Microsoft Flight Sim X Build

[Jafnahar]

Hello!

Looking to build a budget 'gaming' system for my father. It will be used almost exclusively for Flight Sim X. Not the first system I've built, but it has been around 3 years since I was up-to-date on current hardware, so I've spent the last week trying to refamiliarize myself with it.

So far, this is the system that I have in mind.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP. Likely in the next few days.

BUDGET RANGE: $600

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Flight Sim X at 1920x1200 Res. Everything else is entirely secondary.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: All Peripherals, Optical Drive, HDD. Using two existing SATA drives, a 10,000 RPM and a 7200 RPM. Also, Operating System, as I have copies of both Vista 64 Ultimate and Win 7 available already.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Amazon.com, Newegg.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.

PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD / ATI and at least a Mid-Tower case for full ATX mobo, for future upgreadability

OVERCLOCKING: No

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not currently, possibly in the future.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Primary concerns are simply high quality for Flight Sim X, and future upgrade-ability in the form of full ATX Crossfire capable Mobo, sufficient PSU, etc. Being able to the play the newest games or demanding productivity/development software are currently no concern.

Currently Selected Parts:

CPU - AMD Athlon II X3 440 3.0GHz

Motherboard - Gigabyte AMD AM3 Phenom II/Socket AM3/AMD 790X/4DDR3-1866(OC)/ATI CrossFireX/GbE/7.1-CH ATX Motherboard GA-790XTA-UD4 (Chosen for future upgrade potential to Crossfire)

GPU - Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 1 GB DDR5

RAM - Corsair XMS3 4 GB PC3-12800 1600Mhz Dual Channel Core i3 i5 i7 DDR3 Memory Kit (A little concerned with this choice. I haven't found confirmation of it being compatible with an AMD processor/mobo, though I've come to trust Corsair in the past, and it's available cheaper than the often-recommended G.Skill.)

Case - Cooler Master 330

PSU - Antec Earthwatts 650W 80 Plus

Thanks for any help!

 

[lowriderflow]

the 5770 is a good choice... newegg as a few in the $140 range after rebates, i'd choose one of those. PSU is more than enough.

I'd strongly reccomend a Phenom II x4 - they really shine in games vs the athlon II (worht the extra $40 dollars)

 

[Jafnahar]

Thanks for the response.

Yeah, that PSU was chosen specifically so that I would have some breathing room to upgrade. I figure it could handle a second 5770 in Crossfire without much trouble if I wanted to go that route in the future, though no telling how long the 5770 will have decent Availability.

 

[welshmousepk]

Good choices, yes the PSU could support a second 5770. the RAM is compatible, and everything looks good.

Though i haven't played it, i hear Flight sim X is fairly CPU dependant. but going by this it seems that it doesn't really utilize 4 cores.

so i would suggest getting a more powerful dual, such as a Phenom II 550/555. you may want to ask on a FSX specific forum though, as it may have been more recently patched to better support multi-threading.

 

[batuchka]

No OC build i recommend learning how to under volt that Deneb 945 either via BIOS or K10Stat/PhenoMSRTweaker
$530AR once u swap out that ODD/HDD

 

[mosox]

A little over your budget:

GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H + AMD Athlon II X3 440
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.436580
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145278
SAPPHIRE 100297L Radeon HD 5830
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102878
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W + Antec Three Hundred Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.432087

$615.94


$607.94

 

[welshmousepk]

a 5830?

are you unaware of the GTX460?

 

[mosox]

He wants ATI and wants to be able to add a second card. The 5830 is approximately equal with the GTX 460/768.