Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an Intel
processor in years...

Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
friendly motherboard.

It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds like
it would be pretty good.

I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy with them
as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939 system, don't think
I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think Asus has the P5B Deluxe,
which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here , have any experience with it?

I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently have 2 gb
of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).

Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video card,
based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better video card
would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do more for FSX?

I would appreciate any tips.


Thanks,


--
Don

Hi Don,

Can't really help with the motherboard question as I dont overclock but
would recommend the 6600 over the 6400 as it has the larger L2 Cache of 4mb
which I think plays a large part in performance. I have this one and works
pretty good with FS9 at least.

--
Ibby (The artist formerly known as Chris)


"Don Burnette" <d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:KPydnQQTsKjyxCLYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an Intel
> processor in years...
>
> Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
> friendly motherboard.
>
> It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds
> like it would be pretty good.
>
> I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy with
> them as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939 system,
> don't think I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think Asus has the
> P5B Deluxe, which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here , have any
> experience with it?
>
> I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently have 2
> gb of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).
>
> Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video
> card, based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better
> video card would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do more
> for FSX?
>
> I would appreciate any tips.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> --
> Don
>
>
>

When I was choosing parts for my new rig, I got a lot of help and
practical advice on the Technical Discussion forum at fs2004.com.
Here's the main link: http://www.fs2004.com/forums/index.php?
showforum=7

I would go for the 6600 with it's larger 4Mb L2 Cache.
I have a Core2 Duo E6600 at 3.01 Ghz ( up from 2.4) , ASUS P5B , 2Gb Corsair
800MHz ram
using stock cooling on the processor with 120mm case fan.
CPU temp never goes above 60deg C.

Gem of a CPU if you ask me!

The Asus boards come with overclocking software that allows you to lock the
PCI-E bus to 100Mhz so you can avoid curruption problems associated with
running this bus at too high a frequency.ie. data corruption to the hard
disc.

Len

"Don Burnette" <d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:KPydnQQTsKjyxCLYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an Intel
> processor in years...
>
> Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
> friendly motherboard.
>
> It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds
> like it would be pretty good.
>
> I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy with
> them as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939 system,
> don't think I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think Asus has the
> P5B Deluxe, which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here , have any
> experience with it?
>
> I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently have 2
> gb of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).
>
> Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video
> card, based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better
> video card would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do more
> for FSX?
>
> I would appreciate any tips.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> --
> Don
>
>
>

Hi Don,

I use the Asus P5B Deluxe WiFi version with a Core 2 Du E6700, and I've
clocked the processor up to 3.34GHz.

I use DDR2-800 RAM from a lesser known maker, not Corsair or anyone like
that. I transferred my existing Nvidia 7800GT card, and installed my Windows
XP Media Center Edition and FSX and FS9.

FS9 is running at 1280x1024 32 bit with all detail sliders maxed and I can't
get the frame rate to drop below 60FPS.

In FSX I tried unlimited frame rates with what I consider to be sensible and
comfortable slider detail levels and achieve a good 30-40FPS in all but the
most densely populated areas, dropping to low 20 FPS near larger airports,
and something like 13-18 while flying the Tokyo Helicopter mission. (On that
mission with previous stock Pentium D945 3.0GHz processor, and the same PCIE
video card as I use now, this was running at about 7-9 FPS!)

I'd certainly recommend the Asus as a good choice, but I also heard good
things about the Gigabyte model you mention from a friend of mine who owns
RL Supplies here in the UK, but he recommended the Asus over that one.

Don't be afraid of overclocking the processor - it will take it, even
without the need for extra cooling or a fancy heat sink or power supply.
Mine's been working fine since last October.

All the best,

Keith A


"Don Burnette" <d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:KPydnQQTsKjyxCLYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an Intel
> processor in years...
>
> Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
> friendly motherboard.
>
> It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds
> like it would be pretty good.
>
> I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy with
> them as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939 system,
> don't think I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think Asus has the
> P5B Deluxe, which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here , have any
> experience with it?
>
> I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently have 2
> gb of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).
>
> Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video
> card, based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better
> video card would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do more
> for FSX?
>
> I would appreciate any tips.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> --
> Don
>
>
>

"Don Burnette" <d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in
news:KPydnQQTsKjyxCLYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@giganews.com:

> Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an
> Intel processor in years...
>
> Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
> friendly motherboard.
>
> It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds
> like it would be pretty good.
>
> I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy
> with them as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939
> system, don't think I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think
> Asus has the P5B Deluxe, which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here
> , have any experience with it?
>
> I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently
> have 2 gb of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).
>
> Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video
> card, based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better
> video card would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do
> more for FSX?
>
> I would appreciate any tips.

I'm kind of in your situation. Used various Asus MB in the past,
currently on an MSI 939 board. I guess the Asus P5B is highly
regarded. I'm still interested in the NVidia 650i or 680i, but
it seems like the initial release of this chipset was bug-ridden,
or at least the BIOS weren't ready for prime time. Asus Striker
Extreme is a little rich for my blood. I'm waiting to see if
there is any interest in the chipset in more mainstream MBs.

scott s.
..

Thanks Len, makes sense! I will probably look into a third party heat sink
/fan as well.
I am leaning more toward the P5B as well.



