Detailed Parts:Samsung 21.5" Monitor - DVI and VGA - Model# 2233SW Resolution 1920x1080 (1080p)Altec Lansing Desktop SpeakersSony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B - OEMOCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P16004GKOpen Box: ASUS M4A79T Deluxe AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX ATX AMD MotherboardAntec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer CaseAMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor HDZ720WFGIBOXTuniq Tower 120 Universal CPU Cooler 120mm Cooling Fan and Fan Controller/Heatsink with Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compoundhec X-Power Pro 600 600W Continuous @ 40°C ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power SupplyWestern Digital Caviar Blue RFHWD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"2 x ASUS EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX I am currently using a macbook pro and it is just not capable of running fsx with bootcamp, and I don't know much about computer specs. I'm on a budget so buying the best possible is not an option. Just want to be able to get descent frame rates, and less crashes. Thanks for any help.

I am not going to start an Intel / AMD war , but I have been with AMD since ages of course they had there share of problems. But almost everyone here says get the i5 or and i7. I personally have an Athlon II X3 445 OCed 3.87 ghz and it is running very well ,know nothing about the Phenom's have never used one but I hear they are great. I do not use any heavy addons except Manhattan X where I pull around 17fps on Dense and little traffic. In NL-2000 I get around 39-40 fps. I am using Carenado aircrafts on everything full except water. FSX likes core speeds, and I think the i5 and i7 are much better Overclockers. Overall the specs seems good but try getting the 880 / 890 chipset , the 790 is getting outdated.

ok thanks for your advice

I am not going to start an Intel / AMD war , but I have been with AMD since ages of course they had there share of problems. But almost everyone here says get the i5 or and i7. I personally have an Athlon II X3 445 OCed 3.87 ghz and it is running very well ,know nothing about the Phenom's have never used one but I hear they are great. I do not use any heavy addons except Manhattan X where I pull around 17fps on Dense and little traffic. In NL-2000 I get around 39-40 fps. I am using Carenado aircrafts on everything full except water. FSX likes core speeds, and I think the i5 and i7 are much better Overclockers. Overall the specs seems good but try getting the 880 / 890 chipset , the 790 is getting outdated.

It's not only that Sandy Bridge (I5 2500K & I7 2600K) overclocks higher. This Intel vs AMD topic has been beaten to death (is there a forum out there where it hasn't? :P)A 4GHz 2500K/2600K is much faster than a 4GHz Phenom II (about a 40%), and Phenom II @ 4GHz is faster than an Athlon II @ 4GHz It all comes comes down to whether you are wiling to pay an extra 100 - 150$, (which is only about the 10-20% of the total budget), for almost twice the performance or not. FSX is CPU bound, skimping on the CPU is the last thing you want to do

It's not only that Sandy Bridge (I5 2500K & I7 2600K) overclocks higher. This Intel vs AMD topic has been beaten to death (is there a forum out there where it hasn't? )A 4GHz 2500K/2600K is much faster than a 4GHz Phenom II (about a 40%), and Phenom II @ 4GHz is faster than an Athlon II @ 4GHz It all comes comes down to whether you are wiling to pay an extra 100 - 150$, (which is only about the 10-20% of the total budget), for almost twice the performance or not. FSX is CPU bound, skimping on the CPU is the last thing you want to do

I know that the higher end Intel CPU's are much better against the Phenom. If a person is looking for a mid-range cost effective than I would stick with the Phenoms. As to the cost here in India between the Phenom and the i7 is like this Phenom 9,700 INR i7 17k-18k INR.Honestly I am pulling very good framerates on my Athlon X3. Then again it all comes down to the budget. If I had a high budget then yes I would have gone for an i7.

I know that the higher end Intel CPU's are much better against the Phenom. If a person is looking for a mid-range cost effective than I would stick with the Phenoms. As to the cost here in India between the Phenom and the i7 is like this Phenom 9,700 INR i7 17k-18k INR.Honestly I am pulling very good framerates on my Athlon X3.Then again it all comes down to the budget. If I had a high budget then yes I would have gone for an i7.

how much is the I5 2500K? now THAT is cost effective

how much is the I5 2500K? now THAT is cost effective

What is the $ pricing for the i5 2500k ? And is it a Sandy Bridge ?

What is the $ pricing for the i5 2500k ? And is it a Sandy Bridge ?

Yes, it is. It's the same as the I7 2600K, but without Hyperthreading (completely useless for FSX) and 6MB of L3 cache instead of 8MB. You get the same gaming performance for $100 less

Yes, it is. It's the same as the I7 2600K, but without Hyperthreading (completely useless for FSX) and 6MB of L3 cache instead of 8MB. You get the same gaming performance for $100 less

Aha Ok.

ironmaiden, have a look at this: http://shop.ebay.in/i.html?_nkw=intel+i5+2500+K&_sacat=0&_odkw=i2500+k&_osacat=160&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

ironmaiden, have a look at this: http://shop.ebay.in/...6.c0.m270.l1313

Ok. The difference between a Phenom 1090 is around 2000 k and i5 2600 then it is justified to go for an i5 2600k. But comparing it against an i7 (18000 k / 19000 k ) for and a person having a limited then I would go for the Phenom.

Yes, justified, surely... i5 2500K, not i5 2600K

Yes, justified, surely... i5 2500K, not i5 2600K

ok didn't know there is also a 2500k.

But comparing it against an i7 (18000 k / 19000 k ) for and a person having a limited then I would go for the Phenom.

IM, again. I7 2600K = I5 2500K for gaming

IM, again. I7 2600K = I5 2500K for gaming

Oh OK.