re: Need a new desktop

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how much of a difference would it be going to an i7 and do you think its worth it?

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$100 or so, and no it's not worth it. An i7 is an i5 with hyperthreading, and hyperthreading is something that a program must be coded to use. This isn't something that will change with time (in case you're hoping that getting an i7 now means you'll prolong an upgrade) -- it's a highly task-specific feature. You'd be throwing your money away.

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also, 8GB of RAM, thats it? i was looking at at least 12, preferably 16. do you think thats enough?

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That depends; you only need as much as you use and only use as much as you need. Use task manager in Windows and monitor RAM usage on your laptop for a while. Or, you can order more if you need more. Nowadays, 4GB is minimum and 8GB is standard. You generally wouldn't get 16GB without a specific reason (i.e. knowing that your usage habits demand more than 8GB).

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also, since you didnt recommend a graphics card, where is a good place to start? i have an older version of a flight simulator i use to like to play but it got too choppy and i had to turn down the graphics all the way. id like to be able to whip that out again if i had something that could support it

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Oh, I would've just thrown in a GTX 750 Ti or R7-360 on the list. What's the game called? Depending on how old it is, the integrated graphics might be more than enough already.