Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: PC Performance Testing & Settings Analysis (23 GPU Tests)

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, released on November 20, 2024, initially faced serious issues at takeoff. However, through extensive testing on a wide selection of graphics cards and processors, we've gained valuable insights into the hardware requirements for an optimal gaming experience.

Unveiling the Hardware Demands of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Flight Simulator 2024 Introduction

The game ditches DirectX 11 support and leverages DirectX 12 for all systems. Its minimum requirements list an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Intel Core i7-6800K processor and a Radeon RX 570 4GB or GeForce GTX 970 GPU. The recommended hardware consists of a Ryzen 7 2700X or Intel Core i7-10700K, Radeon RX 5700 XT or GeForce RTX 2080.It's important to note that while the game can be CPU-limited on higher-spec GPUs with maximum quality settings, lower settings offer reasonable framerates even on relatively slow processors.

Flight Simulator 2024 Test Setup

This game only supports a limited selection of upscaling and frame generation technologies. We updated our test PC to AMD's latest Ryzen 7 9800X3D and ran tests on various CPUs and GPUs. Nvidia 566.14, Intel 6299, and AMD 24.10.1 drivers were used. We test with medium settings at 1080p, then 1080p, 1440p, and 4K with ultra settings. Our benchmark sequence uses the Ísafjörður landing challenge.

Flight Simulator 2024 1080p Medium GPU performance

At 1080p medium, there are CPU bottlenecks. The top two Nvidia GPUs deliver almost identical results, while AMD GPUs have more room for improvement. Nearly every GPU we tested breaks 60 fps except the RTX 3050 8GB. AMD's modern GPUs generally outperform their Nvidia counterparts at this setting.

Flight Simulator 2024 1080p Ultra GPU performance

Running at 1080p ultra, the GPU rankings are similar to what we're used to seeing. The CPU can still be a factor, and AMD GPUs seem to hit a lower maximum level of performance. To reach 60 FPS or more, you need at least an RTX 4070 or RX 7800 XT. The AMD vs. Nvidia GPU matchups are less in AMD's favor at higher settings.

Flight Simulator 2024 1440p Ultra GPU performance

Moving to 1440p ultra, AMD takes the lead. The 7900 GRE leads the 4070 by 22%, and the 7700 XT beats the 4060 Ti by 21%. Nvidia's RTX 4090 increases its lead over the 7900 XTX slightly. Reaching 60 fps or more requires a high-end GPU.

Flight Simulator 2024 4K Ultra GPU performance

At 4K ultra, only the RTX 4090 can manage 60 FPS. AMD still takes second place with the 7900 XTX. The 16GB VRAM cards perform better than the 8GB ones. Reaching 30 FPS at 4K ultra is challenging and requires a $500 graphics card.

Flight Simulator 2024 with upscaling

Upscaling tests at 1080p and 1440p were skipped due to CPU limitations. At 4K with quality mode upscaling, performance is lower than native 1440p. Some GPUs, like the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7600, struggle with 4K and upscaling. Intel's Arc A750 performs consistently.

Flight Simulator 2024 with upscaling and frame generation

Frame generation has GPU vendor favoritism. The lack of FSR3 support means Nvidia RTX 40-series GPUs offer a "fake frames" boost. Framegen and upscaling improve framerates, but the 8GB cards run short of memory at 4K ultra.

Flight Simulator 2024 CPU Benchmarks

With clear CPU bottlenecks, especially at 1080p, we tested four CPUs: Core i9-13900K, Core i9-12900K, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The results vary depending on the GPU and resolution. AMD's 9800X3D leads with the RTX 4090, while the 13900K outperforms the other CPUs with the 7900 XTX.

Flight Simulator 2024 network bandwidth utilization

Flight Simulator 2024 has a default installation size of 13GB with a 16GB rolling cache. Just launching the game downloads about 730 MB of data, and subsequent launches are smaller. During the Iceland landing challenge, data usage decreases over time. A 50 Mbps connection is recommended.

Flight Simulator 2024 settings and image quality

We haven't had time for a full image quality analysis yet. But our best advice is to have a capable CPU and be willing to adjust graphics settings. The medium preset runs twice as fast as the ultra preset and looks good.In conclusion, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has higher hardware requirements than its predecessor. By understanding these requirements and making appropriate adjustments, gamers can enjoy a great flight simulation experience.