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Best GPU for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – our top Nvidia and AMD picks

These GPUs can help you get the most out of the game.
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Best GPU for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – our top Nvidia and AMD picks
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Microsoft Flight Simulator has been around for decades, and this year, we're getting its latest iteration, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, which should bring with it improved performance and better graphics. However, better graphics and textures mean you'll need a good GPU if you plan on playing at higher resolutions and want good framerates.  

So, here at PC Guide, we've reviewed plenty of GPUs and selected a handful of them based on their price, features, and performance they showcased during our in-house testing. This enables us to gauge and showcase their real-world performance and only recommend the best. 

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That said, the recommended GPUs for MSFS 2024 are the RX 5700 XT and the RTX 2080, and our recommendations easily blow these out of the water. So, without further ado, let's get right to it.

Products at a glance

How we picked

We researched the market and found various options from Nvidia and AMD. We filtered those options based on their price, compatibility, performance, and other features, such as DLSS and FSR. 

In addition, we also conduct rigorous in-house testing of the cards. This gives us insight into how they'll perform across various scenarios, whether in gaming or professional tasks. We're always updating our list with the latest information, so if there are better pairings than these, we'll be sure to update them, so check back with us. If you're interested in learning about our testing process, head over to the PC Guide Testing lab for more details.

Our top picks

Best GPU for MSFS
01
  • ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 OC Edition Graphics Card
  • rog rtx 4070 Ti Super PCG
Highly Recommended
Specifications
  • GPU: AD103
  • CUDA Cores: 8,448
  • VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
  • Bandwidth: 672.3 GB/s
  • Memory bus width: 256-bit
  • Base clock speed: 2340 MHz
  • Boost clock speed: 2670 MHz
Reasons to Buy
  • Top overclock among custom models
  • Super cooling solution with good capacity
  • Smart looking – chic design
Reasons to Avoid
  • Hefty and large
  • Uses the 12VHPWR 16-pin power connector

For those wanting to roam the skies in high resolution and framerates in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, we recommend opting for the RTX 4070 Ti Super. We've tested this graphics card for our RTX 4070 Ti Super review, and it had excellent gaming and synthetic performance, making it a great option for work and play. 

This GPU has 8,448 CUDA cores, which are responsible for pulling all the heavy weight. Its base and boost clock speeds are 2340 and 2670 MHz, respectively. So, it has everything it needs to handle modern AAA titles and resource-intensive applications. 


That said, these clock speeds can be increased by overclocking the GPU, but remember that doing so will also ramp up its power draw and thermal output. In this case, we recommend using the best 140mm PC case fans to ensure adequate ventilation and the best PSU for 4070 Ti Super so that you have a good overhead for overclocking and stable power delivery. 

Ultimately, if you want a bit more edge than the original RTX 4070 Ti, better value, and higher framerates than a regular 4070 where smooth 4K gaming is far more feasible (and expected across many titles), then yes – the RTX 4070 Ti Super is worth it.

PC Guide

In addition, it has 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 256-bit memory bus width, which should ensure smooth processing regardless of the game you're playing. As for the Microsoft Flight Sim 2024, you should be able to ramp the in-game settings to the max without running out of memory or the GPU struggling to render the textures or frames. 

The variant we reviewed was the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super OC, which measures 13.22 x 5.9 x 2.48 inches or 336 x 150 x 63 mm. So, it isn't a small card by any means, and we recommend checking the space inside your case based on these measurements to see if it fits. If you're looking to upgrade your casing for this GPU, we’ve got you covered with the best case for RTX 4070 Ti Super

Our GPU test bench comprises the Ryzen 9 7950X and the ROG X670E Hero motherboard. We mounted the RTX 4070 Ti Super and ran a couple of games at varying resolutions. Assassin's Creed Mirage hit 84 FPS at 4K, while Cyberpunk 2077 saw 44 FPS without enabling DLSS 3. Shooters like Rainbow Six Siege and CS2 saw 151 and 160+ FPS, respectively. 

