Ryan, is 8GB of RAM really much of an advantage over just 4GB for FSX?

I have built 3 systems for FSX for different people.The cheapest runs fastest and coolest for some reason!. 2500k seems to clock a tiny bit higher than the 2600k and needs a tiny bit less voltage on the same board. My beQuiet air cooler gives lower temps than my H70 and 4GB or RAM makes no difference at all to 8Gb.Tabs suggestion looks perfect, a Gigabyte UD4 or MSI GD65 are also really nice boards, Antec also do nice PSU's.

Hello Ryan,Thank you very much for your reply. It has been very informative.Sorry for the mix up about your role at PMDG! Basically I need an imac for work related reasons, but I want something that will be able to handle FSX well. There is no way I can give up FS.The points you have made about not being able to overclock are very valid, plus consdering the fact, that you have an ultra high resolution display (2560 x 1440), and a mobile graphics card (2gb though, which I am sure will help), means you will not be able to achieve performance in fsx at its fullest.However, would it still be sufficent enough to run something like the PMDG 737NGX, with no scenery addons, at a fairly steady frame rate (30 fps +/-).I am in such a dilemma right now! on one hand I really need a mac, but on the other hand I really want to continue enjoying FS and the soon to be released 737 and future PMDG products.

For a tight budget there're options to save some money:4GB of RAM is ok unless you like huge LOD settings and flying with tons of other applications running like 10 Firefox windows or something. I agree with IainNice budget boards are the plain P8P67 (not the P8P67-M) from Asus, the MSI P67-C45, MSI P67A-C43, MSI P67S-C43, MSI-P67A-G45, MSI-P67S-G45, or even one of these Asrock or BiostarThere's no need to spend 100$ in a CPU cooler like the Noctua NH-D14 or Corsair H70, they are great performers and very quiet yes, but if money is an issue, a Cooler Master Hyper 212+ or a Scythe Mugen II will happily keep a 2500K cool at 4.5 - 4.6GHz in a hot summer even in IndiaAgain agree with Iain. Antec makes great PSU's and usually go for good prices, like this 520W Prakhar, is the GTX460 really that much more expensive than the 5770? Problem with the 5770 & FSX is that it will probably perform terribly bad in clouds, and will run poor AA

You'll be over 100 fps with what you got. I got the n-vidia 590 card and the I7 990 CPU and see > 100 fps with all the scenery maxed out flying the PDMG 747 (2D panel). I did nopt load in Ultimate Traffic yet, but added FlyTampa Tampa, St. Marteen which do seem to take a hit on FPS when approaching those airports - but still get >>50 fps.

I will be buying my pc today, just in few hours I will decide which one to get. Most probably I will get either of these:CPU: either i7 2600k or i5 2500kMotherboard: 1) ASUS P8P67 deluxe2) ASUS P8P67 Pro3) ASUS Sabertooth P674) ASUS P8P675) ASUS P8H67-V (very less chance to buy)RAM: 4GB DDR-3 1333MHZPSU: Cooler master extreme power plus 600 watts SMPS or Cooler master extreme power plus 650 watts SMPSCase: I will use my old case i.e Iball I7272.CPU cooler: Corsair H70.please tell me which is the best motherboard amongst and which CPU is better, I can get any of these without any problem.and will that coolermaster PSU be able to handle gtx 460 or so?I also want to know that will this SMPS http://www.kunhar.com/vipcabinets/smps04.html be able to handle i7 2600k or i5 2500k when overclocked and when paired with 9800gt.thanking you,Prakhar Tripathi

CPU: either i7 2600k or i5 2500k

For the 823764234th time, get the 2500K and overclock it

Motherboard: 1) ASUS P8P67 deluxe2) ASUS P8P67 Pro3) ASUS Sabertooth P674) ASUS P8P675) ASUS P8H67-V (very less chance to buy)

4) Asus P8P67 is just fine for a single GPU setup. 1) and 3) don't offer much over the 2) Asus P8P67 Pro, and 5) is a NO NO since it's a H67 board for the reasons exposed a zillion times too, so it's 4) or 2)

PSU: Cooler master extreme power plus 600 watts SMPS orCooler master extreme power plus 650 watts SMPSCase: I will use my old case i.e Iball I7272.and will that coolermaster PSU be able to handle gtx 460 or so?I also want to know that will this SMPS http://www.kunhar.co...ets/smps04.html be able to handle i7 2600k or i5 2500k when overclocked and when paired with 9800gt.

Those Cooler Master PSU's are not really very good, but they will handle an overclocked I5 2500K and a GTX460. The SMPS 400R one in that link is rubbish, don't even consider using it for your new build

The PSU is one of the most important items in a PC build, if it fails, it can pull down many other components with it. DONT save money on the PSU, Coolermaster, never used one, I wouldn't recommend one, get an Antec/Corsair/OCZ or similar.I think you asked about the 2500k vs 2600k many many times, 2600k has HT, which FSX doesn't utilise, so get a 2500k unless you need HT for another application...it's quiet simple.Get an Asus Pro it's a good board, good value for money, and like the poster above, make sure it's a P67.You won't get +50 or +100 FPS with maxed out settings, I can get my FPS to under 10 easily at FSDT JFK, with 100% traffic, full cloud cover, J41 etc etc, the CPU's are great but they don't produce miracles!!

yes, I know that PSU is rubbish but I think it will run a 9800gt and an i7 2600k because I remember overclocking my pIIx4 945 with that, it was pretty good experience and it also handled my overclocked 9800gt well, therefore I am assuming that it won't cause any problem.as for processor, I will buy i7 2600K instead of I5 because it is a good value for money, not only fsx, I will play many other games like crysis 2, Grand Theft Auto 4, Fallout new vegas, buletstorm etc. so by far I am considering i7 2600k a better choice, I mean why can't I get the same if you guys can . and as for graphics card 9800gt is still a legend.as for motherboard ASUS P8P67 deluxe is what I am considering to buy.I will get 4GB DDR-3 RAM 1333 MHZ most probably.

LOL, every one's patience has a limit. I give up

LOL, every one's patience has a limit. I give up

:biggrin:I've been following this thread with great interest as I'm about to build my own PC for the first time ever. Thanks for sharing all your collective wisdom!

thanks to all who helped me, especially dazz and tabs.I got the following configuration:i7 2600kasus p8p67 deluxe4gb ddr3 ram500gb hdd (old one)i ball i7272 (old one)without overclocking even, fsx is running awesome with all the PMDG addons, ORBX and REX.I don't know how, but that 400r model of PSU is also running without any problem, 9800gt is happy with its new neighbors. once again thanks to everybody.special thanks to dazz andspecial thanks to Tabs andspecial thanks to everyone! I will never forget you people.regards,Prakhar Tripathi

yes, I know that PSU is rubbish but I think it will run a 9800gt and an i7 2600k because I remember overclocking my pIIx4 945 with that, ...

Would that be your RUINED pIIx4?

Would that be your RUINED pIIx4?

not that way Paul, some CPU pins of my P II X4 broke and it died instantly, shotting the socket. It happened because of a sudden jerk caused by my hand which was kept aside the CPU.

Let me try and get this right. It wasn't overclocking that ruined your last setup, it was a jerk? And based on that you are not only willing, but insist on paying extra for a K chip (K means overclock) but refuse to overclock it. You are right to be afraid of jerks. You have been a source of great entertainment, but I think this joke has probably gone on for long enough.