Simviation Forums

Hi

I've spent quite a while planning the specs for my next PC. Here's what I've decided:

Motherboard:     ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z
CPU:                 i7-2600K
Graphics:           ASUS GTX590
HDD:                 Seagate Barracuda 500GB
SSD:                 120GB Intel SSD 510 series
RAM:                 8GB DDR3-1333
Network Card:    Intel EXPI9301CTBLK
Case:                Antec LanBoy Air
PSU:                 Corsair TX950
Sound Card:       ASUS Xonar Essence ST
Optical Drive:     ASUS Black DVD-RW
CPU Cooler:        CORSAIR CWCH70

So do you what d'you think? Do you suggest any changes? :-?

Motherboard: In my opinion a $365 motherboard is completely unnecessary. Unless you know you need the features then grab something cheaper like a ASUS SABERTOOTH P67, ASUS P8P67 Pro.

CPU: Excellent.

Graphics: Equal fastest graphics card with the Radeon 6990 at the moment. However it has two graphics processors, one of which will not be utilized by FSX, it may not be much faster than a GTX 560-Ti in FSX. For best FSX experience get GTX 580.

HDD: Too small. Get a 1tb. Minimum. Three reasons: hard disks are cheap. 1tb is far better value. bigger hard disks are usually faster.

SSD: I would go with OCZ Agility 3 or OCZ Vertex 3. Vertex 3 is faster but more expensive. Still, Intel 510 is good.

RAM: Get 8gb DDR3-1600 7-8-7-24 1.6v (or similar) especially if overclocking. The price difference between 1333 and 1600 is small, anyway and RAM is cheap.

Network Card: Unless you know you need one then don't bother getting one at all. Integrated is usually good enough. Higher end motherboards also have better integrated network cards anyway.

Case: That thing is fugly. Fractal Design Define R3 all the way.

PSU: Get something modular and more efficient. Corsair TX-series is good but old. I would get CORSAIR AX-750 or AX-850.

Sound card: Unless you know you need one then don't bother getting one at all. Integrated is usually good enough. Higher end motherboards also have better integrated sound anyway especially the ASUS Maxiumus extreme which has an integrated X-fi.

Network Card: Unless you know you need one then don't bother getting one at all. Integrated is usually good enough. Higher end motherboards also have better integrated network cards anyway.

Will the motherboard network card be good for WiFi?

HDD: Too small. Get a 1tb. Minimum. Three reasons: hard disks are cheap. 1tb is far better value. bigger hard disks are usually faster.

I'll be putting most of my stuff on the SSD. The HDD will be for videos, music pictures and documents and I wont need much space for those.

As far as I know, most P67 / Z68 motherboards do not have wifi. So I was wrong. You do need a network card.