Dario, have I got this correct? The Core i5 2500K(3.30GHz)CPU is faster than the i7 920 some good margin and the i7 2600 is even better? And, your recommendation above is actually faster than the i7-920?

Yes, that's more or less correct: i5 2500K and I7 2600K are the last generation Intel CPUs. The "K" means they are overclockable, so if you're not OCing, you can just get the I5 2500 or I7 2600 (non K versions) The differences between the I5 2500(K) at 3.3GHz and the I7 2600(K) at 3.4GHz are: those 100MHz, Hyperthreading and L3 cache size (8MB vs 6MB). None of them will make a significant difference in FSXBoth are faster than the older I7 920, like a 30 - 40% faster

"But whatever you do, don't install FSX in an external drive" - Dario, I don't understand why not? I have seen so many issues arise from other users that had corrupted their boot drive or had to undertake a recovery or their C drive failed and they lost everything had to do complete reinstall etc. I understand there may be some lose of speed perhaps but....what insight can you provide me please.

I'm not sure what you are trying to do, but installing the OS or FSX in an external drive won't be any safer. It can fail too, and if you have to reinstall the OS, you'll also need to reinstall FSX even if it's in a different drive. What most of us do is to make regular system backups and store those backups in an external drive. If something goes wrong you just restore the system with an image backup and problem solved.This is what I do:1 partition for the OS1 partition for programs (it would be the same OS partition if my Velociraptor was bigger)1 partition for data (installers, documents: pics, vids, music, etc...)then I use AllwaysSync to syncronize the data partition with the external drive. Once I have a data backup in my external drive, run a system image backup (OS and program partition or partitions) and store the system image in the external drive too. To make a system image you can use Acronis True Image (payware), Clonezilla (free), or the built in windows 7 system image utility

Looks like you are getting a lot of horsepower for the money.. should run FSX nicely.With liquid cooling, you should also be able to overclock the processor..Just do not put FSX on the USB harddrive, but use it for backup only.Or.. add an internal harddrive, dedicated for FSX. Which is the way I run mine..If I were building from scratch, I would question the need for 12 GB of RAM,but if this is the way the package comes - OK..

I was all set to buy a Cyberpower pc about 2 months ago, but after searching for reviews I found that the vast majority of reviews were quite negative ---- also with Ibuypower!

my pc was from cyberpower and had memory issues on delivery that would cause a BSOD at boot. that was fixed after new ram installed, then 2 weeks after the PSU died. So I replaced it myself and my next PC will be self build =) They did what they could to help though.

gees those issues are a bit scary. My old man does not need any problems like those.

So I have been reading reviews on Cyberpowerpc computers. Lots and lots of bad comments, issues, broken computers, new computers with refurbished parts, computers don't start the first day they arrive.This pretty well seals the deal for me, stay away from Cyberpowerpc.