Have you tried other games or, for example, FSX ? This might give you an idea is the PC is generally underperforming, or it's just an FS9 issue.
However, even if 20-25 is very low ( I get those numbers on my 2006 Core Duo at KJFK in FSX ), note the following:
- FS9 is way more dependent from CPU speed ( actual clock speed ) than FSX. The i7 920 is 2.66 so, it's not so different from an older Core Duo.
- FS9 doesn't use more than 1 core and doesn't use hyperthreading so, the other cores are just idling. The only advantage of using this machine for FS9, would be that you might be able to encode a video while flying, since FS9 will only take 1 core, taking probably about 10% of total CPU utilization.
- FS9 is not very dependent on the video card like FSX. So, the GTX285, which is estremely powerful, is just wasted in FS9. The only advantage of it, is that you might be able to drive more than 1 monitor without fps loss or use very high resolutions, like 2560x1600 on a 30", or you can use antialiasing at the maximum quality possibile.
I'm sorry to say that but, even if there are probabably issues with your specific config, because you should be able to obtain more, using that system with FS9 is just wrong, that's an FSX config.
If you really wanted to use FS9 only and nothing else, you might have been better served with a previous generation Core Duo 2 with a faster clock, like the Extreme Edition, for example. OR, you should overclock the i7. IF, you know what you are doing, with regard to proper heat dissipation.