So, this card can push 4K, but you might have to leverage DLSS 3 if the title is too graphically demanding, which might be the case for Microsoft Flight Sim 2024. However, 1440p seems to be the sweet spot for this GPU as you can max out the in-game settings and, bring out its native potential, and take it to the next level by turning on DLSS 3. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this card has great performance, value for money, cooling, and aesthetics. One reviewer said: “I upgraded from 3060 to this 4070 Ti Super.. was hesitant due to some disparaging online reviews, but was very pleasantly surprised. Yes, a bit pricey… However, nowhere near what you’d spend on a 4080 or 4090.. and I haven’t had a single issue with performance, heat, anything. Worth every cent.”

Best high-end GPU for MSFS 2024
02
  • RTX 4080 Super review for PC Guide
  • Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super graphics card with box and accessories displayed on a desk with colorful PC hardware in the background.
  • Gigabyte geforce rtx 4080 super, the best GPU for Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X
  • Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super
Highly Recommended
Specifications
  • GPU: AD103
  • CUDA Cores: 10,240
  • VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
  • Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
  • Memory bus width: 256-bit
  • Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
Reasons to Buy
  • A true beast for 4K gaming
  • Slightly improved performance
  • $200 / £180 cheaper than base model
Reasons to Avoid
  • $999 / £959 still isn't cheap
  • It is a big card that requires plenty of space inside the PC case

If you want the best performance with Ray Tracing enabled, we recommend the RTX 4080 Super. This GPU has widely replaced the RTX 4080 with its better hardware and lower cost, which gives it better value. We also tested and reviewed it in-house, and it had excellent 4K performance natively in demanding AAA titles.

To begin with, this GPU has 10,240 CUDA cores, 512 more than the RTX 4080. The variant that we reviewed, the Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super Windforce V2, has a boost and base clock speed of 2,550 and 2295 MHz, respectively. This means that each CUDA core can handle 2.5 billion instructions per clock cycle, and while it may seem slow compared to CPUs, GPUs handle massive amounts of data in parallel as opposed to processors.

In addition, it has 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 256-bit memory interface width, meaning that you should be able to max out the in-game settings without running out of memory or running into bottleneck issues. In addition, the 736.3 GB/s bandwidth should be plenty to accommodate clusters of data, resulting in good efficiency and performance in games and other tasks.

The RTX 4080 Super effectively erases any reason to go out and buy the original RTX 4080 with slightly increased performance and a much more palatable price point. It delivers across the board in terms of high-end gaming performance in 1440p and 4K while being just as powerful for content creators, too.

PC Guide

Regarding its gaming performance, we ran a couple of games at different resolutions to see how this graphics card handles them, and it didn’t even break a sweat. It managed 125 and 51 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p and 4K, respectively, without enabling DLSS. Besides that, it delivered 95 FPS at 4K in Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, so it is more than capable of handling graphically demanding titles, and with DLSS 3, these results should be even better.

So with the RTX 4080 Super, you should be able to enjoy flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at 4K, and with DLSS 3, get great framerates to ensure a smooth gaming experience. That being said, Nvidia GPUs also have better Ray Tracing performance compared to AMD cards to which is also a plus if you were looking to enjoy serene visuals from 30,000ft.

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this GPU has great performance and low noise levels. One reviewer said: “This thing never makes a noise and no coil wine at all! Great performance and super happy with this purchase.”

Best AMD GPU for MSFS
03
  • Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics card in packaging, image by PCGuide
  • RX 7900 XT price drop makes Nvidia's newer Super GPUs look bad
  • AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT graphics card
Excellent
Specifications
  • Bandwidth: 800 GB/sec
  • TDP: 300 W
Reasons to Buy
  • Strong pricing
  • Excellent gaming performance
  • Tons of VRAM
Reasons to Avoid
  • Power users will want the XTX
  • Slower GDDR6 memory

If you lean toward Team Red, we recommend the RX 7900 XT. It is the second-best GPU from AMD, can push 4K, and costs significantly less than the RTX 4090. We've also reviewed the RX 7900 XT in-house, and its performance is simply amazing. 

