Re: i7 & FSX

[Brett Hill 2]

will it be an impovement to the q6600 quad core processor with 2.4ghz x4

[NickN]

[quote]

[NickN]

will it be an impovement to the q6600 quad core processor with 2.4ghz x4

see my other thread about i7 and considerations for parts

[NickN]

Perf in FSX is not about frames its about smooth and clear visuals...

Love your tips Nick but can you add some details comparing your i7 to Penryn systems at the same clock?

I've used your tips on my P35 quad system @4Ghz to get smooth flight and sharp textures, took some work but your suggestions paid off.

So my question is what would a i7 upgrade at 4Ghz offer say flying over the Tokyo area RJTT vs my current system?

I cant pinpoint location tests and relay accurate results based on your support components

see my other thread about i7 and considerations for parts

[FlightTime]

Seems the many overclockers are getting 3.8 or less with i7 setups,
the CPU is noted for generating a lot heat as it gets over 3.2.

Read your post Nick very interesting details,
love to see some specifics on FSX performance,
fps vs your tuned core setup, or full size screenshots
showing detail differences.

Any details on your setup, volts needed, temps etc?

Its a costly upgrade and with my core quad at 4 now,
I'm not convinced its worthwhile yet, if I probably looking at 3.8 on i7?

[NickN]

Im not going to spend time trying to convince anyone its worthwhile

Currently I am running a 1.4v vcore on the 26x multiplier and completely stable at 4GHz and its never exceeded the max temp


forget framerate tests as they mean very little

anyone who uses them to make a point about FSX does not understand the title

Screenshots will never show the differences. Only real time use


I never said everyone should drop what they have and run out and buy i7. I provided a base for those who may consider such a move to place thought into their decision.

If you are smooth and like what you see, why even consider the upgrade? Why not wait and get the time out of the system in use and purchase later when perhaps memory and motherboard options appear which are less expensive and perform the same as the parts available for i7 today

[macca22au]

I am currently running an i7940 and a 8800GTX on a P6T board, with 2x2gigs 1066 RAM.

I say currently as because I am waiting delivery of a GTX280.

As Nick says framerates don't count, but they are a point of reference.  For me framerates are high even at complex airports, so as I have a problem I know that that isn't an issue.

However I can't get rid of the form of stutter that I call - tugging - ie smooth then a lurch.   Also tight turns on the ground at airports still create stutters.

Has anyone worked out effective ratios between TBM and Bufferpools - or are they two quite separate parameters?

I have also had what the machine calls intermittent failure of the video driver, but nvidia say is more likely to be unstable memory or power supply problems.

And I can't overclock by Nick's recommended 400 (sic) until I get the power supply upgraded.  

Couple that with the fact that my 7200 rpm drives are seen to  be slowing the system - so I have the feeling my upgrade is only at the start of the upgrade cycle!

It is only money, and without technical skills that's the trade off - money.

[NickN]

I am currently running an i7940 and a 8800GTX on a P6T board, with 2x2gigs 1066 RAM.



Your cutting the nuts off that system

you need 3x2GB (minimum 3x1GB) and even if not clocking DDR3 1333 6-6-6 or max 7-7-7 memory

1066 dual channel is removing the advantages you paid for with Quickpath and that proc

Clocking that proc a few hundred MHz without requiring a special heatsink is easy.. but you should have 3x DDR3 1600 7-7-7

[macca22au]

Sorry it is 2x2gigs DDR3 memory.

[macca22au]

I am too old to know what those things you say I am cutting off might be, but I will try and remember.  However maybe I'm not so old, I called it 'tugging" and you called it surging.  I must have been thinking of other things after all.

[NickN]

2x2GB is 2 sticks of 2GB memory

Quickpath kicks into full swing with 3 sticks, not 2

And the proc wants that memory at 1333 or 1600 (depending on the sticks and the clock)

As you raise the BCLOCK from 133 in the BIOS to a higher value the CPU speed increases which is overclocking. To hit higher speeds such as 3.6GHz+ the CPU voltage must be increased. A 920/940 will do 4GHz on about a 1.4v vcore setting

The trick is the memory... it must be able to do 1.65v which is why when you buy memory you purchase the 1.65v 1333 or 1600 product

1066 can be clocked to but you must REDUCE the memory multiplier to around 6-8x so the math places the memory at a speed it can run stable close to 1066

To access those settings the AI TUNER in the BIOS must be set to MANUAL so the list is available

i7 was designed to have 3 sticks of 1333 memory.. be it 3 sticks @ 1GB each or 3 sticks at 2GB each, and, in order to really have room in clocking the memory should be 1.65v product on the lowest timing possible.

For 1333 memory the max timing the sticks should run by default is

1GB sticks = CAS6-6-6
2GB sticks = CAS7-7-7

For 1600

1GB sticks = CAS7-7-7
2GB sticks = CAS8-8-8


Mushkin has just released CAS7 3x2GB which is the best I have see thus far

For 1066 the timing should be CAS 5-5-5 MAX

Everything I have seen in the new DDR3 @ 1066 is CAS 7, 8 and 9

[vgbaron]

If you are smooth and like what you see, why even consider the upgrade? Why not wait and get the time out of the system in use and purchase later when perhaps memory and motherboard options appear which are less expensive and perform the same as the parts available for i7 today

Confirms what I was thinking. No matter which way I look at it - the  % gain over my system as it's running now vs the $$ doesn't make sense to me. Frankly, other than getting a 280, I'm thinking I'll hang ont this setup until FSnext is out. Who knows what hardware will be needed for that?

I'm guessing though, that the current *hot* hardware will run FSnext nicely.

Just MHO,

Vic

[cause88]

Vic,
Try as I might I can not find the specs on the system that you are currently running. I know that you have stepped up from a Q6600 and DDR2 memory to a Q9650 with DDR3 memory, but I can not find the post listing the rest of the components in your system.

Since I am using the posts between you and Nick as a base line for building a system and future clocking of the CPU I would like to be as close to the base system as possible.

Would you mind listing the components of your system for me, or directing me to a link that has then? Thanks
Dennis

[NickN]

Q9650 @ 4050GHz liquid cooled 2x2GB DDR3 1600 Mushkin @ 8-8-8-24 1T tRD7 on Rampage Extreme BIOS 0801

[vgbaron]

Q9650 @ 4050GHz liquid cooled 2x2GB DDR3 1600 Mushkin @ 8-8-8-24 1T tRD7 on Rampage Extreme BIOS 0801

What he said!