so basically with my i975 which is going at 4.0 I could possibly get it up to 4.4 ghz, if I get better memory such as 6,7,6=18, upgrade vdieo card gtx 570. and put in a better cooler, my tower is a cool master half 932. Would that be a good assesment or should I go with 2600 and start from scratch?????

Dario,Excellent advice.Rs,I'm in a similar situation. I'm waiting for the 995x so that I can OC to 5ghz, or at least get as close as possible.I will still use the my 975x for my DJ system. As long as I can OC to 4.7-5gz I will get a boost that should help in the most demanding situations.I could also look at any new tech that comes along.

so basically with my i975 which is going at 4.0 I could possibly get it up to 4.4 ghz, if I get better memory such as 6,7,6=18, upgrade vdieo card gtx 570. and put in a better cooler, my tower is a cool master half 932. Would that be a good assesment or should I go with 2600 and start from scratch?????

You really should try to get the 975 performance up, and upgrade to a GTX580. The performance difference between running FSX on a 285 and a 580 is pretty dramatic. If that doesn't do the job, you can still use the 580 in a new build with a Sandy Bridge CPU...but you're right, you'll have to rebuild Rome to make the switch to SB.My 4.4GHz (33 x 134) config on the same motherboard/CPU combo using the new eVGA v82 BIOS uses 1.425v Vcore on the CPU, with VDroop disabled. If you don't have the VDroop turned off, the voltage drop under load will often drop your Vcore to the point of being unstable. I monitor voltages with E-Leet during overclocking trials; Vcore runs around 1.45-1.46v under load at 4.4 GHz. My other settings at 4.4 are:CPU VTT: +200mvCPU PLL: AutoDIMM: 1.65vDIMM DQ: 0mvQPI PLL: 1.325vIOH Vcore: 1.40vIOH/ICH: 1.60vICH: 1.20vPWM freq: 1067 KHzPCIe freq: 101 MHzRAM: 2:12 (I use Mushkin Redline 6-8-6-24-1T @ 1600 MHz)CPU Uncore: 3609MHz (27x)That said, I use a very good custom water cooling system, so temps are a non-issue for me. To run on air at 4.4, you're going to need a good aftermarket CPU cooler like the Prolimatech Megahalems or the Noctua NH-D14.

so I guess since Ivory is not coming out till about a year from now I would just stick withmy current setup I975 which isa going AT 4.0GHZ AND WITH A NICE COOLER AND BETTER VIDEO CARD, AND MEMORY WITH BETTER TIMINGS i SHOULD BE ABLETO GET TO 4.4GHZ AND A SMOOTHER RIDE.wITH MEMORY i SAW A OST ABOUT GETTING 8 GB OF MEMORY RATHER THAN MY CURRENT SYSTEM WHICH HAS 6 GB AND THEY SHOULD BE 2X4. aLSO FOR A VIDEO CARD GTX 580 WHAT BRAND SHOULD i GO WITH AND WHAT SPECIIFICS OD i NEED. APPRECIATE ALL OF THE ADVISE. THANKS SO MUCH , RONNY

so I guess since Ivory is not coming out till about a year from now I would just stick withmy current setup I975 which isa going AT 4.0GHZ AND WITH A NICE COOLER AND BETTER VIDEO CARD, AND MEMORY WITH BETTER TIMINGS i SHOULD BE ABLETO GET TO 4.4GHZ AND A SMOOTHER RIDE.wITH MEMORY i SAW A OST ABOUT GETTING 8 GB OF MEMORY RATHER THAN MY CURRENT SYSTEM WHICH HAS 6 GB AND THEY SHOULD BE 2X4. aLSO FOR A VIDEO CARD GTX 580 WHAT BRAND SHOULD i GO WITH AND WHAT SPECIIFICS OD i NEED. APPRECIATE ALL OF THE ADVISE. THANKS SO MUCH , RONNY

I think the advice to go with 8GB of RAM was intended for a new SB build...the 975/X58 is best run in a triple-channel memory config, and 6GB is plenty.If I were you, I'd start with getting the 975 properly tuned up...you should be able to run at 4.26 (32 x 133) at the settings I posted above...based on my experience helping a few others clock these chips, getting to 4.4 isn't guaranteed or may need some more tuning, but it's rare to find a 975 that won't easily do 32x133 well within intel's specs.Then add the 580...that'll make the biggest difference of the changes we're talking about. All the 580s are manufactured in the same nVidia plant, so the differences are going to be mostly in service and support. I personally stick with eVGA because of the lifetime warranty, support forums and tech support phones manned by actual humans not located in Taiwan or India that speak English, and several experiences that proved to me that they indeed do back up what they sell like few others.Then and only then, if things still aren't smooth enough, would I replace the RAM. That's going to be a relatively minor improvement compared to the 580 and stepping up the CPU another 10%. You might also try clocking up the RAM you have a notch...try either a 2:14 memory clock (1862 MHz with a BCLK of 133) or drop the timings to 8-8-8-24-1T and see if it can carry the mail at those settings (with DRAM voltage set to 1.65v).

