Best PC Upgrade Path for VR Flight Sims (Ryzen 5600X + RTX 3070 Owners). Not sure what to upgrade to get a 20 percent performance uplift? Lets look at the answers so you don’t have to!
Best Upgrade Path for VR Flight Sim Enthusiasts: Ryzen 5600X + RTX 3070 Users.
Virtual reality flight simulation is one of the most demanding workloads you can throw at a gaming PC. Titles like X-Plane 12, DCS World, and Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) push both the CPU and GPU to their limits especially in VR where smooth frame pacing is critical for immersion.
If you’re running a Ryzen 5 5600X or similar CPU with an NVIDIA RTX 3070 or equivalent, the big question is: What’s the smartest upgrade to get at least 20% better VR performance? CPU or GPU? Its a question I have been pondering personally for some time reluctant to throw good money but get only a minimal performance increase.
Lets breakdown the challenges and the possible answers depending on your personal situation.
Why VR Performance Is So Challenging!
VR flight simulation is really hard on your PC. It requires you to play essentially two flight sims at the same time because each eye gets a separate image every time. Its not comparable to running two monitors at the same time even because the two images are only one but spread across the two displays & not two separate frames.
Why its a Challenge!
- Double frame rendering (one per eye).
- Higher frame rates to prevent motion sickness (ideally 72–90 FPS).
- Strong single-thread CPU performance for physics, AI, and draw calls.
- High VRAM and GPU throughput for detailed cockpits and landscapes.
Your Current System Baseline.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X – 6 cores, strong value but mid-tier for VR sims.
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070 – 8GB VRAM, good card but VRAM limits MSFS/X-Plane at high settings.
This combination of CPU & GPU are still very strong for non VR gaming in flight sims or anything else. Your going to get great 1080P performance generally and pretty good 1440P performance in a monitor setup. Many gamers play on much lesser systems and still have an excellent experience but Virtual reality is another specialised situation.
Performance snapshot:
Below is where the individual flight simulators often demand more performance and could do with a more powerful component.
- X-Plane 12: CPU bottleneck in dense airports/weather.
- DCS World: GPU heavy in VR, especially detailed maps.
- MSFS: Mix of CPU and GPU bottlenecks depending on scenery.
Non-VR FPS (5600X + RTX 3070).
| Sim & Preset | 1080p (High) | 1440p (High) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFS (DX12, TAA/DLSS Q) | 80–120 FPS | 60–90 FPS | CPU-limited in big hubs; 8 GB VRAM can hitch with Ultra textures. |
| X-Plane 12 (High, TAA, Zink) | 70–110 FPS | 55–85 FPS | Heavy weather/cloud shadows push to the low end. |
| DCS World (MT, High) | 120–180 FPS | 90–140 FPS | Syria/Marianas + lots of units land on the lower end. |
What if you drop in a 5800X3D (same 3070)?
Expect strong gains where you’re CPU-bound (MSFS/X-Plane), modest uplift in DCS.
| Sim & Preset | 1080p (High) | 1440p (High) | Uplift vs 5600X |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFS | 100–150 FPS | 75–110 FPS | ~+20–35% |
| X-Plane 12 | 90–140 FPS | 70–105 FPS | ~+20–35% |
| DCS World | 130–200 FPS | 100–155 FPS | ~+10–20% |
(These are “playable average” ranges with good frame pacing; Ultra settings will trim the top end.)
VR Reality (common headsets like Quest 3 / Reverb G2).
VR is about frame time stability, not just averages. Smooth experiences typically target a motion-reprojected lock (e.g., 36/40/45 FPS depending on your headset refresh).
Below are typical results with sensible VR settings (DLSS/FSR Quality, high/med clouds, medium shadows, terrain/object LOD moderated, TAA off in VR for MSFS).
