New Build PC for FSX Advice Required

[Maxi67]

Hi Guys,

Here goes for my first post on the forum!

I’m looking for some thoughts / feedback on the spec of new PC build for FSX. I’ve been researching for a while now a possible spec, trawling the forum to get a feel for CPU and graphic card recommendations. This week a friend of mine has upgraded his graphics card and given me his old card listed below , which has kick started the new build.

Spec:

• Intel i7-2700K 3.5GHz
• Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 Motherboard
• Themaltake Frio CPU cooler
• Asus Geforce GTX560Ti 448 Cores 1.28GB
• Corsair LP Vengeance 16GB 1600MHz CL9 DDR3 (Four Module Kit)
• Crucial M4 128GB SSD
• Seagate Barracuda 1TB Hard Drive (7200rpm) SATA 64MB (Internal)
• Sony AD-5280S-0B DVD±RW 24x SATA Drive
• COOLER MASTER CM 690 II Advanced Mid Tower Chassis Case USB 3.0 Coolermaster Silent Pro 850W Power Supply
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1, 64-bit

Although since I first started researching I’ve discovered that I could have an Ivybridge spec motherboard and CPU for not much more money.

• Intel i7-3770 3.5GHz
• Asus P8Z77-V PRO Motherboard

I’ve read that FSX is more CPU intensive than GPU, which made me think that being able to overclock the CPU would be an advantage. However, I’ve read that Ivybridge CPU’s run hotter when overclocked than the Sandybridge chips at similar overclock speeds. So do I go for the I7-2700K or the i7-3770 CPU /motherboard combo? Although long-term the Ivybridge system should be a bit more future proof, well until the next chips comes out!

Some opinions online suggest that FSX should be installed on an SSD, but others say that due to the way that FSX reads data that its better installed on a normal HD than the SSD. I wondered how others have it installed on their systems?

I’m looking for the system to run at high levels of detail at decent fps with addons I’m looking to purchase such as PMDG 737 NGX , PMDG 747-400X, REX and Wilco Airports etc.

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Maxi

[loki]

Save your money and go with the 2700K. And then overclock it.

Installing FSX on an SSD certainly won't hurt, but it won't improve performance. They will reduce loading times though.

[Loke]

Looks like a nice rig.

I'm currently at 4,2 GHz with my two days old i7-3770K, cooled by a Noctua CPU cooler, on Asus P8Z68-V Pro/Gen3. FSX transformed from flying in sirup to flying in air, even before overclocking, so this is a great CPU, but runs hot compared to Sandy Bridge. I'm at Vcore 1,12V, overclocking the Turbo mode only. The clue with Ivy Bridge is to use lower Vcores than for Sandy.

Prime95 max temp is 75 C, FSX usage 63 C. I'm quite happy. Flying the AS F-16 low is a new experience indeed.

Been using an Intel SSD for FSX for a long time now, and see no reason to have FSX on a HDD.

[Maxi67]

Save your money and go with the 2700K. And then overclock it.

Installing FSX on an SSD certainly won't hurt, but it won't improve performance. They will reduce loading times though.

Thanks for the comments loki,

I think I'm going to go with the i7-2700K for max overclocking without overheating worries, but I'm going to pair it up with the Asus P8Z77-V Pro board, as there is little price difference from the Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN, and being a newer board it should give me more options for the future should I want to move over to Ivybridge at a later date.

Still not decided on putting FSX on the SSD , might keep it for OS only in the interim and perhaps get a separate SSD for FSX and add-ons when I have the money. Although it would mean reinstalling FSX again at a later date ...mmm

[Maxi67]

Thanks for the reply Loke.

I'm flying through some particularly thick syrup at the moment so no matter what I upgrade I'm bound to feel a difference

I'm going to opt for the i7-2700K for the moment and might see if I have any spare cash around the house to stretch to a separate SSD for FSX and add-ons