Asobo Engine
Best Hardware for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Photorealistic world with live weather and AI traffic — balanced CPU/GPU demands with DirectX 12 and native DLSS/FSR support
Browse Hardware
Scored and ranked specifically for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Computer Hardware
Pre-Built Desktop PC
10 products scored
Top pick
ASUS ROG Strix GT35 Gaming Desktop – Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD
95 /100
Gaming Laptop
6 products scored
Top pick
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) Gaming Laptop, AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, 18" QHD+ 240Hz, 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD
78 /100
Graphics Card
6 products scored
Top pick
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming OC 32G Graphics Card
100 /100
Processor
6 products scored
Top pick
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Desktop Processor
100 /100
Peripherals
Rudder Pedals
5 products scored
Top pick
MFG Crosswind V3 Rudder Pedals
92 /100
Flight Yoke
5 products scored
Top pick
Brunner CLS-E NG Flight Yoke
86 /100
Flight Stick
5 products scored
Top pick
VKB Gunfighter IV Modern Combat Edition (MCE) Pro Joystick
75 /100
Throttle Quadrant
5 products scored
Top pick
Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant
81 /100
VR Headset
5 products scored
Top pick
HP Reverb G2 Virtual Reality Headset
83 /100
Monitor
5 products scored
Top pick
LG 45GR95QE-B 45-Inch OLED Curved Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
89 /100
Sim Seat
5 products scored
Top pick
Playseat Challenge X Logitech G Edition
88 /100
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Direct comparisons scored for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Acer Nitro V 15 Gaming Laptop, Intel Core i7-13620H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 15.6" FHD 144Hz IPS Display, 16GB DDR5, 512GB NVMe SSD vs Lenovo LOQ 15 Gaming Laptop 2024, Intel Core i7-13650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD
Lenovo LOQ 15 Gaming Laptop 2024, Intel Core i7-13650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (54.0 vs 53.6)
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) Gaming Laptop, AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, 18" QHD+ 240Hz, 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD vs MSI Titan 18 HX Gaming Laptop, Intel Core Ultra 9 185HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, 18" UHD+ 120Hz Mini-LED, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) Gaming Laptop, AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, 18" QHD+ 240Hz, 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (78.1 vs 77.8)
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD vs HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop 2024, AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16.1" QHD 165Hz, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD
HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop 2024, AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16.1" QHD 165Hz, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (61.5 vs 60.3)
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD vs Lenovo LOQ 15 Gaming Laptop 2024, Intel Core i7-13650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (60.3 vs 54.0)
Acer Nitro V 15 Gaming Laptop, Intel Core i7-13620H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 15.6" FHD 144Hz IPS Display, 16GB DDR5, 512GB NVMe SSD vs ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (60.3 vs 53.6)
HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop 2024, AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16.1" QHD 165Hz, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD vs Lenovo LOQ 15 Gaming Laptop 2024, Intel Core i7-13650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 15.6" FHD 144Hz, 16GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD
HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop 2024, AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16.1" QHD 165Hz, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (61.5 vs 54.0)
Acer Nitro V 15 Gaming Laptop, Intel Core i7-13620H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 15.6" FHD 144Hz IPS Display, 16GB DDR5, 512GB NVMe SSD vs HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop 2024, AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16.1" QHD 165Hz, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD
HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop 2024, AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16.1" QHD 165Hz, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (61.5 vs 53.6)
HP OMEN 16 Gaming Laptop 2024, AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16.1" QHD 165Hz, 32GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD vs MSI Titan 18 HX Gaming Laptop, Intel Core Ultra 9 185HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, 18" UHD+ 120Hz Mini-LED, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD
MSI Titan 18 HX Gaming Laptop, Intel Core Ultra 9 185HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, 18" UHD+ 120Hz Mini-LED, 64GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD leads on CPU performance (77.8 vs 61.5)
Related Articles
Guides and compatibility information for MSFS.
Best PC Builds for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Custom PC build recommendations for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K — with component buying guides for CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage.
Read article →How Much Storage Does Microsoft Flight Simulator Need?
Exact storage requirements for Microsoft Flight Simulator — base install size, World Update sizes, offline cache, and how much SSD space you actually need.
Read article →How to Build a Home Flight Simulator Cockpit
Step-by-step guide to planning and building a home flight simulator cockpit — from setting a budget and choosing software to selecting controls, displays, and a cockpit frame.
Read article →Compatible Hardware and Controllers for Microsoft Flight Simulator
Guide to every controller and peripheral compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator — from Xbox gamepads and joysticks to full HOTAS rigs, yokes, and rudder pedals.
Read article →MSFS on Xbox — Which Peripherals and Controllers Actually Work?
Guide to flight sim controllers and peripherals for Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox — what works natively, what needs a PC connection, and what to skip entirely.
Read article →Types of VR Headsets: Which Works Best for Flight Simulators?
Breakdown of every type of VR headset — PC-tethered, standalone, and console — with recommendations for MSFS 2020 and X-Plane 12 sim pilots.
Read article →X-Plane 12 vs Microsoft Flight Simulator — Which Should You Choose?
X-Plane 12 vs Microsoft Flight Simulator compared — flight physics, visuals, hardware demands, add-ons, and which simulator suits your flying style.
Read article →Just getting started?
New to flight simulators?
Not sure what hardware you need? Our compatibility guide covers every controller type and what each one adds to the experience.
Performance at a Glance
Top-scoring product per budget tier, scored specifically for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
| Tier | Top Pick | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Desktop Processor | 100.0 /100 | $449 |
| Mid-Range | ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 OC Gaming Graphics Card | 97.6 /100 | $1,399 |
| High-End | Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming Desktop – Intel Core i9-14900KF, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super, 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe SSD | 88.2 /100 | $2,199 |
| Overkill | Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming OC 32G Graphics Card | 100.0 /100 | $2,599 |