PC Upgrade for FSX

[mleegard 2]

Some good reading over here,look at his other posts...

 

http://www.simforums.com/forums/the-fsx-computer-system-the-bible-by-nickn_topic46211.html

[E6BAV8R 88]

I haven't yet had the chance to get much done in FSX, as I've been doing a lot of overclocking and stability testing when I can. Currently I am sitting at 4.4GHz @ 1.155V with CPU temperatures idling in the 33-35C range. I've done a few hours of stability testing in both Prime95 and Intel Burn Test with no issues at this VCore. Stock to 4.2GHz wasn't much of an issue - it went pretty straightforward without much tinkering with VCore. However, I must say that it took an exponential amount of power and a lot of tinkering to go from 4.2 to 4.4GHz. I got it stable at 4.2GHz @ 1.061V, with the jump up to 4.4GHz needing 1.155V to get stable. Of course, temperatures also started increasing substantially in that jump. On Intel Burn Test, the hottest core hit 88C with the other 3 sitting in the low 80s.  Prime95 Large FFT hit 84C as the max. At 4.2GHz temperatures maxed out in the mid-60s.These temperatures are actually above what I want to use, as I don't want to significantly reduce the life of my CPU, but I am going to see what temperatures max out playing some games and decide if I want to knock it down to 4.3 or not. I've heard to expect 70-75% of max temperatures during stability stress testing to apply to games. So far that is holding correct - playing Battlefield 3 for 2 hours straight on 1920x1080 and Ultra settings the CPU only topped at 60C, for which I am comfortable with. BF3 on Ultra settings looks amazing and I was maintaining 60+ FPS. I rather wish I had bought a better CPU cooler, as I know I could push this chip quite a bit further.

Anyway, quick update on where I am for those wondering about 4670K CPUs and overclocking. I'm now in the process of getting add-ons and such installed for FSX and seeing how it runs and what kind of settings I can pull off.

[odourboy 1,288]

 

 

Anyway, quick update on where I am for those wondering about 4670K CPUs and overclocking. I'm now in the process of getting add-ons and such installed for FSX and seeing how it runs and what kind of settings I can pull off.

 

Bump - I'm curious how this is going Greg? I recently faced the same decision but opted for the 3570K (budget being the primary motivation and with the Haswell out, hardcore gamers and selling their 2nd hand 3570K procs and Mobos). I'm just now in the process of tuning my OC. Where did you settle regarding with your OC and how is FSX performing for you?

[E6BAV8R 88]

Bump - I'm curious how this is going Greg? I recently faced the same decision but opted for the 3570K (budget being the primary motivation and with the Haswell out, hardcore gamers and selling their 2nd hand 3570K procs and Mobos). I'm just now in the process of tuning my OC. Where did you settle regarding with your OC and how is FSX performing for you?

 

I kept meaning to reply to this but keep forgetting.

 

Everything is going great.  I haven't changed anything on the CPU since my last post and I haven't had any issues (knock on wood).  After flying about 50 hours so far in FSX and in all kinds of weather scenarios and aircraft, I have pretty much put the CPU through the ringer.  Now I am starting to overclock my RAM and GPU.  My GPU (GTX 660) is certainly the bottleneck now but I knew that going in, as GPU costs are ridiculous and I didn't want to go crazy with costs; the next step up (GTX 670) was another $80 (as after you spend all that money on a PC you'll then want to start dropping money on all kinds of add-ons).

 

FSX performs great.  Everything is on Max at 1920x1080 except AutoGen Density is on the 2nd to last and Traffic, which I am using WoAI, and is at about 35%.  I use Word Not Allowed's tweaks for Nvidia Inspector settings.  I use ActiveSky 2012 on 1024 bit clouds, as I can't tell the difference between 1024 and 2048 and with the lower performance 2048 clouds I'd rather have that performance for better scenery packages, traffic, 0/0 weather settings, etc.  I only run high-end payware aircraft (Level-D, PMDG NGX, etc.) and I pretty much sit on my FPS limiter of 30 all the time, except when flying into major international airports with heavy AI or IFR weather; of which it is then around 25.  I also run FTX Global, Ultimate Terrain X USA and FlyTampa and FSDT airports.  I haven't noticed any issues yet and everything is running great.  WoAI is certainly the biggest FPS hit and I've actually been looking at getting a payware traffic add-on, as they are much better on FPS with their native FSX models.  Hope that helps.

[odourboy 1,288]

Thanks for the reply and the information on your FSX configuration.

