Monitor · X-Plane 12
Dell 32 Plus 4K Monitor S3225QS, 4K UHD VA, 120Hz
- Mid-Range
- 31.5"
- 4K
- VA
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X-Plane 12 Performance Score
- Resolution30% 100
- Panel Type25% 65
- Size20% 30
- Refresh Rate15% 100
- Ultrawide10% 0
Biggest contributor: resolution (30% of the score), rated 100/100. How we score
Verdict for X-Plane 12
The Dell S3225QS suits X-Plane 12 pilots who want sharp cockpit gauges and a clean view outside, with 3840 × 2160 pixels across a 32-inch flat screen. The trade-off is load on your graphics card, since 8.3 million pixels is a lot to draw every frame.
Updated October 2026
Pros & Cons for X-Plane 12
Strengths
- At 140 pixels per inch, 3840 × 2160 on a 32-inch panel keeps small text crisp, so radio frequencies and FMC lines stay readable without leaning into the screen on an approach briefing.
- The VA panel renders deep blacks, so a night descent into a lit-up city shows runway lights and apron glow against dark terrain instead of a grey haze — and the 120 Hz refresh with variable refresh is more than most screens at this resolution give you for the money.
- It pairs well with a graphics card that has a generous amount of video memory, which is what X-Plane 12's Vulkan renderer wants when you fly a detailed airliner into dense scenery.
Trade-offs
- Driving all 8.3 million pixels is hard work for X-Plane 12, so with weather and heavy ground scenery you may need to pull render scaling back below native.
- It is flat and 16:9, so you miss the extra side view that a curved ultrawide gives on a VFR circuit — X-Plane 12 handles ultrawide natively, and that is what the next step up in price buys you.
Full Specifications
- Size
- 31.5 inches
- Resolution
- 3840 × 2160
- Shape
- Standard 16:9
- Panel
- VA
- Refresh rate
- 120 Hz
- Curve
- Flat
- Released
- 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good Monitor for X-Plane 12?
Yes, for X-Plane 12 pilots who care most about sharp instruments and night contrast it scores 67.3/100. It shines on IFR legs, where 4K detail keeps panel labels and chart text legible, and the VA panel keeps night scenes dark instead of washed out. It shows its limits on scenic low-level flying, where a wider or curved screen would give you more out of the side windows.
Is it worth the price for X-Plane 12?
For this money you are choosing between 4K sharpness on a flat 16:9 screen or a wider, less sharp curved panel. If you fly airliners and read a lot of small cockpit text, the resolution here is the better buy; if you mostly sightsee in a light aircraft, the extra width elsewhere may suit you more.
What graphics card does it need for X-Plane 12?
X-Plane 12 is heavy on the graphics card, and running 3840 × 2160 natively asks for a current card with plenty of video memory. With a weaker card, drop render scaling below 100% or turn on an upscaling mode and leave the desktop at native resolution.
Is the Dell 32 Plus 4K Monitor S3225QS, 4K UHD VA, 120Hz compatible with X-Plane 12?
X-Plane 12 drives a standard 16:9 4K screen natively, so you just pick 3840 × 2160 in the sim's graphics settings. Turn on variable refresh (G-Sync Compatible or FreeSync) in your driver, and remember X-Plane 12 can pop instrument windows out to a second screen if you add one later.
How should I configure this in X-Plane 12?
Set the sim to 3840 × 2160, set the monitor to 120 Hz in Windows, and switch variable refresh on so pacing stays smooth when the view gets busy. If the graphics card struggles over big airports, lower render scaling first, then reduce world objects and shadow detail before touching texture quality.