Hi Nick, since you did not comment on my system, I will try again   But then in an appropiate forum for hardware and tweaking,


My System is :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abit ip35Pro (p35chipset)                              - Mainboard
Intel Quad 6600 (G0)                                    - Processor
Noctua NH-U12P, with OCZ Freeze                 - Cpu-cooler
XFX 8800-GTX                                             - Display-adapter
4x1024GB (4GB)Corsair 8500 XMS2 DDR2     - Ram
OCZ Tech PcP&cooling Silencer 750               - Power Supply
2x200Gb Samsung spinpoint SATA                 - HDDs    
Windows Xp Home Sp3                                  - OS
Lian Li PC-60 , with several case-fans             - Computer Cabinet
I use FSX Deluxe with Acceleration pack         - simulator
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you see any weak combinations in this system , please point them out??  

Do you think it is better to use 2x1024 instead of 4x1024 of Ram that I'm using now?
Also how much would I gain with changing to this motherboard : Asus Rampage Formula X48
I read so much good about it here:http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1223693603
I like overclocking, but do not know to much yet(still learing) Had my q6600 at 3,4Ghz, but don't think it was stable, with 360fsb and 9 multi i think with ram at 999speed something like that   don't remember
I tried to match some of the settings which I have read in that thread and other places since my system is fairly similar ,except the X48-board.
But when it comes to RAM timings I'm completely lost there are so many values


Should I install FSX on that second disk? same size and spec I think.. have used it for a RAID-System in FS2004
Last thing , my install is 190GB and 8mb of unallocated space is left, is this right or have I done something wrong??

So hoping for some help getting the most out of my comp.. , Would like to get in the "FSX zone" with my comp
I am thinking about changing that motherboard, have not decided yet..

PS. Getting the PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 PSU you recommended later today, maybe that will help also..  

Thanks in advance

Uups sorry, Did not try to be rude. Please just use this post here, and forget about that FSWC-post, I have sort of closed it..  

Yes I know you are one person and at least 1000 people would like to speak to you at the same time.. hehe  
"No pun intended" And Inbetween you would also like to work on GEX Eu, so sorry. 
I will wait for my time..

Well if you're nterested in the opinion of someone who actually has a Q6600 - see my various posts about this.

I had nothing but problems with 2 x 2GB sticks of RAM...with XP.

BSODs, freezes everything....I blamed my new GTX 260 and the drivers...but once I went back to 2 x 1GB and removed the stoopid switch thing - perfect....again.

Also, there is no evidence that RAID arrays have any benefit in FSX - too much complexity to be worth even considering, if you ask me.

And, as has been said countless times.... don't mess around with multiple disks - everything on 1 Good disk and use a good defragger...properly. And, just FSX...nothing else - no need for virus checkers, office any other crap...just FSX...nothing else.

T1MT1M wrote on Dec 8^th, 2008 at 10:04am:


1 + 1 = 2.

Before I go through this I wish to state that I am not going to get into a long conversation about HOW TO OVERCLOCK… I do not post in threads about clocking and how to do it unless:

A.      I have the time
B.      I know the person on the other end is experienced


That being said I will answer you the best I can…

The information in the thread you posted http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1223693603  is the SAME for any motherboard that can run 400-450MHz and a Q6600 or Q9650. If you can not follow that thread and clock, don’t do it. That thread is as simple as I can make it and be sure to read the ENTIRE THREAD not just ONE post!


Abit ip35Pro (p35chipset)

Old board but should do 400MHz on the right memory with the Q6600 @ 3.6GHz

If it won’t run 400MHz stable with the right CPU cooler and memory then I would suggest this replacement:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131219

Or the Rampage Formula which is even better

HOWEVER

The use of those boards comes down to YOU, your ability to use 400-450MHz correctly and using them too clock the Q6600 or another processor


Intel Quad 6600 (G0)

A Q9650 ‘clocked’ would be an upgrade and would probably need the board I posted above to run 450MHz with a CPU speed of 4050MHz

The Q6600 (G0) will top out at 3.6GHz and around 1.42-1.46v vcore with LLC ENABLED in the BIOS


Both need the right CPU cooling solution and monitor temps during stress testing to assure they DO NOT exceed 75-78c under the OCCT 1 hr load test, as monitored by the software CORETEMP




Noctua NH-U12P, with OCZ Freeze

OK unit but if you intend to clock I would invest in a Thermalright 120 Extreme with a 120mm fan



XFX 8800-GTX  

Good card for FSX and can be clocked up as well



4x1024GB (4GB)Corsair 8500 XMS2 DDR2  

Use 4GB. Gabe’s problem is something to do with his hardware.

I do not recall if Gabe was running 4 sticks but if that is so more than likely that is the reason he failed


Most can run 4GB with the 3GB switch and VM edit I posted with a 32bit OS. It will allow FSX SP2 access to up to 3GB with the 8800GTX and its 768MB video memory.

