Build the Best PC for Flight Simulator 2020! CPUs, RAM and GPUs tested for the Perfect Sim PC

View our recommended flight simulator builds on BuildPicker: buildpicker.com/
Mid-Range AMD Flight Sim Build: buildpicker.com/build/31/mid-...
Mid-Range Intel Flight Sim Build: buildpicker.com/build/33/mid-...
Entry-Level Flight Sim Build: buildpicker.com/build/32/entr...
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 has a reputation as being hard on hardware: so how should you allocate your budget if you want this Sim to run well but can't out-bid Bezos?
In this video we break down the factors that contribute to excellent performance in Flight Simulator, controlling the variables to work out the best value CPUs, RAM configurations and GPUs. We use this information to recommend three PC Configurations at entry level, mid range, and the high end. You don't need the most expensive parts to get fantastic performance: In fact you can achieve it with a pretty modest budget!
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
2: 20 - The Benchmarks we run
4:25 - CPU testing
5:26 - CPUs: Testing for core count scaling
6:38 - Can DirectX 12 help?
6:57 - Key factors affecting CPU performance: Core speed and L3 Cache
7:09 - The difference between Intel and AMD product segmentation
8:17 - CPU Conclusions
9:38 - CPU Recommendations
10:49 - RAM Testing
11:15 - RAM Capacities 8GB-64GB tested
13:29 - RAM Speed on AMD Ryzen CPUs
14:35 - RAM Speed on Intel 12th generation CPUs
15:26 - RAM Speed Conclusions and Recommendations
16:43 - RAM Configuration conclusions: inconclusive
17:15 - SSD Testing
18:33 - GPU tests 1080p
20:08 - GPU tests 1440p
20:45 - GPU tests 1440p Ultrawide
21:13 - GPU tests 4K
21:35 - GPU Conclusions
22:29 - Notes on VR Performance/Requirements
23:10 - Overall conclusions
24:08 - Recommended Entry Level (1080p) PC Configuration
25:37 - Recommended Mid Range (1440p) PC Configuration
27:19 - Recommended High End (4k, VR) PC Configuration
29:16 - An invitation to BuildPicker.com - A Site that helps you configure your perfect PC.
30:35 - Testing Methodology
34:46 - Phew! It's over.
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See our recommended builds at buildpicker.com/

[@TheBerzs]

I truly appreciate your hard work, Mate! Keep at it, I am confident that this channel will get the proper recognition it deserves very soon! Cheers!

[@n1vca]

Thanks so much, you have been answering many questions I have had for a long time. Perfect summary and very well reduced to what is necessary to get a feel for what suits your idea and budget. Most informative advice that relates to real life tests that I have come across so far. I subscribed instantly 👍

[@rosmizalibrahim9160]

What a great wisdom for pc building especially in msfs2020 context... thanks for the comprehensive explanation 👍👍

[@eatatjoe69]

Appreciate the work that went into this. Very detailed.

[@pdk005]

Really appreciated the in-depth research and breakdown of each component.

[@hgk45874]

Great video. Clear, precise with cost estimates. Wish everybody who tries to tackle this issue on KZbin would follow your testing and explanation method. Now I know where to start and what to look for. Thanks Mate !

[@himanshuji492]

Really appreciate your hard work.

[@faridayasmin8224]

Cant imagine all the countless hours you have gone through to put together this test, this is perhaps the most thorough testing regarding msfs out there on KZbin. Great effort, really appreciate it.

[@WorksOnMyComputer]

Fantastic video. Very comprehensive and useful for those of us looking for a FS2020 gaming rig. Thank you.

[@sovereignfalcon1119]

Thank you so much for creating such a thorough, concise & professional quality review! I’m looking into doing my 1st build & was very apprehensive to begin, as I have no computer background, but intend to run F.Sim someday (& no, I don’t really game, just research & offline archiving). After approaching the guys at the local computer shop, they left me with little hope of being able to run the program with anything less than the best gaming computer that money could buy & custom build. I’m glad that my skepticism kicked in from having the frustrating past experiences of working around people who would rather give a cocky and quick answer when they don’t have the knowledge to fully answer the question with 100% honesty or have the humility to admit they don’t. Thank you for your help & saving me so much headache, embarrassment and money! God Bless!

[@Charles_Bro-son]

I mean this title doesn't exactly run on a potato, however it still runs on consoles. I gotta admit those come sort of well equipped and thought out this generation, but a pc build mimicking that performance shouldn't be "the best that money could buy". Your pc shop guys maybe also got a little excited for a nice commission selling a luxurious build that day :D

[@eyupkosif5563]

That was the best review video I have ever seen so far. Great job, very detailed test setups.

