Upgrade MB / CPU require complete re-installation of P3D?

[bbuckley 133]

I currently have the I7-4790K (see specs below) with a GTX 1080Ti. Performance is still very good, but I'm pricing an upgrade to an I9-9900K with new MB, cooler & memory. 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Bq7B3b

I built the system originally, so I feel confident in the upgrade, but what I don't know for sure is how to go about adding the drives back in the least disruptive way.

C:\ 500GB SSD, has current OS and some program files / program data. 

D:\ 1TB HDD, has a bunch of backup data and an bunch of programs installed

E:\ 500GB SSD, exclusively for P3D installation and add-ons

Any advice for me either on the upgrade parts or especially on the re-installation. Do I need to completely uninstall P3D and all add-ons on the existing system before adding the drives back to the new system? I assume I will also need to re-install windows?

Thanks,

Bruce

[fppilot 4,348]

Check out the migration products from EaseUS and others that represent they can do seamless migration...  I use their backup software to clone my system drive SSD once a month.

https://www.easeus.com/pc-transfer-software/pctrans-pro.html

[Bob Scott 7,715]

I strongly recommend that you rebuild from the OS and up when upgrading the CPU and motherboard.  There's a big difference between "what you can get away with" and a clean, reliable build that's properly configured for your hardware without any possibility of lingering remnants of old drivers and software.

I view a new build as an opportunity to rebuild anew with the latest and best versions of everything.

Some software does need uninstalled before you migrate--P3D itself, the PMDG birds, and any others that build the software key based on the hardware at install time. 

Regards

[bbuckley 133]

@fppilot thanks. I'll check that out.

@w6kd thanks. I know you're right but even the thought of a complete rebuild is enough to make me delay until performance is unbearable. I guess I'd have to reformat the SSDs and start from scratch.

Edited February 27, 2019 by bbuckley
typo

[Guest]

going from an I7-4790K to an I9-9900K I think you'll be disappointed at how little improvement in performance you are going to get.

[bbuckley 133]

1 hour ago, Avidean said:

going from an I7-4790K to an I9-9900K I think you'll be disappointed at how little improvement in performance you are going to get.

That’s interesting, and strangely comforting. As I said, the performance now is very decent. I was thinking that my current 1150 mb can’t take ddr4 memory and the current ddr3 installed is 1600. So I was hoping the combo upgrade of cpu, mb and memory would make a noticeable improvement. But I certainly don’t want to spend $1,000 and suffer through a complete software rebuild if it’s not going to be a significant improvement. Thanks. 

[Bob Scott 7,715]

9 hours ago, bbuckley said:

That’s interesting, and strangely comforting. As I said, the performance now is very decent. I was thinking that my current 1150 mb can’t take ddr4 memory and the current ddr3 installed is 1600. So I was hoping the combo upgrade of cpu, mb and memory would make a noticeable improvement. But I certainly don’t want to spend $1,000 and suffer through a complete software rebuild if it’s not going to be a significant improvement. Thanks. 

"Significant improvement" is, of course, in the eyes of the beholder.  My current driving/shooting gaming box is a 4790K--it was my flight sim PC two builds back, succeeded by a 7700K, and now an 8086K.  The 4790K is still holding its own--it runs the 3D games I play (casually) well enough, but each of the generational steps up has brought a smile to my face.  I've also upgraded GPUs from a 980 to two 980Tis to two 1080Tis, and now to a 2080Ti.

It all depends on what you're aiming for--you can certainly manage your configuration and operating conditions to make a 4790K sing well enough in P3D v4.  But if you're looking for solid, steady performance with a load on--4K display at night in the weather with the most complex add-ons at the most complex airports etc., I would not describe what is gained by doubling the core count and L2 cache, the move from 1600MHz DDR3 to 3000+ MHz DDR4, a 10% increase in clock speed combined with 5-10% better IPC etc as insignificant or barely noticeable.

One of the best things about P3D in its current form is that it scales so well across the capability spectrum...it'll use and improve things with most of the hardware upgrades you can throw at it, but it'll also still do a respectable job (when properly dialled-back) for those who can't/won't go high-end on the hardware.

Regards

[Guest]

I am running an i7 4770k at 4.8ghz with a 1080ti. I just got the 1080ti coming from a 980ti. I was looking at building an 8 or 9 series system. Definitely you will get some benefit from higher CPU clock, more cores and faster DRAM but if I was you I wouldn't spend $1000 on it now. And If I was going to upgrade I go with an i7 8086K. From what I've seen its the best CPU for P3D because you have enough extra cores (6 cores) and a better chance of highing 5.3ghz than with any other 8 or 9 series CPU. Single core performance has barely improved since i7 4770k but you can get higher clock frequency on later CPU's. But that's a word not allowed shot. If you got let's say 5ghz out of a new chip that's 500mhz better than you have now. How does that translate into FPS? Well in reality with Prepar3D it won't translate into a higher FPS at all. It will either translate into being able to move cpu intensive sliders of your choice one notch to the right and still maintain you target frame rate of 30fps (or perhaps 45fps in VR) or it won't.

But just for the sake of comparison as a kind of bench mark to  give you a general idea of what to expect you could so the following. lets assume you get 5ghz. That's 11% better. Now 89% of your current 4.5ghz is essentially 4ghz.

Assuming your tuned for 30fps turn your frame rate to unlimited and record a short scenario. (a circuit). Then restart your system and enter your bios and set your GPU to run at 4ghz.

Playback the same scenario and see how many CPU intensive you need to dial back a notch to get back to a constant 30fps.

You can draw the subjective conclusion that going from 4.5 ghz to 5ghz the sliders to the right and maintaining the 30fps will be about the same.

Edited February 27, 2019 by Guest

[westman 257]

I prefer the 9700k or 9900k over  the 6core.

Have a old 4790k at 4.8ghz with corsair dominator 2666 c9 as base test sim pc.

 

[bbuckley 133]

Thanks all, you’ve given me a lot of data, thoughts and recommendations. I appreciate it.