My several years old Win 10 laptop won’t run MSFS 2020. What specs do I need to get (Win 11 of course) to run MSFS 2024 really well?
This post shows the specs required:
https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024-pc-system-requirements/655399/1
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If you’re building a PC specifically for MSFS there’s something you need to know - this hobby isn’t cheap 
Below copy/paste my response from another thread which might help in choosing components for your PC.
Currently, the best CPU for gaming in terms of price-to-performance is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. It’s an outstanding CPU specifically for gaming, offering top-tier performance but it’s not recommended for multitasking or heavy workloads outside of gaming.
We shouldn’t forget the competitive Intel i9 14900K either, which is also excellent for gaming.
However, Intel is currently facing some issues with its microcode so at this time I wouldn’t recommend going with Intel.
Long story short, Intel has found that faulty processor microcode has been causing the processors to operate under excessive core voltages. CPU sends a signal to the motherboard indicating how much Vcore it needs at any given moment. Therefore, if there is an issue with the microcode CPU may request higher voltage. This issue was supposed to be fixed with the new microcode 0x129 along with BIOS updates.
That said, Intel will soon release new CPU which might be worth considering once they hit the market.
As for graphics cards there’s only one king: RTX 4090. This incredible card excels at 4K gaming and VR, ensuring smooth gameplay across the board, which I’m sure is what you’re aiming for, right? The only downside to this card is the price - a bit on the high side - but I can confidently say it’s worth every penny. If I had to choose a graphics card again I would go with the RTX 4090 Gaming OC from Gigabyte - an incredible card that I’ve been using for a year. I specifically chose Gigabyte because their GPUs don’t suffer from coil whine which is a major plus.
Additional advantage of this GPU is the inclusion of an anti-sag bracket in the package.
There’s also AMD line of graphics cards but unfortunately their driver issues make them less appealing so I wouldn’t recommend them.
When it comes to RAM (computer memory) it should be selected based on compatibility with the motherboard and CPU. Currently, DDR5 memory and motherboards supporting DDR5 are the standard. Memory modules are also divided into two categories: those dedicated for Intel with XMP profiles (XMP compatible) and those specifically for AMD with EXPO profiles (EXPO compatible).
There are also universal memory kits that support both XMP and EXPO profiles, with Corsair being an example of a manufacturer that produces these. On the other hand, companies like G.Skill produce memory specifically tailored for either Intel or AMD.
Of course there are exceptions. Some G.Skill memory modules are compatible with both XMP and EXPO profiles.
It’s worth mentioning that there is another classification of memory modules. For example, G.Skill produces A-die and M-die memory modules. The key difference between them is that A-die memory typically allows for better tweaking and overclocking compared to M-die.
This detail is crucial because certain timing values won’t work with M-die while they should be fine with A-die.
The power supply (PSU) is one of the most important, if not the most crucial components of a computer. You should never cut costs when it comes to the power supply, and it’s essential to always buy from reputable brands. It’s important to emphasize that cheap, no-name power supplies can damage or even destroy your computer’s components. As I mentioned, you should never compromise on the quality of the power supply.
On various forums you might come across recommendations suggesting that an 850W power supply is sufficient for high-end PC components, including the RTX 4090 - don’t trust those suggestions, please.
PSU should be chosen based on the components you buy now, but more importantly, with an eye on the future. A good, branded PSU should last you for years and it’s important to ensure it can handle future upgrades to your PC.
In the future, new PC components will likely require more wattage for proper functioning. Add to that multiple M.2 drives, SSDs and if you plan to overclock your GPU, CPU or memory an 850W PSU will not be enough. It’s better to go with a 1000W or 1300W power supply that is fully compatible with PCIe 5 and ATX 3.0 standards. Brands like Be Quiet, Corsair, MSI and Thermaltake produce such high-quality power supplies. Personally, I have the MSI MEG Ai1300P, which comes with a 10-year warranty and offers everything I need for both now and the future.
PC case - it’s crucial to choose a case that is spacious enough to accommodate large components such as 420 and 360mm water cooling radiators and heavy, oversized graphics cards.
It’s also important that the PC case can easily accommodate Extended ATX motherboards (E-ATX), which are larger than standard-sized motherboards.
Fan installation options are also important - the more installation points available, the better.
Consider ease of access and maintenance. Choose a case that allows for straightforward cleaning of components without needing to disassemble everything. PC cases like those from Be Quiet, particularly the Silent Base series starting from 802 are known for their ease of cleaning and maintenance.
For example, one feature I really like about the Be Quiet Silent Base 802 case is the removable top tray. This design allows you to install a water cooling radiator and easily clean it without needing to detach the radiator from PC case.
When choosing a monitor you need to consider whether you prioritize matrix speed (refresh rate and response time) or visual effects (color accuracy, HDR and overall image quality).