[@seekwhen1848]

This in-depth analysis is so GOOD!! Definitely a like!

[@davideastham]

I'm still running this very well with my i7 4790k and RTX 2060 and 16gb ram.

[@salmansirajsalarzai7237]

how does it look and what fps are you getting

[@davideastham]

@@salmansirajsalarzai7237 I don't run everything in Ultra for sure but I usually get fps in the 30's and 40's. It's playable for me. I run on my 4k monitor but set it to 2k for the game.

[@salmansirajsalarzai7237]

thanks!

[@eds5709]

Thanks for this presentation and the amount of work you've put into it. Being a bit dazzled about the technical terms, this video does offer a base to decide which components are best suited for your wallet.

[@jamyshaw]

Such a good video! Really appreciate the time and effort put in for some quantifiable results rather than just “opinions” like other videos. Keep up the good work! :)

[@waseemchand3527]

Just awesome, very informative, comprehensive and right on the spot. 👍

[@ashwinkoshti9991]

Such an underrated channel, well done and thank you for such an intensive test.

[@andrewlaw2420]

Would Have been nice to see a like for this from the author

[@novicereloader]

No kidding! Months of research in 30 minutes, and he did a better job than all my reading led me to.

[@airhogglider]

Agreed.. This is beyond what Gamers Nexus does.

[@BuildPicker]

@@andrewlaw2420 We gave it a heart?!

[@micsunday14]

Yeah good effort thanks mate. Really appreciate the broad range of info you covered for any budget

[@HME887]

Hats off bro I never seen any explanatory video like this ever Thank You for making life easier for simers and gamers

[@PrincipledNaturalLaw]

I came upon this video after checking out controls for flight sims & though the content of this video is not what i would usually watch & i may not watch another video from this channel, however, i liked & subscribed due to the time & effort put into gathering & presenting data, creating the video, etc.

[@ItzLazerLight]

Thank you so much, I'm building my pc in a month, and this was the perfect guide! Thanks for helping me, and I'll use this advice!

[@A_Shehab]

This is a fantastic breakdown for all the aspects, appreciate your efforts

[@kevbrown1867]

Great video looking to get into flight sim but was confused about what you need for it to work good This really answered all the questions

[@thephlophers]

I've been putting a build together to replace a 6600k system from 2015 and I've pored over an absolutely unhealthy amount of benchmarks and tests in the past few weeks. In terms of both quality of data and clarity of presentation, this is far and away the best channel I've come across. It would be great to have this information in article form for easier review of the charts.

[@talalrashid9268]

Please update about your new build

[@mad-b264]

I had an i7 6700k before I put an i5 12600k on a Gigabyte H610i motherboard, Great little board with overclock and temp reading abilities with smart fan 6 with a pretty good SIV control panel easy to understand, With a Cooler Master 240 V2 liquid cooler and a 12gb 3060, I run AMS 2 with no problems at all on high settings, No stuttering or freeze framing, I can say the i5 12600k is far better CPU than the i7 6700k I had before I put the i5 12600k in it, It wasn't that expensive to put together if I am totally honest, I ain't got a high end PC but it runs my Sim racing titles.... I will be buying MSFS soon as I can afford it, All the bills I had went into my upgrade, But yeah I can say the i5 12600k is a top CPU for the price.

[@vraviator]

Weeks have gone by but I have finally found the perfect video! Thank you so so much!

[@captainmegaxenon2042]

Wow! You really put a lot of work in this! Thanks a lot 💪💪💪😃

[@pat17681]

Thanks for your hardwork, I'm looking forward to get this game soon

[@doctimw]

WOW---What an AMAZING review! Thank you so very much for the Extremely time-consuming and difficulty in running all of these tests to help answer the questions we "Non-Computer professionals" need to know!! This was the first time I saw this channel and I immediately subscribed and your channel is the first channel I have seen that makes me want to be a Patron! I am looking forward to upcoming videos and will ensure that all of my family and friends (some who think they know computers) visit your site for the "true answers" to our questions!

[@sascenturion]

Wow! ...thanks for all the info and hard work you guys put into making this video. Great stuff. Would certainly be interested in your VR test findings and certainly interested in your own in sim/game settings. Thanks again

[@YEWGYZE]

Aw , you dont need to thank me

[@SimonCash]

This is the best video I've seen on this subject. Well done!

[@jcsk8]

Excelent presentation. Hope you make one of this for the upcoming Xplane 12.

