OK guys, bringing this ageing topic to the front again... :( Found this fairly decent system and as far as I'm concerned, as long as I can get on average about 20fps, never going much lower than 9fps in FS9, with sliders more near the right than the left, and most check-boxes ticked, then that'll do me fine. Do you lot think this is achievable with the above PC, with several high-quality AI, scenery, weather and airport ad-dons installed?And, considering this system...: Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3Processor: Intel® Core2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz (2 CPUs)Memory: 1022MB RAMGraphics card name: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 SE... can run FS9 at a fairly constant 19fps +/- 2/3fps around EGLL with virtually all max. settings, (and SSTSIM Concorde, with dense/very dense scenery & traffic) then I am sure this one I've found will do a just as good, if not better job. (FS9 can't stay on this PC for useage reasons)Any ideas? Bare in mind the price of this one is pushing my budget a bit. :( Cheers

That system won't run FS9 fantastic either.Even my AMD6000 system cant run 20 fps with high AI traffic and dense weather into places like EGLL, LFPG, KORD etcYou want something like this:CPU - Intel E8500Motherboard - Gigabyte P45 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128358RAM - 4GB DDR2 (its cheap, but you only need 2)Video card - 9800GT Any hard drive, and a solid power supply like:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817703009The basic components for that system will run you a little under 900 USD (550 GBP)And you still need a monitor and DVD drive and a operating system, preferably 64bit if you go with 4GB of ram

If you don't have much money, take your sight to the AMD platform. You can build a rig with rather similar system performance vs Intel. For example (I don't know any UK on-line shops, so whole price is from Newegg):1. CPU - AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE - $ 102.992. MB - Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P - $ 109.993. Video - EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX+ Superclocked - $ 139.994. Memory - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) DF3-10666CL7D-4GBPI - $ 64.99As you can see, the set of main parts could be cheapest than $500. Of course, you also need to add a good power supply, HDD and so on. Anyway, it would be a good choice for price/performance, if you are straitened for money.PS: if you are lucky man, you will be able to transform your dual core CPU to the full quad one. :) You can expect this, but it's a lottery. There you can find the successful story to do this http://en.inpai.com.cn/doc/enshowcont.asp?id=6345

Right, cheers all, there's definitely a lot to investigate!The search continues!...(At the moment, i'm sort of leaning to building my own system from scratch)

What about this one, does it suit my requirements?Look carefully, is it a decent system? :( (I'm not sure if the link will work correctly - the video card for instance is a Zotac GTX 260 etc. and there should be 6 items totalling

(I'm not sure if the link will work correctly - the video card for instance is a Zotac GTX 260 etc. and there should be 6 items totalling

Generally I would say go intel, Nvidia, and build it yourself.

Curious why you say Nvidia? I have an ATI card and it runs great. Does Nvidia work better with FSX?

Curious why you say Nvidia? I have an ATI card and it runs great. Does Nvidia work better with FSX?

If you are happy with your card, don't be in trouble. Cards from both vendors, ATI and Nvidia, can give the same performance in the MSFS, while these are tunned in certain manner. Here are more funs of both vendors and each one has own opinion about it. Actually, a video card is the one from main components of the rig, of course, but not most important for MSFS, where is most important combined and balanced performance of the whole system. Therefore someone has different FPS for the same video card of another man. IMHO, if you stay before a choice of a video card, do it in relation with price/performance, independetly of vendor.PS: there you can find some tests for video cards in the MSFS http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/radeon-hd-48...w-31433-28.html and Nvidia seems best however. But I'm not sure, that the ATI card was appropriate tuned.

What about this one, does it suit my requirements?Look carefully, is it a decent system? :( (I'm not sure if the link will work correctly - the video card for instance is a Zotac GTX 260 etc. and there should be 6 items totalling

The link doesn't work. Post it in another way.

Ok guys, here's my newest PC option (with the correct specs this time):What do people think?

What do people think?

Well, it seems suitable for the FS9. But for the FSX is not enough and you will have more stutters most time, I'm sure.

So will this system give me satisfactory frame rates in many places (especially built up areas)?

Sorry to keep hassling you guys, :( but I've found another one which is a lower price than the other and seems better value. What are your professional opinions on this system? Is everything compatible? Will it give me pretty good frames? Will it last? Is it better than the last one I posted?Be great if we could get this sorted once and for all. :( ...I just need to be sure!Cheers so much again guys.

Do *not* buy an original Phenom chip. They are garbage. If you must buy AMD to save money, at least buy a Phenom II.

Do *not* buy an original Phenom chip. They are garbage. If you must buy AMD to save money, at least buy a Phenom II.

Ok... or... should I go for Intel (seeing as this site provides bargains anyway)... but apart from that is this system finally OK?