My question about this memory what is its timing spec @ 1066?     5-5-5? and will it run that with 4 sticks?

Probably not which is why 2x2GB is always better and more stable for use especially in a 32bit OS

I need exact memory part number to suggest what the memory product will do in a clock.

Regardless… with DDR2 on a Q6600 the best you will ever do in a clock is 3.6GHz, 400FSB with memory at DDR2 1066 5-5-5

With a 9650 on the same CPU cooler that would increase to 4.1GHz, 450FSB with a memory speed of 1081 5-5-5 assuming the memory will run that stable.

This memory will do it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146785

As will this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197

Unfortunately Mushkin does not sell their 996535 memory anymore which is known for hitting 1T and tRD 6 @ 1066-1081 so your results in clocking that would not be the same as Vic’s in the thread we were discussing his clock

You can still do 5-5-5-15 1066 to 1081 but the sticks may not run 1T CMD and I know they will max at tRD7 as the lowest Performance Level possible.

Both memory products above run @ 2.1v for the clock speed


OCZ Tech PcP&cooling Silencer 750

Excellent choice.. will cary you into i7 upgrade on a single high performance video card



2x200Gb Samsung spinpoint SATA

You could do better with a hard drive for FSX. The VelociRaptor 150 and 300 will get you the best performance for the cost without going to a controller card or RAID. You must make sure your motherboard supports SATAII in order for those drives to benefit the system. They will run even faster on a professional SATA card

RAID0 is only possible with FSX on a professional PCIe 4-8x SATAII/RAID card with onboard DDR memory buffer. Motherboard RAID will reduce FSX performance.



Windows Xp Home Sp3

This will limit memory use. A 64bit OS would allow you to use 4GB of memory without any OS edits and without any memory limits. I use WindowsXP x64 for that reason.




Lian Li PC-60 , with several case-fans


Nice tower…  I prefer the Silverstone TJ09 and TJ10 units





I use FSX Deluxe with Acceleration pack      

Which means you run SP2 and have access to >2GB with FSX
If you see any weak combinations in this system , please point them out??  

See answers above








Do you think it is better to use 2x1024 instead of 4x1024 of Ram that I'm using now?

Answered above

2x2GB is ALWAYS more stable than 4x1GB and 2x2GB will run lower timing. More than likely you are very restricted in a clock because of 4x1GB. I posted the memory product you need above.





Also how much would I gain with changing to this motherboard : Asus Rampage Formula X48
I read so much good about it here:http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1223693603
I like overclocking, but do not know to much yet(still learing) Had my q6600 at 3,4Ghz, but don't think it was stable, with 360fsb and 9 multi i think with ram at 999speed something like that don't remember
I tried to match some of the settings which I have read in that thread and other places since my system is fairly similar ,except the X48-board.
But when it comes to RAM timings I'm completely lost there are so many values


See answers above





Should I install FSX on that second disk? same size and spec I think.. have used it for a RAID-System in FS2004

I always run FSX on its own drive and format it to 64K clusters using 3rd party disk utility software since







Last thing , my install is 190GB and 8mb of unallocated space is left, is this right or have I done something wrong??

No, that is correct for a drive. During the format process a % is reserved by the format process for things you need not be concerned with. That amount can vary from 2-15GB.

I hope you understand now why I could not respond to such a long request right away.. answering a combination question post with thought and consideration for the persons needs on the other end takes time and removes my time from others who ask simple single questions which I can respond quickly to, and, my personal time not to mention my work with GEX.



Everything you need to know is in the answers above… the rest is up to you to research, build and tweak correctly.

Quote:



Ah but this is where electronics comes in, we will clone you and then use your brain for information which will be collected on a hard drive which will then be embedded in the clones head (if we can't find a way to put it in there we'll do what i usually do when i get frustrated that something that won't go, force it).   .

I am also yet to go to uni to get my degree in physics so we'll wait a few years and then we can clone you. If that dosent work we can get a sheep that sorta looks like you and clone that because we know that can be done  .

NickN wrote on Dec 9^th, 2008 at 1:57pm:

You asked about my ram timings: This is posted on the ram-sticks, I have a picture but don't know how to put it into the post so just posted all info more or less like it is on the sticks..


Corsair CM2X1024-8500C5                         5-5-5-15
2.20V  Ver1.3                                           1066Mhz
    3977639               08030263                  1024MB
                                                            XMS2-8500

Hey Thanks

Finally found out how to upload pictures here so wil give it a try..

The corsair Sticks:

P.S. the numbers might not be same on the other pair but they are bought on the same time in pairs of 2(1024X2 in each pack). So they should be of the same spec, just not same serials I think, But you know this better than me



CPU-Z










That should provide you with a lot of information I think..

ALSO if you need more Information, just ask..


Thank you so much for helping,
I will choose vicely this time