i9 9900k vs i9 9900x Processor for P3DV4+

[MZee1960]

Hello,

I will be starting a new computer build in a couple months and switching over to P3DV? at that point (currently using FSX) . Thinking of an i9 series processor for the new system. Some people say P3D is still dependent on single core speed as was FSX. Some say P3D will happily use all the cores available to it in the system - the more the merrier, so to speak, and not so single core speed dependent anymore. Single core performance is better on i9 9900k than on the i9 9900x, but the 9900x has more cores. Since I haven't been able to find a concrete answer anywhere so far, I thought I'd seek the help from our local experts here at SOH as to which one is more suitable. I plan on using NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti w/ 11GB GDDR6 in the build.

Thank-you, in advance, for your input,
MZ.

[Daube]

The rules are still more or less the same as they were with FSX.
Yes, P3Dv4 still needs the fastest CPU cores you can find.
And yes, it will also use all of the cores your CPU has for building the terrain tiles while you fly. The more cores, the more crisp the textures will stay during fast flights.
However, unlike FSX, P3Dv4 will also need some serious video card, you don't want to slow down your CPU waiting for your video card all the time.
And finally, you want both RAM and VRAM. P4Dv4 is 64 bits, so it can and IT WILL use more memory and video memory than FSX.

Nothing to say about your video card, it's the best available nowadays anyways
Concerning the CPU, I would personally choose the 9990k. It has enough cores already.

EDIT: 9900k, not 9990k, sorry :P

[odourboy]

If it was my money, I'd go for the 9900k. Higher clock freq. (and likely the better overclocker) still rules. Half the price and 2/3rds the power consumption of seals the deal.

[ejoiner]

The rules are still more or less the same as they were with FSX.
Yes, P3Dv4 still needs the fastest CPU cores you can find.
And yes, it will also use all of the cores your CPU has for building the terrain tiles while you fly. The more cores, the more crisp the textures will stay during fast flights.
However, unlike FSX, P3Dv4 will also need some serious video card, you don't want to slow down your CPU waiting for your video card all the time.
And finally, you want both RAM and VRAM. P4Dv4 is 64 bits, so it can and IT WILL use more memory and video memory than FSX.

Nothing to say about your video card, it's the best available nowadays anyways
Concerning the CPU, I would personally choose the 9990k. It has enough cores already.

EDIT: 9900k, not 9990k, sorry :P

This is not my experience. I found that when I used multiple cores the sim would stutter. I get best performance from single core operation at this time. And my PC is about 1 month old. Running an i7-8700.

[lownslo]

I get best performance from single core operation at this time. Running an i7-8700.

To clarify... are you running P3Dv4 on a single core of your 6 core CPU? Also, is your CPU a "K"?

Greg

[Daube]

This is not my experience. I found that when I used multiple cores the sim would stutter. I get best performance from single core operation at this time. And my PC is about 1 month old. Running an i7-8700.

I was more referring to ground blurries (late ground tile updates) than sim smoothness.
Some people indeed reported better smoothness when deactivating the hyperthreading. But that's another problem.

And concerning the blurries, sometimes this problem just defies pure logic.
For example, on my i7 8700k, I get severe ground blurries when I set the sim to limited FPS, and the textures stay crisp until around Mach 1 if I set the FPS to unlimited... it should be the contrary, normally.
And the same happens on my brothers computer, and also same with the computer of another friend (all are 8700k).

Nevertheless, the amound of cores plays a great role in terrain loading. Terrain loading is the one and only thing in FSX and P3D that uses the other cores (other than core0) anyways.

[MZee1960]

Thank-you, everyone for your valuable input so far.

My main concern is to minimize any 'bottleneck' effect in the new system build, as @Daube had mentioned..

