Hypothetically, if you had to put an order in today or in the next few weeks, where would you look? Dell XPS with all available options or Alienware could be choices. Assume money is not the object. Important, but if we have to borrow...so be it.What's the best CPU, OS, Graphics, Sound, etc. I'm not interested in super cooling or exotic builds. What's the best system for the Flight Simmer that wants smoothness?I know, we don't know the specs of FSX, but let's assume it's going to need something strong to utilize all its features. Although I plan to buy in August, I would like to know what exists today as the "dream system".

Build your own and forget Dell's choice and Alienware's prices...I can't see FSX requiring anything more than what you could easily build today - it's not going to be more graphic intensive than many of todays FPS games.CPU: PIV > 3GHz : A64+ > 3500GPU: 6600 or ATI equivalent >RAM: 1GB, safer with 2GBAudio: 5.1 capable card although it should still work with any audio card or built in audio from the last couple of yearsOS: XP >If I was buidling a machine today then I'd go for:-CPU: A4000+ (or possibly a 4400+)RAM: 2GBGPU: 7800GTX (256MB)Audio: Audigy FXMotherboard: current Asus SLI premium boardPSU: Something by Antec or Enermax, 500w +, ATX2.2Other stuff to suit etc., faster CPU as funds allow.

I don't buy computers, I build them to suit my needs.No sense talking about a "dream system" for today that would be targeted for FSX. But one thing we'll all be looking at when the new sim is released is our graphics capability. The video cards available today are largely wasted on FS9, but FSX will be an entirely different animal. If MSGS does indeed utilize DirectX 10 API's in the sim then I believe nVidia and ATI will be selling alot of graphics cards to MSFS users. The possibilties for graphics enhancements in FSX (over FS9, which isn't too shabby) are very exciting. We could all be giggling to ourselves for weeks or months after the new sim's release. Time will tell.Seems that sound will be an important criteria as well. Having 5.1 capibilties will change the sim as we've known it the past few years. Most folks already own at least a 5.1 capable card now, so no big changes (other than better sound options in sim) required there.FS has always been a real CPU hog, and don't expect that to change. We still don't know if the new sim will be coded for multi-processors (hopefully it will be) but more and more games are taking advantage of the technology. Features such as AI, hi-res terrain and others require a huge amount of CPU power, so FS will always demand the best that we can throw at it.The 64 bit OS is another feature we might all be looking at to take advantage of the new sim. While 64 bit OS options are availaable today, few apps are coded to take advantage of them. Of course that will change with time. One thing we'll all be looking at when moving to Vista is more memory. Whereas 1Gb is sort of the norm today with most games in XP, I believe 2Gb will be standard on a Vista gaming rig.Now that we have an idea when FSX will be in our hands I will be doing no more upgrading of my current rig. It runs FS9 superbly well, so I'll sit on my money and wait. Even then, I probably won't upgrade until I've had the new sim on this rig for at least a few weeks.To summarize, I'm planning on a DX 10 capable video card (or possibly two if that technology proves to noticeably enhance the new sim), 2Gb of memory, my current sound card, the fastest CPU I'm willing to spend my money on at that time, and the best PSU to drive it all. I'll wait to hear folks' impressions (and the security issues) of Vista. But I probably won't wait too long... I already have the hardware in place to use it.Just my 2 cents,Greg

Greg, Great optimism. I certainly hope you're right. If the sim is built to finally take advantage of the superlative video cards that are already out there and, in 9 months, who knows what, we'll all be in good shape. I look forward to finally "giggling" for weeks and months rather than "tweaking" for weeks, months, and years.

Hmmm, I think we'll still be tweaking, Stan. It's in our nature. :-) Greg

Greg,I guess you're right...I should have looked at my own "signature" on these posts. It's my belief, and that's why I sign that way.

Greg,This is off-topic (sort of) but I must ask. Your sig has you with a Pc Power & Cooling 510 SLI *modular* power supply. I did not know that PC Power made a modular power supply. Their site doesn't indicate that their p/s's are modular. I figure you know what you're talking about being active in this forum, so I'll take your word for it that it's a modular p/s. :) At any rate, I may have to upgrade my PC Power & Cooling 300w Turbo-Cool pretty soon...Rhett

Hi Rhett,It's from Performance PC's. PCP&C has certified their work and continues to offer their standard 5 year warranty on Performance PC's modded PSU's. Basically, Performance-PC's takes a standard 510 PSU and cuts the system cables (not the main MB cable bundle) near the unit. They then sleeve all the cables and place connectors at both ends. The "modular" part of the idea amounts to short (approx. 2") cables exiting the PSU case that the system cables plug into as needed. Maybe not quite as elegant as some of the newer designs on the market, but it all works very well (and is neat).Tried to link to the product page, but this is all that works for me: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.phpClick on "Power Supplies", then click on "PC Power and Cooling". Near the bottom of the page is the "TURBOCOOL510-M". Not cheap but it works quite well and makes for a tidy (and better breathing) case.Hope this helps,Greg

I never buy the latest and greatest and always tend to stay mid-range and I am virtually always happy with the performance.Right now, I'd go with a AMD 4000+, Geforce 6800GT, 1GB PC3200 matched RAM and good mainboard with Nforce 4 chipset. It's the ultimate balance between performance and performance right now. Anything more will cost considerably more with only a marginal increase in performance.Hope this helps,Pat