Best NVIDIA PC Parts Combinations for Flight Simulators (2024)
Considering a new NVIDIA PC for your own flight simulator such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, X-Plane 12, or DCS World? Do you want to push hardware to the performance limit every flight? Let’s discover some of the best PC performance desktop PC options by considering combinations with strong performance across the CPU, GPU, and RAM ensuring the most realistic and immersive experience your heart desires. We’ll examine the best current NVIDIA-based options across low, medium, and high-end setups, focusing on the 4060, 4070, 4080, and 4090 GPUs with compatible CPU options from AMD and Intel. VR performance, which demands even higher graphics and processing power, is also noted for each tier.
Low-End Build: NVIDIA PC GeForce RTX 4060
1. Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
- Price: ~$300
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
- The 4060 provides respectable performance for 1080p and moderate settings in 1440p. It’s capable of VR but may require settings adjustments to maintain smooth framerates in dense environments. In an Nvidia PC build this GPU provides fair price to performance but is hated by much of the community where the AMD direct competitor (RTX 7600 ) provides a better price to performance option and performance in straight up rasterization performance. The Nvidia card offers features like DLSS as well as frame generation, newer video encoder standard (AV!) which may be more important to you. It’s a personal choice for sure!
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i5-13400F
- Cores/Threads: 10 cores (6P+4E)/16 threads
- Price: ~$220
- Great price-to-performance ratio, ideal for handling medium to light CPU loads without a GPU bottleneck.
- AMD Ryzen 5 7600
- Cores/Threads: 6 cores / 12 threads
- Price: ~$230
- Offers excellent multithreaded performance for smooth frame rates in simulation games. Lower power consumption compared to Intel.
3. Motherboard Options:
- Intel: MSI PRO B760M-A WiFi ($160)
- AMD: ASUS PRIME B650M-A WiFi ($160)
4. Memory: 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR5-5600 – $60
- 16GB is sufficient for lower-end builds and will handle general flight sim needs. Upgradeable for future-proofing.
5. Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD – $50
- Speedy load times and responsive performance, crucial for large sim files.
6. Power Supply: 550W Bronze-rated PSU – $50
Estimated Cost: ~$900
VR Performance:
- VR is feasible, though this build will work best with reduced visual settings and resolution scaling for smoother experiences in titles like DCS World or MSFS 2024.
Mid-Range Build: NVIDIA PC GeForce RTX 4070
1. Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
- Price: ~$600
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- The 4070 offers a significant performance boost for 1440p gaming and can manage 4K at reduced settings. VR is much smoother, handling higher resolutions with more stability. This is the sweet spot for many NVIDIA PC builders. Regarded as Mid-Range the performance is extremely good for the price point. Again AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE offers faster pure rasterization performance but lacks the DLSS and features previously mentioned.
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i5-13600K
- Cores/Threads: 14 cores (6P+8E)/20 threads
- Price: ~$300
- Strong single-core and multithreaded performance make it an ideal choice for CPU-intensive titles.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700
- Cores/Threads: 8 cores / 16 threads
- Price: ~$300
- Balanced power efficiency with solid performance across multithreaded workloads.
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 allows for seamless performance in detailed sceneries and complex aircraft, plus extra headroom for VR use.
5. Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD – $50
6. Power Supply: 650W Gold-rated PSU – $90
Estimated Cost: ~$1,400
VR Performance:
- The RTX 4070’s VR performance is excellent for most titles at mid-to-high settings, delivering a smooth experience in MSFS 2024 and DCS World.
High-End Build: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
1. Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
- Price: ~$1,200
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- A powerful GPU capable of handling 4K with high to ultra settings. For VR, it allows for high-resolution settings with excellent frame rates and stable visuals.
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i7-13700K
- Cores/Threads: 16 cores (8P+8E)/24 threads
- Price: ~$430
- Fantastic for high-end builds, with an excellent balance for gaming and multitasking.
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
- Cores/Threads: 12 cores / 24 threads
- Price: ~$450
- Optimal for both gaming and heavy multitasking, with strong multithreaded performance.
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
- Faster RAM is beneficial for maximizing performance in VR environments, particularly for maintaining stable FPS.
5. Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD – $120
- Provides ample storage for add-ons, mods, and various simulator files, along with high transfer speeds.
6. Power Supply: 750W Gold-rated PSU – $130
Estimated Cost: ~$2,500
VR Performance:
- The 4080 shines in VR, allowing for higher resolutions and detail settings, which makes it ideal for headsets like the HP Reverb G2 or Meta Quest Pro. Users will see smooth frame rates with high visuals in complex scenes.
Ultra-High-End Build: NVIDIA PC GeForce RTX 4090
1. Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
- Price: ~$1,600
- VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X
- The 4090 is a powerhouse, effortlessly handling 4K ultra settings and VR with the highest demands. Ideal for top-end VR headsets and sim experiences in ultra-detailed settings.
2. CPU Options:
- Intel Core i9-13900K
- Cores/Threads: 24 cores (8P+16E)/32 threads
- Price: ~$580
- Unmatched single-threaded performance, crucial for CPU-intensive sims like MSFS 2024.
- AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Cores/Threads: 16 cores / 32 threads
- Price: ~$600
- Strong multithreading for smooth performance in highly complex environments, great power efficiency.
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
- 64GB is future-proofed for years of simulation expansions, demanding sceneries, and VR mods.
5. Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD – $120
6. Power Supply: 1000W Platinum-rated PSU – $180
Estimated Cost: ~$4,000
VR Performance:
- This build can run VR at ultra-high settings and high resolution for headsets like the Varjo Aero, providing the smoothest and most immersive experience, even in dense, highly detailed environments.
Conclusion
Each tier offers a balance of performance and cost tailored to different levels of flight simulation, from casual users to hardcore VR enthusiasts. Here’s a summary of the approximate costs in 2024: Note that the Nvidia RTX 5000 series is rumored to be releasing in January at COMPUTEX so that will upset the prices likely in a good way very soon if you’re thinking an RTX 4000 build is for you right now!
| Build Tier | Estimated Cost | VR Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Low-End | ~$900 | Basic VR |
| Mid-Range | ~$1,400 | Good VR |
| High-End | ~$2,500 | Excellent VR |
| Ultra-High-End | ~$4,000 | Exceptional VR |
This guide helps flight sim enthusiasts pick the best hardware for their budget, with an emphasis on maximizing VR potential for the most immersive simulation experiences possible.
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.
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