G3258 it's a very good Cpu , in low budget systems the I3 6100 6320 is better for flightsim not as cheap as G3258 but it gone perform better in the sim.

Actually the big smiling face was my attempt to end the discussion on a friendly humerous note.

 

As for "Dell Fetish Boy"... that was also intended as humour, not an insult and certainly not infantile. Oh well, at least I tried.

 

Having said that, there was truth in my words. You do seem to exaggerate and it's important when helping others that we try not to.

 

Great news you are happy with your system though, that's the main thing.

 

When are you expecting your new machine?  Let us know how it goes, preferably running the FSXmark benchmark

 

EDIT - that should have been to the OP

Machine should be here in 9days from chill blast. Managed to get the sky lake i5 6600k 4.4ghz with navidia gtx750 2gb so fingers crossed I'm a happy simmer. Will update results when it arrives and I'm flying

That's a good solid base, you could always upgrade the graphics card down the line.

Dell's Alienware PC's are great. I'm on my second desktop ( got my first in 2009 Alienware Aurora ) I owned it 5 years and then sold it for $800.  used that to buy another Alienware Desktop. This time I got the Area 51. I also own a 2015 Alienware 17r2 gaming laptop.  Sure they are expensive but warranty is first class. I would recommend spending the extra $300  to max out the warranty to 4 or 5 years.  My first Alienware Aurora desktop had the video card die after 3 years. Dell had a new one installed at my house in 2 working days. A few years later I got the Area 51 desktop and the mother board crapped out. Again within 2 working days I had a tech show up and replace the board.  I also had a Dell XPS 15 laptop that died in its last year of warranty. Actually I only had 2 weeks of warranty left ( Used alot in 5 years )

As Dell no longer had parts for my 5 year old laptop they offered me a brand spanking new current model XPS15 laptop as a replacement worth $1800. As the Alienware 17R2 laptop was exactly the same price they agreed to send me one as a warranty replacement!  I live in the remote Yukon Canada and both times I needed warranty work done it took less then 3 working days. They always FedEx'd the parts over night and you have the option to replace the parts yourself of they send out a technician.

 

Don't listen to the Dell / Alienware bashes. You will find that 99% of them have never owned one or ever used one.  I have built my own system but like piece of mind knowing that stuff gets fixed or replaced quick smart should you run into problems.

At last, sanity surfaces. Nice post, Pete, and form first-hand experience too.

Dell's Alienware PC's are great. I'm on my second desktop ( got my first in 2009 Alienware Aurora ) I owned it 5 years and then sold it for $800.  used that to buy another Alienware Desktop. This time I got the Area 51. I also own a 2015 Alienware 17r2 gaming laptop.  Sure they are expensive but warranty is first class. I would recommend spending the extra $300  to max out the warranty to 4 or 5 years.  My first Alienware Aurora desktop had the video card die after 3 years. Dell had a new one installed at my house in 2 working days. A few years later I got the Area 51 desktop and the mother board crapped out. Again within 2 working days I had a tech show up and replace the board.  I also had a Dell XPS 15 laptop that died in its last year of warranty. Actually I only had 2 weeks of warranty left ( Used alot in 5 years )

As Dell no longer had parts for my 5 year old laptop they offered me a brand spanking new current model XPS15 laptop as a replacement worth $1800. As the Alienware 17R2 laptop was exactly the same price they agreed to send me one as a warranty replacement!  I live in the remote Yukon Canada and both times I needed warranty work done it took less then 3 working days. They always FedEx'd the parts over night and you have the option to replace the parts yourself of they send out a technician.

 

Don't listen to the Dell / Alienware bashes. You will find that 99% of them have never owned one or ever used one.  I have built my own system but like piece of mind knowing that stuff gets fixed or replaced quick smart should you run into problems.

I have had five Dell computers, 2 laptops, and three Desktop Tower-XPX series, as my Dell history.  Not one ever required service, all still run within the family, and with all the great personal experience with their builds, would not hesitate to order another one,... but probably not likely as the XPX730x is totally rebuildable with current internal gear, if desired.

