I'm starting to think about a new rig. I am NOT going to build it. I want to buy a store-bought or internet-bought system. Which CPU, Video Card, RAM, HDD, Monitor, etc......would you buy in the next few months (if you know of something coming out soon) if this was what you wanted to do.I know the advantages of building the system, but I want a guarantee, home service if necessary, and other benefits associated with buying from a manufacturer.Please advise me of the system you would buy if you felt the way I do.Stan

Hi Stan,Do you have a price point in mind, and is this for FSX, other games and programs?Or strictly FSX?

I'll just toss this out. I bought a Dell XPS430 at Best Buy, which comes with 6 GB RAM and a 2.5 Core 2 Quad. I had them upgrade the power and install a Nvidiea GeForce 9800 GT. I have been very pleased with it, and it was instant gratification. Oh, it came with a large, wide-screen monitor. I have had no complaints. Also, I had trouble with something on the first one that was preventing my iPhone from working with it, and Best Buy simply gave me a new computer (surprising) that did not have the problem.

I'm starting to think about a new rig. I am NOT going to build it. I want to buy a store-bought or internet-bought system. Which CPU, Video Card, RAM, HDD, Monitor, etc......would you buy in the next few months (if you know of something coming out soon) if this was what you wanted to do.I know the advantages of building the system, but I want a guarantee, home service if necessary, and other benefits associated with buying from a manufacturer.Please advise me of the system you would buy if you felt the way I do.Stan

I got the Gateway LX6810. For the price I paid I have very decent performance in FSX, although I had to replace the video card a few months after I purchased it--tried to turn on the PC one day and it was dark as could be. I replaced my card with one of similar spec (A 9500GT with 1 Gig onboard Ram). What I like about the Gateway was the video was not onboard--many mfr'd systems have onboard video which shares memory with the main system memory. So the first thing one has to do is go and swap out video cards. Also, they aren't using a proprietary power supply, another plus. What I dislike about Gateway is their support is pretty crummy--by crummy I mean they don't seem to understand what you're asking. But I think that is true of most vendors--they generally hire people to provide first level support who know far less than your average simmer. Gateway tries to push a fee based second level support service which is a real waste. Most systems, if they are going to have issues, have them within a few months' of purchase. Most issues afterwards tend to come from O/S related issues and I don't hold the vendor accountable for those issues--I am. My last system I built, and it lasted nine years. It still works in fact and one of these days I am going to wipe the O/S and make it a net browser for my daughter. I've included a link to the Gateway page... As I said, I have the 6810 and for what I do with FS-X, I am very content. Take a glance at my recent screenshots. All those Tileproxy pics are churned out at 30 fps, even with aircraft like the RealAir Duke. The FSX Venice scenery averages 25 fps--that's a lot of 3-d buildings to draw.Regarding Gateway, the 6820 looks even better. Better cpu, HD and graphics card.http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/5295...ftrbtn_lxseriesOne negative about store bought systems, which tends to be due to shipping issues, is there are often an disproportionate number of failures compared to "DIY" systems. I bought a Gateway system that died within two weeks' of purchase. But the key advantage of going thru a retailer is the return policy in such instances. My PC was refunded, no questions asked. Had I built it myself that would have been a tougher road to tackle. Quite often store bought systems are damaged during transit. When I was doing WAN support some years ago, the most common issue I saw were loose connections (knocked loose during transit) that eventually would fry one or more components. I made the mistake of not closely inspecting my first Gateway system and I strongly suspect the HD cable was loose either on the MB, or the drive, or both.Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helps. I've long since left WAN support and a number of people here know more about hardware than I do, especially what's on the horizon. I am sure they can give you even better ideas than mine.Regards,John

I'm assuming around $4000 on the high end. FSX will be my driving force, but it will be used at home for Microsoft Office, the Internet, and other programs. I'm becoming a fan of Crysis, and I love simulation of all kinds. I will probably get more into XPlane in the future, but FSX with all the addons is my true addiction. I currently run FS Genesis, REX, UTX, ASA, and have a large stable of planes. The future is what I'm shooting for here, but above all, solid fluid flights without stuttering or slow rates. I'm happy now, but I want more.My OS is 64 bit Vista Ultimate, and I want to stay with that. My sights are set on Windows7. I'm hearing good things about that and FSX.Stan

