I'm looking at getting a new system of which FS2004 and home entertainment will be my biggest priority with a move to FSX perhaps in a year. We'll see about FSX and the one year thing but a part of me wants to just enjoy 2004, learn to fly well and benefit from all the cheap/free stuff that will be around and a bunch of free add ons that my now live in brother is happy to share with me. Budget is paramount here.I'm new to Flight Simming and gaming as well and but am totally gaga over FS2004. It just clicks so many of my "interest" buttons that I know it's going to be a long term affair. I am not a techie or computer whiz at all. I've mostly just stumbled my way through computers for business and entertainment over 10 years and have learned just enough to be dangerous. I can fumble my way through memory addons, video and sound cards, maybe a hard drive add on but that's about it. I'm not afraid to research though and solve a problem, even if it takes me into scary territory.Building my own system is out of the question, even finding someone to build it and having to sort out all the details and decisions is not something I want to do. As such I'm considering buying a Dell System as specced out below. I'm not really in a rush but I suppose that now that I'm down to this point I suppose I am. Given the above I'm wondering what people would think of this system, what else or who else they might suggest and just any tips that may be useful. Of course I want the best FS bang for the buck but the ease of the transaction etc. is also a large priority. I've barebonesed or eliminated my add ons (not shown here, printers etc.) so that I could put more money into the important stuff as I see it.I am aware of the DX10 upcoming so will probably be upgrading my graphics card in a year or so. I intend to add a good extra dedicated FS hard drive as well, advice greatfully appreciated on this item (What is RAID?, Burst Cache). I will make sure that the system has a good power suppy and cooling fans to deal with any future add on loads.I don't anticipate being a monster FS User with all the add on programs and stuff but I would like to build a nice system with AI, Nav software, ATC add on, maybe Vatsim that sorth of thing but nothing over the top or extremely high end.TIA for any words of advice.Intel

I should just mention one more thing. I'm not a hot shot young gamer looking to create an ultra gaming system, just primarily FS and perhaps some other mostly but not necessarily sedate and cerebral persuits.I'm a 59 year old gravitating towards semi retirement from a long business career.

That will be a great system...but as I have said to others, the E6600 version of the Core 2 Duo processor gives you the most for the money.Dell does a good job on their pre-built PC's, but keep in mind that 1) you don't know what power supply is in there, and2) you don't know what motherboard/chipset is in thereOr if you know, you're not telling us. :)But anyway, the main point I want to make with you is that you should look into the E6600 Core 2 Duo.RhettAMD 3700+ powered by Gerbil wheel + gerbil, eVGA 7800GT 256, ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2 gigs Corsair TWINX, blah blah, etc. etc.

Consider the E6600 Core 2 Duo done. On reflection I was leading there anyway and your comment confirms that. Thanks Rhett.

I would think that would make a just dandy (in fact, more than just dandy) rig for FS9. I think it's a good choice.Doug

Thumbs up from me too. That's a nicely balance system you will have there for FS9 and should tide you over with FSX too until the DX10 cards come out of the stratosphere.Gary

Thanks for the input gentlemen. Very encouraging I must say and the more I'm reading the more I'm excited about the E6600 CPU. I am going to look into upgrading the power supply too beyond the system default, if not that's something I can easily deal with myself if/when I ugpgrade to a DX10 graphics card. One nice thing though is the low power consumption and thermal output for that CPU.I'm really looking forward now to having WideFS capability as my current AMD system and monitor is a bit dated but still very capable. Having had only one catastrophic hard drive crash but a costly one I'm really looking forward to backing up, backing up and backing up my backups with two large HDs. It's amazing what you can get today in terms of storage, CPU power and memory. I wonder how long it will take for AMD to come up with "quad" core.Here's a link to a review for the E6600, E6700 and E6800 and the reviewers closing comments. "Well the conclusion does not need a lot of words I guess. Obviously it is crazy to see how well the Core 2 Duo processors perform. My favorite one has to be the E6600 as for roughly 320-350 USD you'll receive an amount of performance in your PC that is just really breathtaking. It'll beat the 899 USD costing Athlon FX-62 in many ways by a very good margin."http://www.guru3d.com/article/processor/370/11/

