Stephen,With all the testing that you and others have done. Would you make any changes to the system that you have in your signature? I have been waiting for this forum to sort out the optimal system for FSX before I buy a new system. I do not have the technical ability to sort out all of the test results to come up with an answer for the components that I need to put into a system and why try to reinvent the wheel. I want to clone one of the top performing machines that are presently being used by this forums contributors. I like that you said that the correct mobo would probably allow just an exchange of the CPU if testing did indicate a reasonable improvement in performance. My son is a professional IT hardware/network administrator and will build what I tell him is the machine I want. Since different applications are optimized on different systems, he is not in a position to make recommendations for components for FSX. FSX is the only use for the new computer.Thanks,Lynn

Hi Lynn,What an incredible honor to have someone willing to risk to building a system like mine. I don't know what to say except "I sure hope it all works for you as well as it has for me!" I will try to answer your questions as best as I can.If I had to do it all over and start from scratch I would get a Corsair 1,000 watt modular power supply instead of the 850 watt for more head room. If MS Flight likes SLI the 850 PSU might not be enough.Instead of the 2x120g G.Skill SSDs I would consider getting SSDs at least double their sizes. Right now both are about 75% full. Even though they should be alright, I wish I did not have to even think about it. If ORBX keeps churning out irresistable sceneries I will soon be in trouble.I understand G.Skill is about to release replacement SSD products that will be about twice as fast as mine are, so I recommend you upgrade. It might also be a good idea to check out the competition. Intel, Corsair and Crucial all have fast and reasonably affordable SSDs.I would not change my motherboard, RAM, Prolimatech cooler, case, fans, or anything else. Everything works well together, and I love how the ASUS board has an attachment that brings USB 3.0 to the front of the case. The ASUS bios is outstanding for overclocking ease. Even though many seem to think that a lesser video card will do the job in FSX, I can't help but think that the 580GTX will do it better under all conditions. It has been an absolutely trouble free whisper quiet component running flat out without a single graphical or heat hiccup. There, that is about it. Along with the sound card and Bose speakers and a 40 inch HDTV, it does not get a whole lot better. I would not change a thing beyond looking for more SSD capacity, and speed, if it is available at reasonable dollars. If you luck out, and most do, and get a 2600K that likes 5.0GHz or better, you should be another happy camper. If you go this route, we could talk on the phone when you want to overclock, so we can walk through the settings that seem to work well with this combination.I am sure there are other great combinations here as well. For now these Sandy Bridge FSX engines are pretty much on the leading edge of the razor blade. I hope this helps.Kind regards,

Stephen. A Corsair 850W should be more than enough for a GTX580 SLI. Also, I messured my system power draw (current 4.8GHz OC):Idle: 130WPrime: 260WPrime + Furmark, GTX480 @ stock clocks 700MHz: 460WPrime + Furmark, GTX480 OCed @ 860/1720/2000: 525WSo two OCed GTX480 should draw about 800W. Considering that your GTX580 is less power hungry, you should be ok... question is, when Flight is out will it be a SLI of GTX780, maybe 980?

get the 2500k instead of 2600k if its an FSX onl;y build, save yourself $100 or so.

Thank you all for your time to respond and your suggestions. I am going to build this. Thank you again.Lynn Fisher

Thank you all for your time to respond and your suggestions. I am going to build this. Thank you again.Lynn Fisher

Lynn if you don't mind me asking why don't you try to overclock your CPU first.....I know it will not be as good for FSX as a brand new SB platform but who know you may like what you can get out of the 960 after it's overclocked...EDIT: I read your sig....duh....disregard what I just wrote......:Black Eye: