BUILD GUIDE · CPU & RAM bound

Best PC for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in 2026

Reviewed 12 August 2026 · FixFix Labs build desk

— The short answer

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is one of the most CPU- and memory-hungry games on PC. It's the rare title that officially wants 32GB RAM and an 8-core CPU, plus a fast NVMe SSD and 50+ Mbps internet for world streaming. The GPU is secondary — an RTX 4070-class card handles 1440p. A FixFixLabs Flight Sim build starts around £1,250.

Category: CPU & RAM bound
Indicative from: £1,250
Targets: 03
Specs verified: August 2026

— Hardware priorities

What actually matters for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

The sim streams the real world from Bing Maps and simulates weather and dense airports, which loads the CPU and RAM far harder than the GPU. It officially recommends 32GB RAM and an 8-core CPU (a fast 6-core may not be enough), plus an SSD and a 50+ Mbps connection. Buy the CPU, RAM and SSD first; a mid-range GPU is plenty until 4K.

Officially wants 32GB RAM — most games ask for 16GB.
8-core CPU recommended; a fast 6-core can fall short in dense areas.
NVMe SSD and 50+ Mbps internet needed for smooth world streaming.
GPU is secondary until you push to 4K ultra.

— Spec sheets by target

Recommended Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 builds by target

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 recommended builds compared by performance target
Component	1080p · high settingsfrom £1,250	1440p · balancedfrom £1,500	4K · max visualsfrom £2,100
CPU	Ryzen 7 7700 / Core i7-13700F	Ryzen 7 7800X3D	Ryzen 7 9800X3D
GPU	RTX 4060 Ti 16GB / RX 7700 XT	RTX 4070 Super / RX 7800 XT	RTX 4080 Super / RX 7900 XTX
RAM	32GB DDR5-6000	32GB DDR5-6000	32GB DDR5-6000 (64GB optional)
Storage	1TB NVMe SSD	2TB NVMe SSD	2TB NVMe SSD
Note	Eight cores and 32GB keep dense airports and live weather smooth.	An RTX 4070-class card is the right pairing at 1440p; CPU still leads.	Only at 4K ultra does the GPU become the limiting factor.

1080p · high settings

from £1,250

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700 / Core i7-13700F
GPU: RTX 4060 Ti 16GB / RX 7700 XT
RAM: 32GB DDR5-6000
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

Eight cores and 32GB keep dense airports and live weather smooth.

1440p · balanced

from £1,500

CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D
GPU: RTX 4070 Super / RX 7800 XT
RAM: 32GB DDR5-6000
Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD

An RTX 4070-class card is the right pairing at 1440p; CPU still leads.

4K · max visuals

from £2,100

CPU: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
GPU: RTX 4080 Super / RX 7900 XTX
RAM: 32GB DDR5-6000 (64GB optional)
Storage: 2TB NVMe SSD

Only at 4K ultra does the GPU become the limiting factor.

These are FixFix Labs editorial targets, not publisher benchmarks or stocked products. Actual performance varies by game version, settings, drivers and component model. Prices are indicative for August 2026in the UK; your personalised quote confirms exact current parts and pricing.

— Sources and method

Requirements checked against primary sources

Publisher or platform requirements establish the baseline. The target configurations above are our editorial recommendations for a balanced complete PC; they are not measured benchmark guarantees.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 product requirements

Last reviewed 12 August 2026 · FixFix Labs build desk

— Free build brief

Get a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 spec built for your budget

Tell us your budget and resolution and we'll return a named parts list with itemised UK pricing within 24 hours. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 builds start from £1,250.

Build this PC for me

— Build questions

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 PC — frequently asked questions

Do I really need 32GB of RAM for Flight Simulator 2024?

Yes — it's one of the few games that officially recommends 32GB rather than 16GB. Photogrammetry cities, complex airliners and live weather all sit in memory at once, and 16GB machines stutter on approach into busy airports.

Is Flight Simulator 2024 CPU or GPU limited?

CPU and memory limited in almost every situation that matters — dense airports, complex aircraft and live traffic. The GPU only becomes the bottleneck at 4K with maxed settings.

Does my internet speed affect performance?

It does. The sim streams world data live, so 50+ Mbps is recommended. On a slow connection you'll see blurry terrain and late-loading scenery even on a powerful PC.

Can you build a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 PC in the UK?

Yes. FixFixLabs specs, builds, tests and warranties custom Flight Sim machines in the UK. Tell us your budget, resolution and whether you fly airliners or GA, and we'll send an itemised parts list within 24 hours.

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