New High End Computer, Awful Stuttering at certain airports - help / advice wanted [MSFS2020]

User Support Hub Install, Performance & Graphics
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1

Evening all,

I recently got a new build desktop computer ( a week and a half ago) and reinstalled MSFS, along with a select few addons:

PMDG Products (777/737)

Inibuilds A350

Inibuilds JFK, Drzweicki EWR

Aerosoft A340

Flybywire A380

AerotuneMFS (pro version)

FSLTL Traffic Injector.

My desktop is pretty high end, running the following specs:

RTX 5080 16GB (ASUS)

Ryzen 9900x3d

64GB RAM DDR5 6000MT/s Kingston FURY RGB

2 1TB Samsung 990 Pro

1000w PSU

I have MSFS on the following settings, and in general when in the air, flying, or pretty much 90% of the locations around the world i have tested in using MSFS default scenery (besides what I installed) am getting 75-120fps. I am not running in 4K, using a 100hz LG Monitor, 1080p.

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My issue is when flying into New York, JFK, EWR, SFO, or any major city with a ton of buildings/traffic, especially with FSLTL on (even though I have it limited to 50 aircraft, 30mi radius)

I get major, major stuttering and loss of FPS, to the point that the game is unplayable. This happens in the Inibuilds A350, PMDG 777, FlyByWire A380 to different degrees.

For eg, on my latest flight, RKSI - KJFK, going into JFK I went from ~80-100fps at TOD, to 30-60fps while approaching NYC, and then 20-40fps over NYC with major stuttering even with AeroTune on, and the entire final, 5-29fps into JFK with major stuttering.

Turning off FSLTL improved conditions a bit, but the stuttering was still unbearable.

I think that the answer lies in my NVIDIA or MSFS settings, but I do not know enough to change things for the better and would love some advice. I have the latest NVIDIA game ready drivers shipped with the build.

FYI - temps are no issue, with the GPU and CPU hovering 45-70C during the gaming, and GPU/CPU utilization hovering 20-35%.

Any advice wanted, since I think I can optimize this further. I am not asking for 100fps at JFK, or EWR, I am happy with 30-40, I just want to reduce or get rid of the stuttering.

3
  1. What is your Motherboard?
  2. Is your RAM on your motherboard’s compatible list?
  3. Have you enabled EXPO (Assuming RAM on MB QVL list, EXPO allows MB to read the timings from the RAM, and run at the advertized speed, this by itself improves performance)
  4. Have you enabled PBO? (this allows CPU to use its boost clock)
  5. Have you applied any undervolting (aka Curve Optimizer, easy to do for AMD, reduces heat and makes some extra room for boost clock)
  6. Your Max Frame Rate is equal to Monitor Refresh … what is your Monitor Refresh rate (either in Windows > Settings > Display > Advanced, or in NVIDIA?

I’m on MSFS 2024, but I target 60 FPS, with Max Frame Rate 30 + Frame Gen x2.

You might try reducing the Terrain Precaching by 1 level, and reduce OLOD (which are objects like at airports.

4

Because it looks better ?

5

Please provide your full hardware configuration, because just listing the graphics card model and CPU is not enough to diagnose the issue.

Also make sure your system is fully up to date - check Windows Update and install all available updates until there is nothing left to install.

Then follow the instructions below in exactly the same order they are listed.

1 Disable fast startup

2 Disable Hibernation.

Restart PC

1 Enable the ultimate performance powerplan.

2 Select ultimate performace powerplan and click change plan settings > change advanced power settings
3 Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend settings > disabled > apply > ok

Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power for USB
4 Right-click “start” > device manager
5 Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers
6 Right-click generic usb hub > properties > power management tab
7 Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power > ok

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Repeat if there are multiple USB Hub.

Restart PC.

  • Go to Windows Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
    Next to “Choose a refresh rate” set it to the highest Hz your monitor supports.

  • Go to Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics. Click “Add Microsoft Store app” then select Microsoft Flight Simulator from the list. Click on Microsoft Flight Simulator to open it and expand the options, then set GPU preference to High performance (NVIDIA RTX 5080).

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If you write your full PC configuration, I can give you more detailed suggestions.

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I will upgrade to MSFS2024 when PMDG 747 comes out. I do not need it right now, everything I have works on 2020.

7

Hi @TenPatrol thanks for the extensive advice. I will try this all later.

