32-bits mode, because Flight Simulator is a 32-bits application.Your best bet is a good graphics card, a fast processor (quad core i7) and if you can afford it an SSD (Solid State Drive)... Also make sure your RAM is fast... and again, Anything more than 4GB will help you to run 64-bits windows apps, but not FSX.Hope this helps.Cheers,BW

Not quite true. While FSX (and FS9) can only use a max of 4G, and even then, only when using a 64bit OS, you have to remember that lots of other things are running at the same time and they all need memory as well. If you only have 4G installed, those other tasks have to take memory from FSX, which in the worst case, can lead to disk swapping. The sweet spot for FSX seems to be 6 or 8 Gig, 64bit Win 7, and 3.8Ghz or better multicore cpu with no HT.

Even with big LOD levels of 7.5+ it's hard to see FSX taking up more than 3GB of RAM, and Win 7 has a great memory mangement that will free up space from prefetch if needed. I've never seen a page fault in FSX with 4GB of RAM. I prefer 4GB as it's cheaper, faster RAM and overclocks better