New Computer?

[peter]

I have an Alienware rig with quad core 2.66 mg processor. The board will only accept 1066mHz so moving up processors cant be done with out motherboard change. I am about as fast as i am going to get with this system.

Thinking of getting an I7 processor with watercooling system - any thoughts of getting new system. Is it worth $4k. is an I7 processor that has same clock speed as my current quad core going to give me more FPS?

[Mike Bridge]

I have been told you dont need alot of Cores for gaming,
So basically in some cases, you are wasting you money

Better to have all the power going through 1 or 2 cores, than spilt over 3

[Brian K]

... is an I7 processor that has same clock speed as my current quad core going to give me more FPS?

First and foremost: What are your current framerate? Is it so low, that you needs a new rig or? I am having a Core2 Duo and when the system is firmly tweeked and overclocked I get about 20 fps with settings I can live with in FSX. When flying in high dencity areas a bit lower.

So to your question. Yes, but probably not many, between 5 to 10. FSX SP2 uses many cores, so your quad-core 2.66 (I believe it is 65 nm technologi or?) is probably doing a good job - but one that could be better! I would overclock the 'bastard' for a year and see where the i7 would be by then The Core2 processor does normally have a high overclock potential. My 2.66 duo does run stabel at about 3.5. Just be sure that your RAM can take it (I have DDR3).

When looking at the rate that intel releases processors, I believe that another model of the i7 will be in the marked this fall, which would lower the prices on the 'old' i7. The new processor will probably have a lower that 45 nm technologi, which will be even faster. Would I upgrade from a Core2 Quad as of yet - no - but if you would like to splash some cash, just go ahead

I have been told you dont need alot of Cores for gaming,
So basically in some cases, you are wasting you money

Better to have all the power going through 1 or 2 cores, than spilt over 3

You do need many cores for FSX! The sourcecode was changed with SP2 and it is able to benefit from many cores. Many games does not, but FSX does. What other games need are a fast and memory-heavy graphic card which FSX aren't that dependent of. So better a multicore processor that a state-of-the-art graphic card!

Brian

PS: If you don't know what to do with the old Quad-processor, please send it to me

[esurfman]

You guys see the new 3D nvidia card that just came out....wondering