Home » GPU » GPU FAQs » Best GPU for X Plane 12

Best GPU for X Plane 12

Simulation can be demanding so what does X Plane 12 need

Updated: Feb 24, 2023 2:38 pm
Best GPU for X Plane 12

WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

An immersive representation of the world, precise aircraft systems, and real-world physics are all features of the flight simulator X Plane 12. Now let’s check if your computer is prepared to run Laminar’s most recent flight simulator.

For any type of half-decent X Plane experience, this is the bare minimum you will need. But because everyone is aware of how superior flight simulators are with buttery smooth frame rates, we would only really advise attempting to run the sim on this kind of setup.

In comparison to the older version of X Plane 11, the hardware requirements for X-Plane 12 are slightly higher. Users will require at least 2GB of VRAM in place of 512MB and a minimum of a 4-core CPU in place of a 2-core CPU.

Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 2070 Xtreme

Gigabyte Aorus Geforce RTX 2070 Xtreme 8gb
Pros

Fantastic performance for the price

Extremely efficient cooling setup

RGB lighting

Cons

Very large in size

Shop on Amazon

CHECK PRICE

In terms of GPUs, the simulator will only support GeForce 900 or newer and Radeon RX 500 or newer graphics cards, according to the developers.

Nvidia created a range of graphics processing units called the GeForce 900 series to replace the GeForce 700 series and serve as the top-end Maxwell microarchitecture debut.

Nvidia anticipated three main benefits from Maxwell, the Kepler’s successor: enhanced graphics performance, easier programming, and increased energy economy in comparison to the GeForce 700 and 600 series.

Whereas a line of AMD graphics processors is called the Radeon 500 series. While using advancements in the manufacturing process to permit faster clock speeds, the RX 500 series uses the same microarchitecture and instruction set as its predecessor.

ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ROG Strix LC OC 16GB

ASUS AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ROG Strix LC OC 16GB
Pros

Full-coverage gold plate

On-board cooling for power-delivery is handled by a blower-style fan and low-profile heatsink

600mm tubing for compatibility with EATX chassis and alternative mounts

Very fast card

Cons

Very expensive

It frequently happens that you can execute apps on computers with lesser performance because these hardware requirements are typically not 100% precise.

Although when it comes to recommended specifications, you want to look for something a bit newer. It suggests at least an RTX 2070 or an RX 5700 XT to run the game at a good performance level.

Whilst if you do want something in the even newer range there are some better options. Like the RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT which are great options for framerates.

FAQs

What GPU do you need for X Plane 12?

X-Plane 12 suggests a GPU with Vulkan 1.3 capability from Nvidia or AMD with 2GB of VRAM at the minimum. So most modern GPUs are ok, although Intel GPUs are not supported. Although it is recommended to have a DirectX 12 capable GPU with 4-8GB of VRAM. The supported cards span from Nvidia 900 series or newer, or AMD RX 500 and newer.


With a background in engineering and PC gaming, Seb is a staff writer with a focus on GPU, storage, and power supplies. Also one of tech supports in the office he likes helping and solving problems.

Trusted Source

WePC’s mission is to be the most trusted site in tech. Our editorial content is 100% independent and we put every product we review through a rigorous testing process before telling you exactly what we think. We won’t recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. Read more