Intel I7 processors and FS9

[Joe P]

My new i7 920 is now built, and FS9 is loaded with all the scenery, traffic, and AFCADS.

FS9 runs perfectly at 60fps, on the ground with full traffic. CPU workload in the Task Manager shows that it was only using about 13%. CPU temp gets up to about 55ºC while using FS9, and rests at 39ºC, as does the motherboard.

FSX Acceleration (no addons) gets about 45fps on the ground, and goes to 60 while flying.


This is the first computer I've built, and it couldn't have gone together any easier. :checkeredflag: :trophy:


The rest of the computer:

Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 case
Asus P6T Deluxe MB
Corsair Dominator DDR3 PC1600 (6Gb)
(x2) WD 320Gb SATA HD's
BFG Nvidia 9800 GTX+
CoolMax 950W PSU
Sony 22+/-DVD/RW
Sony Blu-ray

 

[SolarEagle]

Here's some bechmarks showing the type of clock per clock performance gain that can be expected when moving from Core 2 to i7 on FSX, so this info might be of some use. These results seem to be ranging from a 21% to 50% gain at equal clocks, and most other CPU bound apps are also seeing the average 25-30% clock per clock gains, so FS9 should see that as well.

http://www.ocforums.com/showpost.php?p=5878944&postcount=4

Here's one benchmark of sorts:
i7 920 @ 2.8 vs. q9550 @ 2.83
* All sliders full max except traffic, which is zeroed out
* 4GB ram & ATI 4850 video in both
* In B-737 cockpit, full wide view, sittling on default Runway at krno with fair wx in mid-day

q9550= average of 27 fps
i7 920= average of 40 fps

Most games don't see much improvement with Nehalem, but it looks like those who predicted that MSFS X would benefit were absolutely right.

http://www.ocforums.com/showpost.php?p=5879770&postcount=12

Just did a FRAPs test on a local flight over Seattle in F-18 at 1500 ft & 300 knots over the same route. Nehalem still rules but the margin was a bit lower this time:

Q9550 @2.83Ghz= 17fps average in fraps
i7 920 @ 2.8 Ghz= 21 fps average in fraps

That's a 23% increase in frame rate for i7, which isn't as good as the 50% I saw sitting on the runway, but lots of tests will be necessary to bracket the performance difference.

The i7 ran much smoother, though, and produced a considerably-better flight experience. I suspect the Nehalem will gain ground at higher Ghz, due to better memory handling. I hope to have mine up to 3.8Ghz later in week to do more tests

http://www.ocforums.com/showpost.php?p=5882993&postcount=36

 

[dandee]

I'm getting this system from ibuypower. I have additional parts waiting to install, ie Fan Controllers, additional case fans, monitor etc.

Case ( CoolerMaster CM 690 Gaming Tower Case w/420W Power Supply Black )Power Supply ( 850 Watt -- Coolermaster Real Power Pro 850w Power Supply Quad SLI Ready )Processor ( [New !!] Intel Core i7 Processor 940 (4x 2.93GHz/8MB L3 Cache) )Processor Cooling ( Certified CPU Fan and Heatsink )Motherboard ( MSI X58 Platinum SLI Intel X58 Chipset CrossFire and SLI Supported w/7.1 Sound, Triple-Channel DDR3, Dual Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, Dual PCI-E MB )Memory ( 6 GB [2 GB X3] DDR3-1333 Triple Memory Module Corsair)Video Card ( NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 1GB w/DVI + TV Out Video )Video Card Brand ( === High Performance === eVGA Brand Video Card Powered by NVIDIA )Hard Drive ( 320 GB HARD DRIVE [Serial-ATA-II, 3Gb, 7200 RPM, 16M Cache] )CD-RW/DVD-RW Drive ( [** Special !!! ***] LG 20X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive Black )Sound Card ( Creative Lab Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio )Network Card ( Onboard LAN Network (Gb or 10/100) )Keyboard ( Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard )Operation System ( Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium + [Free 60-Day !!!] Microsoft Office 2007(Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access ....) 64-Bit )Operation System ( Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium + [Free 60-Day !!!] Microsoft Office 2007(Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access ....) 64-Bit )

 

[Drake]

Heard lots of good things about the i7 and FSX. Wish I could afford one.