Here is the full system:

Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D (12-Core) 5.5 GHz Turbo (3D V-Cache) (Zen 5)
Motherboard: MSI PRO X870E-P (Wi-Fi) (AMD X870E) (Up to 3x PCI-E Devices) (DDR5)
System Memory: 64GB DDR5 6000MT/s Kingston FURY RGB
Graphics Card(s): 1x GeForce RTX 5080 16GB (VR Ready) (ASUS)
Power Supply: 1000W Digital Storm Performance Series (Semi-Modular) (80 Plus Gold)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD M.2 (1TB Samsung 990 PRO) (NVM Express)
Storage Set 2: 1x SSD M.2 (1TB Samsung 990 PRO) (NVM Express)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Cooling: H20: Stage 3: TRYX Panorama SE 360 Liquid CPU Cooler (Triple Fan) (Fully Sealed + No Maintenance)
Chassis Fans: Digital Storm Performance Series - CoolerMaster (2 x back, 3 x front)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home (64-Bit)
Recovery Tools: USB Drive - Windows Installation (Format and Clean Install)
Virus Protection: Windows Defender Antivirus (Built-in to Windows)

Some replies:

  1. Hibernation is already disabled
  2. Ultimate power performance is already enabled
  3. USB Selected Suspend settings already disabled
  4. Refresh rate set to highest the monitor supports already
  5. Already have GPU set to NVIDIA in settings

Thanks!

8

@GimbalAxis See full specs I replied to @TenPatrol for the mobo.

RAM is compatible.

I will check those other things, DigitalStorm optimized and overclocked the CPU a bit, I can look at PBO, etc.

Will look at the terrain precaching too, and OLOD. thanks!

9

But you were complaining about poor performance in MSFS 2020. Switching to MSFS 2024 might solve that, because it performs much better on high-end hardware.

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Make sure you save those BIOS settings and name the profile DigitalStorm. This is really important, because if you start changing anything later, you’ll be able to quickly restore everything to this exact working setup.

Save this profile directly in the BIOS settings.

After that, take screenshots of BIOS settings. You can save those screenshots to a connected USB drive - MSI motherboards allow taking screenshots directly inside the BIOS and storing them on a flash drive.

Also keep in mind that the default key for taking screenshots in the BIOS is F12.

EDIT

Please include the screenshots in your reply after taking them.
This way everything is documented and others can help if needed.

12

Hi @TenPatrol see screenshots from my BIOS.

I did get a new monitor tonight, my brothers Samsung, specs are:

Display settings:

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BIOS screenshots incoming.

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@TenPatrol here are BIOS screenshots. I have a profile saved with DigitalStorm.

I just tried turning on CPU creation boost from BIOS, which was off.

MSISystem Status2026-06-15-23-16-21
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MSISystem Status2026-06-15-23-16-31
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MSIEZ Mode2026-06-15-23-15-42
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MSIOverclocking2026-06-15-23-16-49
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MSIOverclocking2026-06-15-23-17-02
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MSIOverclocking2026-06-15-23-17-11
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MSIOverclocking2026-06-15-23-17-20
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14

You weren’t asking me, but in your shoes I would suggest the following:

  1. Be comfortable resetting BIOS (either via the CMOS button on the board, or in BIOS > Save & Exit > Restore Defaults.)
  2. … Be aware resetting BIOS may affect Windows sign-in PIN, so…
  3. … If you use Windows 11 with a HELLO PIN to log in to your PC, first go to Settings > Accounts > Sign in Options > and in the Additional Settings section, turn off “For improved security only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device”. This will make sure you can still sign in with your account password and/or reset your PIN
  4. OH… and check to see if any of your fans are controlled by BIOS settings? I believe you would check the Hardware Monitor (2nd Icon across the top). If so, you’ll want to screen shot that in case you reset BIOS and need to set that up again.

Looking at your settings, I would suggest:

Do you have the latest AMD Chipset Driver? You can check the version in Windows > Settings > Apps > AMD Chipset Software. The latest from AMD is 8.05.04.516, and the latest AMD installer for X870 can be downloaded here

Memory timings yield the greatest benefit for MSFS:

  1. Turn off the Creation Boost … and assuming the rest of your BIOS is default…
  2. On the Overclocking page > EXPO > you have Profile 1, good.
  3. Since it is 6000 MT/s, on the same page, set FCLK Frequency: 2000 MHz
  4. set UCLK DIV1 MODE to: UCLK = MEMCLK
  5. set High-Efficiency Mode to: Enabled
  6. A new option will appear: Memory Timing Preset, with 4 choices, I suggest trying the “Relax” one… this is a 5-10% boost for MSFS, assuming your RAM is stable with this on.

Enable PBO, which allows your CPU to boost when it wants to, keeping it safe within the AMD thermal, power, and current limits), and applying a slight undervolt lowers temperature and makes headroom for it to do its thing:

  1. Click on Overclocking on the Left
  2. … Advanced CPU Configuration
  3. … AMD Overclocking
  4. … Precision Boost Overdrive
  5. … Set PBO = Advanced, and more options appear:
  6. … Curve Optimizer
  7. … Since you have 9900X3D with 2 CCDs, choose Per CCD
  8. … I would set both of the CCDs to the same settings to start:
  9. … Sign: Negative
  10. … Magnitude: 10 … you can also try 15

Save, exit, reboot, and test with Cinebench.

15

Did DigitalStorm install any sort of hardware monitoring, or AV (beyond Win Defender) or diagnostic software on this machine? It could be that under less impactful situations the machine can handle it no problem, but when you hit a heavy-load scenario like final approach, it bogs it down.