 

I may have drawn poorly from the 'silicon lottery' with respect to my processor. While my temps seem to be in-line for the cooler and speeds I've tried, the Vcore I have to run to achieve this seems to be a bit above the norm, and I can not achieve a stable OC at 4.5 and stay in my comfort zone. I've opted (for now anyway) to set it at 4.3Ghz, Vcore of 1.224V with a peak core temp of 70C (low 60's typical) running Prime95 blend. Ivy Bridge should be able to do better... but 4.3 is still a decent upgrade from my current rig.

 

You mention your GTX660 as the current system bottleneck  (same GPU that I have currently) but if all goes well, I'll be upgrading to a GTX 680 tonight. (That's assuming my wife doesn't flip when I tell her my plans.)

[E6BAV8R 88]

If you're only hitting 70C during benchmark tests in Prime95 (or Intel Burn Test) than you are perfectly fine.  Gaming will only hit about 75% of temps you are hitting in hard benchmark tests.  In Prime95 and Intel Burn Tests I was hitting in the mid 80C, but during FSX and other gaming the most I have ever recorded is 62C.

[James Bennett 52]

Hello, i just purchased components to build an FSX rig:

 

i5-4670k

Nocturn NH-D14 cooler

GTX 760 2GB

Corsair 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz

1TB Seagate HDD which will have FSX on

 

What;s your current overclock, and how did you get it so stable on a haswell? I hope i will get similar performance to you.

[martin-w 3,234]

Thanks for the reply and the information on your FSX configuration.

 

I may have drawn poorly from the 'silicon lottery' with respect to my processor. While my temps seem to be in-line for the cooler and speeds I've tried, the Vcore I have to run to achieve this seems to be a bit above the norm, and I can not achieve a stable OC at 4.5 and stay in my comfort zone. I've opted (for now anyway) to set it at 4.3Ghz, Vcore of 1.224V with a peak core temp of 70C (low 60's typical) running Prime95 blend. Ivy Bridge should be able to do better... but 4.3 is still a decent upgrade from my current rig.

 

You mention your GTX660 as the current system bottleneck (same GPU that I have currently) but if all goes well, I'll be upgrading to a GTX 680 tonight. (That's assuming my wife doesn't flip when I tell her my plans.)

Regarding the silicone lottery, it happens I'm afraid.

 

My 3770k needs crazy voltage for just a reasonable overclock.

 

Deliding helps, because CPU's running hot need more volts. I'd bet if you or I popped the lid our voltage requirements would drop.

[odourboy 1,288]

Regarding the silicone lottery, it happens I'm afraid.

 

My 3770k needs crazy voltage for just a reasonable overclock.

 

Deliding helps, because CPU's running hot need more volts. I'd bet if you or I popped the lid our voltage requirements would drop.

 

So I've read. While I'm enough of a hacker to continually tweak my system and play with overclocking, I have to draw the line at deliding. :rolleyes:   Fortunately, I run a pretty lean configuration so I'm getting very adequate performance from this setup and I am pleased to say it's very stable!

[martin-w 3,234]

so I'm getting very adequate performance from this setup and I am pleased to say it's very stable!

 

 

 

Unfortunately mine isn't at the moment. Getting random reboots, about once every one to two weeks. No blue screen.

 

I have a new graphics card so I know it's not that. Have dispensed with my overclock for now, to see if it's that.

 

Could be anything, HD, RAM, MB, PSU, or software.

[dgraham1284 92]

Have you properly removed and re-installed your video drivers? What does event viewer say when then computer reboots.  Regardless of having a a BSOD event viewer should shed some light. 

[martin-w 3,234]

Yep, have indeed re the drivers. The issue was before the new card anyway.

 

As for event viewer, no light shed. Just the usual codes that refer to improper shutdown.

 

I do know that HD issues often cause reboots with no blue screen or significant event viewer messages.

 

At the moment. I'm testing with no overclock, not sure if an overclock failure can occur with no blue screens, hasn't for me in the past when overclocking.

 

PSU issue is a possibility, that too can occur with no blue screens or codes, but as far as I can tell with my PSU tester and monitoring, voltages seem fine.

 

A brief RAM test seemed fine, but I need to test longer with Memtest.

 

I'm thinking MB, HD, overclock or software at the moment.

[westman 257]

Probaly the IMC quite common problem when OC ivy and Haswell , most low and midrange OC they dont tune the IMC

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Hasse

[martin-w 3,234]

Interesting, a notch too low with voltage do you think?

 

Anyway, after a week with no overclock no reboots so far, I need to test longer though because it can be longer than that.

[westman 257]

Interesting, a notch too low with voltage do you think?

 

Anyway, after a week with no overclock no reboots so far, I need to test longer though because it can be longer than that.

 

Yes, i notch on the IMC and as you say, have one of the voltagehungry chip you can try balance the heat from vcore and imc with lowering the PLL voltage one or more notches , need some testing from you but normally you can lower that a bit.