I have an iMac that I am thinking of selling to fund a Windows 7 self build pc so I can combine work and simming. The iMac I have is a top spec 2011 one. The full spec is here: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/stats/imac-core-i7-2.8-21-inch-aluminum-mid-2011-thunderbolt-specs.htmlThe pc parts I am thinking about are something like this set: It might not be the final configuration but is roughly what I am looking at. Something in the region of sub £1000.My question is how much of an increase in performance in FSX would I get over the iMac?In the iMac running FSX via bootcamp with the PMDG NGX at Flytampa Boston with REX clouds and default AI at 75% I get about 12-30 fps when limited to 40. It's generally at the lower end of the 12-30 most of the time. Andy S

You can over-clock that chip and get quite a nice jump. In the mean time, lock your FPS to a lower number like 25 in FS. You lock near your lowest value not at some value you hardly ever reach.

I see Dazz is already here - I'll wait for him to set this straight...

I see Dazz is already here - I'll wait for him to set this straight...

haha, no no, please. Go ahead Corey

Alright... I'm just going to provide a punch list:Get the 2500k CPUDo NOT buy an OCZ PSU - or OCZ anything for that matter... look at the Corsair TX series if you want something good and reasonably pricedI prefer the ASUS motherboards. You might also look at the ASRock boards. Seriously consider getting one of the Gen 3 boards that supports PCI-E 3.0.Cases that allow side loading of the hard drives are nice, though I mount mine in the 5.25" bays now...To answer your question, you should see minimum FPS of around 25 once this system is overclocked and AVG in the 30s with reasonably high settings. It's almost impossible to say how it will compare to your mac, but the discrete GPU and the ability to OC your CPU should make for a huge improvement.

Good to know I will get very acceptable fps. And points about OCZ noted Corey. How well does this computer compare with the list of parts I have posted. http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/153/frontgdj.jpg Someone on another forum is selling it and I might be able to do a swap or trade from my iMac. Or am I better off just building one myself?Andy S

That seems very nice and would probably be better performing.

That computer looks good. I don't see why it would perform better - it should perform about the same as the system you proposed above. It just depends if you care about selecting your own parts and building from scratch. For some, that's a very rewarding process, for others, it's a headache.

Well it does have a 560 Ti over the standard 560 is what I am going by.

Ah, I didn't catch that

probably wouldn't do much for fsx though

Do NOT buy an OCZ PSU - or OCZ anything for that matter... look at the Corsair TX series if you want something good and reasonably priced

Not to muddy the waters, but I've owned two and they've been great, as was the Corsair TX I had. Guess which cost me less? The OCZ. My friend has had his (identical to mine) for nearly three years. They've all provided clean power as well.

My OCZ PSU, less than 12 months old took out my motherboard. Avoid like the plague

I asked a friend who builds computers for a job to spec me up a machine for £1000 or less and this is what he came up with. Any thoughts on this one? It all looks sweet as to me but I was wondering if the 600W PSU was enough power?Andy S

That PSU is complete junk! I wouldn't put it near that nice system. Notice the conversation just above your post.Here's the standard advice: If you're not running thread intensive applications, go with the 2500k instead of that 2600k and use the $100 towards a better PSU.