I'm starting to think about a new rig. I am NOT going to build it. I want to buy a store-bought or internet-bought system. Which CPU, Video Card, RAM, HDD, Monitor, etc......would you buy in the next few months (if you know of something coming out soon) if this was what you wanted to do.I know the advantages of building the system, but I want a guarantee, home service if necessary, and other benefits associated with buying from a manufacturer.Please advise me of the system you would buy if you felt the way I do.Stan

I have been personally looking at the Alienware ALX X58 located on the Dell website (Dell bought Alienware several years ago). It's starting price is $3500. It's based on the new Intel I7 Technology which will be around for awhile.Best regards,Jim Young

I got the Gateway LX6810. For the price I paid I have very decent performance in FSX, although I had to replace the video card a few months after I purchased it--tried to turn on the PC one day and it was dark as could be. I replaced my card with one of similar spec (A 9500GT with 1 Gig onboard Ram). What I like about the Gateway was the video was not onboard--many mfr'd systems have onboard video which shares memory with the main system memory. So the first thing one has to do is go and swap out video cards. Also, they aren't using a proprietary power supply, another plus. What I dislike about Gateway is their support is pretty crummy--by crummy I mean they don't seem to understand what you're asking. But I think that is true of most vendors--they generally hire people to provide first level support who know far less than your average simmer. Gateway tries to push a fee based second level support service which is a real waste. Most systems, if they are going to have issues, have them within a few months' of purchase. Most issues afterwards tend to come from O/S related issues and I don't hold the vendor accountable for those issues--I am. My last system I built, and it lasted nine years. It still works in fact and one of these days I am going to wipe the O/S and make it a net browser for my daughter. I've included a link to the Gateway page... As I said, I have the 6810 and for what I do with FS-X, I am very content. Take a glance at my recent screenshots. All those Tileproxy pics are churned out at 30 fps, even with aircraft like the RealAir Duke. The FSX Venice scenery averages 25 fps--that's a lot of 3-d buildings to draw.Regarding Gateway, the 6820 looks even better. Better cpu, HD and graphics card.http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/5295...ftrbtn_lxseriesJohn,Thanks for the link. I've used Dell the last 3 times. Gateway was great for a few years for me...they even had a Gateway store right here in Allentown, Pa. You're making me think about them again. This system below looks interesting for FSX:Gateway

I have been personally looking at the Alienware ALX X58 located on the Dell website (Dell bought Alienware several years ago). It's starting price is $3500. It's based on the new Intel I7 Technology which will be around for awhile.Best regards,Jim Young

The only problem I have with Alienware is the PHYSICAL SIZE of the system box. Here are the specs: Height: 19.01

At the risk of angering the large computer vendors, I think it's not such a great idea to buy a name-brand computer gaming system from a large box store. Usually their return policy is generous, but extended warranties are expensive. Often enough, you are going to have to return your box to a clerk who just does not know your system. It's better if you are purchasing computer hardware for business, which that type of store easily handles. On the other hand, building your own system can be risky, and you have to know a fair bit about what you are trying to do.I find that a happy medium is a trusted small computer shop, where they custom build your rig to meet your needs. Oftentimes, the little shops really know the ins and outs of gaming, and a number are FSX enthusiasts. Most larger cities will have at least one good shop like this. I realize that smaller towns often will not have a decent computer shop, though.Prices and levels of service will vary from shop to shop by a wide margin, so you do need to be able to do some comparison shopping. However, if you have to bring your rig in for some work, you know that the clerk knows your machine already, or at least the good ones do. Jeff ShylukSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

Yo Spilok... On Macarthur Road in Whitehall there is a place called PC warehouse near Grape Street... I would not reccomend him for component picking but he can assemble just fine. To help you pick components with a good bang for the buck, I recomend http://www.fs-gs.com . He can also optimise your new rig for simming when you get it.Fellow Lehigh Valley ResidentRobert