The best aspect of this GPU is its value and performance at a comparatively low price point. For reference, the RTX 4080 Super costs $1,000, while the RTX 4090 can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500, depending on the third-party variant.  

On the other hand, the RX 7900 XT, particularly the Sapphire Pulse variant, as we reviewed, costs $734.84 at the time of writing. On top of that, with Black Friday around the corner, you might see good discounts on the Black Friday GPU and AMD deals

That said, this GPU’s performance is courtesy of its 5,376 stream processors, which have base and boost clock speeds of 1,387 and 2,500 MHz, respectively. In addition, it features 20GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 320-bit memory interface width, meaning it has everything you'll need to run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at high resolutions without running into performance issues. 

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT's new price point and powerful performance put it firmly in competition with some of Nvidia's best mid-range GPUs, and its large memory pool ensures it will be futureproofed for many years to come.

PC Guide

If you're wondering why this GPU has GDDR6 instead of GDDR6X, the reason is that the latter consumes more power, and AMD went with the former to keep the GPU energy efficient. That said, it has a TDP of 300W, while the RTX 4080 and the Super variant have a 320W power draw. 

So, if you plan on overclocking this GPU, we recommend using the best PSU for RX 7900 XT so that you can easily turn it without worrying about the overhead and get stable and efficient power delivery. 

Regarding its performance, we ran a couple of games at 4K and 1440p, and it was able to blow through all of them without breaking a sweat. In Cyberpunk 2077, it managed 62 and 119 FPS at 4K and 1440p, while Doom Eternal and AC Valhalla saw 195 and 349 and 90 and 145 FPS, respectively, in the same resolutions. 

What makes this more impressive is that it was done without leveraging any frame generation or upscaling technologies like FSR, meaning you can take the in-game performance to the next level. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this graphics card has excellent performance, build quality, and thermal design. One reviewer said: “Will run 4k at 60+fps. I have been using it mostly for 1440p ultrawide though and have had no issue getting 144+fps on max settings on 99% of games. (monitor set to 144hz, could go much higher on most games). Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing on gives me about 70-90fps but it’s also very smooth. Without ray tracing I’m more around 140fps, and I’m sure giving me much more in certain environments.”

Best budget GPU for MSFS
04
  • RTX 4060 and packaging
  • RTX 4060 vertical
  • ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4060
Specifications
  • GPU: AD107 die
  • CUDA cores: 3,072
  • VRAM: 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
  • Bandwidth: 272 GB/s
  • Memory bus width: 128-bit memory bus
  • Base clock speed: 1830 MHz
  • Boost clock speed: 2670 MHz
Reasons to Buy
  • Great in 1080p
  • Better value than RX 7600
  • DLSS 3 Frame Generation
Reasons to Avoid
  • Not the card for 4K gaming
  • Some AIBs are overpriced

For those operating on a budget, we recommend the RTX 4060, as it is an excellent GPU for 1080p and 1440p gaming. In our RTX 4060 review, it managed to 77 and 48 FPS at 1080p and 1440p in Cyberpunk 2077. So, pushing 4K isn't possible for this GPU, but that isn't surprising as it is an entry-level GPU. 

However, compared to the RTX 2080, which was a gaming beast in its time, it has better performance and costs less. You won't find a new RTX 2080, and according to Camelcamelcamel, the price of a new FE RTX 2080 is $442.78, while the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX™ 4060 OC, the variant we reviewed, costs $389.99. 

The Nvidia RTX 4060 is a solid video card for 1080p and 1440p gaming at a good price point. However, its value is ultimately going to depend on which partner variant you buy, as some have more aggressive price-to-performance ratios than others.

