Best AMD Radeon PC Parts Combinations for Flight Simulators (2024)
Flight simulators like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, X-Plane 12, and DCS World demand robust PC builds to handle complex graphics and calculations, especially when considering VR. This guide covers the optimal PC parts using AMD Radeon GPUs at low, medium, and high-end levels, with price-to-performance CPU options from AMD and Intel. We’ll examine options from AMD’s Radeon 7000 series to provide the best experience across flight simulators and VR.
Low-End Build: AMD Radeon RX 7600
1. Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7600
- Price: ~$270
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
- The RX 7600 delivers good performance for 1080p and moderate settings in 1440p. For VR, it’s entry-level but can work with adjustments to settings for smoother experiences.
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i5-13400F
- Cores/Threads: 10 cores (6P+4E)/16 threads
- Price: ~$220
- Great performance for the price, ideal for moderately CPU-intensive games like simulators.
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600
- Cores/Threads: 6 cores / 12 threads
- Price: ~$150
- An affordable, efficient option for smooth performance across games and simulators.
3. Motherboard Options:
- Intel: MSI PRO B760M-A WiFi ($160)
- AMD: ASUS PRIME B550M-A WiFi ($130)
4. Memory: 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3600 – $45
- 16GB handles basic flight sim needs and allows moderate VR functionality in simpler scenarios.
5. Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD – $50
- Sufficient for basic installations and storage with quick load times.
6. Power Supply: 500W Bronze-rated PSU – $45
Estimated Cost: ~$850
VR Performance:
- Entry-level VR performance; works for lighter VR applications in simulators but may require reduced settings to maintain frame rates.
Mid-Range Build: AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
1. Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
- Price: ~$450
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- A great choice for 1440p gaming and solid VR performance, with headroom for 4K at medium settings.
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i5-13600K
- Cores/Threads: 14 cores (6P+8E)/20 threads
- Price: ~$300
- Excellent single-core and multithreaded performance, ideal for simulators.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700
- Cores/Threads: 8 cores / 16 threads
- Price: ~$300
- Strong performance for both single and multithreaded tasks, optimizing frame rates in simulators.
3. Motherboard Options:
- Intel: ASUS TUF Gaming Z790-PLUS WiFi ($210)
- AMD: MSI PRO B650-P WiFi ($180)
4. Memory: 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6000 – $120
- 32GB ensures smooth performance, especially useful for complex simulator landscapes and VR.
5. Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD – $50
6. Power Supply: 650W Gold-rated PSU – $90
Estimated Cost: ~$1,400
VR Performance:
- Smooth VR at 1440p with solid settings for most simulation titles. Works well with mid-range VR headsets, handling stable frame rates for a comfortable experience.
High-End Build: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
1. Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
- Price: ~$800
- VRAM: 20GB GDDR6
- A robust GPU for high-quality 4K gaming, with excellent VR performance for higher settings and resolutions.
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i7-13700K
- Cores/Threads: 16 cores (8P+8E)/24 threads
- Price: ~$430
- Fantastic performance for high-end simulations, with an ideal balance between single-core speed and multithreading.
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
- Cores/Threads: 12 cores / 24 threads
- Price: ~$450
- Solid performance, power efficiency, and headroom for intensive simulators.
3. Motherboard Options:
- Intel: MSI MPG Z790 Carbon WiFi ($300)
- AMD: ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F ($250)
4. Memory: 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6400 – $150
- Ideal for high-end tasks, reducing stutter and maintaining stable FPS in VR.
5. Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD – $120
- Provides ample storage for simulators, mods, and expansions, along with fast load times.
6. Power Supply: 750W Gold-rated PSU – $130
Estimated Cost: ~$2,200
VR Performance:
- With a high-end VR setup, the 7900 XT delivers smooth, high-quality visuals and stable FPS, supporting higher-resolution VR headsets with ease.
Ultra-High-End Build: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
1. Graphics Card: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Price: ~$1,000
- VRAM: 24GB GDDR6
- The flagship Radeon GPU for ultra-high 4K and VR settings, handling the most intensive simulations with ease.
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i9-13900K
- Cores/Threads: 24 cores (8P+16E)/32 threads
- Price: ~$580
- Top-tier single-core performance, crucial for CPU-intensive flight simulators.
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Cores/Threads: 16 cores / 32 threads
- Price: ~$600
- Balanced power efficiency and multithreaded performance for extensive simulations and multitasking.
3. Motherboard Options:
- Intel: ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO ($500)
- AMD: MSI MEG X670E ACE ($500)
4. Memory: 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-6600 – $250
- Extra capacity and speed for future-proofing, allowing for smooth handling of the most demanding simulation environments.
5. Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD – $120
6. Power Supply: 1000W Platinum-rated PSU – $180
Estimated Cost: ~$4,000
VR Performance:
- High-end VR performance with the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, perfect for top-tier VR headsets, delivering ultra-smooth visuals and stability even at maximum settings in highly detailed scenes.
AMD RADEON 7000 Series Benchmarks.
On release the AMD Radeon 7000 cards performed extremely well in rasterization performance which is just raw performance. The AMD GPU’s are generally slightly faster than NVIDIA in most cases in just RAW performance. Where Nvidia takes the lead is the DLSS – Frame Generation – Ray Tracing – New A1 Encoder additional features which are what makes the NVIDIA GPU’s often more popular but more expensive.
Conclusion
Here’s a summary for reference:
| Build Tier | Estimated Cost | VR Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Low-End | ~$850 | Basic VR |
| Mid-Range | ~$1,400 | Good VR |
| High-End | ~$2,200 | Excellent VR |
| Ultra-High-End | ~$4,000 | Exceptional VR |
These builds are customized for flight sim fans, ensuring optimal performance based on budget and gaming needs, from 1080p up to high-quality VR. Each setup offers flexibility for upgrades, so flight sim enthusiasts can enjoy smooth gameplay and immersive VR experiences across various simulation titles.
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.
He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
Learn More @ DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com
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