Hello everyone I am in the market for a new computer and have learned a little bit here and there and have read many FSX forum posting and have come up with something I am interested in buying, now I know I can build and OC a computer and possibly get a good Sandy Bridge equiped computer but in reality all I have to spend is 1300 and thats including monitor, please help looking to buy at the end of April, hopefully I can get some new and more interesting tips!

• • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• • Intel® Core i5-2400 quad-core processor [3.1GHz, 6MB cache]
• • FREE UPGRADE! 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs] from 4GB
• • 1.5TB RAID 0 (2 x 750TB SATA HDDs) - performance
• • Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2010
• • Norton Internet Security 2011 - 15 month
• • 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 420 [DVI, HDMI, VGA adapter]
• • HP 2210 21.5-inch Digaonal Full HD Widescreen Monitor
• • HP USB 2.0 stereo speakers
• • Blu-ray player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner
• • Wireless-N LAN card
• • 15-in-1 memory card reader, 1 USB, audio, video (for TV Tuner), with USB 3.0 card
• • TV tuner, ATSC-NTSC with PVR, remote
• • Beats Audio -- integrated studio quality sound
• • HP USB keyboard and optical mouse

Accessories Printers

Hi vx4ever,In my personal opinion, you would be better getting a P55 system that you can overclock. The only Sandy Bridge processors that can be overclocked to a reasonable speed are those with unlocked multipliers. If you must get this system (which I do not recommend) follow these tips:-6GB in 3 DIMMS is a tri-channel configuration. Sandy Bridge chipsets are Dial-Channel, meaning this will run in single channel. Best to get 8GB (2x4GB or 4x2GB) or 4GB (2x2GB) 1600MHz. -Avoid RAID 0 in FSX. Unless its a dedicated raid controller card (which it won't be) avoid it. For a budget system, get a 500GB HD for the OS/Data and another separate 500GB for FSX. -Norton is Rubbish. Don't even go there. Get Eset NOD32 (just the AV) or Kaspersky or similar. Avoid Norton.-Graphics card is rubbish. For $1300 you could easily get a GTX460. -Things like speakers, blu-ray players, wireless cards, tv tuners, and media card readers are all just money for nothing. Unless you're actually going to watch blu-ray movies, or watch TV on your computer, those aren't needed. A wireless card is only needed if you're connecting through wireless, and even then I would recommend the USB adapters, they can be shifted to the place where signal is best/fastest, whereas a card cannot. If you do decide to go down a P55 system, which will allow OCing, I'd recommend these components:-i5 750-4(or 8)GB DDR3 1600MHz (low latency preferable)-GTX460 (try not to get the SE version, as it doesn't had the same performance as the standard 460)-1x 500GB 7200RPM for OS/Data-1x 500GB 7200RPM for FSX-Good airflow case, something like the Antec 902, or Coolermaster Haf 912/922-Asus or Gigabyte motherboard-650W+ Corsair, Coolermaster (quality brand) PSU-Monitor you chose is fine-Just get a 24x DVD RW.

Alex, sorry to say but you're completely wrong:1.- A "K" Sandy bridge, fully unlocked, costs just a few extra $2.- Even a non "K" SB can be overclocked up to 4 bins over the turbo in a P67 board. That's some 4GHz, weather that's a reasonable OC or not is another story3.- A stock SB will perform more or less like a 4GHz overclocked I5 760There's no reason to go with P55 at this point IMO

Hey alex thanks for the tips, I chose this computer because I am looking for not only an fsx computer but a family computer with blue ray for hdmi to my tv. Maybe you can answer a few of my questions and of course anyone can chime in, is a i5 2500 4 core 3.3ghz with six gig ram 1gig gpu good enough for fsx to get decent ultra high settings with add ons cuz according to many websites such as rex and pmdg I should be fine on frames?

Hi,To get the best performance, do as Dazz suggested and get the i5 2500k. This will allow further overclocking. The card you chose originally is rubbish and will bottleneck your system. You won't get decent performance on ultra high settings with that. As I mentioned earlier, 6GB in 3 DIMMs is tri-channel. Your socket type is dual channel. It doesn't support the ram. You need either 4GB(2x2GB) or 8GB (4x2GB or 2x4GB).If your wanting to watch movies on it, a TV tuner and wireless card are not needed. Extra money for nothing. Norton is major bloatware. It will slow your systems loading times down a lot. Get a light AV like Eset Nod32, Kaspersky etc. Stay away from Norton.If you are planning on connecting to your TV, speakers arent required, because the TV will have better speakers inbuilt. In your setup, you're throwing a lot of money away over components you will never use.

LOkay so back with a decision, I'm going to build. Letter me know if this configuration will work please fellow simmers...I5-2500k 3.3ghzAzus P8P67Antec EA-500d power supply Rosewill dvdrw x 24Azus 23.5 hd lcd monitor coolmaster Hyper 212 cpu cooler Coolmaster Centurion 2 caseCorsair XMS 4 gb 2x2 gb Memory Western Digital 500g Hd 3.5 gbz Sata x2PNY Xlr8 GTX 460 graphics Creative soundblaster as wellLooking forward to you responses!Danny

Use a 1050 or 970 AMD. You will save 300.00 over Intel and you wont know the difference. Instead of paying for Intel advertising you can buy yourself a whole lotta nice addons or a 470 or 480 VC, or a larger monitor or, well you get the picture.!

Maybe for other games, but never for FSX. Actually a 2600K beats any AMD hexa core even in heavily threaded applications

TI've played with AMD's now ready to step into the intell world maybe someday try overclocking, but Daz and Alex what do u think of my specs? Remember I'm starting small to maybe overclock and add more ram In the future.

I like those components for the most part, but I'm not sure about the PSU. Apparently there's a EA500W that got good reviews, but the D version seems to have some ripple and voltage regulation issueshttp://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=322679Can you post a link to the site where you're purchasing your parts?

I'd recommend a Corsair TX650 or similar. Remember, the PSU is probably the most VITAL component in your system. If thats faulty, it could damage a load more than just itself.The rest looks good to me. dazz?

I'd recommend a Corsair TX650 or similar. Remember, the PSU is probably the most VITAL component in your system. If thats faulty, it could damage a load more than just itself.The rest looks good to me. dazz?

LOL, I should be banned for recomending a better PSU when I've been running my system on this shoddy NOX Urano all this time haha. Actually I got a great deal on a 2nd hand HX850 a few days ago even though it's way overkill for my current setup, but who knows if MS Flight will like SLI