I have the hardware indicated below as part of my signature.For about $300 +/- I can get a 3.06 GHz 533 FSB Pentium which includes Hyperthreading which my motherboard supports.Another alternative is a new CPU, motherboard, and RAM. I'm thinking 3.0 GHz 800 FSB Pentium (non-Prescott), ASUS P4P800, 1 GB RAM. This looks something like $800 +/-.I'm leaning toward the first as an interim until much faster Prescott Pentiums are available.Perspectives from the community would be appreciated.

It looks like you already have a rather nice system... If you have $800 and it's pocket change, then I suppose it's better. But I would wait if improvment in FS2004 is your main goal. A jump from a 2.53GHZ to a 3.0+GHZ cpu, even if 800 FSB, isn't going to do that much for FS2004. FS2004 seems to favor graphics card upgrades over cpu upgrades.I think you'd find yourself upgrading again fairly quickly since great things are just around the corner.... I'd at least wait for those and you'll see prices slide on what you're considering...-John

I agree with John, pocket that money and use it later. Your not going to get anything vastly different from what you have already and since you have a top of the line video card already then changing from a 2.5 to 3.0 cpu won't make $800 worth of difference in how FS2004 performs.Good luck,Will

Moreover, I have a similar sys (same CPU) and run my CPU at 3001Mhz at 158 FSB. When I am flying it is very hard to notice any difference, despite this nearly 20% improvement in CPU and memory subsystem. The problem comes down to this: when I run AS2004 and PMDG 737, among other things, I am sinking into the 9-12 fps in complex weather. 120% of 10 fps is still only 12 fps, so that's the problem. I think part of this is in my video card, though once again I am loathe to upgrade since 9800 XT only does about 22-25% better than my 9700 Pro. I like to run at 1600 x and would prefer 4x AA, though it takes a hit so I run at 1600 x with 2x AA. There is an improvement by going down to 1280 x so this has me thinking a new vid card would help.I plan on upgrading to next gen ATI R420 and skipping 9800 XT. After that, I am going to swap the mobo and cpu and go for a 3.8-4.0Ghz Prescott in Q4, or shortely thereafter. I may be forced (poor me!) to upgrade to 3.4 - 3.6 Prescott before then as me daughter needs this mobo n ram n cpu for her college rig I will put together. Noel

Thanks to John Will and Noel for their responses.In the words of the song "The Gambler", this sounds like a time to hold 'em and stay with what I've got for at least a short while....