Best GPU for Flight Simulator 2020 in 2024

What graphics card do you need to enjoy a calming experience flying planes

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A fairly powerful PC with strong components is recommended to enjoy Flight Simulator 2020 – now officially known as Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition following an update – to the fullest. You’re going to need to get a solid graphics card in order to enjoy the game at a variety of popular screen resolutions. We’ve prepared a list of some of the best GPUs for Flight Simulator 2020.

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT would be a good option if you want to play 1440p games like Flight Simulator 2020 and then upgrade to 4K later (or if you currently have a 4K display and want to try it out). Also be sure to check out the best CPU for Flight Simulator while you’re here. Now let’s take a closer look at a variety of options available to you.

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Best graphics card for Flight Simulator

ASUS TUF GAMING Radeon RX 6800 XT OC 16GB

Pros

Axial-tech fan design has been enhanced

An all-aluminum shroud

GPU Tweak II provides intuitive performance tweaking, thermal controls, and system monitoring

Good value

Cons

Basic design

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MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio 24G

Pros

Powerful cooling system keeps temps low

High clock frequency boosts performance above base level

Incredible build quality and design makes it a top pick from the crowd

Cons

On the higher end of the 3090 price spectrum

A high price to pay for the card with the current generation

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Due to its characteristics, the RX 6800 XT is a suitable match for Flight Simulator 2020, which is a touch too demanding for most GPUs at 4K. Although some settings will need to be adjusted here and there, the game will still run smoothly at 4K.

Alternatively, keep an eye out for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 is one of NVIDIA’s best offerings. It is far more powerful than the AMD RX 6800 XT graphics card, you will be able to easily crank all the settings up high on your beautiful 4K monitor.

Best value GPU for MSFS

MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X

Pros

Smaller in size than some optioons

Cheaper yet still powerful

Cons

More basic design

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MSI GEFORCE RTX 3060 TI VENTUS 3X OC

Pros

Stylish, gaming aesthetics

Strong materials and build design

High-end cooling solution

Cons

On the expensive side

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The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is a fantastic mid-tier GPU that is solid for 1440p gaming, so you can save some money without significantly reducing performance. This GPU may appear to be the same as AMD’s 4K picks, but it is actually different. Compared to the RX 6800 XT, the RX 6700 XT is a tad less powerful.

You require a mid-range NVIDIA GeForce GPU. That honor would belong to the RTX 3060 Ti, which was designed to render the majority of contemporary PC games at 1440p, which excellent performance in 1080p. You can also opt for the next-gen RTX 4060 Ti for similar performance, even better with the 16GB VRAM model.

Even Flight Simulator 2020 would run smoothly on this GPU at this resolution, enabling you to fly with a mediocre gaming setup. And if you purchase a moderate GPU, you can still have money left over for the greatest joysticks and flight sticks.

Best high-end GPU for Microsoft Flight Simulator

ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC

Pros

Excellent air cooling solution

Pushes performance above the rest of the selection

Updated design cooling and aesthetically focused

Cons

A more expensive choice over the rest of the picks and will cost a lot to run

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ASUS TUF GeForce RTX 4070 Ti OC

Pros

Solid build quality and high finish

Excellent cooling solution to keep the temperature and performance up

Overclocked model gives you one of the top specs for the model

Cons

It is more expensive, pushing above the MSRP of the card

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Although as DLSS 3 is added to more games, it will alleviate the CPU bottleneck. For that, you will want a 4000 series card and the current best on show is the RTX 4090. That kind of card will cost you a ton of cash though, so something like the RTX 4070 Ti is a great alternative within the 40-series. Both of these cards are great for high resolutions like 4K or 1440p.

Why the best GPU for Flight simulator is important

Microsoft Flight Simulator is considered to be a GPU-intensive game, so selecting the best GPU for the job will ensure you get the right performance for your setup. The selections above will bring that desired performance but always double-check benchmarks online before buying.

There is a wide range of Flight sim enthusiasts out there, from those playing on a budget 1080p monitor and gaming PC, all the way down to those on expensive high-end rigs with triple monitor setups. The GPU you need depends on your own requirements.

Best GPU for Flight Simulator 2020 FAQs

What is the best GPU for Flight Simulator 2020?

For the best selection of graphics cards for Flight Simulator 2022, there are a few options to pick from. One of which is the RX 6800 XT, which is AMD’s best contender for the previous generation.

From Nvidia, there is the pick of 4090 or 3090 both powerful contenders on their own. And then for the 40 series card, you get the advantage of DLSS 3. Which will unlock the CPU and give you a larger framerate.

What GPU do I need for Flight Simulator 2020?

The minimum system requirements for Flight Simulator 2020 require an Nvidia GTX 770, or AMD Radeon RX 570. But it does recommend the use of an Nvidia GTX 970 or an AMD Radeon RX 590. Regardless, we’d definitely recommend some more up to date GPUs.