I think the advice to go with 8GB of RAM was intended for a new SB build...the 975/X58 is best run in a triple-channel memory config, and 6GB is plenty.If I were you, I'd start with getting the 975 properly tuned up...you should be able to run at 4.26 (32 x 133) at the settings I posted above...based on my experience helping a few others clock these chips, getting to 4.4 isn't guaranteed or may need some more tuning, but it's rare to find a 975 that won't easily do 32x133 well within intel's specs.Then add the 580...that'll make the biggest difference of the changes we're talking about. All the 580s are manufactured in the same nVidia plant, so the differences are going to be mostly in service and support. I personally stick with eVGA because of the lifetime warranty, support forums and tech support phones manned by actual humans not located in Taiwan or India that speak English, and several experiences that proved to me that they indeed do back up what they sell like few others.Then and only then, if things still aren't smooth enough, would I replace the RAM. That's going to be a relatively minor improvement compared to the 580 and stepping up the CPU another 10%. You might also try clocking up the RAM you have a notch...try either a 2:14 memory clock (1862 MHz with a BCLK of 133) or drop the timings to 8-8-8-24-1T and see if it can carry the mail at those settings (with DRAM voltage set to 1.65v).

Bob, don't you think that $500 for a GTX580 would be better spent in a SB CPU + mobo? Maybe we need to know what IQ settings he's currently running his GTX285 atI would try the BP=0 tweak before doing anything else

Bob, don't you think that $500 for a GTX580 would be better spent in a SB CPU + mobo? Maybe we need to know what IQ settings he's currently running his GTX285 atI would try the BP=0 tweak before doing anything else

Not really...I'm running an i7-975 in the same motherboard as the OP and I upgraded a year ago from the 285 in my original build to a 480, then to a 580 a few weeks ago. Smoothness and IQ with both the 480 and (especially) the 580 are dramatically better than anything I got with the 285. The only way I'd even consider moving to a SB with a 975 already in-hand is if the 975 just wouldn't budge above 4 GHz. In my case, the difference between a 975 at 4.55 and SB at 5.0 doesn't justify rebuilding Rome...I'm waiting for Ivy Bridge. The 975 and 580 combo is no slouch running FSX.

The gtx 285 will NOT run BP=0. It will crash and burn. The gtx 570 will be a good upgrade.Bob,Maybe you can help me push my cpu to 4.4?

The gtx 285 will NOT run BP=0. It will crash and burn. The gtx 570 will be a good upgrade.Bob,Maybe you can help me push my cpu to 4.4?

I had no luck with BP=0 on my 285, either.Be happy to help, although I'm experienced with the eVGA X58 board, not so much with the ASUS P6T you're using. Principles are largely the same though. How are you cooling the 975 now, and what kind of temps do you have under load?

Bob,This is the one that I have.Ultra ChillTEC 939/AM2/AM3/775/1366 Thermal Electric Overclocking CPU Cooler With Controllerhttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4387079&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCELooking at the temp gauge, when running FSX, 44 degrees.I can always get a better cooler. Do you recommend the Corsair H70?

Bob,This is the one that I have.Ultra ChillTEC 939/AM2/AM3/775/1366 Thermal Electric Overclocking CPU Cooler With Controllerhttp://www.tigerdire...C7BBTkwCjCECjCELooking at the temp gauge, when running FSX, 44 degrees.I can always get a better cooler. Do you recommend the Corsair H70?

Hi! DJ, I used to have the same cooler as yours in my 775 setup, good cooler but there are a lot better cooler if you want to stay on air and if you have the space in your case like the NH-D14, this air cooler can beat a lot of water cooling system (not custom made one)Here is a review between the H70 and the NH-D14..http://www.kitguru.n...nh-d14-4-53ghz/

Bob,This is the one that I have.Ultra ChillTEC 939/AM2/AM3/775/1366 Thermal Electric Overclocking CPU Cooler With Controllerhttp://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4387079&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCELooking at the temp gauge, when running FSX, 44 degrees.I can always get a better cooler. Do you recommend the Corsair H70?

Not sure that you'll need one. It will be important to keep an eye on the temps, because the Peltier Junction coolers do have a finite thermal transport capacity, and if you exceed that, temps will go up rapidly.If you do end up needing one, I agree with Alain--I am not a fan of the canned water coolers, as they really don't perform better than the good air coolers like the NH-D14 or the Prolimatech Megahalems.So how do you have things (speeds, timings, and voltages) set now at 4.0 GHz?

Bob,I did think I would need a new one. But, the NH-D14 is the direction I will be heading.My settings are basic.Ram is at stock 1600. All settings on auto.Multiplier is at 30My Vcore is at 1.32Everything else is on auto.I've tried raising the multiplies to 32 etc. But I had to raise the Vcore to a red color number. I'm not an expert at overclocking so I just stayed with very safe numbers.I have received some CTDs in FSX, but I have never seen a blue screen with any video program or instability. The only problem has been with certain add-ons which have caused the CTDs so many here have discussed.Thanks.JoseAlain, thanks for your help too.

Jose; The intel spec for the 975 Vcore is 1.20-1.375v normal range and 1.55v absolute maximum, which includes an allowance for a .05v overshoot. You're a long way from there now...lots of headroom still for clocking. The first thing you're going to want to do for overclocks at/above 4 GHz is to turn Load Line Calibration on, and turn C1E and Speedstep off. The LLC setting prevents the core voltage from dropping under load.What are your DRAM and QPI/DRAM voltages?What sort of utility do you have for monitoring voltages and temps?Do you have hyperthreading turned off?

Jose; The intel spec for the 975 Vcore is 1.20-1.375v normal range and 1.55v absolute maximum, which includes an allowance for a .05v overshoot. You're a long way from there now...lots of headroom still for clocking. The first thing you're going to want to do for overclocks at/above 4 GHz is to turn Load Line Calibration on, and turn C1E and Speedstep off. The LLC setting prevents the core voltage from dropping under load.What are your DRAM and QPI/DRAM voltages?What sort of utility do you have for monitoring voltages and temps?Do you have hyperthreading turned off?

Bob, should hyper threading be turned off?