I am thinking of getting a PC to run MSFS (this is the key reason i want to gett it, and my current computer is pretty old so i doubt jt is a parts upgrade situation) and want to spend 3-4k nzd. But I am quite a an amature when it comes to specifications.
Here in NZ $3900 gets me about these specs buying pre made (just to give an example). Any suggestions for me to avoid regrets?
#Intel COMET LAKE 2022 Core i7 10700F/10700 8x 2.9GHz/4.8Ghz Turbo Core 12MB 8 Core Processor
#Motherboard - Intel Chipset USB 3.0/Sata 3.0
#Graphics Card - nVidia Geforce RTX 3080 10GB DP/HDMI/
#32GB high quality DDR4 Ram, Dual Channel memory architecture
#High Definition Audio
#10/100/1000 Ethernet, Broadband Modem ready
#2TB SATA 3 Hard Disk
#Optical Drive: None ($42 to add an external DVDrw Drive).
#Excellent cooling system with Front mounted 120mm LED fan cools hard drive cordially, 8cm/12cm
The 10700 is a fine CPU, but by the end of the year, it will be three generations old, so I think that’s something to improve if you’re going to be spending that much on a new pre-built.
The 3080 is obviously excellent.
For reference I have a 10700 with a GTX 1080 and I get 40-50 fps depending on the plane at 1440p and primarily high settings.
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You will need a good-sized SSD, both for the OS and MSFS. I have a single SSD for both, but 2 may be better, as you can upgrade the sim drive separately.
Very nice GPU, which would explain my initial ‘ouch’ when I saw your price:)
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Good advice. A system that expensive without even a SATA SSD is not a good idea.
I can see where this system builder is making their profit margin goals. You could build that system yourself for $700-800 USD here in the states not including the graphics card. If you then calculate how much you’re spending for that 3080, it makes less and less sense.
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Am I overdoing it on the GPU with that one?
I had figured GPU was very important but maybe other factors matter too.
obviously I want it to add value if I am spending extra on it, so the rest of the spec need to keep up from a MSFS point of view and 3900 is as mentioned right near the top of my budget.
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Unfortunatly I have low confidence in my ability to build anything, I have never been a hands on computer guy.
Maybe I can find a friend who is a bit of a gamer to help if the savings are a substantial percent, although I am not sure who at this stage.
I guess that will add quite a bit of cost?
I suppose part of this is where can I save if I need to upgrade parts of this.
Is anything over spec’d in that build? (Putting aside for the moment the other option of getting someone to help build it to cut out the computer store’s margin).
Need more info on motherboard, can it take an M.2 drive, if so storage is cheap add a drive just for MSFS and your looking good, you definitely want at least a 3080 to get that sweet 384-bit bus, 3090 might be a tad overkill unless you plan on VR super high resolution or an 8k 49" Ultra-HD monitor.
As for the CPU being a few gens behind, would not worry about it, I don’t think that with this sim anchored to it’s FSX core the extra super ultra fancy cores may not help. As it is with my even older i9 9900k I disable hyper threading to get the most aggressive single core performance I can.
Edit: With a 9900k OC’ed to 5ghz and a 3060 with three screens for 5760x1080 at Ultra I’m always GPU limited. I’m watching for a 3080ti myself, prices are dropping here and availability is becoming a thing.
Now I just have to justify and put away a grand 
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