Make sure your BIOS is updated to make sure the CPU support is in the system before upgrading.

CPU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

That one will do 4+GHz on the right air cooler

Or this one a few bucks cheaper may have more trouble reaching 4 but it will do 3.6-3.9 no problem

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037


Memory:

2x2GB DDR2 800 4-4-4 timing

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

now those will allow a great clock however for bleeding edge clocking, these:

2x2GB DDR2 1066 5-5-5 timing

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


You will have to clock the motherboard to use either one. A 400Mhz FSB (minimum) will be required.

A E8500 has a 9.5 multiplier ability.. 400x9.5=3.8GHz, set the CPU STRAP to 333 for a DDR2 800 mem-speed..

For the E8700 it has a 10.5 multiplier which means 10.5x400 = 4.2GHz

Both require proper cooling solutions as you will need to raise the CPU voltage to do any clocking above 300-500MHz+

As you increase FSB the mem-speed available will increase so in the case of a bleeding edge clock you need the 1066 memory. If you do not intend to try and push it to the max the DDR2 800 memory is fine but you do need to make sure both the memory speed and timing are right after installing the memory.

Now, the issue of 4GB.. you can use 4GB of memory and those big planes can use the extra in FS9 as long as you manually edit the FS9.exe file to use the LARGEADRESSWARE flag and also set WindowsXP/Vista x32 up to not have issues with >2GB. In the FSX forum at the top of the list you will see my tuning thread.. a few posts down directs in how to set Windows up to work with >2GB and not throw out of memory errors.

The process for making FS9 >2GB aware and use it is here:

http://www.ntcore.com/exsuite.php

Make a backup of the fs9.exe file in the main Flight Simulator 9 folder and place it somewhere safe. Using CFF Explorer browse to fs9.exe and open it in the application. (FILE – OPEN then browse)

See the image below.. click 1 then 2 then in #3 place a CHECK in the line which says App can handle >2GB address space… click OK then select FILE – SAVE which will overwite the fs9.exe file in the main Flight Simulator 9 directory.






Once you apply the Windows technique here your FS9 will have access to above 2GB without issues as will your PMDG and other heavy hitting aircraft.

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1208959973/0#3



If you do not wish to deal with 2x2GB which is nice to have if you ever upgrade to a 64bit OS.. you can use these instead:

2x1GB DDR2 800 4-4-4 timing:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146764

or for bleeding edge 2x1GB DDR2 1066 5-5-5 timing

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226048


Video card:

Now.. if you do not intend to start diving into FSX this little number will do just fine

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133241

It will run FSX as well however if you wish to start playing with FSX I would suggest something a little meatier

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130370

Power Supply:

I only use PC Power and Cooling PSU’s. For you that would be this unit:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005

This is the only other one I can find that would meet the specs for quality at 600-650watt

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005




however if you ever intend to move into a quad core (which you could now but it just wont help with FS9) you would need this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009



There you have it…

Use Nhancer exactly the same as I specified for FSX.. same settings just subsitute FS9 for FSX in the profile

http://www.simforums.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=27540&PID=156769#156769


and use this list to set up FS9


http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1231802901/15#15


you will be in hog heaven with FS9 and you can even have some fun with FSX and those support components

read the guides about system setup too.. everything you need to know is in that thread in the FSX forum with links to everything else


So on the low end you are looking at about 400 bucks with the 2nd choice for the CPU, 2x1GB DDR2 800 4-4-4 memory, a 8800GT 512 ans a really good 600watt PSU for a heck of a proce at 80 bucks. You wont find a better made PSU for that price.

Compared to what you are use to looking at.. that 400 bucks will go a long. long way

actually.. I goofed and posted the link to the wrong 260 card

this is the correct one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130433


the first one I posted is nutered.. it only has 192PC's..  the one above has 216