Help with new mid-price gaming machine for FSX

[sringer]

Son is not happy with his current PC, and wants to be able to run FSX better, as well as other current games.

Have a compaq SR1710 NX base to upgrade.
XFX GeForce9800GT 512
Corsair 400W PS with 32+ 12v
19" Viewsonic LCD, 1600 x 1024 I think.

Please recommend MOBO and processor and anything else necessary to upgrade this box, or if need be a completely new build taking advantage of the recently purchased video card and power supply. I will by everything online ASAP, and would like to spend $400. SLI would be nice to have for the future. Not sure about dual vs. quad core. I have the OS and can load either XP or vista.

Thanks in advance!

 

[fullmetall]

hmm, idk what to tell ya, 400 could buy you the memory/mobo/processor.

was that a computer you bought from a company or a home built?

Didnt think you could upgrade many things from a company bought product like compaq or dell.

 

[Helloworld_98]

FSX is very cpu dependant so you'll want a 710 at least which would be $255 inc 790 mobo or $285 for a 720 + mobo. it would probably make sense for him to get a new PSU as well which would be about $100 so thats $355 or $385.

You wouldn't get SLI but ati cards generally perform better for the money (4870 =$150 or $10 than the 9800GTX+ which performs slightly worse than the 4850.)

 

[sringer]

Fullmetall - Yes, I figured at least the case is re-useable.
Helloworld_98 - We already bought the video card, so trying to stick with it. I think its OK to forego SLI.

 

[fullmetall]

For games like fsx and gta 4, Quads are really useful in the situation. nvidia mobo products are really high priced in your matter of gaming material. You'll have to spend a little more than what you expect.

with $400, you can end up with a p43 or a ud3r at $104?? i think.

a nice 4870 for around $150.00 and still have money for a good psu and nice memory thats cheap.

in Nvidia, yea 7XX is the series to go which are IMO over priced.

 

[aevm]

For FSX, I'm thinking something like GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550. Total $100+$275 at Newegg right now. Get 2x2GB DDR2-800 if you have less than 4 GB now.

If you can also upgrade the video to HD 4870 like Fullmetall said, then the other games will get a major improvement too.

 

[sringer]

... wondering why the heck I bought the 9800GT... oh well.

 

[sringer]

For FSX, I'm thinking something like GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550. Total $100+$275 at Newegg right now. Get 2x2GB DDR2-800 if you have less than 4 GB now.

If you can also upgrade the video to HD 4870 like Fullmetall said, then the other games will get a major improvement too.

Can I do that combo with the Corsair 400W PS, or do I need to bump that up too?

 

[Transmaniacon]

For FSX, I'm thinking something like GA-EP45-UD3R + Q9550. Total $100+$275 at Newegg right now. Get 2x2GB DDR2-800 if you have less than 4 GB now.

+1 to the UD3R and Q9550, FSX utilizes the multiple cores so if he wants to run it well, go with the quad. I dont think you need to upgrade the 9800 right away, the CPU improvement will help greatly, and the new components will let you upgrade in the future.

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $99.99 w/ MIR

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail - $274.99

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail - $19.99 w/ MIR

Total = $394.97

If I were you I would also pick up a new case, I am not sure if that Compaq case supports full ATX motherboards, and I am betting it does not have great ventilation. With a better case your components stay cooler, last longer, and allow for further upgrades.

This is a solid case for a fair price:

COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $39.99

This would bring your total to $434.96

 

[Transmaniacon]

Can I do that combo with the Corsair 400W PS, or do I need to bump that up too?

The 400 watt corsair is plenty for your current video card and new CPU. For a HD4870, you would probably be alright because the Corsair is a great PSU.

Edit: The HD4870 requires 2 6+ pin connectors, and that Corsair 400CV only has one, meaning you would need to purchase a converter plug.

 

[fullmetall]

if he is gonna get a case, might as well just get one that you can depend on, the rc-690 is a good case.

 

[Transmaniacon]

Yea or the Antec 300, I was just giving him a suggestion that doenst ruin his budget.

 

[sringer]

how much of a step down would the Core2 Duo 7400 be?

 

[fullmetall]

from a Q9550? i would say its a big step, if your gonna get any dual to match a Q9550 in gaming its a E8400, the 8400 i think, still out rates the high end Quad. or compares to it atleast.

 

[fullmetall]

getting the high end dual, will allow you to get a good airflow case. sticking with the Q9550 will run your budget by a bit but, will allow more things a dual can't do in later games.