[@pilotmanjesseaviationvideo8701]

Absolutely fantastic video!!! I am thinking about building my first PC with hopes to make one that runs Flight Sim 2020 very well and this is the EXACT kinda video I was looking for, great work!

[@bigbubba0439]

Same here!

[@simong.8187]

Thank you very much, that's what I have been looking for!

[@pc_panic]

very cool info - I am making some changes to my system to get the best possible performance in MSFS VR specifically - your video helped me confirm some upgrade plans thank you for putting this together!

[@Nialligimino]

Awesome video, just what I needed as I'm putting a sim together for cadets. Seems like I was on the right track, but wish I found this sooner as had been piecing together bits from multiple sources!

[@BuildPicker]

Glad to be of service and good luck to the cadets!

[@skinnyTheCat]

Incredibly well done comparison / test video for MSFS2020! Thank you so much for all your hard work on this, i can see many hrs must have gone into this! I am also pleased to se the Buildpicker option you created! Wi9ll check this one out for my eventually new PC! :) One again Thanks! David.

[@fobypawz418]

Benchmarking has truly evolved! Your benchmarking has really revealed the nasty culprit behind the infamous stutters!

[@markgriffin2285]

So in a nutshell, we are victims of the programmers. Which basically means having a good CPU may do well in one game but not so well in another.

[@ralphconnell8163]

Thanks so much. Excellent presentation. Helps a great deal. Cuts through all of the 'clutter' re info about these components, Appreciate your time and effort.

[@mouhamedndiongue4227]

Look at that !!! Love it!!! Now I can rely on, to master my pc :) Thanks

[@cameron3815]

Great information. Thanks for your hard work on testing.

[@Peter-honek]

Perfect review, advices, remarks and recommendation’s! Thank you for this video, exactly what I was looking for! THANK YOU!

[@Shrek765]

Thank You Very Much! ... No one really ever talks MS Flight Sim, Game or Not it is my Favorite and I am starting to Buy for a New Computer!

[@MrScott_e]

Outstanding video. Thank you for sharing your testing results with the flight sim community. I look forward to checking g out Build Picker too.

[@BuildPicker]

Thank you for your kind words! Let me know if you have any feedback and how you found BuildPicker, we're always trying to improve it where we can and listening to the community!

[@waqarsyed6641]

DUDE AWESOME . Very well explained thank you

[@skypiratez]

On the war path to choose and build my new MSFS system I’ve been browsing the Tube for information. Found your channel recently and you came up with this most important video just right in time. Nice content, really like your thorough research and information presenting. Thanks!!

[@scottchegg828]

what did you end up building?

[@yankee38]

High quality and very helpful. Thank you.

[@Tortentaenzer]

This is very helpful, thank you for your top work and profund analysis.

[@Ahmed-157]

Saw your comment on Reddit, great guide man!

[@biggles5633]

Thank you so much for this effort, it is tremendous. I've been battling with making a decision about what is the most pragmatic approach to building/purchasing a desktop that will be specific to FS. I use FS to brush up on an approach that I have not flown previously or have not flown for a while in real life. For me, it is a true simulation of what I will expect in a procedural sense under real IMC conditions. It's not just a game, so getting the most out of it is important, together with not wasting money on a system with specs that bring no additional benefits. Well done!

[@BuildPicker]

Glad to have the endorsement of Biggles himself!!

[@thomasyantorno1734]

Great video, I am a DCS world guy, but I think MSFS seems to be very comparable title regarding hardware. Agree on alot of your recommendations. I do like the seagate 530 cuda 2tb. Thanks!

[@geoffh2560]

wow that is a LOT of information and all based on solid-testing not guesswork. I learned a lot, thanks so much. Particularly appreciated the GPU tests across different screen resolutions - as this doesn't get talked about much. My own experience - on a mid-range system - is that I only rarely need to pull-down the in-sim graphics settings a little and most of time the sim works just great without spending extra cash on upgrades.

[@juppee]

Thanks for the great report on MSFS 2020 PC requirements..✈️

[@mikenyagawa3929]

Just the video i really wanted!!

[@johnpaterson4163]

Wow, fantastic video mate, thank you.

[@brunobrodie5934]

I truly appreciate your hard work, Thanks for the video!

[@roger3603]

you re so underrated! keep up the good work! remember me when you hit 100k!