PC Guide

So, you're getting better performance at a low price. In addition, it can use DLSS 3, which can ramp up its gaming potential. The RTX 4060 features 3,072 CUDA cores, a base and boost clock speed of 1,830 MHz and 2,670 MHz, and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. 

This means that it has decent hardware powering it, and you can overclock it to squeeze every bit of performance out of it. That said, to check its real-world performance, we ran a handful of benchmarking software and games. In Fire Strike (DX11), it managed 27,265 points in graphics and 26,353 overall. 

So, while it might not be the most powerful GPU, it has decent performance given its price point and should be able to run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 at high settings. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this GPU has excellent value for money, gaming performance, and thermal design. One reviewer said: “The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition is an exceptional graphics card that offers a great balance of power and efficiency for gamers and creators alike. Equipped with 8GB GDDR6 memory and leveraging the latest technologies like PCIe 4.0 and DLSS 3, this card delivers outstanding graphics performance and smooth frame rates even in demanding games.”

Best CPU for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Most games are GPU-dependent, but Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) also relies on a fast CPU. To get a seamless gaming experience in MSFS 2024, we recommend pairing your GPU with some of the best gaming CPUs

Ryzen 7 9800X3D

  • AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D box front, Image by PC Guide
  • AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D tray and box, Image by PC Guide
  • AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D in front of box, Image by PC Guide
  • AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D pads, Image by PC Guide
  • AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D on top of box, Image by PC Guide
  • AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D pads on box, Image by PC Guide
Outstanding
Specifications
  • Cores: 8
  • Threads: 16
  • Boost clock speed: 5.2GHz
  • Base clock speed: 4.7GHz
  • L3 cache: 96MB
  • TDP: 120W
  • Platform: AM5
Reasons to Buy
  • Incredible gaming performance
  • Now capable of being overclocked
Reasons to Avoid
  • Still falls behind in some multi-core tasks

Our top recommendation is obviously the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as it is the best gaming processor and can keep up with budget and high-end GPUs, ensuring that the CPU doesn't limit your GPU. 

We've also tested and reviewed the 9800X3D, and its performance is incredible. It was able to churn out 334 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p low resolution paired with an RTX 4070 Ti. That said, you can't go wrong with this CPU, which has 8-core, 16-threads, and the massive 96MB L3 cache should ensure good 1% lows in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.   

In addition to this processor, you can go for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Ryzen 7 9700X, Intel Core i7-13700K, or the new flagship processors, which have good multi-threaded performance and can keep up with the GPU at low resolutions.  

How to choose the best GPU for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Modern AAA titles like the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 require powerful GPUs if you want to play them at high resolutions and good framerates. However, that doesn't mean that you throw top dollar at the first GPU you see. 

There are  many variables that need to be considered before purchasing a GPU, and we've listed a couple of factors that should help you make an informed decision.

Budget

The first and most important aspect you need to consider is your budget and what it allows you to purchase. To avoid overspending, it is best to filter the available options based on your budget and then choose one that offers a good balance between performance and value. 

It is easy to spend more on GPUs when you look at the performance difference, and adding in a bit of extra money gets you. However, that can't impact your overall budget and cut into the funds for other products. However, even budget options like the RTX 4060 can outperform the recommended GPUs for Microsoft Flight Sim 2024.  

Usage 

If you only want a GPU that can run Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 at a high resolution and good graphics, then you can opt for a mid-range GPU that will provide good performance and value, especially in gaming. 
However, if you also work on the same rig and have resource-intensive tasks like 3D modeling, editing, and rendering to take care of, it'd be good to invest in a high-end GPU like the RX 7900 XT or RTX 4080 for excellent productivity and gaming output.

About the Author

Ussamah works as a content writer and editor at BGFG. He is experienced in tech, hardware, gaming, and marketing.