Hello everyone, first post for me but a long time follower of these boards! I could really use the help of some of you Hardware Gurus... but first some background:I have reached the point were I need a new rig for FSX. The problem is that I live in the Middle East and there is nothing available here that comes even close to the specs required to run FSX properly. My only option is to order something abroad. I have searched all the high end manufacturers and the only one that ships internationally is Alienware (through their European division). Keep in mind I am unable to assemble a system myself (and there is no one here that I trust to do it) so ordering the components seperately won't work. I realise this is a very expensive option but I don't see any alternatives. soooo... I have specced an Alienware PC and would like your opinion on it, especially if it is worth spending on more ram and/or a second video card in SLI. I would really appreciate your help since this is gonna cost me upwards of 5000USD and I don't really want to include components that are not strictly necessary to run FSX properly. Here are the specs:Alienware ALX X-58CPU: Overclocked Intel Core

Things look pretty solid. You should be able to get that CPU even higher once you get it home6GB of RAM is good.Video card - see if they have the GTX285 instead....stay away from SLIhard drives, get a huge one for your Operating System/data/photos/whatever and a 300GB Velociraptor for just FSXThat monitor will work well.The power supply is a little overkill, you could save a few bucks, something between 700-800w should be fine.

Many thanks for that Ryan! Do you mind a couple of follow up questions from someone who is not very computer literate?!Regarding the video cards the Alienware configurator only allows either a single or dual GTX295. I will try to get in touch with them to see if they can offer a GTX285 but just to clear it up for me: If I had to choose between a Dual GTX295, Single GTX295 or GTX285 then the 285 is the best setup for FSX correct?For the Hard Drives is one velociraptor better than the two in RAID0 that Alienware suggest to run FSX? I will have a separate drive for other stuff.Thanks again for your suggestions!

The RAID question I'm not certain of.For the video card: The GTX295 is essentially two video cards in SLI. You don't want two 295's for sure. The GTX 285 is a single video card but very fast. Traditionally, FSX hasn't got along well with SLI - I'm not sure why from a technical standpoint, it's only what I've read. If feasible I'd shoot for the 285. If they don't have it, then a single GTX 295 will be ok.

RAID is not necessary by any means, especially when you're connecting your drives to the motherboard directly and not using a dedicated controller card with enough PCI-e lanes to send/receive data without bottlenecking. If you want to go all-out grab a PCI-e SATA RAID controller card and stripe those Velociraptors.Note that this will have zero impact on FSX framerate, but should speed loading times.

HI I just want to ask a questionWhat is the difference between i920 and i920 do... Witch one is better for OC and play FSX ???Thx a lotbye

Well you want the D0 stepping/revision of that CPU if you want to OC.You can OC with the C0 stepping too but apparently the D0 allows greater room during OCing