Processor Speed

[caveman16]

Good Morning Guys and Ladies,     As I study and realize that the PC and Flight Sims go hand in hand .    What makes a good PC if we don't learn the different parts or their functions.   I keep reading about what others have and don,t  put a few things together ,[ in my minds eye]  ???    First off - - - Is this my processor speed ?[  ProcessorX86-basedPC/family15model 2 stepping 4 genuineIntel~1800mhz]  I take it the  [1800mhz ] is the processor speed ?       If this is correct - - -   somewhere I stumbled on a  [thing] called a  [front side bus - - "FSB"  ]    and it is only 400 mhz.  I've read I  have a bottle-neck    ::)   Am I fighting a lossing battle trying to speed-up this PC ?      If this is true,- - - is there a way around this   "bottleneck" ? [ Am I slapping at the wind ] ? I also have failed to find a [ FSB ] any faster than 800 mhz.  why have anything faster than 800 mhz  ?    WOW - - I do carry on  ;D    I just didn't  know of any other place to turn to for help,    SORRY.       Thanks so much for bearing with me.  I sure hope this can also be of help to others .   I haven't come across this in the forum yet [ I'm up to page #413 ]    Here's wishing you all a  nice day.      caveman

[ctjoyce]

Well through all of that I decifered that you have a 1.8Ghz P4 with a 400MHZ FSB. However to be sure download a program called CPU-Z. It will tell you everything you need to know about your motherboard, processer, and RAM.

Now back to the processer. Yes a processer that slow will bottelneck your system. However there are higher FSB's than 800MHZ (1062MHZ if I rember right). Those would be duel core processers. If I were you and wanted to upgrade my system to avoide a bottolneck I would go for a 6xx series prescott. These processers have a hiperthreaded core and are 64 bit enabled


Cheers
Cameron

[caveman16]

Thank you so much.    My Lil' Wife keeps after me to get a better PC for my FS.    This is great info for me to look for in another PC.   I keep writing down such info to help keep me out of " THAT  " tar pit.  ;D     More info would be appreciate.   Thanks  again.         caveman

[ctjoyce]

Well whats your budget. that will help alot, but heres a rough estamate on what a top of the line FS PC will cost

Processer: Intel Pentium 4 640 Prescott $209.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819116197

Motherboard: DFi Lan-Party 875-P $154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813136148

RAM: 1GB Corsair XMS $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145450

Video Card: Sapphire ATi Radeon X1800XL $369
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102612

Harddrive: Western Digital 160GB Caviar $88
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822144152

DVD Drive: Lite On DVD Burner $41
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827106988

Case + PSU: Thermatake Tsunami VA3000BAW + Hiper Type R Black $245
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811133132
http://www.frozencpu.com/psu-163.html?id=kfdfCWYv

OS: Microsoft XP Home edition $91.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6837102151

Total ~~~~~~ $1303.94

Now that may look like a heavy price tag, but think about what you are getting

Processer: almost three times the power and speed of your current one + 64 bit. This thing is amazing and will pay for itself when you buy Vista and dont have to upgrade.

Motherboard: The gamers dream board. What else can I say.

RAM: Ive put corsair into just about every computer I've built, as its cheap, relyable and fast.

Video card. Will blow the competition away. Not the top rung of the ladder, but your not going to have to upgrade for atleast two years, unless technology drastically changes.

Harddrive: WD are extreemly relyable, and I heart them.

Case + PSU: Great looking case that is a dream to work with. PSU is probibly the best modular PSU I know of.

So as you can see your shelling out quite a bit of cash, but this system is cheaper than DELL (+$300)  Alienware (+$150) Ibuypower (+75) So with that money you saved you can take the misses out for diner.

Cheers
Cameron

[Alphajet_Enthusiast]

A bit more, in dollars I think I laid down about $2000+ (1700 euros)... Custom of course. After the video card the monitor was the single most expensive part (nearly 400 euros!  :o)

[congo]

Caveman, download Lavalys EVEREST and go thru the system settings there, You will actually know what you have then, no one here can possibly help you without some more specific info.

If you have a "My Computer" icon on your desktop, right click it and select properties. On the general tab there should be your CPU speed and RAM amount for starters.

[caveman16]

Hey Guys, You would not even come close to guessing how much I apprciate your input.  Now I have something to work on .   I'm into VFR as I see the areas I 'll never really go to  Except in the SIMs.   To enhance the scenery is  My Life in the Sim.    Looking forward to the NEW one late spring / early summer.   Anyone heard anything ?    caveman

[caveman16]

Oh ,      Forgot to mention that the "cost" is a lot "LIGHTER" than thought it would be.   [ A few dinners  fo my  Lil' Wife ] Thanks so much ,           caveman