Hardware and OS transition (FS9/FSX)

[Rafal 474]

Hello fellow simmers!Here I am pasting my post from the genearl MFS forum. I should have posted here first, so sorry if you already saw it there.This is a shorter version, to concentrate on hardware. Thanks a lot in advance for any assistance in my transition.I am aware you may have been answering similar questions before, so please forgive me but I got a bit lost in all this hardware madness I've never been really good at...(...)After a few long years of using my computer to fly FS9, the time has finally come for me to perform a huge replacement.I am going to buy a completely new PC since no more changes or upgrades seem possible or reasonable with my old equipment, which is currently (after a few lift-ups):GA-EP43-UD3L, E8400 3GHz, GeForce 8800GT, 4 GB RAM 2x2 DDR2, PSU Xilence XP700, Win XP 32 bit.I need some professional help based on your knowledge and experience as I am by no means a hardware specialist and I would not like to make a mistake as my next purchase will come probably in... another couple of years!I need a very good rig but not the world’s best as my bank account (read: my wife) does have certain limits (lol). I am going to continue flying mainly FS9 (for many reasons).And I would love to have a perfectly fluid experience when performing my type of simming (airliners with all possible addons of scenery, traffic, weather, textures, etc).But at the same time I would like to give FSX another try as there are some great addons I really miss in FS9 and really want to try.I do not know the final cost yet but I plan (read: am allowed to, lol) to spend around 4000 PLN, which would calculate into some 900-1000 euro or 1200-1500 USD.Plus the cost of Windows 7 64 bit unless it is included in the price (would be really good) as happens with some offers around.1. My collected hardware choice - from what I can figure out after reading many recent threads, a good idea (for now and the nearest future) could be to invest in:a. processor: Intel i7 2500k or 2600k 3.4 GHz ?b. graphics card: GTX 570 <--- if so, then which model? 1280MB or 2560MB?c. motherboard: AsRock or Asus? Which models do you recommend?d. RAM: 8 GB <---- too many options for me though to choose the manufacturer/modele. hard disc: a good SSD one <---- but which model?f. PSU: Corsair WX 750 ?Would the above be good choices? If not – what else would you personally recommend?BTW I am rather not planning to overclock – I have always been a total ignoramus when it comes to it2. What about other not listed hardware parts? Do you have any advice on them?3. Is a separate sound card really recommended (and worth investing) for simming or are the mobo-integrated ones good enough (I don't have a separate one at the moment)?4. Does it really matter how many HD partitions you create and where you install what (currently under my XP 32 bit I have only disc C: and everything is installed there)?Thank you very much in advance!

[ryanbatcund 4,359]

1. My collected hardware choice - from what I can figure out after reading many recent threads, a good idea (for now and the nearest future) could be to invest in:a. processor: Intel i7 2500k or 2600k 3.4 GHz ?b. graphics card: GTX 570 <--- if so, then which model? 1280MB or 2560MB?c. motherboard: AsRock or Asus? Which models do you recommend?d. RAM: 8 GB <---- too many options for me though to choose the manufacturer/modele. hard disc: a good SSD one <---- but which model?f. PSU: Corsair WX 750 ?Would the above be good choices? If not – what else would you personally recommend?BTW I am rather not planning to overclock – I have always been a total ignoramus when it comes to it2. What about other not listed hardware parts? Do you have any advice on them?3. Is a separate sound card really recommended (and worth investing) for simming or are the mobo-integrated ones good enough (I don't have a separate one at the moment)?4. Does it really matter how many HD partitions you create and where you install what (currently under my XP 32 bit I have only disc C: and everything is installed there)?Thank you very much in advance!

