Nice dream on! ;)

I hope you guys are using something like Coretemp to check your core temperatures ;)

My i7 950 on twin fan Megahalems cooler is o/c to 4GHz and CoD is loading Core 1 to about 70% and around 85C (Max recommended by Intel is 73 but I won't worry below 90). I did have it at 4.2GHz but a 100% load Prime test rocketed it over 100C where I chickened out :)

I don't know what the cores will be loaded like once CoD multicore has been optimised.

Whats your budget? That will be the deciding factor and if you are using any old components like HDD, DVD drive etc..

Get the i3, you won't regret it. Compared to AMD counterpart that is.

Great advice NOT. Once code is optimized they will probably work ok.
THe video card is probably more important now than ever.

The athlon is only 60 bucks and the i3 is about 120.

i5-2500K @ 4.9 GHz:

After 3 hours Prime --> 75°C
During CoD --> 50°C
Idle --> 32°C

As you can see, all clear!

:D

Send him some of your bucks!! You apparently have unlimited resources

Thanks for the table, it really simplifies things. On oc UK there's a i3 system for 350. There's an i5 2500 for double at 706 - is it really worth that much more, when the i3 is easily OCd to 4ghz?

Thanks for responses so far.

Sorry, I lied. Well, I gave you my FSX figures.

I set ProcessAffinityMask=15 (4 cores) and it runs 25-35% on some cores, less on others and all in mid-60C's over Water but I did see higher loads and temps over land.

I'm astonished at how little CPU is used.

What cooling are you using?

Max budget is 450 bones. Id like all new components ideally, but will be using my 8800gts temporarily, so I can later afford a newer card. I've seen an i3 540 for 350 with a monitor, but its micro atx, which isn't ideal.