I went with the 4820k. The x79 mobo's have 40 PCI-e lanes, can handle faster memory @ double the bandwidth. Overclocking is easier without delidding. If you plan to SLI, this is the way to go. I also gambled that P3D v2.0 would use the cores and multiple GPU's more efficiently, turns out I was right. Either way though, you're good to go.

 

Yeah that's the big plus with the Ivy-E.  Unlike the consumer level (socket 1155 & 1150) versions of Ivy and Haswell, Ivy-E still uses the soldered IHS and will dissipate heat better for overclocking.  I'm still planning on a 4930K since I do photo editing as well and that could be helpful with the extra cores and cache.  If I was just building an FSX/gaming only rig then the 4770K for sure.  Basically in that case you want the fastest single threaded performance chip you can get since the majority of FSX runs off a "main" core.  

 

I originally got this link from someone at x-plane.org forums because the same applies to x-plane 10 as well, but here's a good link for figuring out where the different CPU's sit.  My poor i7-860 is way down the list.   http://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html

 

edit:  The only thing I find odd about that list is that the 4930K scored so low.  I'd have thought it would be near the 3770 or 3770K but it's not.  It's like 200 points lower.  I don't know if something was off with their test on it or what.

The reason for this strange lineup from Intel is that the "-E" (Socket 2011) CPUs are based on Intel's server CPUs, which have a longer life span than the mainstream desktop parts. Since Haswell requires a new socket, and Intel has promised its enterprise customers to keep the same socket for at least 2 years (LGA 2011 came out in late 2011), it was not possible for Intel to release a Haswell based "-E" processor at this time.

 

I'm pretty sure Haswell-E will come in a Quad core version like the 4820K, at a more reasonable price. However, DDR4 will surely drive up the cost of the platform for early adopters. I think the best move at this time is a 4670/4770K and a good mid-range motherboard, then upgrade to Haswell-E when it has been out for a 6 months or so (if you feel the need to upgrade).

 

I'm opening an old thread here. I'm looking to upgrade my i5-3570K and Maximus V Formula. I currently have my i5 running at 4.5Ghz stable with G.Skill Trident ram at 2666Mhz. I'm looking at the 5820K, the 5930K, and the 4790K. Can you give me any useful information about them with FSX and P3D v2? Thanks! 

I'm opening an old thread here. I'm looking to upgrade my i5-3570K and Maximus V Formula. I currently have my i5 running at 4.5Ghz stable with G.Skill Trident ram at 2666Mhz. I'm looking at the 5820K, the 5930K, and the 4790K. Can you give me any useful information about them with FSX and P3D v2? Thanks! 

 

Unless you know you can clock either of the 5xxx series chips to 4790K speeds, go with the 4790K.  You want max single thread performance for FSX and other similar sims (even X-Plane benefits from faster speed vs. more cores)  http://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html the 4790K is the top right now for single threaded performance.

Unless you know you can clock either of the 5xxx series chips to 4790K speeds, go with the 4790K.  You want max single thread performance for FSX and other similar sims (even X-Plane benefits from faster speed vs. more cores)  http://www.cpubenchmark.net/singleThread.html the 4790K is the top right now for single threaded performance.

 

I run a lot of scenery adds too though. FTX global & vector, REX 4 texture direct, and lots of FSDT, FB, FT, and Taxi2Gate scenery.