[@raymondjackson6069]

Absolutely brilliant! Wish I'd had this before I bought my system a few couple o' three years ago. Simulators are so complex, it's very hard to tell what really matters and how to budget for it. Also, I found MSFS a great program - if it worked. I bought the top of the line version, but it was so problematic, I spent more time getting it to work, than actually playing it. Final step was when Microsoft installed an X-Box account on my machine, then you have to sign in every time you use it, and it forced a reconfiguration as new install, and no support. And of course Microsoft used the opportunity to hoist and hawk new Microsoft products to you every chance they got. Dumped it and was lucky to get my money back. Fortunately there are much better flight simulators out there without the hassle. I just hope you are bench-marking those too so we can make better and more informed choices. Thanks again and cheers!

[@leetmanny]

Super informative. glad i found this

[@comeflywithlee433]

Thanks for the time you’ve spent doing this 👍

[@martianmuppet]

Thankyou! Very informative.

[@romeirosilveira8719]

A Big Thank you for the valuable feedback

[@Pongomuffin]

Very nice video and presentation! Thanks!

[@robertvanzant2653]

Brilliant video ,thanks .

[@robertrent5218]

Excellent! Subscribed.

[@roberthatcher2773]

Wow, what a phenomenal amount of work you have put in to this video! Thank you so much for taking the time to help people like me to choose components for this great simulation errr game 😁

[@BuildPicker]

Hey, so long as you're having fun who cares what it's called, right? (Personally I'm of the opinion that when it's descendent of the original flight simulator, has 'simulator' in the name, and lets you adjust your prop pitch and speak to ATC, it's probably a simulator... But that's just me and apparently some people don't like accessible things or something, I don't know...)

[@roberthatcher2773]

@@BuildPicker 🙂

[@TraderTaurus]

Great Video, was thinking about getting back into gaming since i bought FSIM but realised i had no computer that could run it

[@Farmhand2k]

Good video. No one seems to cover this topic. I built my system in 2020 just for FS 2020...

[@JustinianGG]

It was a necessity to leave a comment. You examined, explained, analysed and gave recommendations. A proper "review". Fantastic! All information you'll ever need to build the PC yourself. I'll be watching it over and over. Well done and Thank you very much!

[@olegb5061]

Keep making these videos, you will get get more viewers and subscribers at some point, you definitely deserve it

[@BuildPicker]

Will do! A little busy with other projects right now but have more videos in the works!

[@weircottage]

Really helpful as XBox X is great but limiting especially wanting VR

[@themcp]

Top notch advice, advice I wish I'd seen sooner.

[@Steve-fe8gj]

Great video…..I need this guy on speed dial for the rebuild of my flight sim PC!

[@BuildPicker]

You can always message or drop us an email at buildpicker.com!

[@thomas1699]

I have an Acer Predator Helios 300, (yes, laptop) but it is well "specced", with 11th Gen i-7, NVIDIA 3070, 8 GB VRAM, 32 GB of DDR4-3200. I expect I will use an external Monitor, but my Screen is 165 HTZ, QHD, as well. Well done. What a lot of time and research dedicated to this project. Thanks again. Well done.

[@badgersky1231]

I very rarely write YT comments, but this video is very informative, well researched and just excellent. Thanks!

[@BuildPicker]

Glad you liked it!

[@michaelmcconnell7302]

very informative thank you

[@throttlehappy105]

Awesome work!!! We need that VR video!!!

[@JoshKoch]

This was incredibly helpful

[@MikeJ.767]

This is outstanding! Thank you so much! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@tgn2502]

Thanks for your humble and great work :)

[@motoacker]

Amazing job on the video!

[@davidli8540]

Thank you for creating such amazing review !

[@Jebusite100]

Thank you for this, I want to build a PC for this game.

[@Piotr_Majchrzak]

Very helpful and interesting video, thanks for your work. What a confuse indeed in SSD section. Probably Direct Storage will change something in that matter.

[@LucasVitorFonseca]

Thank you. That was helpful!

[@FlightSims]

Wow 🤩. New sub here. I hope you are remunerated for your hard work! That was the best breakdown and presentation on hardware with MSFS I’ve ever watched. Thank you 🙏. FYI, my system 32GB ddr4@3200, 8700k cpu @4.8 and 3080ti undervolted I’m getting a good 40-60 fps in both screen and vr settings. Screen at max insim settings, vr at mid to high settings with my HP g2. Very happy with that on wide screen tho I’m thinking about upgrading my cpu. Thanks again!

[@BuildPicker]

The 8700K was always a strong performer and it's holding it's own! I'd hold off a CPU upgrade until we've seen what intel 13thgen and Zen 4 from AMD can do!

[@scottbirkinshaw2009]

God bless you, bro. I am gonna build a setup for my dad so he can flight sim it up and this will be helpful for sure.

