Hey guys!I've got 2500 to spend on a computer, and while browsing newegg I found what I find is a good setup. I'm not expecting like 100 fps from fsx (just a solid 20 with manhattan x and REX is all I want). The components listed below do not make a whole computer (but the computer I am on right now has good parts that I am going to use)I'm thinking of:Intel BOXDP55KG LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard - RetailIntel Core i7-860 Lynnfield 2.8GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I7860 - RetailCooler Master Intel Core i5 compatible Hyper TX3 Socket 775/1156/AMD 130W 92mm "heatpipe direct contact" CPU Cooler RR-910-HTX3-GP - RetailAPEVIA CF12SL-UBL 120mm Blue LED Case Fan - RetailWestern Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (bare drive) - OEM (2 of these are going in a RAID 0 config)mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model 996679 - Retail (2 sets of these for 8 gig)KINGWIN Mach 1 ABT-1000MA1S 1000W ATX / BTX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power ... - RetailAnd a free copy of Windows 7 x64 pro from MSDN-AA (one of the perks of being a college student :( )As you can see above, this setup is missing a vid. card, and also an optical drive. I have an optical drive that works just fine already so there is no point in getting a new one, (the laptop my school provided has a Blu Ray burner anyways so there is no point in upgrading). The videocard in my current setup is a BFG NVIDIA 8800 GTX with a factory overclock.I wanted to run it past you guys before I actually buy the parts. It seems like a decent machine (and it seems very easy to overclock). My current pc is plagued by cooling issues so this will be a good change.I forgot to mention this (80% complete) rig will only set me back 1500 bucks! And it comes with a lot of cables but I am going to reuse most of the ones from my current setup.Any comments? Advice?Thanks!!!(my current setup is running an ASUS a8n-sli deluxe with an AMD athlon 64 fx 60)

With $2500 you should be able to put together a great FSX system.

And a free copy of Windows 7 x64 pro from MSDN-AA (one of the perks of being a college student smile.gif )

Nothing is free. You will now become a zombie of Bill Gates. :(

A few things:Power supply, I don't know much about Kingwin, but I do know Corsair makes some excellent ones. I'd stick with a good brand (forgive me if kingwin is one)Something like this with 60A on the single 12v rail is ample powerhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...k=corsair%20750RAM: I believe tri channel works best with these new i7/i5 CPU's. So you want to get ram in 3x2 varieties....such as 6GB of this:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820226050The low latency RAM will help with headroom during OCingAny DVD burner should be fine.Video card: There are a few posts (heated debates lol) going on about the GTX285 vs ATI 5870 - apparently from what I've gathered both are great cards, but the GTX285 has been the card of choice in the last few months (ATI card only just came out though)

hmm. Thanks for the replies! Yea, I guess nothing is free :(.Ryan, I was looking into the tri-channel ram but I do not think the mobo I chose supports it. I don't know much about the tri-channel ram-modules though. As for a power supply, I've been running an Ultra 600W one for 3 years and it has been fine (and I don't think they are a good brand).The ram I currently picked out was "specifically designed" to support i5s and i7s with the p55 board (and it would probably be cheaper than buying a mobo that supports tri-channel and tri-channel ram).So, it turns out the current motherboards being offered for the Lynnfield Core i7 processors only support dual channel. So I will probably have to spend some more money and spring for the Nehalem processors and triple channel memory!