Choosing a PC for MSFS 2020 or 2024: CPU, graphics card and memory

Start with how you fly: MSFS 2020 or 2024, a monitor or VR headset, small airfields or major airports, simple aircraft or complex systems. A PC suited to sightseeing may need different settings at a busy airport with a detailed airliner.

The official reference points

• MSFS 2020: 8, 16 and 32 GB of RAM at the minimum, recommended and “ideal” levels; graphics memory of 2, 4 and 8 GB. Official 2020 requirements, including reference CPUs and GPUs.
• MSFS 2024: 16, 32 and 64 GB of RAM; graphics memory of 4, 8 and 12 GB, in the same order. Official 2024 requirements.

These tables describe reference tiers. The older models listed are not a current shopping list, and the “ideal” tier does not promise a particular frame rate in 4K or VR.

32 or 64 GB of RAM?

Our advice: when comparing new PCs for MSFS 2024, use 32 GB as a starting point. Consider 64 GB for demanding scenery and aircraft, several applications running alongside the simulator, or flights that already exhaust your available memory. It is not a requirement for every pilot.

Before buying more memory, observe memory use during a representative flight with your usual applications open. Extra RAM alone cannot resolve an overloaded graphics card. VRAM belongs to the graphics card: adding system RAM does not increase its dedicated video memory.

Plan around the display

• 1080p, 1920 × 1080: aim for a balanced system. Avoid spending the entire budget on the GPU if your demanding flights already expose a CPU limitation.
• 1440p, 2560 × 1440: compare cards at this resolution, using settings and aircraft close to your own. A 1080p result is not enough.
• 4K, 3840 × 2160: each image contains four times as many pixels as 1080p. Allow more graphics headroom and be prepared to adjust rendering or upscaling; this does not mean performance falls by exactly a factor of four.
• VR: consider the headset, its render resolution and refresh rate. A PC that works well on a monitor does not automatically support the same settings in a headset.

Compare CPUs and the complete configuration

Record the full CPU model and generation. Core count and clock speed in GHz are not enough: architecture and cache matter too, as explained in Intel’s guide to CPU clock speed. To compare two models, look for a test of the same MSFS version with a comparable graphics card and settings. A major airport and an aircraft similar to yours are more informative than a general productivity score.

Check the quotation for the exact GPU, RAM, VRAM, storage and upgrade options too. Separate rendered frames from generated frames in advertised results. On a laptop, check that the simulator uses the dedicated GPU, as explained by Microsoft support.

Reference information and links checked again on 5 November 2026.