Upgrade CPU or GPU?

[Bogu Wei]

Hi Simviation

I have enough money to either upgrade my cpu/mobo or my gpu (current hardware specs below) and was wondering which component was more of a bottleneck for FSX.

More context: I'm currently running FSX at medium-highish settings (FSX settings detailed below) and can get at least 30 FPS cockpit view on all default planes, and the SkySpirit 747-8 model w/ 747-default cockpit. However, I'm looking towards more holistic simulations and would like to use the PMDG 747 or at least iFly 747 and both of those run in single digit FPS right now.

Any advice at all would be appreciated!

FSX Settings:
[GRAPHICS]
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=1024
NUM_LIGHTS=8
AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1
AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1
COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1
LANDING_LIGHTS=1
AC_SELF_SHADOW=0
EFFECTS_QUALITY=2
GROUND_SHADOWS=0
[SCENERY]
LENSFLARE=0
DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1
IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=4
[DISPLAY]
BLOOM_EFFECTS=0
SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=40
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=90
[PANELS]
QUICKTIPS=1
PANEL_OPACITY=100
[TERRAIN]
LOD_RADIUS=4.500000
MESH_COMPLEXITY=60
MESH_RESOLUTION=22
TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=28
AUTOGEN_DENSITY=4
DETAIL_TEXTURE=1
WATER_EFFECTS=5
[WEATHER]
CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=8
DETAILED_CLOUDS=1
CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=8
THERMAL_VISUALS=0
DownloadWindsAloft=1
DisableTurbulence=0
[TrafficManager]
AirlineDensity=15
GADensity=15
FreewayDensity=20
ShipsAndFerriesDensity=40
LeisureBoatsDensity=40
IFROnly=0
AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=1

Computer Hardware:
CPU: Intel Core i7-940 Engineering Sample (overclocked 3.6 GHz)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 470 (overclocked 775 MHz)
Mobo: MSI X58 Pro-E USB3 LGA 1366 Intel X58 USB 3.0
PSU: 750 Watts
Mem: Corsair 8GB 1333 MHz
Display resolution: 1920x1200

[mjrhealth]

I5 2500K or I7 2700K, will overclock well, then if you can GPU.

[Bogu Wei]

I5 2500K or I7 2700K, will overclock well, then if you can GPU.

How much of a boost could I expect from an upgrade to an i5 or an i7 if I keep around the same FSX settings that I have now?

[F35LightningII]

I5 2500K or I7 2700K, will overclock well, then if you can GPU.

How much of a boost could I expect from an upgrade to an i5 or an i7 if I keep around the same FSX settings that I have now?

If you upgrade to a 2500K/3570K/2600K/2700K/3770K and overclock to about 4.3GHz (which is easily achievable), you will get a performance boost of about 15-20%, meaning 15-20% higher framerates.