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Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 05 Aug 2008, 00:23
by Seaking
Still checking my next rig out, this one caught my eye. I already have a 8800GTS on current rig, would twin 8800GT's give any better performance on FSX

Opinions welcome.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 5-2014%20F

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 05 Aug 2008, 17:18
by JimCooper
SLi will make no difference to how well FSX runs, it's all down to CPU speed (matched to the correct components).
The only reason to go for two cards (in FSX) is to run 4 monitors, and you'd be just as well running a single card with a Matrox TH2Go

Regards

Jim

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 06 Aug 2008, 01:24
by Seaking
Thanks for the info Jim, very helpful.

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 06 Aug 2008, 11:59
by delticbob
Hope Mr SeaKing doesn't mind me posting here on his thread :o as I would also welcome some advice from the Sages here.

My No.1 (ie flight sim) computer has died & requires a new motherboard. The current one is an abit IP-95, [2.8GHz, Intel Pentium D processor, 2 Gb RAM, ATI Radeon X1950 Pro Graphics Card....just off the top of my head].

I use the machine for FS9 as I have addon's & get good frame rates (locked at 25 most of the time). Does not like FSX I get frame rates in single figures, which is fine as FSX is not on the system just now.

I want to replce the IP-95 with something similar - I wonder if you have any suggestions - NB Cheap is good. Cost IS a factor.

Performance no worse that the abit I will accept, better would be a bonus.

Here's hoping,

Bob.

Todays tip....don't play with your computer insides if you don't know what you are doing :rock:

(my back up machine uses a zimmer frame, its that slow) RTFM

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 06 Aug 2008, 13:49
by Seaking
Not at all DB if it's any help to you I'm on the hunt for a new mobo and processor myself.

For years I have always been an ASUS mobo fan never had one issue with them so I was looking at a P5N

Then I came across this combo

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 0SLI-Q6700

When it comes to hardware I'm not the greatest guru on the planet so I'm having a techy buddy of mine do some
more ground work for me. Instead of just selling off my rig like I normally do I'm just going to upgrade as I have
a brand new 8800GTS to go with a new board. As RAM is so cheap now I'll just add 4 gig DDR2 is my plan.

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 06 Aug 2008, 16:15
by Chris Sykes
Hi Seaking, id thought id post my plans for my next mobo. Its the Asus Striker 2 Formula... Looks super on specs and At £160 ish its not hugely priced, especially when im looking at two or three 10,000 RPM drives at £190 a pop...

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 17 Aug 2008, 17:04
by Seaking
For the mobo I'm now leaning towards the P5Q either E or deluxe, my issue now after lots of reading is getting the best RAM
that suits the board.
I'm going to stick with DDR2 I thing as 3 gig of that has to be a lot faster than the 3 gig of DDR PC 3200 I have now.

Does anyone have a P5Q mobo, if so what RAM are you running on it.

Thanks

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 17 Aug 2008, 20:10
by Techy111
I have a P5Ke-WiFi....Steer Clear.....go for the newer gaming boards..... :worried:

1066 is the way to go...... :)

Tony

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 17 Aug 2008, 20:24
by SkippyBing
Tearing myself away from XML programming to read this, I'd just add that although FSX is CPU intensive, the bandwidth to the graphics card can play a part. A recent review I saw tested PCI-E graphics cards at various bandwidths, what was interesting is that they actually included an FSX test in the review. Anyway running the same card at PCI-E 2 and PCI-E 1.1 saw a 15% FPS increase on the PCI-E 2 system. Everything else was the same, they just taped up some of the PCI connectors to decrease the bandwidth, as far as I can tell all cards post the 8x series are PCI 2, so it's worth checking the MoBo is to get the most out of the system (you can run any combination of the two standards).
Apparently it's to do with the amount of textures FSX (or indeed any half decent flight sim) is throwing around to cover the land, sea, sky, targets, etc.

Re: Next computer......advice !!

Posted: 17 Aug 2008, 20:39
by Seaking
Thanks for the info there Skippy, just checked the mobos I'm looking at, they all have PCI-express 2.0 so that's a plus. I have a buddy of mine
who can get me an intel QX6850 3ghz processor at a steal of a deal to throw on the mobo. I'm getting there with a bit of research.