I don't want to start a new thread about a new build, since I'm still researching (I've read Word Not Allowed's guide dozens of times...thank you). I do a have a question about a processor.

 

I just came across a pretty good deal for the i73770K, I think. I live near one of their stores.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/388575/Core_i7_3770K_35GHz_LGA_1155_Processor. $229.

 

My questions is, should I buy now or wait for something better to come along? I realize that something is always being developed. I remember reading here that a better processor might be coming out that might be good for FSX. I honestly can't remember the name. I'm not in a huge rush but I also don't want to pass up a good deal.

 

Thanks for any advice.

If your current CPU is good enough than you could wait for Haswell.

 

Would be better if you could post your specs.

Haswell is what's coming next. It is said to arrive during the second quarter 2013. We don't know if that includes both desktop and laptop processors. It could be that just laptops get Haswell in June and that desktops have to wait. So that could be more than half a year of waiting. We just don't know. We haven't seen any clockspeeds and/or overclockability indicators as of yet either. And we don't know how the extra execution ports and cache improvements will affect FSX either.

 

I don't know what you're on at the moment but my advise would be to upgrade now if you're on any AMD, any dual-core or an Intel Core2 Quad. If you're on one of the early i5/i7s (or even newer stuff) it would have to be up to your wallet and FSX needs wether to wait until Haswell or to upgrade now.

 

With computers there's always new things waiting around the corner. After Haswell comes Broadwell. So you can either wait forever and never get to enjoy the benefits of new hardware. Or you could get every upgraded hardware but you'll end up shelling out a lot of money for that. I'm sure there's a lot of us here on this Forum that can confirm the latter, in particular on the CPU side=)

Thanks for the quick advice. It's very helpful. I don't have my specs handy but my computer is about 4 years old and I'm running FS9. My current set up won't run FSX very well. I want to do a new build but wanted to research more before posting my proposed specs. I'm generating the list based on some of the other threads going and noticed the i73770k would be pretty good for me and my budget. Do you think the link I provided is a pretty good deal? I noticed it's about $70 cheaper then newegg, so I'm thinking of jumping on it.

 

Haswell was what I was trying to remember.

 

Thanks for the advice; it's much appreciated.

Then you better get the i7. And go for a good Nvidia card.

Cheers. I was planning on a Nvidia...probably GTX680 type but i still need to do some research.

680 is good to go.

Haswell was what I was trying to remember.

Thanks for the advice; it's much appreciated.

 

I'm on a 4 y/o Core 2 Quad 9650 and am waiting for Haswell. I fly FSX almost daily and experience very good performance, provided I stick w/ simpler planes like the QW757, the awesome Turbine Duke, and reserve the 737NGX to flying in less metropolitan areas like Hawaii and mid-sized terminals. I use ORBX sceneries and FSDT/ORBX airports, and I have very good performance. So seriously, what's the hurry? I want to see some REAL improvement before I upgrade! I will also be moving to single 480GB SATA III SSD for OS + FSX, or will leave FSX at that time and jump into P3D if version 2 is out by the time Haswell desktop is out. There is talk that P3D will offer DX10 or DX11 support, and hopefully other optimizations.

 

The release of Ivy Bridge it would appear offered little over Sandy Bridge due to easier overclocking at better temps SB users experienced over Ivy Bridge. Before anyone chimes in and contests this, please note 'offered little' I understand is a relative term, but for me from what I've read all over the forums, 'very little' applies. Some are thinking/guessing Haswell will improve on what I understand is thought to be an engineering design defect w/ IB processors in that Intel used an inferior 'thermal interface material' (TIM) which is thought to be at least in part responsible for IB's high heat generation (bringing in the need for a superior cooling solution). We know from early reports that Haswell will offer ~10% (5-15%) clock for clock performance boost over IB. That is significant, but much will hinge on how OC friendly Haswell turns out to be. We know also that Intel is expanding access to control other settings that should improve overclockability in the Haswell line, so it's not a stretch to imagine they are taking this step to support resuming the fluxless solder TIM that gives better overclocking headroom all else being equal.

 

I think another reality is the entire trajectory of personal computing. As you know the world, at least in terms of entertainment, is moving continuously away from the personal computer as the go-to device. Indeed, the improvement Intel is really aiming at for Haswell and Broadwell is increasingly the mobile market. I think Haswell, and maybe Broadwell, will have to also open up overclocking as an incentive to continue selling chips for the personal computing market, because other design targets as I say are aimed for a different market, hence much improved integrated graphics, smaller, less power--these are not so much the features of the desktop gamer market. It's easy to imagine there is still enough of an enthusiast market worldwide to temp Intel into going more for the THAT market than mainstream desktop market. So, I foresee Intel developing mostly for mobile market, then desktop enthusiast market, and lastly mainstream desktop market, especially as Broadwell comes along.

 

Anyway, those are some other perspectives for you if you haven't already pulled the trigger.

 

Noel

Reading some IB owner's posts on these forums I've once or twice been tempted to upgrade myself (dumb idea in my case if you see my specs).

 

I too will be interested to see what Haswell brings to the table. Hopefully that will give me a much needed performance boost in FSX.

Noel,

 

Thanks for your post and insight. I'm still weighing my options. I just started researching, which has caused me to get excited about the new build...kind of like a kid in a candy store. I'm in a position financially now in which I could get the i7 and then upgrade to the Haswell or Broadwell in the future.

 

Thanks again everyone for the insight.

on what I understand is thought to be an engineering design defect w/ IB processors in that Intel used an inferior 'thermal interface material' (TIM) which is thought to be at least in part responsible for IB's high heat generation

 

Fwiw Noel...

 

I think the testing over @ anandtech forums pretty well demonstrated it was the gap between the die and ihs. The tim appeared to be adequate.

 

Wonder if the IB was an attempt to go "green" moving from solder to paste.

 

Rob

Fwiw Noel...

 

I think the testing over @ anandtech forums pretty well demonstrated it was the gap between the die and ihs. The tim appeared to be adequate.

 

Wonder if the IB was an attempt to go "green" moving from solder to paste.

 

Rob

 

Hey Rob,

What does the 'gap' suggest, they used too much TIM?

Hey Rob,

What does the 'gap' suggest, they used too much TIM?

 

I think you could make it analogous to the idea that "less is more" when using a TIM... I'd say (from totally a lay standpoint) that yes... too much in the sense the process has a certain standoff height between die and ihs.

 

E.g. it's why we lap the ihs and heatsink... to reduce the depth of scratches & unevenness of both surfaces... to reduce the amount of TIM required to conduct heat between the two surfaces.

 

Wow just thought how cool it would be (double entendre intended) to have everything soldered up... die to ihs... and ihs to heatsink. Wouldn't be so easy to mount tho (besides the picking heatsinks etc.).

... I could get the i7 and then upgrade to the Haswell or Broadwell in the future.

 

As the name Broadwell has been dropped several times before.

I myself want to upgrade my current 3770K to Haswell next year and to Broadwell or Skylake later on

mainly for FSX / P3D. But How about those rumors/predictions, that there will be only BGA, but no LGA

versions of the Broadwell CPU (in 2014) ?

 

http://semiaccurate.com/2012/11/26/intel-kills-off-the-desktop-pcs-go-with-it/

http://semiaccurate....e-details-leak/

 

Does this mean that there will be no enthusiast desktop versions of Broadwell (basically a 14 nm die shrink of Haswell),

which we can mix and match with OC friendly high end mobos of our choice ?