To elaborate further, all along I was thinking the backbone of the new system should revolve around :

- i9 9900k CPU (good balance between # cores and higher single core speed, with hyperthreading available if needed - compared to the new i7's which have none, and 9900x - too pricey ? few added benefits ? ),
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti w/ 11GB GDDR6 GPU,
- 32GB RAM memory,
- G-Sync monitor (Asus ROG, perhaps even 4K, if can get good price), and,
- entire P3D sim + all addons installed on it's own separate SSD (not OS drive C), dedicated NVMe M.2 SSD (size yet to be determined, but thinking Samsung 970 EVO 2TB), for easier overall sim management

- MB and cooling, I have to give some thought to next (ASUS ROG Strix X299-E, Corsair H115i RGB PLATINUM Cooler and the Obsidian 500D case have been recommended)
- liquid cooling, overclocking and the like is all foreign to me still and will require more investigative work
- I just know water and electricity tend not to mix very well, and running a CPU above factory preset clock speeds voids warranty - two major stumbling blocks IMHO

[Butcherbird17]

The 9900K will need a z390 motherboard not x299, different sockets. The K is 1151 (300 series) and the X is 2066.
So that cpu will not fit in that motherboard.
When looking at M.2 ssd's go with Pci-e not Sata III. The difference in read/write speeds are better with Pci-e.
As for the monitor, G-Sync is nice (I have one) but you can use Freesync monitors now with the latest Nvidia drivers,
and they are cheaper. Just go to the Nvidia forums and they have a list (which is growing) with compatible Freesync
monitors.

Also overclocking on an unlocked (K) series cpu will not void your warranty, delidding it most likely will.

Joe

[MZee1960]

The 9900K will need a z390 motherboard not x299, different sockets. The K is 1151 (300 series) and the X is 2066.
So that cpu will not fit in that motherboard.
When looking at M.2 ssd's go with Pci-e not Sata III. The difference in read/write speeds are better with Pci-e.
As for the monitor, G-Sync is nice (I have one) but you can use Freesync monitors now with the latest Nvidia drivers,
and they are cheaper. Just go to the Nvidia forums and they have a list (which is growing) with compatible Freesync
monitors.

Also overclocking on an unlocked (K) series cpu will not void your warranty, delidding it most likely will.

Joe

Thank-you, for your feedback, Joe.

That's what happens when you have 'too many bakers making your cake', lol !
I have had input from numerous sources prior to this post, often one contradicted the other, and some were not too up to speed wrt the latest tech IMHO.
I'm slowly making a list ........ with corrections as I go.

[blanston12]

If it were me I would get the slower cpu, don't overclock it (read gmans posts what happened to him) and spend the extra on a better video card. When my system is maxed out the GPU is working overtime while the CPU is not maxed out.

[DennyA]

I'm running the 9900K, 32GB, RTX 2080 Ti, and 1TB m2 dedicated to sims on an Asus ROG Maximus XI Hero Wi-Fi board and it's super-sweet for running P3D, as well as DCS, IL-2, and other sims. Runs smoothly at 3440x1440 on my monitor, or on my Oculus Rift. (GET VR with your new system!)

I would go with the 9900K because of the 5GHz single-core turbo frequency, which will give you the best CPU performance in P3D. (CPU does still matter a lot more on P3D than on typical games.) The six cores/12 threads mean you can run additional utilities such as ActiveSky and Ultimate Traffic Live alongside P3D and still maintain great performance.

[DennyA]

If it were me I would get the slower cpu, don't overclock it (read gmans posts what happened to him) and spend the extra on a better video card. When my system is maxed out the GPU is working overtime while the CPU is not maxed out.

He's already getting the very best video card.

With the 9900K, there's no need to overclock.

[MZee1960]

He's already getting the very best video card.

With the 9900K, there's no need to overclock.

Thank-you, Denny. Another vote for i9 9900k. I do not plan to OC the system, although the groundwork will exist - unlocked CPU, liquid cooling etc. I am even wondering if liquid cooling is the way to go (how common are issues with liquid cooling ? ). Liquid cooling is probably a must if OC the CPU, on the other hand, if it doesn't present a slew of issues, it is a nice future-proof luxury to have installed. I think my tech guys would be a bit surprised if I opted for air cooling as they are so used to incorporating liquid cooling in their custom builds.

[Sundog]

I used liquid cooling on my build, because my room tends to get hot in the summer and this box kicks out a lot of heat. I haven't had any problems and it keeps the heat in check during the hottest part of summer. I also used the PC part picker site to make sure everything was compatible and that I got the lowest price I could find for everything.