a. 2500K - because it's cheaper and does basically the same thing. Yes you'll get a few more features from a 2600k but they're not worth $100b. Depending on the size of your monitor a 560 ti would be fine, and cheaper. I have a 570 with my 23in 1920x1080 and it does well for other games like BF3.c. Either Asus or Gigabyte, be sure to get a Z68 motherboard.d. 8GB of any low latency stuff is fine. Example Gskill, Mushkin, Corsair. You'll probably find something like 7-8-7-24 ddr3 1600mhz. I run Corsair vengeance 1866mhz @ 9-9-9-27 2T. But get the lower timings is possiblee. Get a large hard drive, 7200rpm for storage etc, 1TB is fine. Then get a smaller SSD if you can afford it in your budget. I use a 120GB Mushkin for FSX only. It has about 50GB free and use a bunch of addons. Here's an example of a decent SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442f. PSU - I recommend Seasonic, Corsair (corsair is essentially seasonic, same company, different name, sort of like Hyundai and Kia cars). Seasonic X650/X750 or Corsair TX v2 or AX ... 650w is fine... you could go 850 for future protectionOops I read this is an FS9 build and you won't be OCing. For the SSD I'd probably just get a small 64GB for Win7 and only put the OS on it. FS9 loads so fast it's not worth having FS9 alone on an SSD. FSX takes longer so it could benefit from the shorter loading times of an SSD.I personally don't like partitions but I believe as long as you run FS9 on the outer partition it's the best performance.

[Fielder 478]

Regarding cpu coolers.I am doing the same upgrade system as the original poster, mine was almost identical as his was.And moving from FS9 to FSX too.here's a couple of highly thought of around here but not expensive overkill coolers, a good fan type,a good liquid type (based only on my search here for a couple days in this forum, I'm pretty much a noviceabout hardware)http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/cm_hyper_212_plus/3.html http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/Corsair_H60/4.html 20 degrees difference when clocked :0

[Rafal 474]

Hey, Ryan!How are you there? To begin with, thank you very much for your expert reply.I appreciate so much when people with Knowledge share it with me.

2500K - because it's cheaper and does basically the same thing

Some other folks also say so. The price difference I checked around me would be around 90$, close to what you say, so I will consider that.

Depending on the size of your monitor a 560 ti would be fine, and cheaper. I have a 570 with my 23in 1920x1080 and it does well for other games like BF3

I have a WS Samsung, also a 23" 1920x1080. The price difference for me between 550 and 560 would be about 60$. It is not a big cost for me but I don't know if I am going to see any advantage in MFS?

Oops I read this is an FS9 build and you won't be OCing

Yes and no. I am not leaving my beloved FS9 but one of the reasons for the transition is I also want to start using FSX for some addons unavailable for FS9.'No' for overclocking only because I have never ever done it, so it is like.. you know.. any first time. However if you say overclocking is something I should not be afraid of and the advantages will be clear, then why not?

I personally don't like partitions

Neither do I but I may consider it.Performance does matter for the joy of simming.Thanks once again for your assisatnce, Ryan.EDIT:Fielder, thank a lot for the links!I am definitely going to give them a close look.

[ryanbatcund 4,359]

The only advantage you'll really see from using a GTX570 vs a 560ti is levels of AA. You'd set the AA in a program like nvidia inspector (third party download), and really crank the levels up. I use 8xSQ with my FSX profile. You could use something even higher with MSAA (multisampling AA) with a 570 vs a 560. But 8xSQ looks really good and it should work just excellent with the 560ti. If you don't intend to build for another few years I'd probably go with the 570.OVerclocking the i5/i7 series is very simple. The newer Asus boards have the more visually appealing BIOS. Mine still has the old DOS-looking BIOS. I actually prefer that but a lot of people love the new look. Anyway there's plenty of OC guides out there. I, or others can give you some great links. Usually all that is involved is 1) getting a better cooler and 2) being comfortable with voltage changes and voiding your CPU's warranty.From there all you really need to do is bump up the multiplier to 40x (this will set 4GHz to start) and you should be good. From that point you'll want to add a tiny bit more voltage on your CPU and set multiplier to 45x for 4.5GHz and so on. Once you get near the 4.6-4.7 range you'll have to do some more in depth work with frequencies and voltages but I'm at 4.4 GHz with auto vcore and FSX runs amazing. I run with lots of resource hungry payware like NGX, Citation X, Duke Turbine, Katana 4x, Flight1 Mustang/T182 G1000 etc etc...