>I am going to look into upgrading the power supply too>beyond the system default, if not that's something I can>easily deal with myself if/when I ugpgrade to a DX10 graphics>card. Since we do not yet know the power requirements of DX10 video cards, I think it might be wise to wait until the cards are out to make any power supply upgrades. I will let others have their power problems with the first DX10 cards, not me. I personally want to KNOW, from real world results from real users of DX10 cards, the power requirements.You are probably fine for now with the standard power supply Dell puts in that machine--I would think that Dell wouldn't build one that didn't have adequate power for the hardware installed. Make sure that it's not too difficult to upgrade the power supply, if the need ever arises.>>Here's a link to a review for the E6600, E6700 and E6800 and>the reviewers closing comments.> "Well the conclusion does not need a lot of words I>guess. Obviously it is crazy to see how well the Core 2 Duo>processors perform. My favorite one has to be the E6600 as for>roughly 320-350 USD you'll receive an amount of performance in>your PC that is just really breathtaking. It'll beat the 899>USD costing Athlon FX-62 in many ways by a very good margin.">>http://www.guru3d.com/article/processor/370/11/Nice. I would get a Core 2 Duo E6600 myself if I didn't already have so much $$$ invested in my AMD Socket 939 platform. I still may build one next year, but by then, who knows what will be the best price vs. performance. :) In the meantime, my gerbil wheel will have to do.RhettAMD 3700+ powered by Gerbil wheel + gerbil, eVGA 7800GT 256, ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2 gigs Corsair TWINX, blah blah, etc. etc.

One thing missing here, is that Dell DOES NOT use "normal" hardware, so you can not replace the mobo with one in the retail stores, it wont fit without modifiyng things (IF upgrading is in your plans in the future). You have to get Dell certified hardware, If you dont plan upgrading hardware later it looks like a good system.. Although my opinion build it yourself and dont use Dell,because you always know what hardware you have, no unknown PSU, etc.. anyway with whatever you do hope you have fun with your system.

Good points. Especially regarding the power supply. Dell uses a proprietary case design which often (most always?) prevents an upgrade with a standard-size PSU. It's really important to check this with Dell especially as the power needed for the DX10 cards will probably exceed that available on most machines (that's why some of the DX10 card providers are looking at DX10-card-only addon PSU's).Doug

Well I took the plunge today and am so excited. E6600 CPU, 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, A 500gb hard drive and another 320 gb (what will I do with it all), photo printer (always wanted that, I see screenshots in my future), premium 5 speaker sound, 256MB NVIDIA 7900 GS Graphics (for now), dual TV tuner with remote, various other bells and whistles, a great unexpected 12% corporate discount which included 4 years of Warranty and NBD in house service. I got wayyy more than I was originally anticipating and paid a few hundred dollars less than what I was originally budgetting. What a surprise and a very pleasant one it is. Plus I've got a bunch of junk to sell now to buy more toys with, like a top of the line payware aircraft, an AI package and some nice scenery/mesh/whatever.My first ever "power" system. Wow!! WideFS here I come.The power supply is only 375W BTW. If I have to find a way to get more later I will get it sorted some how and I have always run a small utility fan externally around the case for cooling. At least the CPU is a real power mizer.

A mere 375w psu having to run that 7900GS (Minimum required/Advised for alone that GS is 400w) plus all that other stuff is really cutting it very close if you ask me.You have to understand, that with a highend card you have to have a solid PSU, and well Dell's PSU are nothing to write home about. Hope all runs well for you and you will not have any problems.

you need a more powerful power supply, and I would recomment disabling the onboard sound and buying a 3rd party sound card. but other than that, it looks like a great system. congrats and enjoy

I wasn't happy with that PS spec either and found the rep made an error on the power supply spec he provided me. He later found there is a PS upgrade with the 7900GS Graphics card (he gave me the default spec) but couldn't find the exact spec for the upgrade (looking into it now). Either way I'm well aware that this is something I must look at carefully and will be sure that I've got more than adequate power. There is always a solution as long as you are aware there may be a problem and for that I appreciate the help here.The sound card is a Sound Blaster X-FI, not high high end but certainly a big step up for me.