[@BuildPicker]

Thanks for the feedback - we recommend checking buildpicker for the latest parts list for our MSFS builds! Let me know how you get on :)

[@abre6532]

Thank you for your hardwork.

[@martinscholl6512]

EXCELLENT Channel. Good information. Thanks a lot.

[@RodVerkoeyen]

Excellent video ! Thank you

[@0000123452]

Really great! Thank you!

[@mystic8260]

Hands down one of the most comprehensive, informative and useful 'benchmarking' exercise I've come across on the internet...and I'm in my mid-40s and have been gaming since I was 8. Traditional benchmarks just compare a component but never actually bother doing some actual work! You got a new subscriber and look forward to more 'game' focused benchmarks :) I have read that the 5800x 3d gives an enormous boost in performance, but at 1080p and matched with a 3090 or 3090ti. Honestly, to me, that is more marketing material as I don't see how anyone would biuy a 3090 to play MSFS at 1080p. The gains at 4k are much less, if any. I do have a question regarding one aspect of the GPU analysis which i don't think I've come across - GPU utilisation. I have a 5900x with a 3090 and 32Gb 3600 CL 18 RAM. I game at 3840 x 1600 (38" ultra wide) at all setting maxed out, including LOD at 400. I tried the flight over manhattan several times and my fps does vary and averages about 30, with 40 fps at most. One issue i have noticed (anywhere i fly) is that GPU utilisation is never maxed (unlike what i see from benchmarks). It always hovers at around 60%, sometimes even dropping to 40%. Did you notice any similar behaviour in your benchmarks, esp with the Ryzen CPUs? and would you be able to explain it because i can't. I noticed that if i reduce the LOD, the GPU utilisation improves but the only way to really max out the GPU utilisation is to increase scaling (yep...increase), with fps remaining the same, until i hit 100%. After that, fps drop even further. What do you think is holding my GPU back given the resolution? Thanks

[@BuildPicker]

Hi, glad you found it useful. Your gpu utilisation is easily explained: something else is limiting frame rate, in this case CPU! LOD isn't a graphics setting... Ok, it is, but it actually loads the CPU disproportionately to the GPU. The CPU has to generate all that detail to pass to gpu for render. Basically the GPU is having an easy time of it because you've loaded up your CPU to the point that it can only deliver 30-40FPS. Your experience of increasing render scaling is consistent with this: you're just getting the gpu to render more pixels before downsampling increasing the load on it. If you want more fps, reduce LOD settings to lift CPU performancs. If you need LOD at 400, then that's your limit! Could try 300? Performance uplift should be marked. This ties in with your point re 1080p testing, that's precisely why we run that res with a powerful gpu, to keep gpu utilisation low and expose CPU limitations. We're actually more interested in the CPU performance at its worst (those 0.1% and 1% lows) than average fps, because the higher we lift the floor of performance, the less stutter and hangs we experience.

[@mystic8260]

@@BuildPicker THank you for your feedback. My conclusions was also CPU limitations but gaming at such a high resolution (almost 4k) at ultra, I wouldn't have expected the 'mighty' 5900x to still hold a 3090 back...But how do you explain other benchmarks, with 5900x, who seem to max out the GPU then?

[@ShawnHinck]

Something I think that’s going on with load times has to do with internet. I live in a rural area and I saw my load times being at slow as hell on an nvme due to 2mb/s DSL. Once starlink came in load times shrunk significantly. Awesome video

[@PSYCHOPATHiO]

When you're done testing, send me all the hardware I need to do my own testing to confirm "wink wink" lol amazing work.

[@spinnetti]

Great info, thanks!

[@mughug9616]

Running MSFS 2020 under DirectX 12 all the time now. Giving better and more consistent results than DX11, in all areas. The system is a mix of a Mid/High spec system. MSFS 2020 is a weird beast and for some reason pushing the settings load on the video card (RX 6700 XT) seems to help it perform better overall. Although the system and the Internet connection exceed the requirements, disabling Photogrammetry under the DATA page really helps and does not spoil the look of the scenery too much.

[@user-yq5od9uj3f]

Very helpful video. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Have you made a video on picking the best flight sim components (ie: yoke, stick, pedals, etc.) And have you made one for the best monitors for MSFS. I wonder how much these recommendations will change with MSFS 2024 coming out soon.

[@pepvert]

Thanks for the insights!!!!

[@kattan2006]

Great analysis indeed. It would be nice and more helpful if you highlight the chart you are referring to during the talk.

[@morcheebix]

Thanks for the hard work.