16

Wow, you know the expression “it ain’t brain surgery” ? The amount of tweaking that people are suggesting definitely sounds like brain surgery!

I don’t understand why you would have this problem with your rig. It has to be something else going on. Maybe one of your add-ons? Does this happen with your community folder empty? I run 2020 with an AMD 9070x GPU and a comparable quality CPU, also AMD. I have 32 MB of ram. Most of my settings are on Ultra . The only thing I do with my adrenaline software is limit my frames to 60 and use lossless scaling to double them. I don’t think that the AMD frame generation works out great with 20/20 so I don’t mess with any of that . I have a 32" monitor on 3440 by 1440. I get almost no stuttering 98% of the time with PMDG 737 and several payware biz jets, including airport addons. With The Airliner at a major airport like JFK I will a bit of a drop in frame rate, (30/60) and stuttering very very rarely but that’s the only time I can say I see any. So the first thing I would do is empty the community folder or use an add-on Linker program with some type to get everything out of your community folder and add it back in one of the time and see if that helps. That may seem like a simplistic answer but I don’t think all that tweaking should be necessary unless you are running 4k, didn’t have the good system that you do have, or using multiple high rez monitors. ( I have a second monitor but it is at 1080 since I never use it for the actual Sim.)

Oh, and definitely make sure you have the latest drivers for your motherboard, as others may have already said!

17

To be fair, what I posted is really 3 settings, fairly simple, and almost universally beneficial for MSFS:

  • EXPO allows RAM to run at its advertised speed, but the MSI board has some additional presets for memory subtimings which give a 5-10% real improvement, worth trying
  • PBO allows AMD CPUs to use their boost clock
  • A slight undervolt greatly reduces temps, making thermal headroom for sustained boost clock.

It seems like a lot, but the concepts are straightforward and well-known and tested, and since the OP was experiencing stutters at airports, the gain may be meaningful.

18

I am not a PC tech, so, it is safe to ignore what I am talking about here:)

  1. Researching about CPUs I came once through this at 11:33

He recommends to use Balanced power plan for CPUs like yours. For any multi-CCD X3D processor (like your 9900X3D or 7900X3D/7950X3D), enabling the Ultimate or High Performance power plan ruins gaming performance.

  • The Problem: Your 9900X3D has two physical chiplets (CCDs) inside. One chiplet houses the ultra-fast 3D V-Cache (perfect for flight simulation). The second chiplet handles high frequency but lacks the special cache. When you select “Ultimate Performance,” Windows forces both chiplets to stay wide awake and distributes game threads evenly across them. MSFS threads end up bouncing between the 3D V-Cache cores and non-cache cores, resulting in catastrophic stuttering. [1, 2]
  1. Did you fix AMD Core Parking & Windows Game Bar Configuration?

Since your PC was freshly custom-built, Windows 11 often fails to recognize MSFS 2020 as a video game, meaning it refuses to engage core parking. [1]

  1. Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator and load into the main menu.
  2. Press Windows Key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar overlay.
  3. Click the Settings (Gear Icon) on the top bar.
  4. Under the General tab, check the box that says “Remember this is a game”.
  5. Restart your PC. This forces Windows to park the 9900X3D’s standard cores and lock MSFS strictly onto the 3D V-Cache cores.

A question, If you look at the in-game developer mode frame rate counter (Options > General Options > Developers > Turn On), does the warning box say Limited by MainThread or Limited by GPU?

19

Just from those few screenshots, I can already see that the BIOS was configured incorrectly. That honestly makes me a bit sad, considering they probably have a lot of customers.

First, Fan Fail Warning should be enabled (in the EZ Mode settings).
Second, Latency Killer should be disabled (in the Overclocking tab).

Could you also provide screenshots of the following BIOS sections?

Advanced:

  • ACPI settings
  • Integrated Graphics Configuration
  • USB Configuration
  • Power Management Setup

Overclocking tab:

  • Digital Power

Advanced CPU Configuration
AMD Overclocking
Precision Boost Overdrive
Curve Optimizer

Any BIOS changes will only be useful if you also provide the screenshots I asked for. Otherwise we won’t be able to tell what DigitalStorm originally set and what you may have changed.

If you’ve already made some changes, that’s fine, but it will make it harder to compare and diagnose the original configuration.

For now, please wait with any further BIOS changes until I reply.

EDIT

In my suggestions I haven’t actually recommended making any BIOS changes yet - so if you’ve already done so, that’s not ideal.

A properly working PC isn’t just about BIOS settings, which is why I started with system-level tweaks first and we still haven’t finished that part. Settings shouldn’t be changed all at once; it needs to be done step by step.

If we move on to the next steps and you’ve already changed BIOS settings in the meantime, it may become unclear whether any improvement or issue is coming from BIOS or from the system-side adjustment.

20

Thank you for all the recs, I am busy with work today so did not get to try but hopefully can tomorrow or the next day, and will lyk how it helps.

The only change i made was creation boost, which I can turn off no problem.

21

Will check out the drivers, I think everything is up to date, but will double check

thanks and will try all of this other stuff too!