Gary A

Hi Greg, I think NickN summed it up well here about 1/3 of the page down http://www.simforums.com/forums/the-fsx-computer-system-the-bible-by-nickn_topic46211.html If your budget will allow a SSD that is large enough to hold all of your stuff is the best option. Second choice is multiple SSD's that will hold all of your stuff. Third choice is SSD for OS and mechanical for other. Fourth is dedicated mechanical for OS and separate mechanical dedicated to FS. Least desirable is a single mechanical drive. Not all SSD's are faster than all mechanicals you have to do your homework. Generally Samsung EVO, is a good choice with the Intel 750 pci-e the decadence. SSD's generally provide for faster load times, do not improve fps and certainly are not the deciding factor of system performance. Drive selection (like all other component decisions) should be based on what you can afford, else what you are willing to spend in order to satisfy your wants.

NickN is about as warm and fuzzy as a prickly pear cactus, which is where 99.9% of his naysayers come from. You can bet these individuals rightly had their limbs trimmed by Nick for spewing silly nonsense and have had their butts hurt. Their only retort and retaliation is their lame attempts to discredit him in another forum like here. Tisk tisk for being so petty and little. Nick has forgot more about flightsim and computers than most could ever even hope to have learned in their lifetime. Personality aside, I have tried to prove Nick wrong on many occasions. I did this because I follow no one blindly and I am certainly not any bodies follower but I wanted to see if it made a difference for myself. I never was able to prove Nick incorrect on any point that he ever made. Of all the silly nonsense on the internet and misinformation generally coming from "Google Quarterbacks" (those that convey what they find on Google as their own), Nick lives, breathes and knows emphatically what he recommends. I have even seen Nick post that he takes responsibility for advice; how many Google Quarterbacks have you seen offer that. Nicks guides and continued helpfulness are second to none and I would encourage anyone looking for real and professional PC advice to follow Nick's guide and other posts on his forum.

I was imparting some information in the spirt of helpfulness with hopes those making a purchase could do additional research and be informed. I wasn't really looking to debate w7/8 vs. W10 etc. etc. I am not certain if or how much of a headache use of W7/8 would cause on a Skylake processor. It depends, there is a difference between "support" and something not functioning. I can live without support, I cannot tolerate something not functioning. Point I was trying to convey was simply a heads up to those building or upgrading to a Skylake processor that not using W10 may give unexpected results. More specifically to those people indicating that they are purchasing new operating systems and indicating their choices to be W7/8 with Skylake. It would only be prudent to purchase W10. My advice is simply do your home work when considering the OS for a Skylake processor with hopes that research will extend beyond these forums. @Ryan, thxs for the updated information that was useful and constructive.

Folks buying a Skylake processor take notice that Microsoft is ending support for non Windows 10 operating systems with Skylake processors support ending mid 2017. Additionally certain components associated with the Skylake processor may not function under non Windows 10 OS, ie. USB3 and others. Use of non Windows 10 operating systems on Skylake chips is not recommended. I am not sure if this information was previously posted but I see several folks looking to make Skylake purchases on non W10 OS and wanted to get it out there. Save yourself a headache and do your homework if planning Skylake and non Windows 10 platform.

This seems to work: http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/stop-automatic-driver-updates-windows-10 Edit: You know Phil they are updating W10 all the time. What was said in 2015 may not apply to today. I never stopped W10 from updating and I have not seen any attempts for the OS to update my video driver. Not sure if it would or not but I probably wouldn't come out of the gate with a new system and limit its ability to update. I would wait to see if it is an issue first. Just my 2-cents.

I wouldn't adulterate an OS on its birthday with an upgrade especially when I was paying for an OS anyway but it's your dime. Make sure your MB is approved for W8. GL

MS support of Skylake for W7/8 ends 2017. W10 is highly recommended.

Give these guys a shout, they have an excellent reputation in the UK https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ If they do not have the tridents these are great as well and they do carry them: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=+CMD16GX4M2B3200C16+

I7-4790K is a good option if you want to save a few pounds while giving the 6700 a run for its money. Just throwing it out there.

Hello, you will not gain 5820 versus 6700k, also do not forget the 6700k is DX12 capable. Only thing I would change from what you posted is memory to 2666.

Hi Noel, I was responding at the same time you were, missed your post. Also responding for the benefit of the masses that may be reading and actually be interested in power protection, even for my own edification. Well....depends on how you wish to define minimal. If your personal choice is to spin the wheel or otherwise console your choice for protection or no protection, then you may wish to define as minimal. :smile: For those more statistically inclined I offer a: NEMA study indicating 31% of respondents indicated equipment damage. That study consistent with a German Engineering study HERE. A white paper concluding that power protection was prudent HERE. Coupled with many North American utility providers recommending protection on their websites like HERE HERE HERE and so-on. I suspect the failure rates are actually higher than 31% and that many failures are not reported or not adequately diagnosed as attributable to a power issue. Example, MB fails and user simply buys new or returns for warranty and no cause of failure is ever determined. Of course what any one person chooses to do or not to do is their business and of little concern to me. That is an open statement not directed to you Noel specifically. As I said before, most of my electronics are not protected (doesn't make it right) and certainly doesn't make the best advice to others to be that it isn't needed.

I looked at that during my research and liked it but my reading indicated surge protection <3000 joules was a farce. I get the warranty and guarantees that most power protection folks offer against surge damage but many have exclusions in fine print. Besides, if enough of you want to hedge a $50 bet with me, I will insure your PC against a lightening strike.

Your question made me inquisitive so I have been doing some looking at power protection. Pure sine wave is still preferred top of the line recommendation. The UPS in your selection is a Stepped approximation to a sinewave. Compatibility of any non pure sine wave UPS with a PSU that has a Power Factor Correction circuit (PFC) is undetermined and case by case bases if it will work. Rule of thumb is spec UPS 50-100% higher than PSU wattage (this to ensure that a minimum of 80% of power is supplied to PSU). Source Also see Q11 Seagate - A more prudent option may be surge protection only, while this device will not protect data during unexpected shutdown, it may provide protection from serious overload/surge/spike. Trip Lite Truth be told I own one UPS, I have many PC's, many flat screens and a host of other electrical/electronic gizmos; a serious surge will wipe out existence as far as modern age is concerned. The one pc that is protected may prove useful in filing the insurance claim or otherwise typing my suicide note. :smile: Where to begin and where to end, do we want to be Doomsday preppers cause ain't no surge protector gonna stop a direct lighting strike anyway. That job requires a lightning pole.

I'm not sure Noel. I haven't looked at current market offerings (technology) for several years so I may be dated. When I did do my homework, a UPS offering a pure sinewave was top-of-the-line solution. I still think that holds true but others will surely chime in.

Sound advice Johnman. It is amazing the number of people willing to drop $1,000 on a GPU but not protect the entire system for a couple-hundred. Add the piece of mind that I have when the UPS software warns of an incoming surge arrested or the reassuring switching to battery during a brownout; priceless.