 

[aevm]

Keep in mind he wants FSX. In that game the E8400 does not compare with the Q9550 at all. In other games, yeah, the E8400 might even win.

 

[sringer]

I'd like to make sure this build lasts, so I'll stretch the budget to include a good airflow case as suggested. FSX is the priority, so it sounds like a quad is needed. Can a lower end quad work, like the Q8200?

And thanks for all the input so far. It is a great help!

 

[fullmetall]

idk about the Q8200, haven't really spec'd one out, its a cheap one though. Yea, thats why i added the last sentence in, it will allow more things a dual can't do in later games. Q9550 is recommended:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041
$274.99 = free shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359
$114.99 without rebate, $99.99 with.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
PI Black $44.99 = free shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102810
Sapphire HD 4870 512 $179.99


Looking in the $600 range

 

[fullmetall]

Theres things you would have to do to get a 4870, that psu will only have 1 pci-e connector for this card. you would need to buy a convertor to make 2x6pin connectors, or buy a newly psu. Now you see that build didnt include a case..

 

[fullmetall]

adding the case will be $90.00 more dollars.. so your looking at around 670+

 

[sringer]

Theres things you would have to do to get a 4870, that psu will only have 1 pci-e connector for this card. you would need to buy a convertor to make 2x6pin connectors, or buy a newly psu. Now you see that build didnt include a case..

for now, let's stick with the 9800GT I already have, and go with a new case.

What's on the short list for optical drives? I think the one I have is kinda slow, and FSX takes minutes to load.

 

[fullmetall]

So, if you wanted to keep it lower than that, would like to see the Q8200 perform, its more than $100 cheaper.

so Q8200 - $165.00

keep the graphics card : 9800GTX - $0.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188043
EVGA 780i $170.00 = free shipping + Rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
PI Black G.skills memory. $ 44.99 = free shipping.

thats $385+... minus rebates

 

[aevm]

This one is pretty good.
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

 

[sringer]

So, if you wanted to keep it lower than that, would like to see the Q8200 perform, its more than $100 cheaper.

so Q8200 - $165.00

keep the graphics card : 9800GTX - $0.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188043
EVGA 780i $170.00 = free shipping + Rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
PI Black G.skills memory. $ 44.99 = free shipping.

thats $385+... minus rebates

Just when I gave up on the SLI? Q8200 saves $100, but the mobo is $50 more than the Gigabyte UD3R.

How about the Q8200, UD3-R, PI Black, and an Antec 300, and LG 22x DVD? $385 after rebates

 

[Transmaniacon]

So, if you wanted to keep it lower than that, would like to see the Q8200 perform, its more than $100 cheaper.

so Q8200 - $165.00

keep the graphics card : 9800GTX - $0.00

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188043
EVGA 780i $170.00 = free shipping + Rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209
PI Black G.skills memory. $ 44.99 = free shipping.

thats $385+... minus rebates

That nVidia motherboard is not something I would consider, first of all it is expensive and not very reliable. The Gigabyte UD3R (linked earlier a few times) and Gigabyte UD3P (similar to the UD3R but with crossfire option) are some of the best P45 boards available. SLI-ing that 9800 is not worth the money, its an old card and there are much better price/performance GPUs out there. My advice:

Stick with the Gigabyte UD3R, its a great board, and is only $99.99 after rebate.

For FSX, go with the quad-core. The Q8200 would be a fine choice, overclocking with that motherboard and CPU can achieve the performance of a more expensive CPU with relatively little effort.

For good reliable RAM, go with the G.Skill PI Black DDR2 800, if you would like to save a little money, the Corsair RAM I linked earlier is only $19.99 w/ MIR and is still very good RAM.

I would say keep the GPU you have now, its still a decent card and comparable to the HD4850. There is going to be a price cut on ATI cards soon and I would wait for the prices to drop before making a GPU purchase. The HD4870 is a good card, and there is also the new GTS 250, which from recent benchmarks seems to outperform the HD4850, making it a good second choice should you want to spend less.

Your current PSU will be fine in combination with the UD3R board. Since it does not support crossfire or SLI, you only need to power 1 GPU, allowing the Corsair 400CV you have to be sufficient. Should you want to move to a more powerful GPU like a GTX 260, a better PSU would be needed, but for now the current PSU is plenty.

I definitely think a good case is needed, the Antec 300 and Coolermaster RC-690 are great choices, the latter being a little more expensive. I hope this has helped.