If you're going to go sandy bridge for FSX, i5 2500k is the way to go. The i7 2600k's primary advantage over the i5 2500k is hyper-threading, which FSX can't use. You're basically spending 30% more for a feature you can't use. Either way though, make sure it has the 'k' suffix. They're the ones you want for overclocking.

I won't argue with you, but I chose the 2600k because it has a larger cache, 4 more threads, and as you said hyper-threading.

I won't argue with you, but I chose the 2600k because it has a larger cache, 4 more threads, and as you said hyper-threading.

Hypertthreading will always come in handy when doing media work, which for some FS users, is an important part in considering which CPU to get. I say you made a great choice because of the potential for extra resources when needed.

Remember guys that "going for the biggest bang" with top notch CPU and overclocking it, sometimes also increasing voltage, all requires power, which is not free, and if you're from USA, you're already a biggest contributor to the pollution of the environment. Seriously, high end PCs take anything from 650 - 1200 W, which is half of the power used by typical oven, or washing machine.Why not go for what you need rather than what's the best you can get ? Save environment people. Same note to all devs - more optimised code, saves environment.

It's really not that bad man. My computer at full load rarely gets past 400W. Most of the power draw comes from the GPU anyway, and mine is the worst power consumption wise. An OCed CPU increases power draw no more than 50 - 100W maybe. No big deal

Ryan or anyone on the Dev team... Can the FPS performance be compared to the J41? If so, does it have the tuning options in the configuration utility to help improve performance? I can run the J41 with some adjustments in the utility with a Core2Duo 3.2 GHZ Imac, so I am hopeful that the new NGX will run on my rig. Thanks in advance if you can answer this for me.Best regards, Jeff Moss

It's really not that bad man. My computer at full load rarely gets past 400W. Most of the power draw comes from the GPU anyway, and mine is the worst power consumption wise. An OCed CPU increases power draw no more than 50 - 100W maybe. No big deal

Agreed, I rarely see mine get over 400 as well. Only when playing super intensive games like Metro 2033 that load the GPU to 100%.

Well HT isn't really needed for FSX like everyone has said. I was thinking more along the lines of overclockability, although you generally get a higher and cooler clock without HT anyway!

One little question about a videocard upgrade.Will it make a huge difference in fps when I replace my Nvidia 8800 GTX for an 580 GTX?I use a I7 930 processor overclocked to 4 ghz with 6 gb of ram.Thanks in advance

my system idles at 150w and maxes out at 390 when running Fur Mark I also have low power monitors 2x23inch drawing about 18-25 watts each. However I use my laptop alot for browsing the net and that only draws 22w :( So it kinda evens out.

One little question about a videocard upgrade.Will it make a huge difference in fps when I replace my Nvidia 8800 GTX for an 580 GTX?I use a I7 930 processor overclocked to 4 ghz with 6 gb of ram.Thanks in advance

YES! Quite a large difference, the 8800GTX is very old now GPU wise, i went from a GTX460 to a GTX570 and saw a nice difference.

One little question about a videocard upgrade.Will it make a huge difference in fps when I replace my Nvidia 8800 GTX for an 580 GTX?I use a I7 930 processor overclocked to 4 ghz with 6 gb of ram.Thanks in advance

I would buy a 570 instead. You then save more and you're not gonna see much of a difference between a 570 and a 580.

Thanks guys!saving money this summer!

Core i7 2600K + 8GB DDR3 + 500GB SATA HD + GTX570 Full stress on CPU and GPU = 370WattsMonitor don't count when doing this guys, it has their own power supply, we need to measure only what the computer PSU is using.

Hey guys,yesterday I've got my new computer:Asus P8P67 Evo Rev 3.0Asus Geforce GTX 580 Direct CU IIIntel Core i7 2600K8GB DDR3 1600mhzNoctua NH-C12P SE14I'm running on 1920x1080 screen. Now after I installed the FSX and have applied some tweaks (including venetubo, FPS limiter). I installed Aerosoft Brussels and Frankfurt, which I've been using as a testbench with my new system. I've get locked 40 FPS with default trike, which is good. But when I'm using addons, such as F1 Mustang, iFly 737, your MD11 my frames drop to something like 20 fps, from VC. I think that is something I didn't expect when I paid 1400 euros.Can you tell me something I should do to get the performance better? If I go and overclock my 2600k, will it make the performance better? I've seen guys with 40fps in a same scenarious as me.Regards,

Unlock the frame rate when it's low and lock it again when it's high and stuttering.

Hey Andy,it's not stuttering or anything. I'm using external FPS Limiter and it locks it to 40 FPS without stuttering. Problem is that the FPS drops to 20 FPS when using more heavy performance addons, which my friends runs fine.