I'm now looking at optimizing for XPlane 10 64-bit, but need something that will do real well w/ FSX too. Are 6-core CPUs the max # of cores that are available to run Windows on? How about dual-socket motherboards--any good CPUs for FSX that will go into those? They seem like they are for server applications. I understand w/ XPlane 10 64-bit the sim will utilize as many cores as you have, and even connect separate computers to leverage resources. So dual sockets each w/ 6 cores sounds hopeful.

I beleive it's only some of the XEON Server spec CPUs that have the neccesary architecture to run in dual CPU mode so it doesn't look like 2 x 3930s is possible. If you want to (and can afford to) look at a dual CPU setup then the XEON 2687 is an 8 Core CPU (16 threads) based on Sandy Bridge architecture running at 3.1Ghz there's a review of a system built with 2 of these here - http://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/zardon/asus-z9-pe-d8-ws-dual-xeon-e5-2687w-64gb-kingston-ddr3-review/

I beleive it's only some of the XEON Server spec CPUs that have the neccesary architecture to run in dual CPU mode so it doesn't look like 2 x 3930s is possible. If you want to (and can afford to) look at a dual CPU setup then the XEON 2687 is an 8 Core CPU (16 threads) based on Sandy Bridge architecture running at 3.1Ghz there's a review of a system built with 2 of these here - http://www.kitguru.n...on-ddr3-review/

 

Thanks for that interesting overview. Looks like it is not overclockable so not the best choice for FSX, but killer for XP-10!