For a setup with the RTX 4090 and Microsoft Flight Simulator a 4K monitor with HDR and IPS or OLED matrix would be an excellent choice. This combination will enhance your experience and allow you to fully enjoy the immersive visual details of virtual flying.
As you might noticed I didn’t recommend a specific motherboard. The reason for this is that we’re currently waiting for the new AMD X3D series processors and the upcoming Intel CPUs. It’s best to choose the one that meets your needs and performs significantly better in gaming and multitasking benchmarks. Therefore, I advise waiting a bit longer before purchasing the motherboard, CPU and RAM.
If you don’t want to purchase the RTX 4090, you can go for the RTX 4080 instead.
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Much of that depends on what your expectations are.
Some people will insist you need to spend several thousand (insert local currency here) while others may be perfectly content with something much more modest.
The choice of PC components mainly depends on OP budget.
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@TenPatrol 's reply was excellent, but he left out an important set of components … peripherals:
- Flight stick (joystick) at the least,
- Desk mount for the joystick, probably,
- Pedals, maybe
- Throttle, maybe
Technically, the mouse/keyboard combo could work, but then so would Microsoft’s minimum hardware requirements. Xbox, and other game controllers should be an improvement. But if you are serious, you need a good joystick.
Don’t own a joystick myself, but conceded if I want to play with an adult simulator, need adult hardware.
Another tidbit about the RTX 4090: It generates lots of heat in the room where the computer is located.
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Also, do you want to fly in VR?
Thanks to all who replied!
Depends on your definition of “really well”. I’d be half inclined, if you can, to wait for the launch, because there will be a significant amount of informed discussion about CPU/GPU requirements. Things could even change after the Tech-Alpha (not likely but possible). I have a nice, but not insane computer (Ryzen 7-5700X 32 Gb RX4060Ti NvEM SSD which runs it FS2020 very nicely. I’m not expecting issues with 2024 (other than possibly bandwidth ?) but I wouldn’t swear to it.
The kicker for me is that it’s going to run on the XBox, and not as a joke (like 5 fps !) so it should, logically, run passably on this hardware as a bare minimum. It may well be faster (better core utilitsation, graphics API) but we don’t really know.
I certainly wouldn’t buy state of the art as that tends to drop in price rapidly.
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Just about any modern cpu from AMD will perform very well with FS2024, you want a relatively good one to avoid bottlenecking the more powerful gpu in your system. Bottlenecking will cause frame stuttering amongst other issues.
I have a older Ryzen 5 5600X, it’s not the greatest cpu ever but it works fine in FS2020 and many other AAA games. However i have recently upgraded my gpu to a RTX 4080 Super with 16GB VRAM and it’s like having a whole new computer. The difference is night and day from my older RTX 2070 Super with 8GB VRAM.
Having 64GB ram in the system also helps, but 32GB will do just fine.
For FS2024 i would aim at a highend GPU and 64GB of ram, a decent CPU to keep the system running well and a good motherboard with nice vrm’s for a stable power delivery to your components. Also don’t cheap out on a lowend psu to power all your compoents, pick a good one which delivers more power than you need.
/ Magnus
/ Magnus
First and foremost you need to decide where you want to be on displays or VR. Playing on ‘normal’ size monitors at 1440P is a whole different rig if you want to run 4K and/or VR. A 1440 rig can be quite reasonably priced for effectively the same FPS net result(or better) than a 4K beast. 4K/VR will enslave you to a bigger ticket.
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i think about this one,my old pc is from this store,runs well since 7 years
can not build myself,so if someone know some better in Germany/best near Düsseldorf ?..the Store is in Munich
I don’t know what your budget is, none of my business (!) but I don’t think you need to spend this much to get a decent machine. It doesn’t look that much better than mine which cost about a quarter of that. Not sure you really need 4Tb of SSD for example.
I think if I had a budget of EUR 3k I might look at other hardware devices you can buy that enhance the experience, or a really good VR setup (it doesn’t work for me, it does my head in unfortunately).
also no VR for me,i wait for Blackfriday,
and this PC should be my last,this is why i want a good one…
best i wait for reviews…
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I’d still think (say) of buying a decent but not top of the range graphics card and maybe replacing it a year down the line.
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It’s also a bad time to buy hardware due to the continuing shortage of chips. The real deals happen in January after the holiday sales, but inventory is a challenge then too. I holding off my upgrades til the new year.
People sometimes forget PCs can be upgraded without too much difficulty. Extra RAM, new GFX card, faster CPU maybe (may require a M/B) , ability to add more SSD storage.
What chip shortage? Pretty much everything is in stock except for a few AMD cpus. Lots of ram, ssds, nvmes, graphic cards …
Just make sure you do your buying before Trump slaps import duties on them.