Ok here is my current setup:Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 (2.5GHz)3GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM768MB Nvidia GeForce 9600GS500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3GB/s hard driveIf you need to know anything else about the current setup just let me know.I have 1000-1500 dollars to spend and am wondering if I should upgrade the current computer or build a completely new one. Please list specific components that you feel will give me the best bang for my buck. Thank you!

In my opinion you should sell what you have and put it towards a new i7 based system. Its a pretty big leap from the specs you have now. -_-

In my opinion you should sell what you have and put it towards a new i7 based system. Its a pretty big leap from the specs you have now. -_-

Can you give me a basic build of what I should be looking for? Keeping in mind that I am on a budget. :)

1366 CPU, see what is in your budget.Nvidia card, whatever you can afford.2 HDDs and or one HDD and a SSD if you can afford.Fastest RAM you can afford... 6GB of it.And the best aircooling you can afford.Mainboard: don't save on that one. ASUS, Gigabyte, 200€+, mine I can recomment, or similar.Maybe my answer is pointless, but you didn't really specify what you want, except best bang for the buck - in fact, best bang for the buck is cheaper CPU, good cooling and lots of overclock. ^_^I wonder... did you even spend 5min looking through other posts of the same kind?

Sure, my reply was limited because you didn't specify what parts you would need. For example, do you need a monitor? operating system? can you use your old case? power supply etc.So anyways, here's a few options based around an i7 build: (I like newegg but shop around)MOTHERBOARD:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128423 $199http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813131641 $219CPU:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115211 $294Not to many i7 choices from newegg when I looked todayRAM:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820226121 $179You'll find a lot of debate on these forums on the benefit of faster ram. This is my recommendation. :) Great speed at low price point.VIDEO CARD: (definitely stick with Nvidia for FSX)http://www.newegg.co...0-549-_-Product $269POWER SUPPLY:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817139006 $109I am going by the reviews for this psu. Whatever you do, don't skimp on the PSU.Thats about 1k for those. A case, harddrive(s), operating system, and aftermarket heatsink for the cpu were not included. $100ish for win7 home, $100ish for case, $80ish for cpu heatsink.Good luck with your build!

Sure, my reply was limited because you didn't specify what parts you would need. For example, do you need a monitor? operating system? can you use your old case? power supply etc.So anyways, here's a few options based around an i7 build: (I like newegg but shop around)MOTHERBOARD:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813128423 $199http://www.newegg.co...N82E16813131641 $219CPU:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115211 $294Not to many i7 choices from newegg when I looked todayRAM:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820226121 $179You'll find a lot of debate on these forums on the benefit of faster ram. This is my recommendation. :) Great speed at low price point.VIDEO CARD: (definitely stick with Nvidia for FSX)http://www.newegg.co...0-549-_-Product $269POWER SUPPLY:http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817139006 $109I am going by the reviews for this psu. Whatever you do, don't skimp on the PSU.Thats about 1k for those. A case, harddrive(s), operating system, and aftermarket heatsink for the cpu were not included. $100ish for win7 home, $100ish for case, $80ish for cpu heatsink.Good luck with your build!

Great, thank you for that! I already have a monitor and an OS, but how do I determine what case to buy (in terms of size)?

It depends on your budget, of course. A mid-tower will work as long as it has good air flow. A full tower is nice for the room, but still needs good airflow.It's really up to you. Do some research, see what option seperate the different cases. Read reviews on newegg.I pulled these from neweggs "featured items" page for some examples for you.http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811129064http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119225http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811112249http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119233I'm using a Coolermaster Cosmos 1000. Its a nice full tower with cool features. It is very quiet which is why I bought it and I think it looks sexy. It does not have the best airflow tho. Its air flow is adequate and it is quiet, until you put an overclocked 980x and two gtx480's in it. Then it was way too loud for my tastes! So I went with a water cooling solution for the quiteness > temps. But that required modding the case to suit my water cooling setup... I can't decide if my hobby is flight sims or building/modding computers.

After a long time using a mid-tower, I changed to big tower, and to be honest, never looked back. Space, airflow, cable management... they are more expensive, I simply love my Thermaltake Armor. Not only for it's looks

I like my mid-tower Antec 900 but if you're going to be buying a GTX470 or 480 I've heard those are enormous and you need lots of space. I've heard a lot of good things about Thermaltake Armor.Don't go cheap on case either or you'll end up with a flimsy plastic box that has one fan on it.

Cooler master HAF X. Amazing case. Possibly one of THE best out there. Unbeatable airflow, tons of space, useability is perfect, tons of great features, easy cable management, all hardware easy to install and it looks great. Does come at a price though.

Great, thank you for that! I already have a monitor and an OS, but how do I determine what case to buy (in terms of size)?

Here's my dream case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139001A bit pricey though! The full size ATX cases are just big and heavy! I think the one I listed weighs in at 40+ lbs!However I think for what you want a quality mid size case would do.... check out the Antec 900 Twohttp://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/antec_nine_hundred_two/http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129058