5600X + RTX 3070 (stock).
| Sim | Typical VR FPS* | What it feels like |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS | 30–45 FPS | Needs reprojection (36/40). CPU-limited at big airports. |
| X-Plane 12 | 35–55 FPS | Usually OK with tuned weather; clouds can bite. |
| DCS World | 40–60 FPS | GPU-limited; dense maps/masses of units push low end. |
5800X3D + RTX 3070 (CPU upgrade only).
| Sim | Typical VR FPS* | Uplift vs 5600X |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS | 40–60 FPS | +20–35%; noticeably steadier frametimes. |
| X-Plane 12 | 45–65 FPS | +20–30%; better in weather/heavy scenery. |
| DCS World | 45–65 FPS | +10–15%; still largely GPU-bound. |
5600X + RTX 4080 Super (GPU upgrade only).
| Sim | Typical VR FPS* | Uplift vs 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS | 45–65 FPS | +25–40%; DLSS3 FG helps in 2D, less so in VR. CPU walls still exist. |
| X-Plane 12 | 50–70 FPS | +20–30%; higher texture settings viable. |
| DCS World | 55–80 FPS | +35–60%; big jump in clarity and stability. |
* “Typical VR FPS” = sustained range in busy but sensible scenarios at ~1.0–1.2 render scale. If you push supersampling, Ultra clouds, or huge AI counts, expect the low end.
Quick tuning wins (VR)!
- Target a reprojection lock that your headset supports:
- 72 Hz → 36 FPS lock; 80/90 Hz → 40/45 FPS lock.
- MSFS: DLSS Quality, Terrain LOD 150–200 (VR), Object LOD 100–150, Clouds High, Ambient Occlusion Low/Off, Terrain Shadows 1024–2048.
- X-Plane 12: Clouds High, Shadows Medium, AA 2x–4x (TAA), World Objects High, FSR 1.0 Quality.
- DCS: Textures High, Shadows Medium, Clouds Standard, MSAA 2x or off + FSR Quality, Terrain Textures High, Preload Radius Medium.
- Keep VRAM in check (3070’s 8 GB): dial down texture resolution before anything else if you see stutter/hitches.
- Use OpenXR Toolkit / Oculus Tray / SteamVR per-app settings to fine-tune render scale.
Bottom line.
- Flat screen (non-VR): Your 5600X+3070 already does great at 1080p High and solid at 1440p High in all three sims.
- VR: A 5800X3D drop-in delivers the easiest 20–35% uplift where it matters (MSFS/X-Plane frame pacing).
- DCS-heavy VR or chasing higher render scales? A GPU jump (4080 S) brings the biggest visual/clarity gains.
Upgrade Paths: Cost vs. Gain
1. CPU Upgrade: Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Cost: $300–$350
Gain: +20–35% in VR sims, massive uplift in frame pacing thanks to 3D V-Cache.
Why: Drop-in AM4 upgrade, keeps costs down. Ideal for X-Plane and MSFS.
Downside: GPU still limits ultra VR settings.
2. GPU Upgrade: RTX 4070 Ti Super or 4080 Super
Cost: $800 (4070 Ti S) – $1,200 (4080 S)
Gain: +20–40% VR performance, much more VRAM for textures.
Why: Huge benefit in DCS/MSFS at high resolutions.
Downside: CPU bottlenecks remain in heavy scenes.
3. Full Platform Upgrade: Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RTX 4080 Super
Cost: ~$2,000 (CPU + MB + DDR5 + GPU)
Gain: +40–60% uplift, smoothest frametimes possible.
Why: Best of both worlds.
Downside: Price.
Budget Gamer’s Best Option?
If you’re trying to maximize VR performance without breaking the bank, the clear winner is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. For under $350, you’ll unlock up to 35% better VR performance while keeping your RTX 3070. This upgrade alone is enough to achieve the 20% performance improvement target across all three major sims.
The GPU can be upgraded later when prices are favourable, but the CPU swap gives immediate, cost-effective results for VR simmers on a budget.
Which Upgrade First?