At the risk of angering the large computer vendors, I think it's not such a great idea to buy a name-brand computer gaming system from a large box store. Usually their return policy is generous, but extended warranties are expensive. Often enough, you are going to have to return your box to a clerk who just does not know your system. It's better if you are purchasing computer hardware for business, which that type of store easily handles. On the other hand, building your own system can be risky, and you have to know a fair bit about what you are trying to do.I find that a happy medium is a trusted small computer shop, where they custom build your rig to meet your needs. Oftentimes, the little shops really know the ins and outs of gaming, and a number are FSX enthusiasts. Most larger cities will have at least one good shop like this. I realize that smaller towns often will not have a decent computer shop, though.Prices and levels of service will vary from shop to shop by a wide margin, so you do need to be able to do some comparison shopping. However, if you have to bring your rig in for some work, you know that the clerk knows your machine already, or at least the good ones do. Jeff ShylukSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

At the risk of angering the large computer vendors, I think it's not such a great idea to buy a name-brand computer gaming system from a large box store. Usually their return policy is generous, but extended warranties are expensive. Often enough, you are going to have to return your box to a clerk who just does not know your system. It's better if you are purchasing computer hardware for business, which that type of store easily handles. On the other hand, building your own system can be risky, and you have to know a fair bit about what you are trying to do.I find that a happy medium is a trusted small computer shop, where they custom build your rig to meet your needs. Oftentimes, the little shops really know the ins and outs of gaming, and a number are FSX enthusiasts. Most larger cities will have at least one good shop like this. I realize that smaller towns often will not have a decent computer shop, though.Prices and levels of service will vary from shop to shop by a wide margin, so you do need to be able to do some comparison shopping. However, if you have to bring your rig in for some work, you know that the clerk knows your machine already, or at least the good ones do. Jeff ShylukSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

Stan, I would have to agree with Jeff. I had my computer built by Microcenter last April. I picked out all the components I wanted and had them do the build. I considered buying a prebuilt Alienware, Dell, HP, etc., but to get a brand name computer from Dell for example with similar stuff I would have had to buy a high end XPS that would have cost me about $3500 to $4000 if I remember correctly. I was able to have built a much better system built for 1/2 the price.Plus the fact that what I have now I can easily upgrade in the future. The prebuilt Dell's and the likes have too much proprietary components, too much trial software installed, and the fact that the BIOS won't let you overclock should you want to in the future. I understand not wanting to build yourself, I didn't want to either, but buying a store bought computer is a flat out waste of money considering what you will get vs. what you could have built. BTW, there is a Microcenter in St. Davids, PA, not sure if that is close to you though. You may want to explore this before you pull the trigger on a prebuilt.Good luck either way :(

The prebuilt Dell's and the likes have too much proprietary components, too much trial software installed, and the fact that the BIOS won't let you overclock should you want to in the future.

The trial software is easy to uninstall, but I agree on the other two points (I own a Dell XPS 430). From the manufacturer's perspective it's obviously easier to support a system that prevents you from overclocking, but I would have liked the option to do so.

The trial software is easy to uninstall, but I agree on the other two points (I own a Dell XPS 430). From the manufacturer's perspective it's obviously easier to support a system that prevents you from overclocking, but I would have liked the option to do so.

I have the Dell 720H2C that came overclocked to 3.43GHz (from 2.93GHz) via the bios and I have further overclocked it to 3.73GHz via the bios. I think Dell heard a bunch of complaints about the inability to overclock and has allowed it. However, I believe you lose your warranty if you overclock above their manufactured O/C (in my case above 3.43GHz) should anything go wrong. I could overclock above 3.73GHz (and I have) via the bios but the system becomes extremely unstable above 3.73GHz and, as a result, I have seen the dreaded BSOD. Jim Young

Yo Spilok... On Macarthur Road in Whitehall there is a place called PC warehouse near Grape Street... I would not reccomend him for component picking but he can assemble just fine. To help you pick components with a good bang for the buck, I recomend http://www.fs-gs.com . He can also optimise your new rig for simming when you get it.Fellow Lehigh Valley ResidentRobert

Robert. Thanks. That's certainly an option. I know of that place near Grape St. I certainly have the time since I just began exploring this. I'll check out the link and get some input from one of my I.T. friends. Thanks again.Stan

This is the place that specializes in custom flight simulation PCs - their prices are very reasonable and their offer first rate support.(not sure about home calls though)http://www.jetlinesystems.com/home.html