Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: PC System Requirements & Best Hardware to Run It (2026)

Thinking about playing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PC and wondering what hardware you actually need? Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a simulation title that launched on November 19, 2024, and its published PC requirements are far more modest than its reputation suggests: the official minimum graphics card is a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 5700, and the recommended card is a GeForce RTX 2080 or Radeon RX 5700 XT. What really shapes the experience is the processor — flight simulation leans heavily on the CPU for aircraft systems, avionics, traffic, weather and flight physics — plus a broadband connection, because the sim streams much of its world data rather than storing it locally. This guide breaks down the official PC requirements for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the best GPU for each resolution, and complete build recommendations.

How Demanding Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 sits in an unusual place. On paper its GPU requirements are modest — a GeForce GTX 970 clears the minimum, and the recommended card is an RTX 2080 or RX 5700 XT, both of which are several generations old. But the sim is genuinely demanding on the processor and on your internet connection. Because it is a simulation rather than a fast-paced action game, it is built around steady, consistent performance rather than high frame rates, and the CPU load from avionics, AI traffic, live weather and physics does not shrink just because you lower the graphics settings. On the graphics side, a card around the official recommended level is a good match for 1080p and a sensible starting point for 1440p, while 4K asks for a modern mid-range or high-end GPU and usually some form of upscaling. Memory matters too: 16 GB is the official minimum, but 32 GB is what the developers recommend. Storage is the one place the sim is unusually light — only 50 GB is required, because the world is streamed rather than installed — though you will still want headroom for add-ons and rolling cache.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Official PC System Requirements

Source: the official Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Steam store listing (app 2537590), checked October 2026. Publishers can update these specs after patches.

Best GPU for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 by Resolution

1080p

The official minimum of a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 5700 is enough to get into Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at 1080p with settings reduced, and the recommended RTX 2080 / RX 5700 XT class is the comfortable spot at this resolution. If you are buying new, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 sits well above that recommended bar and gives you room to turn settings up, while cards such as the RTX 5060 or Radeon RX 9060 XT fill the same tier in the current generation. Older cards like the GTX 1660 Super or RTX 2060 clear the official minimum comfortably, though they remain a step below the recommended level.

1440p

At 1440p you are aiming above what the official recommendation targets, so a step up from the RTX 2080 / RX 5700 XT class is worthwhile. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER has plenty of headroom here and is a good match for the resolution with settings turned up; in the current generation, an RTX 5070 or Radeon RX 9070 occupies the same tier. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 benefits noticeably from upscaling at this resolution, so enabling DLSS on NVIDIA hardware or FSR on AMD hardware lets a mid-range card hold a steadier image.

4K

For 4K, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a sensible entry point and comfortably above anything the official requirements ask for, with an RTX 5080-class card or Radeon RX 9070 XT as the current-generation equivalent. Native 4K with everything maxed is a heavy load for any graphics card, so upscaling is the practical way to keep the image smooth. Bear in mind that at 4K the sim is frequently limited by the processor rather than the GPU, so a strong CPU matters as much as the graphics card here.

CPU, RAM and Storage for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

The official processor recommendation is an AMD Ryzen 7 2700X or Intel Core i7-10700K, with a Ryzen 5 2600X or Core i7-6800K as the minimum. Those are old parts, and because Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a simulation that keeps the CPU busy with avionics, traffic, weather and physics, the processor is usually the component that decides how smooth the experience feels. A modern six-core chip is a good baseline, and an eight-core part gives you more headroom. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is excellent value and comfortably ahead of the official recommendation, while the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the fastest mainstream gaming CPUs thanks to its large cache, which suits simulation workloads particularly well. Intel fans can opt for the Intel Core i5-14600K.

Memory is the one area where the sim asks for more than most games: 16 GB is the official minimum, but 32 GB is recommended, and pilots who fly with add-on aircraft and detailed scenery will appreciate the extra room. A 32 GB DDR5 kit such as the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB covers the recommended figure with space to spare. Storage is a pleasant surprise: the official requirement is only 50 GB, because the world is streamed rather than installed, so the sim does not demand the huge drive space many modern titles do. Even so, install it on an SSD — something like the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB NVMe SSD — to keep loading and scenery streaming responsive, and leave extra room for add-ons, downloaded content and the rolling cache.

Recommended PC Builds for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

1080p build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 + AMD Ryzen 5 7600 + 16 GB DDR5 — the GPU and CPU sit well above the official minimum, and the memory matches the official minimum figure, so this is a solid 1080p setup that you can top up to 32 GB later.