- Step 1: Upgrade to Ryzen 7 5800X3D now. Immediate gains in MSFS, X-Plane 12, and smoother VR frame pacing.
- Step 2: Upgrade to RTX 4080 Super later when ready. Unlocks ultra VR graphics, higher resolutions, and future-proofing.
Upgrade Recommendation Table.
| Upgrade Option | Cost (USD) | Avg. VR Gain | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D | $300–$350 | +20–35% | Budget VR simmers |
| RTX 4070 Ti Super | ~$800 | +20–30% | Graphics stability, more VRAM |
| RTX 4080 Super | ~$1,200 | +30–40% | High-end VR |
| Full AM5 (7800X3D + 4080 Super) | ~$2,000 | +40–60% | Best performance, no compromises |
Non-VR Performance: Ryzen 5 5600X + RTX 3070
Here’s what you can expect in traditional flat-screen gaming at 1080p and 1440p with High settings across the three big flight simulators:
| Sim & Preset | 1080p (High) | 1440p (High) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFS 2024 (DX12, DLSS Quality) | 80–120 FPS | 60–90 FPS | CPU-limited in big hubs; 8GB VRAM can hitch on Ultra textures. |
| X-Plane 12 (High, Zink) | 70–110 FPS | 55–85 FPS | Heavy weather/cloud shadows push performance down. |
| DCS World (MT, High) | 120–180 FPS | 90–140 FPS | Syria/Marianas maps with many units hit lower ranges. |
CPU Upgrade: 5800X3D + RTX 3070
Dropping in a Ryzen 7 5800X3D can unlock significant FPS in CPU-bound titles:
| Sim | 1080p (High) | 1440p (High) | Uplift |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFS 2024 | 100–150 FPS | 75–110 FPS | +20–35% |
| X-Plane 12 | 90–140 FPS | 70–105 FPS | +20–35% |
| DCS World | 130–200 FPS | 100–155 FPS | +10–20% |
VR Performance Reality
VR isn’t just about raw FPS but requires smooth frame time delivery and stable reprojection are key. Here’s what you’ll commonly see in VR across the same sims:
Baseline: 5600X + RTX 3070
- MSFS: 30–45 FPS (needs reprojection at 36/40 Hz).
- X-Plane 12: 35–55 FPS, clouds can drop frames.
- DCS World: 40–60 FPS, GPU-limited in complex missions.
CPU Upgrade: 5800X3D + RTX 3070
- MSFS: 40–60 FPS (+20–35%), much smoother frametimes.
- X-Plane 12: 45–65 FPS (+20–30%).
- DCS World: 45–65 FPS (+10–15%).
GPU Upgrade: 5600X + RTX 4080 Super
- MSFS: 45–65 FPS (+25–40%), still some CPU limits.
- X-Plane 12: 50–70 FPS (+20–30%).
- DCS World: 55–80 FPS (+35–60%).
Quick Tuning Wins for VR
- Target a reprojection lock: 36/40/45 FPS depending on headset refresh.
- MSFS: DLSS Quality, Terrain LOD 150–200, Clouds High.
- X-Plane 12: Clouds High, FSR 1.0 Quality, Shadows Medium.
- DCS World: Textures High, Shadows Medium, MSAA 2x or off with FSR Quality.
- Watch VRAM: RTX 3070’s 8GB can stutter on Ultra textures — lower them first.
Final Thoughts
If your goal is at least 20% uplift in VR performance today, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the smart choice. It’s affordable, drops into your AM4 system, and provides a clear performance boost in X-Plane 12, DCS World, and Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Note – Important: Ensure you UPDATE your BIOS so it is compatible!
Later, a GPU upgrade like the RTX 4080 Super will deliver the ultimate smooth VR experience.
Disclaimer: This guide is intended to give you options and performance increases cannot be guaranteed because of the wide range of components available. This guide is intended to give you a start but the final decision must be the purchasers. LetsFlyVFR.com does not take responsibility for or guarantee performance improvements.
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is 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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