New System Specs - FSX - Need Advice

[mlam]

Hey everyone,

Starting to get back into FS after a few years off, and am looking at building a new system for FSX. Some background - I plan on mainly flying GA and airliners from the 80s/90s. I don't want or need to be an expert in all systems, so while I drool over PMDG's 737/747/MD11, that's probably not what I want to design my system around. Here's what I'm thinking:

Aircraft:
Tinmouse II 737-200
Vistaliner/HJG 727/L1011
Coolsky MD-80 (FS9 version converted to FSX)
CLS 747-200/DC-10
Level-D 767 (yes this is on the level of PMDG but I don't know of a good in-between?)
All of the default GA aircraft, and maybe eventually some payware ones if I feel I really need to.
Also contemplating getting the ISG set of avionics to retrofit some of the aircraft, and also plan on using the CIVA INS package.

Environment:
FSGenesis Terrain Mesh
REX for clouds/sky/weather downloads
UTX for landclass
GTX for textures
Radar Contact for ATC

So, based on what I plan on using the system for, my main concern is system specs to get reasonable performance. Over on Avsim, there's a nasty thread from earlier this year about AMD vs. Intel that was more useful for showing people's biases vs. actually giving concrete reasons why one is better than the other; over here I couldn't find anything like that. So what's the general consensus - AMD or Intel? For Intel, I'm thinking i5 2500k; for AMD I'm not quite sure what's the equivalent. I'll put 8 gigs of RAM in the system regardless, Win 7 home premium 64 bit, etc. It really boils down to processor and video card - what's your opinion?

Thanks in advance!

Mark

[abrussell]

I'm very happy with my new build, see signature below. It's in a Rosewill Future case with the Asus P8Z68-V LX mobo and a Hyper 212 Cooler. Very smooth, stable with Fsx temps in the high 40's.
Bruce

[mlam]

Thanks Bruce! I appreciate your input.

Mark

[torkermax]

Me three