Fellow flight simulator pilots/RW pilots,In the next six months I will be ready to invest in a new computer. I do not have the knowledge to build my own, so I thought I would just get the next best thing. The Alienware X51. I only have one question. How big of a difference will the Core i7 be from the i5? The difference in pricing is only about $100, but why spend the money if its not worth it? I am also curious if anyone knows how the GTX 555 performs with FSX and the NGX perform. I am tired of being confined under the limitations of FSX, and am ready to upgrade to a machine that can actually handle the program. The specs are listed.Morgan Wiley Alienware X51 Alienware X51 OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English PROCESSOR Intel® Core™ i7-2600 3.4GHz (8MB Cache) with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 MEMORY 8GB (2x4GB) Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHz CHASSIS COLOR Matte Stealth Black with Dark Chrome Accents VIDEO CARD 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 555 HARD DRIVE 1TB SATA 6Gb/s (7,200RPM) 32MB Cache WIRELESS DW1502 Wireless-N WLAN Half Mini-Card Adobe Reader Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader ALIENFX AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue

Plenty people will testify the 2500K (OCed) will run just as well as the I7 2600K.( You will need to OC a little) Make sure it is a 2500K with unlocked multiplier. I would rather have at least a 560 video card and also a good aftermarket CPU cooler for OCing. You could save 100.00 on the 2500K and invest in an upgrade video card. There are folks that know more than me and like to spend a __ll lot more money! JMO PSU?

What is the price of that rig sir?Bert Van Bulck

Hi Morgan,Honestly im not sure about it.But i just doing some upgrade lately on my processor + motherboard (i7 2700K + Z68A-GD65).With a simple overclock (im using NOCTUA NH-U12P SE2 with modification due RAM slot as a cooler), i get 4.7GHz.Good luck.

What is the price of that rig sir?Bert Van Bulck

It is $1049

Fellow flight simulator pilots/RW pilots, I do not have the knowledge to build my own

Hi Morgan. Trust me, if i can do it, anybody can and you will save a bundle. Enough to go to a GTX580 and some.When it comes to the cpu, I made the mistake of going with the 2600k instead of the 2500k and using the extra $100 for something else in my rig. If you are only really going to use it for FSX, then Hyper-threading is of no use to you. In fact it will increase your temps (not good when overclocking) and the $100 will more than cover the cost of a really good aftermarket cooler like the one in my sig, which is among the best IMHO.Just my thoughts.Regards,

Not overly impressed with the GTX 555 in my laptop. It appears to get out performed by a colleagues GTX420. This is work and not FSX however I work in an environment that uses a lot of virtual reality software so just my opinion. My desk top at home now has a GTX 560 and runs FSX/NGX very smooth. It also runs work stuff alot smoother... Not sure if the 560 comes in laptop variant. If not there must be an equivelant.Andy.