1440p sweet-spot build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + 2TB NVMe SSD — this covers the recommended 32 GB of memory and pairs a GPU and CPU far beyond the official recommendation, which is what you want if you fly at 1440p with settings turned up.

4K high-end build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER + AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D + 32 GB DDR5 + fast NVMe SSD — a 4K-oriented setup, where a strong CPU matters as much as the graphics card because the simulation itself is processor-bound.

Is It Worth Upgrading Your PC for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is not a game that forces a wholesale upgrade — the official minimum is a GeForce GTX 970 and 16 GB of RAM, hardware that is many years old. So the sensible question is which part of your PC is holding you back. If you are below the official minimum on graphics, a modern card is the most effective single upgrade, and something in the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT class takes you well past the recommended RTX 2080 / RX 5700 XT tier. If you already meet the GPU recommendation, look at the CPU first: this is a simulation that leans on the processor, and an older quad-core can hold back even a fast graphics card. Moving from 16 GB to 32 GB of RAM matches the developer recommendation and helps when flying with add-ons, and putting the sim on an SSD keeps streaming and loading smooth. Storage is the least of your worries — 50 GB is all the sim officially needs. Rather than replacing everything at once, target the weakest link in your build for the best value.

Can You Play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on a Laptop or Handheld?

A gaming laptop with a discrete GPU at or above the recommended RTX 2080 / RX 5700 XT tier can run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and modern laptop graphics such as the RTX 5060 or RTX 5070 mobile parts sit comfortably above that bar. Expect the usual laptop trade-offs — more heat, more fan noise and shorter battery life — and remember that flight simulation is CPU-heavy, so a laptop with a strong processor and 32 GB of memory will feel noticeably better than one with only a good graphics card. On handhelds such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a difficult fit: the simulation is processor-bound and the game expects a broadband connection for streaming world data, so expect to run it with reduced settings and upscaling, and a desktop or laptop is the better choice if the sim is a priority. If you do go portable, pick a device with a capable GPU, plenty of RAM and fast internal storage.

How to Boost FPS in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

If frame rates are lower than you would like, start with upscaling — DLSS on NVIDIA hardware or FSR on AMD hardware — which is usually the single biggest performance gain, and enable frame generation if your graphics card supports it. After that, remember that the processor is often the limit in this sim, so reducing the settings that add CPU work, such as traffic density and world detail, can help more than lowering resolution. Keep your GPU drivers up to date, close background apps, and make sure the game is installed on an SSD. A stable, consistent frame rate feels much better in a flight sim than a higher average with stutter, so aim for smoothness rather than maxed-out visuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

The official minimum is a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 5700 graphics card, an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Intel Core i7-6800K processor, 16 GB of RAM and Windows 10 with DirectX 12, along with a broadband connection. If your PC meets that, it can run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. For the recommended experience — a Ryzen 7 2700X or Core i7-10700K, 32 GB of RAM and an RTX 2080 or RX 5700 XT — you get considerably more headroom for higher resolutions and settings.

Is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 demanding on PC?

It depends on the component. The published GPU requirements are modest by modern standards — a GTX 970 is the minimum and an RTX 2080 is recommended — and the sim needs only 50 GB of storage because it streams the world. What it does demand is a capable processor, since simulation work such as avionics, traffic and weather runs on the CPU, plus 32 GB of RAM at the recommended level and a broadband internet connection of at least 10 Mbps, or 50 Mbps as recommended.

What GPU do I need for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at 1440p?

Officially the recommended card is a GeForce RTX 2080 or Radeon RX 5700 XT, and that class is a reasonable starting point for 1440p. A NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER, or a current-generation equivalent such as the RTX 5070 or RX 9070, gives you a lot more headroom at that resolution, particularly with upscaling enabled.

How much RAM does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 need?

16 GB is the official minimum and 32 GB is recommended. Because the sim keeps a lot of world and aircraft data in memory, 32 GB is the figure to aim for if you fly with add-ons or detailed scenery, and it matches what the developers list as the recommended configuration.

Do I need an SSD for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

The official requirement is 50 GB of available space, which is small for a modern title because the world is streamed rather than stored on your drive. An SSD is still strongly recommended — an NVMe drive like the Samsung 990 Pro keeps loading and scenery streaming responsive — and it is worth leaving extra room for add-ons, downloaded content and the rolling cache.