So this is what I'm currently using for FSX:

 

Operating System

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1

 

CPU

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz 38 °C

Yorkfield 45nm Technology

 

RAM

8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 400MHz (5-5-5-18)

 

Motherboard

ASUSTeK Computer INC. Rampage Formula (LGA775) 30 °C

 

Graphics

E2442 (1920x1080@60Hz)

Acer X223W (1680x1050@60Hz)

Acer X223W (1680x1050@60Hz)

2048MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti (EVGA) 55 °C

 

Storage

149GB SAMSUNG HD160JJ ATA Device (SATA) 30 °C

698GB SAMSUNG HD753LJ ATA Device (SATA) 18 °C

931GB Western Digital WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B0 ATA Device (SATA) 27 °C

 

Anyway, I'm getting ready to upgrade the system core and I'm thinking about the following items:

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell 3.5GHz

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-UD3H LGA 1150 Intel Z87

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (Or similar)

 

Also, once I get my tax returns, I'm also going to replace the mishmash of monitors with 3 identical ones to get rid of the differing resolutions, and I should mention that I plan to clock the cpu up to around 4.5GHz.

 

The question is, will this upgrade be able to drive triple screen FSX with good quality? If not, what changes to the planned upgrade would you recommend. For that matter, what changes to the planned upgrade would you recommend anyway. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

PS: I have had someone recommend going with an i5 and more memory because FSX (and just about every other program in the world) doesn't use the hyperthreading technology, and that means the only real difference between the i5 and the i7 is the extra L3 cache. What is the community's thought about this change. Thanks again.

That's quite an upgrade from your Q9550! I think you'll be fine. I might consider a newer GPU to drive 3 monitors.

That's quite an upgrade from your Q9550! I think you'll be fine. I might consider a newer GPU to drive 3 monitors.

 

That's already the newest component of the system at about 1.5 years old. Since money has perpetually been a concern for me, I doubt I'll get around to upgrading it again until at least 2015, especially considering how processor bound FSX is and the fact that what I already have pretty much demolishes every other game I play without breaking a sweat.

 

Edit: It will be something to keep in mind though once I have the new guts in place and 3 identical monitors.

If you were running those monitors before with the Q system you should be fine.

Like Ryan said, get a better video card. I'd consider the GTX780 or even GTX680 4gb if you can find one.

Like Ryan said, get a better video card. I'd consider the GTX780 or even GTX680 4gb if you can find one.

 

Like I said, at this point, a new video card just isn't in the mix because its a requirement to upgrade the system core as a package, so that wipes out my current upgrade budget. I will be getting something back from Uncle Sam, but I don't know how much its going to be and I doubt there will be enough there to replace the monitors and to buy a brand new high-end video card. I will still keep the new card in mind for this time next year, since I expect the rest of the system to easily last me another 6 years.