Best pre-built PCs for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2023 (2024)

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a big hit for simulator games. The title uses satellite data streamed from the cloud to create one of the most realistic virtual worlds in gaming.

It's demanding on PCs, and while you don't need the best GPU, having a capable gaming rig will take the game to new heights.

Choosing the suitable PC for Flight Simulator can make or break the experience, which is where these pre-built desktop PCs come into play.

Here are our top choices for the best pre-built computer and how they compare to the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2023 system requirements.

The quick list

The best NVIDIA PC for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft's initial recommendation for an optimal Flight Sim setup included the powerful Intel i7-9800X CPU and the capable RTX 2080 GPU. However, with the latest updates from Skytech, I can suggest a more budget-friendly option featuring the i5-12600K processor and the impressive RTX 3070 GPU.

Despite the changes in CPU and GPU, the 32GB RAM capacity remains the same, ensuring smooth asset handling as you fly. Additionally, including a spacious 1TB SSD significantly contributes to faster loading times and space for more downloadable Flight Sim content, like extra aircraft and texture packs.

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The best AMD PC for Microsoft Flight Simulator

The ideal Flight Sim AMD specifications comprised AMD's Ryzen 7 2700X CPU and a Radeon VII graphics card, ensuring an immersive gaming experience at launch. As with its NVIDIA spec, Skytech has updated its AMD options to include modern alternatives, with a Ryzen 7 5800X CPU and Radeon 6900 XT, a combo capable of handling the most demanding visuals on Flight Sim.

This updated build comes with 16GB of RAM, plenty to provide smooth and efficient memory performance during gameplay. A 1TB SSD offers enough storage for the game alongside other general apps with faster load times and quick data access, too.

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The best budget NVIDIA PC for MSFT Flight Sim

AVGPC's affordable pre-built PC is designed to meet the minimum recommended specs by NVIDIA for entry-level Flight Sim gaming. Inside, you'll find the reliable 12th Gen Intel i5-12400F CPU, combined with an RTX 3050 GPU and 16GB of RAM - twice the amount initially recommended by Microsoft.

With this budget setup, you can still expect smooth gameplay, decent visuals, and the ability to handle other modern sim games. A 1TB SSD offers plenty of space for downloading extra content from Microsoft Flight Simulator or installing any other games alongside it.

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The best budget laptop for MSFT Flight Sim

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i 15 is a portable gaming laptop with enough punch to handle Microsoft Flight Sim on lower graphical settings. It features an 11th Gen Core i5-11300H CPU and a GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, still providing respectable performance for budget gaming at 1080p and everyday tasks.

With 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, you get ample memory and storage for smooth multitasking and fast load times. Although it doesn't support ray-traced lighting, it handles Flight Sim on modest settings if you deactivate some fancier enhancements like anti-aliasing and shaders, making it a realistic budget choice for sim flights on the go.

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The best mid-range NVIDIA PC for MSFT Flight Sim

Microsoft's initial recommended specs featured the Intel i5-8400 CPU, GTX 970 GPU, and 16GB RAM, providing a reliable Flight Sim experience for its time. However, Skytech offers a modern alternative with an i5-12400F CPU, RTX 3060, 16GB RAM, and a spacious 1TB SSD.

The GPU is the star of the show, offering plenty of power for Microsoft's realistic visuals and supporting real-time ray tracing for enhanced reflections and lighting. The 1TB SSD provides fast load times and enough storage space for other games alongside Flight Simulator and its expansions.

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The best budget AMD PC for MSFT Flight Sim

This budget AMD option is affordable and meets the minimum requirements for Flight Sim. It comes with an AMD RX 6500 XT GPU, a 12th Gen Intel Core i3-12100F CPU, and 8GB of RAM, providing a reasonable foundation for future upgrades thanks to its standard components.

The 500GB SSD may require an upgrade first, but it still offers sufficient space to get started with Flight Sim and other standard apps. One of the most affordable and accessible entry points for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

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How to choose PCs and laptops for Flight Sim

Microsoft Flight Simulator is an ambitious game. Still, it doesn't have seriously high system requirements for playing on anything but the best gaming desktop PC. All you needed for the original minimum specs at launch was an AMD Ryzen 3 1200 or Intel i5-4460 CPU, Radeon RX 570 or NVIDIA GTX 700 GPU, and 8GB. My recommended PCs in this collection meet these requirements with refreshed modern counterparts.

But cooking up the best Microsoft Flight Simulator experience isn't solely about processing power. We also recommend finding room in the budget for extra gear for Flight Simulator, with accessories like yokes and joysticks adding that missing piece of the puzzle for virtual pilots, if you can stretch.

If we were to offer a single recommendation for PCs, we'd go with the CyberPowerPC Skytech Chronos. Not only does it look sleek with loads of RGB, but it's also got everything packed inside that you'll need, including an RTX 3070 NVIDIA GPU and Core i5-12600K Intel CPU at a reasonable price to enjoy some RTX features like DLSS.

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