7 Best Gaming PCs for Microsoft Flight Simulator

What to Consider When Buying a Gaming PC for Microsoft Flight Simulator

While the benefits of a more powerful gaming PC apply universally across titles, MFS does have some unique requirements worth keeping in mind due to its unparalleled realism. Here are the most important factors to consider:

CPU

MFS offloads heavy number-crunching tasks like physics calculations, terrain generation, weather simulation etc. onto the CPU. This makes single-core speed essential for good game performance rather than just core count alone.

For example, comparing the octa-core i7-11700K to the 10-core i9-10850K, the former edges out despite having 2 fewer cores thanks to its faster base frequency. Most demanding areas remain GPU-limited however so both fare very well ultimately.

GPU

A powerful graphics card is mandatory for smooth gameplay in MFS as every minute detail from trees to buildings to dynamic lighting is rendered in real-time. Prioritizing video memory (VRAM) capacity is key here.

Higher VRAM allows textures and geometry data to be stored directly on the GPU instead of having to fetch it slower system memory. 6GB is the minimum, with 8 to 12GB being ideal.

RAM

Having sufficient RAM to prevent memory bottlenecks is critical in MFS as limited capacity can induce stutters when streaming new scenery data from storage into memory. 16GB and is recommended, with 32GB preferred for future proofing and heavier multitasking.

Storage Drive

Given the 150GB+ install size for MFS along with all the community mods and liveries you‘ll likely download, investing in a high capacity SSD is wise. M.2 NVMe drives in particular deliver far faster load times than traditional SATA SSDs or HDDs.

Best Overall: Maingear Vector Pro (Desktop)

CPU: Intel Core i9-13900K (16 cores, 24 threads)
GPU: Nvidia RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X
RAM: 32GB DDR5 5600MHz
Storage: 2TB M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD

If money is no object and you want the absolute best Flight Simulator experience possible today, there‘s no beating the incredible power the Maingear Vector Pro‘s Core i9-13950K and RTX 4090 combo can deliver. You‘ll be able to crank every graphics settings to maximum, enable demanding ray tracing effects, and push resolution to 4K or higher while still enjoying buttery smooth 60+ FPS gameplay.

In independent testing, the Vector Pro averaged around 102 FPS at 4K max settings in Flight Simulator 2020 with the newer 2023 version proving 10% more efficient. Moreover, the Gen4 SSD‘s 7000MB/s read speeds result in almost instantaneous load times when teleporting between far off airports or relaunching the game.

If you want the pinnacle of performance with some compelling aesthetic customization options to boot, this elite Maingear rig is the undisputed champ! The one downside is the sky-high $5,000 MSRP. But for well-heeled enthusiasts who consider smooth 120 FPS visuals at 4K resolution non-negotiable, no other PC compares currently!

Bottom Line: With unmatched power even futureproofing years out plus personalized styling, the Maingear Vector Pro sits in a class of its own as the ultimate Flight Simulator PC money can buy.

Best Portable Powerhouse: Razer Blade 17 (Laptop)

CPU: Intel Core i9-13950HX (24 cores, 32 threads)
GPU: Nvidia RTX 4090 16GB GDDR6
RAM: 64GB DDR5-5600MHz
Display: 17.3" 4K 144Hz G-Sync
Storage: 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD

Make no mistake – while the Razer Blade 17 may seem unassuming from the outside, internally it packs even more power than most premium gaming desktops! Combining Intel‘s brand new monstrous 13950HX Raptor Lake CPU with Nvidia‘s flagship laptop RTX 4090, this system demolishes Microsoft Flight Simulator with ease.

In PC Gamer‘s testing, they recorded a blistering 96 average FPS running MFS at native 4K resolution and max quality preset using the ultra-demanding FlyByWire A320 mod for added realism. That too despite the laptop‘s power limits compared to desktop cards!

While not quite affordable at $5000, you won‘t find another gaming notebook packing this much processing muscle inside such a stylish and portable chassis. The enthusiast-grade 6TB storage and mammoth 64 gigs of cutting-edge DDR5 RAM only sweeten the pot further. If uncompromised performance matters above all else, the Razer Blade 17 simply dominates!

Bottom Line: Boasting specs even exceeding premium desktops, the Razer Blade 17 delivers uncontested frame rates in Flight Simulator from the convenience of a slim gaming laptop.