Upgrading my system, could use some help.

[lance]

About ready to pull the trigger,
Looking to run fsx with payware like the js4100, fsc, rc4, xpax with high settings.

Proposed system: Asus P6T LGA, I7 930 (plan to OC), 3x2G Corsair 1600 8-8-8-24, GTX275, all for about $1000

Current system: Gigabyte GA 965P-S3, Q6600@3.2G, 4G memory PC2 8500, 8800GT Video card.

What do you guys think?

[idahosurge]

I would recommend this memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820226121

The 8-8-8-24 ram that you show is average speed at best.

Your really should go with at least a GTX470 for FSX rather than the GTX275.

[Slotback]

What he said.



GTX 460 (NOT THE GTX 465) comes out soon and should probably work great with FSX although it's slower than GTX 470.

[lance]

Thanks for the great tips, good find on the memory.
Newegg has the GTX470 for a little under $300. A little more than I had budgeted but looks like a good card.
Will have to look at the GTX460 also. Wonder when that card will come out?

With my Q6600 and using the JS41, I am in the teens when taking off and it sometimes drops to single digits when there is a lot of weather.
How much improvement would you guess the new system would give me?

[Slotback]

The i7 930 is 10-40% faster than a Q6600 at 3.2ghz. This is based on average performance of benchmarks of the i7 930 compared to the Q9650 (which should be approximately comparable to the Q6600 at 3.2ghz) in this link:

http://www.behardware.com/articles/778- ... ssors.html
and this link
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009 ... ,1407.html

if you overclock i7 930 to 4ghz the difference could become larger to maybe 100%.

But I don't have any benchmarks between the Q6600 and i7 930 in FSX specifically, and the difference between them varies depending on the application, therefore it's possible but unlikely for those figures to be inaccurate for fsx.

The GTX 460 should be over twice as fast as the 8800GT since it has approximately twice the video memory and twice the video memory bandwidth.


Therefore, I would expect your performance to increase by 10% to 120% depending on the situation and whether the CPU or graphics card is the bottleneck or not. As an example, I would expect that in situations with lots of high resolution clouds and aircraft the framerate should be double your current system, whereas in situations in clear skies in the middle of the desert you might be getting a 30% increase. These are just my opinions however and I cannot say how accurate they are. That's about as specific as I can get.



But as a general rule if you're getting 5 fps (i.e. single digits) and you get a computer that's twice as fast you're only going to be getting 10 fps which is still broadly unacceptable hence it might be a good idea to drop some settings, especially on your current computer. Try dropping some settings!!! Try Nick N's tweak guide that's pinned in the FSX forum, and also this and then think about upgrading, because single digital fps sounds unusual getting 10 fps probably isn't going to help much either, but then again the PMDG JS41 is hard on the frames. Try dropping JS41 settings also. Or you could try replacing 8800GT with GTX 460 and then upgrading the rest for if you still need more performance.

In my opinion:
1. Try tweak guides and messing with settings till you get your current PC running it half decently. If you need more performance then...:
2. Upgrade to i7 930, GTX 460, etc.... AND try the tweak guides on this PC also.

But if you're getting 5fps on your current computer then again, a new pc isn't going to help much, the problem might be your settings or simply poor coding on the part of PMDG (and I love PMDG).



GTX 460 launches on 12th July, hopefully it is a hard launch meaning hopefully you can actually buy it on the day it launches.

http://www.fudzilla.com/graphics/graphi ... pixellized

[lance]

Thanks NNNG, some really helpful information.
Your time and knowldege is very much appreciated.
I just recently found out about the "Jesus" tweaks but I havent tried it yet.
I have used NickN's guide and FSX looks glorious, I find myself taking screenshots all the time.
With default planes, my framerates are in the low-mid twenties but very smooth and playable.
I use a website called WxJabber.com to find bad weather to fly in as part of my preflight so this doesnt help out with the framerates. I love to fly in bad weather and along with the bonus points in fspax.
I will take your advice and probably get a good video card and go from there.

In regards to PMDG, I think the JS41 is the best aircraft for FSX I have ever had. I use the TrackIR and the VC is stunning, everything is 3d. A very enjoyable plane.

Take care and all the best to you.