--
Don


"Len Hickman" <spamtrap@lenshanger.co.uk> wrote in message
news:45bfa3ca$0$8749$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>I would go for the 6600 with it's larger 4Mb L2 Cache.
> I have a Core2 Duo E6600 at 3.01 Ghz ( up from 2.4) , ASUS P5B , 2Gb
> Corsair 800MHz ram
> using stock cooling on the processor with 120mm case fan.
> CPU temp never goes above 60deg C.
>
> Gem of a CPU if you ask me!
>
> The Asus boards come with overclocking software that allows you to lock
> the PCI-E bus to 100Mhz so you can avoid curruption problems associated
> with running this bus at too high a frequency.ie. data corruption to the
> hard disc.
>
> Len
>
> "Don Burnette" <d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:KPydnQQTsKjyxCLYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an Intel
>> processor in years...
>>
>> Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
>> friendly motherboard.
>>
>> It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds
>> like it would be pretty good.
>>
>> I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy with
>> them as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939 system,
>> don't think I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think Asus has the
>> P5B Deluxe, which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here , have any
>> experience with it?
>>
>> I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently have 2
>> gb of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).
>>
>> Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video
>> card, based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better
>> video card would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do more
>> for FSX?
>>
>> I would appreciate any tips.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>> --
>> Don
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Thanks Keith, I think the P5B is going to be the way to go for me. As I
mentioned, I have had good luck with Asus boards in the past, so I am a
little more comfortable going back to them.

Thanks for all the info, it helps!!


--
Don

ps: I have a wireless router, hardwired to my motheboard, use my laptop with
wireless. Guess no need for a wifi version for me?




"Keith Archer" <keith@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:sAOvh.6504$fy5.4600@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...
> Hi Don,
>
> I use the Asus P5B Deluxe WiFi version with a Core 2 Du E6700, and I've
> clocked the processor up to 3.34GHz.
>
> I use DDR2-800 RAM from a lesser known maker, not Corsair or anyone like
> that. I transferred my existing Nvidia 7800GT card, and installed my
> Windows XP Media Center Edition and FSX and FS9.
>
> FS9 is running at 1280x1024 32 bit with all detail sliders maxed and I
> can't get the frame rate to drop below 60FPS.
>
> In FSX I tried unlimited frame rates with what I consider to be sensible
> and comfortable slider detail levels and achieve a good 30-40FPS in all
> but the most densely populated areas, dropping to low 20 FPS near larger
> airports, and something like 13-18 while flying the Tokyo Helicopter
> mission. (On that mission with previous stock Pentium D945 3.0GHz
> processor, and the same PCIE video card as I use now, this was running at
> about 7-9 FPS!)
>
> I'd certainly recommend the Asus as a good choice, but I also heard good
> things about the Gigabyte model you mention from a friend of mine who owns
> RL Supplies here in the UK, but he recommended the Asus over that one.
>
> Don't be afraid of overclocking the processor - it will take it, even
> without the need for extra cooling or a fancy heat sink or power supply.
> Mine's been working fine since last October.
>
> All the best,
>
> Keith A
>
>
> "Don Burnette" <d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:KPydnQQTsKjyxCLYnZ2dnUVZ_t-mnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an Intel
>> processor in years...
>>
>> Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
>> friendly motherboard.
>>
>> It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds
>> like it would be pretty good.
>>
>> I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy with
>> them as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939 system,
>> don't think I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think Asus has the
>> P5B Deluxe, which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here , have any
>> experience with it?
>>
>> I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently have 2
>> gb of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).
>>
>> Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video
>> card, based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better
>> video card would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do more
>> for FSX?
>>
>> I would appreciate any tips.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>> --
>> Don
>>
>>
>>
>
>

P965 is what you want for the best OC.

This may help:
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2914

They like the P5B Deluxe!!!

Buy the fastest ram you can afford.

Gskill, OCZ, Corsair, SuperTalent are all cool, make sure they're 1066
Mhz minimum.

You can go sli with hacked drivers, don't know if they exist for the
8800's yet though.



Got a linky if U need it.

Al

On Tue, 30 Jan 2007 08:42:58 -0600, "Don Burnette"
<d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net> wrote:

>Ok, I am really contemplating making this move now. Have not had an Intel
>processor in years...
>
>Probably looking at the E6600, or 6400. I would like, an overclocking
>friendly motherboard.
>
>It has been mentioned, the Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 Socket T, which sounds like
>it would be pretty good.
>
>I have had Asus in the past, for AMD systems, and was pretty happy with them
>as well. I currently am running an MSI in my socket 939 system, don't think
>I want to stay with MSI at this point. I think Asus has the P5B Deluxe,
>which supposedly is pretty good? Anyone here , have any experience with it?
>
>I assume, I will need to upgrade my ram also, to DDR2? I currently have 2 gb
>of Corsair LL matched pc3500 ddr ram ( 2x1gb).
>
>Lastly, I currently have the Sapphire Radeon X850XT PCIe 256 mb video card,
>based on what I have read here, it does not sound like a better video card
>would benefit that much, probably the better cpu would do more for FSX?
>
>I would appreciate any tips.
>
>
>Thanks,

Hey gang,

Ok, this is what I am thinking about. Don't know when I will be ready to
pull the trigger, but am seriously considering doing it soon.


Intel Core2 Duo E6600 -
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16819115003

Asus P5B - E Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131070
( I checked out the deluxe, and best I can tell it mainly just adds wi-fi? I
have that with my router, don't see a need for it on mb)

Corsair XMS2 2gb ( 2 x 1gb) ddr2 ram -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

I am thinking, I should just stick with my Saphire Radeon 256 mb X850XT
video card for now... sounds like FSX benefits more from the better cpu than
from a better video card.

Already have good power supply - Antec Neo 550
Will use my current 2ea 250 gb sata hard drives, and current Soundblast X-Fi
soundcard.



Any thoughts/suggestions/tips , as always, would be greatly appreciated!!





--
Don