My suggestions found in earlier threads still stands. Wait for the DX10 cards to come out. Use an nForce 5-sli motherboard (not released) with a Core 6600. Expect a minium of 2gb but pick up 3gb if you plan to use the same computer for a year.

ISTM you can put together a C2D sys in a few weeks with a $170 or so DX9 board, and happily run FSX until the DX10 situation sorts out. Maybe vista ulitmate will be more of a dent on the wallet than the DX10 board!scott s..

>Your probably just a bios update away from being able to use>the Core 2 Duo CPUs. Other motherboards using same Intel>chipset(975x)like the Asus P5W can run Core 2 Duo's so you>should be able to too.>Self-correction: There are no Abit MB's that currently support the Core 2 Duo.Anandtech.com does have a nice write up on Core 2 Duo motherboard choices that are available at the moment.

I've started putting back $100 a month so that when vista and dx10 shakes out I'll have a little money to drop. I may wait until the second generation of dx10 cards comes around.

>I may wait>until the second generation of dx10 cards comes around.I think I might wait for the 2nd gen, too...not sure yet. I will have to wait n see. That will be yet another temptation to resist. When Vista/DX10 are released, the FS patch will soon follow...and I doubt 2nd generation DX10 hardware will be out yet at that time.But FSX with DX10 looks to be so nice! Arrgh! Sirens tempt me!Rhett

>ISTM you can put together a C2D sys in a few weeks with a>$170 or so DX9 board, and happily run FSX until the DX10>situation sorts out. Maybe vista ulitmate will be more of a>dent on the wallet than the DX10 board!>>scott s.>.> What's ISTM stand for?Yes I hear you. If I threw together a C2D sys, I'd stick my existing 7800GT card in it...I think it would be ridiculous if Vista Ultimate cost more than $300.Rhett

>2 Seagate Barracuda 250GB SATA 3GB/s harddrivesDid you stripe (raid level 0 ) or mirrow (raid level 1)these :(

ISTM = It seems to me.Hope this helps,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

Stripe-Jeremy Burchhttp://home.earthlink.net/~dawgfighter/sit...es/swvasig1.gifSWVA4806 http://www.virtualswa.com/home.phpThe Ozark Dogfighter http://forums.avsim.net/images/wedge.gifHappy Flying!BOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723HC: British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, Heathrow Centre, go aheadBOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723 has a message for youHC: British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, Heathrow Centre is ready to copy messageBOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, message is as follows: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday ....

Good move.Fs9 would be starting up quickly now ??

Very quickly indeed. I'm in love with my computer again. It's like trading a tired old maid for a new mistress. Sure we had some fun times, but this girl is HOT! -Jeremy Burchhttp://home.earthlink.net/~dawgfighter/sit...es/swvasig1.gifSWVA4806 http://www.virtualswa.com/home.phpThe Ozark Dogfighter http://forums.avsim.net/images/wedge.gifHappy Flying!BOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723HC: British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, Heathrow Centre, go aheadBOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723 has a message for youHC: British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, Heathrow Centre is ready to copy messageBOAC: Heathrow Centre, British Airways Speedbird Flight 723, message is as follows: Mayday, Mayday, Mayday ....