 

 That was one of the perks that attracted me to the 730x in the first place. Non Dell proprietary, ATX-extended form factor case, and enough internal cages and placements to choke a mule!

 

Glad to see you having good experiences all-round with your patronage.  For myself, it has been a stellar user experience as well!

 

Mitch

Don't listen to the Dell / Alienware bashes. You will find that 99% of them have never owned one or ever used one.  I have built my own system but like piece of mind knowing that stuff gets fixed or replaced quick smart should you run into problems.

There are a lot of Alienware bashers out there. The usual criticism is that they are very over priced. In fact there's a thread on Linus tech tips where a comparison is made, it does seem to confirm that hypothesis.

 

The high performance laptops are also said to overheat. I have no opinion on that as I've not owned one.

 

Just to say, in this thread I have not bashed Dell, don't recall anyone else doing that either.. only expressed the opinion that the outdated system someone recommended was not the best option for the OP.

 

Seems he's settled for the latest platform, Skylake, a much better option. Fast, high frequency and density DDR4, USB 3.1, U.2, M.2, plus a plethora of new and useful features. I agree with his choice.

 

 

My first Alienware Aurora desktop had the video card die after 3 years. Dell had a new one installed at my house in 2 working days. A few years later I got the Area 51 desktop and the mother board crapped out. Again within 2 working days I had a tech show up and replace the board. I also had a Dell XPS 15 laptop that died in its last year of warranty.

 

 

Does sound like you had quite a few failures though. Certainly more than I've had.

I've been running FSX Steam Edition on an Alienware x51 for twelve months without any issues.  This includes complex tubeliner and GA aircraft with plenty of scenery add ons and weather programs.

When I got my last Alienware I looked at building my own.  It would have cost about $600 less with no warranty!  To me the 5 years warranty is worth the extra.

When I got my last Alienware I looked at building my own.  It would have cost about $600 less with no warranty!  To me the 5 years warranty is worth the extra.

Actually you do get a warranty when you build yourself. Each component has a warranty. In fact some components have a warranty much longer than Dell will give you, like the PSU for example, which can have a warranty up to 10 years. I've even had components with lifetime warranties.

 

The caveat of course is that you need the expertise to track down the faulty component yourself. If you don't have that capability then self build is perhaps not the best option.

 

The Linus Tech Tips post demonstrated a very high mark up in regard to some Dell models, hard to justify despite the availability of a warranty.

 

Actually you do get a warranty when you build yourself. Each component has a warranty. In fact some components have a warranty much longer than Dell will give you, like the PSU for example, which can have a warranty up to 10 years. I've even had components with lifetime warranties.

 

The caveat of course is that you need the expertise to track down the faulty component yourself. If you don't have that capability then self build is perhaps not the best option.

 

The Linus Tech Tips post demonstrated a very high mark up in regard to some Dell models, hard to justify despite the availability of a warranty.

Yeah but you have to deal with the manufacture after a limited period as store will not take back goods after a few months. So you have to send them the faulty product, wait for them to test it and then send you a replacement and they are never quick! takes weeks even months to get done,

 

You can do dell repairs yourself and it does not effect the warranty.  

Years ago before dell purchased alienware  I got the Dell XPS710 gaming desktop.  Dell's manufacture of the motherboard ( MSI ) had used an obsolete chip set on the board and I received a notice from Dell that they would be replacing my motherboard as a result. They said I had the option to replace it myself or they would send a technician. I did it my self.  I had to wait a few months for the board but the PC was just fine to use. 

To be honest, after many years of building custom PC's, I've never had to wait months for a faulty component to be replaced.

 

Faulty from new is easy, just return to store. Faulty beyond that has always been quite easy for me. I've returned RAM, motherboards, hard drives and not an issue. Only delay I've ever had was Asus re a motherboard, but no, never months, max a few weeks.

 

I usually have spare components around anyway to keep me up and running. The self build experience for me has been great over the years. As I said though not the right choice for everyone.

Well chillblast system arrived and all I can say is wow! Thanks for all the input I now am a happy simmer