May want to put some coffee on for this one…
Sounds like you’re actually going to be a very light user, which is a good thing for your budget, but will still be a challenge. I tried looking at eBay options for here and wasn’t finding much at $375 (US), but options open up more if able to stretch the budget to $400 or better. So here’s a quick rundown of how to understand specs.
Intel: i3, i5, i7, i9 is the series of CPU in a given generation, which are further defined by the product number. Think of it like a car manufacturer that has multiple models, and those models further defined by the trim level. Example: i5-12600k. i5 is a mid range line and indicates core count. 12 means it’s twelfth generation (late 2021). 600 describes where the clock speeds lie for that line, but is NOT a direct indicator of the speeds (I.e. Not 6.00 GHz or anything like that). K means it’s unlocked for overclocking. No K suffix means you can’t overclock. They normally have integrated graphics, but an F suffix means no integrated graphics. S means a specially binned higher performing version that’s generally a waste of money. The i5-xx600k of 10th gen and above are likely your best bets for a value CPU. Maybe even a 9th gen.
AMD: I’m not as familiar with their naming because I’m a recent convert to them, but they are known for being better values. The first number in the model indicates the generation and the last 3 the relative spec. An X suffix means it’s a higher performing version of the CPU. X3D means it has a special cache layout on the CPU that significantly boosts gaming performance despite a slightly lower core speed and not overclock capable. They normally don’t have integrated graphics, but a G suffix means it does, and the newest 7000 series has integrated graphics by default without a G suffix. A 3600x or 5600x and above should do ok in your use case.
It’s worth noting that the sim primarily uses one or two cores. That means you should focus on single core speed more than core count in a given generation of CPU. You’ll need a dedicated graphics card for the sim, but a CPU with integrated graphics comes in handy in case of troubleshooting video output or your GPU outright dies. Now for GPU’s.
Nvidia: GTX is an older card type that are almost useless for the sim these days unless you get something like a 1080 Ti (Ti being a higher spec version of a card). RTX are newer GPU’s where real time ray tracing was added, but it’s worth noting ray tracing is extremely resource intensive and not worth trying on their cheaper cards, and the current version of the sim doesn’t offer it anyway. Their cards use a 4 digit naming. The first two are the generation, and the last two are the relative performance of that generation. That means an older card like the 2080 could perform on par or sometimes better than a newer 3060. The xx60 series cards are generally considered mid range gaming cards. The lower series cards are often not a good value unless they are dirt cheap. Nvidia has also been know to play games with their naming to trick customers into thinking they are getting something better than they are, so pay attention to their reviews and benchmarks.
AMD: Their cards all start with RX (also a ray tracing indicator) and a 3 or 4 digit model name. You’ll want to go with an upper 5000 series or above. XT will be their higher spec suffix, so something like a 5700xt would be about the minimum I’d go with. My last card was a 6600xt and it worked very well at 1440p at a mix of mid and high graphics settings (the sim is very tunable). It would be a pretty cheap card on the used market today, so it’s one I can personally recommend for a budget build.
RAM: You’ll want at least 16 GB. If buying a used system, make sure it has 2 sticks. On a Windows pc, they use dual channel memory, so you get more performance out of 2x8 GB sticks than a single 16 GB stick. Most motherboards have 4 RAM slots, but using those can make things unstable or require using slower memory speeds. It can serve a purpose in production workloads, but useless and possible hurtful in gaming. Try to shoot for at least 3000MHz speeds or higher.
Storage: A solid state drive (m.2 or 2.5" ssd) is a MUST. If only using one drive, try to get at least a 1TB drive because the sim is huge. It was well over 100 GB when I first got it several years ago, and all the updates have only increased it. If you plan to install other programs or get add-ons, then consider a small OS drive and 1TB or larger gaming/program drive.
Or do like @BegottenPoet228 suggested and get an Xbox Series S (not to be confused with the older Xbox One S) or Series X. It will have limitations on what it can do, but can’t deny the convenience of knowing it’s something that works and at least close to your budget. I have it on my Series X and it does fine for casual flying and for when my kids want to fly.
