Morning all,Well, I've been an AMD man since I first started using computers. Been in the industry years and always been a strong evangelist for AMD CPUs. However now I've been let down the last time. They just don't pack any grunt any more. Shame really, they used to be close competition for Intel and were in many ways ahead of them for some time. But now fall way off the mark.I've decided to upgrade my FSX rig from the terrible FX processor I recently bought to a nice Intel system.I'm looking at either the i5-2500k or the i7-2600k - I intend to overclock (got a Corsair H80 noise beast currently and the fittings for an Intel board)What do you people recommend as a processor to run FSX? The system is mainly used for FSX so that's the main consideration. A little other gaming but that's rare these days.If anyone knows a good mobo then please share too!Thanks,James

I will recommend this one:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115095- and the mobo:http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8Z68V_PROGEN3/

I will recommend this one:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115095- and the mobo:http://www.asus.com/...P8Z68V_PROGEN3/

Exactly what I was going to post!

I'd wait for Ivy Bridge.RH

If you really want a Sandy Bridge system. Get a Z68 mobo from MSI. Asus is very good, but MSI doesn't have the double boot problem, and is very good as well.For the CPU I'd get the i5 2500K. The i7 2700K will provide slightly better overclocking, but at the same clockspeed it will perform exactly the same in FSX.However, my best recommendation is to wait for Ivy Bridge. They'll be in the stores very shortly. Ivy Bridge will be a great overclocking and performing CPU, plus the Z77 chipset will be slightly better also, and will have PCI 3.0.

I'd wait for Ivy Bridge.RH

The motherboard that we reccomended is a P8Z68 Deluxe Gen3 motherboard. - It can accomodate PCIE3 GPU's AND Ivy Bridge. I see no reason why he should wait if he has a clear option to be able to upgrade later on down the road.Especially for a few key reasons of the OC'ability of Ivy Bridge:He likely is going to have a greater chance of OC'ing with the 2700K rather than a 3770K. I have heard from internal sources that some of the 3770K's get sent to 5+GHZ while others struggle to make it past 4.5GHZ.I expect to see some higher binned versions as time goes on but I would reccomend to wait for the 3870K rather than immediately going for the 3770K.BUT, if you are willing to take the benefit of the doubt and be an early adopter, you are taking the risk of getting a cruddy chip that can't even OC as well as the 2700K.Just my 2cents...

"For the CPU I'd get the i5 2500K. The i7 2700K will provide slightly better overclocking, but at the same clockspeed it will perform exactly the same in FSX."Apparently the 8Mb L3 cache in the i7 2600/2700K´s is beneficial in FSX http://www.simforums.com/forums/nickn-i5-2500k-or-i7-2600k-solved_topic38910.html

I'm looking at either the i5-2500k or the i7-2600k - I intend to overclock (got a Corsair H80 noise beast currently and the fittings for an Intel board)What do you people recommend as a processor to run FSX? The system is mainly used for FSX so that's the main consideration. A little other gaming but that's rare these days.

I have been quite happy with my new unit, and did NOT have to overclock to get GREAT performance from almost maxed out sliders in FSX. I do max out my sliders in FS9 though. See my signature for the recipe. And by all means, do not wait for Ivy Bridge technology. It will be premium priced when it first hits the market and you don't really need it for FSX. You can overclock if you want to, to achieve some sort of overclock parameters, but not necessary to boost current hardware to achieve FSX/FS9 nirvana...

Although, without real knowledge behind it, like NickN, whose opinion I respect, and learned a lot from him, I've always said cache is of benefit, simply due to some small tests I did and comparisons.

Although, without real knowledge behind it, like NickN, whose opinion I respect, and learned a lot from him, I've always said cache is of benefit, simply due to some small tests I did and comparisons.

Did you post those tests Word Not Allowed? If you did, I missed them. Care to repost a link please?It's sort of confusing that Nick doesn't recommend X79 with it's 4 memory channels and massive L3 cache (15MB in the I7 3960X, vs 8MB in IB)

Don't remember tell you the truth.I had a 2500K here for a short period of time and I didn't do much of the testing (as said, only small tests, just inside my own little computer room) and I don't think I posted anything about this.I had this gut feeling that I just want the higher CPU and I got the 2600K quickly, sending the 2500K back.One of the strongest opinions I had was that beside the structure change, the change from 920 to 2600K was a big boost for me, and the reasons for the boost were both structure change and the increased cache.How can you ever prove it, except saying it's like that? Hardly ever...

Word Not Allowed, I see that your Vcore is very high.Never tried it with less voltage ?

Word Not Allowed, I see that your Vcore is very high.Never tried it with less voltage ?

Of course I did. Doesn't want to. I keep it at the lowest possible Vcore so that it doesn't start crashing, you can trust me on that one...

Away with AMD - I've just ordered an i7 2700K and the Asus P8Z68 Deluxe/GEN3 motherboard!Now I just need to find out how to OC them once they arrive.As a side question. Will my Corsair H80 provide better cooling than the stock system that arrives?THanks

YES!