May switch over to Intel

**jdoon5261** · 01-09-2010, 10:28 AM

Hi Guys,
Been thinking about trying for some more FSX speed. Right now my 3.4Ghz AMD system is doing pretty good but I want some more eye candy and FPS. I've never owned/built an Intel system in the 30 years I've been building my own systems. Mostly due to the high cost of Intel systems but also because I've never had problem one with Nexgen/AMD builds.
Reading about the ease with which you guys are hitting 4+ Ghz with the E8500 coupled with the fact that it costs less than the AMD 965 has me thinking hmmm... maybe.
All I really need is CPU, motheroard, and CPU cooler. Cost is as always a factor. With this in mind I'm off to scour reviews of motherboards to find the right one. Input would be appreciated. Don't need a bunch of bells and whistles as this machine is used only for FSX (and maybe a little CounterStrike here and there).
Thanks in advanced.
I'll probably have to send a "Dear John" letter to AMD. I hate messy break-ups...
John

Edit: Almost forgot. It has to be a DDR2 board.

**jdoon5261** · 01-09-2010, 12:09 PM

OK. So I'm thinking of this for the MB. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359
and this for the cooler. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118046

With the CPU the combo is just shy of $400. Ouch says my cobweb encrusted wallet.
John

Anyone looking for a slightly used AMD MB, CPU combo?

**noell** · 01-09-2010, 12:09 PM

One of the best mobos for what you have in mind is the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UDP3. Check out this review.

If you prefer Asus, the P5Q Deluxe is also a decent board. See this review.

**SpeedJet** · 01-09-2010, 08:28 PM

I suggest this for the HSF I have almost the same board as you but I run this cooler and in FSX or any game I have yet to see my temp get over 44c with a intel C2D E7500

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233029

**jdoon5261** · 01-09-2010, 11:28 PM

Thanks Guys,
Noel, I like the reviews I've seen on the Gigabyte board and will probably go with it over the Asus.
Speedjet, I looked into that cooler and decided on the Zalman because I have an Antec 900 case. I want to have the airflow go from the front of the case to the back. So I'll basically have 3 fans moving fresh air straight thru the cooler. Thank you though.
John

**noell** · 01-10-2010, 10:06 AM

Good choice on the Gigabyte mobo.
I built a system for someone else using that mobo and an E8500.
It oc'd really well. I had it stable at 4.6GHz on air but the temps were getting on the high side of things so I knocked it back to 4.5GHz.
My E8500 is at 4.5GHz on air (Tuniq Tower 120) on the Asus P5K. Thanks to Santa I'm in the process of installing a Swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultima liquid cooling kit so I should be able to push it higher with decent temps.
4GHz seems to be the sweet spot for FSX, though, and I haven't seen a huge jump in FSX performance by going beyond that. I just keep pushing it because I find it challenging and fun.
Good luck with it all.

**Paxx** · 01-10-2010, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by noell

... I'm in the process of installing a Swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultima liquid cooling kit so I should be able to push it higher with decent temps. ...

Don't use that green stuff that comes with the kit. Over time and with a near constant load (heat) that stuff coagulates on the CPU heatsink and will reduce the water flow over the CPU. I was warned and knew of the 'issue' when I did my LCS and sure enough 6 months later I was breaking down the heat sink, cleaning a bunch of purple crap out of it and replacing the fluid with distilled water only.

Other than that have fun.

**noell** · 01-10-2010, 12:34 PM

My Swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultima kit came with a syringe containing Arctic Ceramique. I've been a long time fan of AS5 but the Ceramique product gets good reviews too and I'd always wanted to try it so that's what I'm going with this time. I know of the green stuff of which you speak. I ran across it when it was supplied with one cooler or another quite some time ago but I just chucked it and used AS5 at that time.

**Paxx** · 01-10-2010, 01:28 PM

To be concise, I am talking about that green bottle of Hydrx coolant that came with the kit. Don't use it, in any amount. With constant heat, over time particles precipitate out and clog the inside of your heatsink. I run fresh and saltwater fish tanks and know about cross contamination so I took extreme care initially to avoid contaminants in the water I used with my system. I did add the recommended amount of Hydrx (little less actually) and I am convinced that is the substance that broke down and partially clogged my heatsink.

Good choice on the thermal compound by the way, AS5 or Ceramique both rate well.

**noell** · 01-10-2010, 02:39 PM

Sorry, Paxx. On a re-read I see you did mention "water flow". What is it they say, "less haste more speed" or something like that. As soon as I saw your mention of "green stuff" it made me recall some vile green heat sink compound being supplied with a heat sink one time.

As for your problem with HydrX, that's really interesting. Anyway, I've already charged my system with the supplied HydrX solution. I wasn't sure on the best ratio of HydrX to water so I contacted Swiftech customer support and on their recommendation I went with a 60ml HydrX to 500ml distilled water which they said should prevent algae buildup for at least three years. I Googled "problems with Swiftech Hydrx" and came up dry (no pun intended). Perhaps yours was just an isolated incident? Did you find anything on the web about HydrX problems that you can point me to? Did you contact Swiftech?

And my apologies "jdoon5261" for going off an a bit of a tangent here.