[Butcherbird17]

Thank-you, Denny. Another vote for i9 9900k. I do not plan to OC the system, although the groundwork will exist - unlocked CPU, liquid cooling etc. I am even wondering if liquid cooling is the way to go (how common are issues with liquid cooling ? ). Liquid cooling is probably a must if OC the CPU, on the other hand, if it doesn't present a slew of issues, it is a nice future-proof luxury to have installed. I think my tech guys would be a bit surprised if I opted for air cooling as they are so used to incorporating liquid cooling in their custom builds.

If your going to overclock the 9900K, liquid is the way to go, that chip is hot. I would look into a 360mm AIO if the case your going with will support it.
One thing to remember is all hardware can fail, whether it be a air cooler or an AIO. Of course with an air cooler it would be only the fan unless it is one
with the plastic retention clips. But I wouldn't buy a cheaper air cooler and put it on a 9900K that is overclocked.
Now if you were going with a custom loop that's where issues could happen and it's more maintenance then with a AIO.

Joe

[MZee1960]

I used liquid cooling on my build, because my room tends to get hot in the summer and this box kicks out a lot of heat. I haven't had any problems and it keeps the heat in check during the hottest part of summer. I also used the PC part picker site to make sure everything was compatible and that I got the lowest price I could find for everything.

If your going to overclock the 9900K, liquid is the way to go, that chip is hot. I would look into a 360mm AIO if the case your going with will support it.
One thing to remember is all hardware can fail, whether it be a air cooler or an AIO. Of course with an air cooler it would be only the fan unless it is one
with the plastic retention clips. But I wouldn't buy a cheaper air cooler and put it on a 9900K that is overclocked.
Now if you were going with a custom loop that's where issues could happen and it's more maintenance then with a AIO.

Joe

Thanks, guys, for the valuable info. Yes, the case I'm considering is Corsair Obsidian 500D RGB SE and it will support 360mm radiator, like CORSAIR Hydro Series H150i PRO.

[wombat666]

Just to add extra smoke and mirrors to the discussion I've decided to base my new build around the Core9-9980XE, plenty of power OOTB with OC headroom.

[stovall]

Just to add extra smoke and mirrors to the discussion I've decided to base my new build around the Core9-9980XE, plenty of power OOTB with OC headroom.

Boy that sounds like the way to go. My only roadblock is the price tag of $2000.00. Now lets see, where can I by a Lotto Ticket.

[MZee1960]

I must say, that I have been taking notes based on all your input here, and have received more answers here in this past week to my query than on some other sites combined over a period of months.
Proud to be a member here at SOH.

[MZee1960]

Just to add extra smoke and mirrors to the discussion I've decided to base my new build around the Core9-9980XE, plenty of power OOTB with OC headroom.

I have little experience/knowledge wrt P3DV4, but suspected all along it may be like FSX, reliant mostly on single core performance - hence the i9 9900k may have the edge. You still have a valid point, @wombat666, because the tech I have involved in all of this seems to prefer the i9 9900x deca-core CPU, based on his 'gaming' experience on multi-core systems. He is not familiar with P3D, and unfortunately not too many in the shop are either. All they say is that multi-core systems are the way of the future, and software developers must adapt their 'games' accordingly or be left in the dust. Perhaps P3DV5 will have a true, new multi-core architecture ? Noone knows yet. In the meantime, the cost factor keeps creeping into the equation, and that has the scales tipping a bit in favour of the i9 9900k for me, although I definitely see the i9 9980xe/i9 9900x as future-proofing.

[wombat666]

Might I just say that I prefer to go for maximum attack rather than tailor my build(s) around a specific sim.
Having settled on the Core and the Mobo I'm looking long and hard at suitable Graphic Cards, but that's another story.

[MZee1960]

Might I just say that I prefer to go for maximum attack rather than tailor my build(s) around a specific sim.
Having settled on the Core and the Mobo I'm looking long and hard at suitable Graphic Cards, but that's another story.

Food for thought, and a valid point.

There is no worse feeling than walking out thru the front doors of the computer shop with your 'state-of-the-art' system, .... just as the 'next state-of-the-art-system' is walking in thru the back...

[dhazelgrove]

Food for thought, and a valid point.

There is no worse feeling than walking out thru the front doors of the computer shop with your 'state-of-the-art' system, .... just as the 'next state-of-the-art-system' is walking in thru the back...

A very good point, indeed.

I've seen ads for a PC built around the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2950X (16 cores and 32 threads). Take a look here.

Dave