New System for FSX - rate it

[SubZer0]

Hey guys I'm thinking of selling my current system and upgrading to an Intel one. Tell me what you guys think of the system I'm thinking of buying. Thanks.

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 6850 3.0GHz
Video Card: GeForce 8800GTS 640MB
RAM: 2GB DDR2 800
HDD: 250GB SATA 7200RPM
PSU: 500W (Comes with case)

Any suggestions? I don't want to go over $1450 with this and that's already $1460 at the egg.

[freedomhays]

Looks great to me ,  but I personally like Asus MB's and PC Power and cooling PS's

[MOUSY]

Could you give me links to those parts please, I'm really interested in the case... 500W won't seem to cut it... I'd like to see the specs for that PSU.

I'm ordering a Quad System (more cores better for FSX) take a look here (cutomized with the help of many experts here like NickN, miltestpilot, jimcooper, etc:
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wis ... er=5220991
All for under $1300... add $100 for your 640MB card and its still under $1400.

This list can be used as sort of a template for your build. Just a suggestion. Along with others It can be modified for your particular desires. 8-) Any questions feel free to ask...

[justpassingthrough]

dump the case for one without a PSU and properly cools, then get a PC Power and Cooling 610 if you do not intend to add more later. If you do intend to add more like another video card or quad core later, go with the PC Power 750

Those PSUs may be cheaper at the PC Power website than they are at newegg. Check both because they ship all over the world where newegg and others do not.

The X38 chipset will be out in a few weeks. That is the big brother to the P35.

[HugoCampos]

Go with ASUS motherboards... p5k deluxe for DDRII or p5k3 premium for DDRIII!
No case with PSU!
750w PC Power & Cooling PSU!
Good Memory - DON'T go OEM!
Get a quad!

[freedomhays]

This is a nice all aluminum case,  good price.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6811112104


Also I have always used Corsair Ram,  never got a bad stick ann very compatable with most all MB's....

[SubZer0]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm gonna need some help with this build, then. I like that system there. I'm able to put the computer together, but about that thermal compound and overclocking especially, I'm a complete beginner. If one of you guys who knows what they're actually doing and have done it before with great success, please help me. My limit is $1400 as I said before. I just started advertising the one I have now today. Don't know how long it'll be till I actually sell it, so I think I might be able to wait till those new chipsets come in. Once again, thanks. And please post or message me with the best system build you can come up with in the $1400 price limit. :D

[justpassingthrough]

I can throw 2 cents in about the memory since I just went through this. All P35 and X38 DDR2/DDR3 chipset boards are being fine tuned to run on Micron memory chips such as Crucial and the really expensive ones I had to fight my wife over from Super Talent. The info I got is any Asus board using those chipsets are being fine tuned for Micron memory chips. Corsair uses Micron but not in all their production runs so you can not count on them for that.

If you do not know how to overclock and upgrade heatsinks and such, the faster that memory is the better and easier it will be to clock with less heat problems and less spent on other cooling methods.

All the speed records are being set using Super Talent memory and a few others right now and the Z9 Micron memory chips.

I had help with the clock I am running because I dont know squat about Intel but I am learning by playing with it. That is about all you can do is work it out yourself but I am here to tell you that the slower that base memory speed and the higher the timing on the sticks, the slower the system will run and the more limited the clock will be no matter how fast the processor is known to go.

Your best bet on a budget is Crucial because they are owned by Micron and only use Micron chips.

[SubZer0]

I see. So how about this build? I'm still trying to get the hang of it.

Same case without power supply
PSU: pc power 750
cpu: q6600 2.4ghz
mobo: asus p5k p35
ram: 2gb crucial ballistix 240pin ddr2 800
same GPU (640mb geforce 8800gts)

any better? i also threw in that zalman cooler with the thermal compound. i'll have to get one of my friends who knows how to overclock to do it for me cus i don't want to mess that up.

[Ravang]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm gonna need some help with this build, then. I like that system there. I'm able to put the computer together, but about that thermal compound and overclocking especially, I'm a complete beginner. If one of you guys who knows what they're actually doing and have done it before with great success, please help me. My limit is $1400 as I said before. I just started advertising the one I have now today. Don't know how long it'll be till I actually sell it, so I think I might be able to wait till those new chipsets come in. Once again, thanks. And please post or message me with the best system build you can come up with in the $1400 price limit. :D

Ok here's the system I came up with total: $1029.38
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131190R
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115028
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130286
Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136039
Power Supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153036
You feel free to change anything on this list

[justpassingthrough]

DDR2:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820148069 1066 with slower 5-5-5 timing

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820148076

[SubZer0]

That's what I'm worried about. I have no idea of how to clock a cpu or anything else. I have a friend who clocks but he doesn't understand FSX and I don't even know if he works with memory sticks and video cards as well. I'll have to talk to him and find out about that. If not, then I guess I'll have to go through that step here with you guys if you are willing to help me out or if it is even possible.

So what you're saying is that if I'm going to clock, I should get the 1066 one at 5-5-5 but if I'm not going to clock I should get the 800 4-4-4?

I really appreciate all the help you guys are giving me.

[justpassingthrough]

Clocking has nothing to do with FSX. You clock the system and FSX runs on it. If you clock too high or do not do it right the system may crash on any game or hard hitting program, it has nothing to do with FSX

You can clock with both 800 or 1066 but anyone who pushes for the highest will go for the highest speed.

Since you are not a clocker and do not seem to have a lot of trust in someone else, I think you should start slow and work your way up. You can always buy faster memory next year and it will probably be cheaper, but be warned, DDR3 will be the future and 1066 DDR2 is about the best you are ever going to get on a DDR2 motherboard. DDR3 takes it from where DDR2 left off in speed and goes faster. My DDR3 sticks are running DDR3 1470 right now and once I break them in I intend to go for DDR3 1600 clock.

The problem with DDR3 right now is cost. I got expensive stuff but I still did not go for the best which runs 2000Mhz like what NickN posted about in the link at the top of the forum.

[freedomhays]

Corsair uses Micron but not in all their production runs so you can not count on them for that.  

http://ramlist.ath.cx/ddr2/

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... hp?t=50010

http://ramlist.ath.cx/micron/

Good info on ram at this site,   http://www.asktheramguy.com/v3/index.php

[justpassingthrough]

[quote]Corsair uses Micron but not in all their production runs so you can not count on them for that.