Upgrade help

**vlug** · 08-18-2012, 07:19 AM

Hey guys

I want to upgrade my system. I want to upgrade the cpu,mobo and gpu. Will add more RAM later on
Current system:
i5 760
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3
Corsair XMS3 8GB (4GBx2) 1600MHZ
Gigabyte 1GB HD5770
2x 500gb hdd

I want to start firstly with the CPU and MOBO. Then around christmas time the gpu and maybe a ssd. The ram i aquired recently so im still fine with them.
I basicly wan to know what will be a good cpu and mobo to run fsx with detailed (payware) aircraft/scenery etc with decent graphics. I do want to oc the cpu!!!
My current system with the cpu oc'd to 3.8ghz runs pmdg's 737ngx at a detailed airport around 15-20fps. Isn't that bad, but the system like to crash out on me sometimes. The settings though isnt very high, mostly medium.

I have been looking at some of the 3rd and 2nd gen i5's an i7's but cant seem to figure what would be the better one (dont want to buy i7 3770k when the i5 2600k can perform basicly the same)

I know its a mouthful but any help or ideas will be much appreciated.
Thanks
Reben

***fxsttcb*** · 08-18-2012, 12:31 PM

Every combo will need one thing: Top Shelf CPU cooling. For max OC don't skimp here.

The Z68/i5-2500K combination is still the Budget King and should easily get beyond 4.5GHz.
I've had a couple exceptional chips run stable, on air, in the 4.8-9GHz realm.

Next up is the Z68/i7-2600K combination. A little faster, has HyperThreading capability(No FSX help) and costs about the same as the 3770K. It overclocks well too.

The King of the 2nd gen CPUs is still the i7-2700K. 5+GHz is becoming common. Even more common with a Z77 motherboard.

The Z77 chipset will give a little futureproofing, as it has PCIe 3.0 capability, and higher I/O bandwidth when coupled with an Ivy Bridge CPU.

The 3rd gen Ivy Bridge CPUs will OC OK, but, to get speeds in the i7-2X00K's range, custom water cooling may be necessary.
Expect 100-200MHz slower than their 2nd gen counterparts with the same cooling.

Your Budget, Future Plans, and Tech Capability, should also have a lot of influence on your choices.
Google your shortlist combos and take notes. It takes some time and research to find exactly what you want. Be patient...Don

**vlug** · 08-19-2012, 11:13 AM

What would be a good z68 board? Ive been looking at the GA Z77X-UD3 from gigabyte for a mobo to upgrade. Its not the best of board but it was compared to other mobos with the 3770k and it looks like its ocing capabilities are not to bad. Also the ASUS p8z77v. The site ive been looking at for parts has for example the i7 2600k and the 3770k for pretty much the same price. So obviously ill go for the newer one.

My view on cpus is i dont mind buying whichever one as long as it can handle what fsx and me throw at it.

**CessnaFlyer** · 08-19-2012, 11:51 AM

you might want to watch with over clocking sir. it makes every thing in the pc much hotter then it should be. computers are not desgined to be very hot for very long. if you over clock it and run it for very long it will over heat and shut it's sefl down. and due to added stress parts will wear out faster.

***fxsttcb*** · 08-19-2012, 12:12 PM

...as long as it can handle what fsx and me throw at it.

If you are looking for pure FSX performance, and other apps are secondary, then a Z77 mobo with a 2nd gen "K" is probably best. Those combinations seem to get the fastest stable overclocks, which is what FSX loves.
Both the boards you noted are pretty good mainstream offerings and either should be OK.
Z68? For a long term, no mods later, build these days. Or for a particular feature set. The Z77 gives a tad of futureproofing.

I haven't had a Z77 on the bench, but, my own research gave me the impression that the Z77's BIOS has somewhat tighter control capability. If, and how, the mobo mfg has implemented all of those tweaks, is also a matter of researching the exact part number(s) you are considering. Gaming and Overclocking sites usually have some screenies of the BIOS along with their descriptions to help visualize it.

I use the commercial reviews and e-tailers "user" feedback to narrow my searches. Continually using google to find new info.
If the same issue crops up on various sites, and the mfg does not address it forthwith, that part number is deleted from my list.
Bear in mind that unscrupulous users can trash a component, simply because they don't like the mfg, so, read 'em all.

Google and Notepad are your best friends...Don

**vlug** · 08-19-2012, 12:31 PM

yes i agree. on my current system i only oc while using fsx. any other games its down its normal mhz. i will be looking at more fans and a better case.
Thanks

**vlug** · 08-19-2012, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by fxsttcb

then a Z77 mobo with a 2nd gen "K" is probably best.

just a quick question. why not a z77 with a 3rd gen. or is it just what has been noticed with folks running 2nd gen cpu's. im starting to lean towards the 2nd gens. bit cheaper with very much the same specs as the 3rd gens.

Thanks all

***fxsttcb*** · 08-19-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by vlug

just a quick question. why not a z77 with a 3rd gen. or is it just what has been noticed with folks running 2nd gen cpu's. im starting to lean towards the 2nd gens. bit cheaper with very much the same specs as the 3rd gens.

Thanks all

As I noted before, unless you use extreme cooling measures, you can expect a 100-200MHz lower overclock with the 3rd gen chips vs their 2nd gen counterparts on the exact same setup.
Unless the PCIe 3.0, and other Ivy Bridge functions, are necessary, to you, the faster 2nd gen chips should be better for FSX.

For some reason, known only to them, Intel changed the internal thermal inteface material for the 3rd gen CPUs.
The result is a hotter running set of cores, even at lower voltage, equating to a lower stable OC.
Now if they went back to the solder TIM, the IB could really rock. Who knows if that is the sole part of the Thermal equation though?...Don

**vlug** · 08-19-2012, 06:13 PM

okay understood. Yes i read somewhere just after the 3rd gens where released that intel changed the way the processor works. some 3d kind of way making stuff work faster blah blah blah.

Thanks again Don

**CessnaFlyer** · 08-20-2012, 10:02 AM

well if you still oc the processor only for fsx make sure you don't fly very long. the processor will get hot real fast. i don't run fsx and i have a 3.10 ghz processor not over clocked and i can't run it. so why would you risk burning up the processor for a game that needs at least a 4.0 gzh processor? i know it's a neat sim. but is it really worht burning up computer componets?