Microsoft Flight Simulator PC requirements: what the three tiers mean
Microsoft’s July 2020 PC specification sheet sets minimum, recommended and ideal levels for Flight Simulator. Compare the full component bundle and see why none is a frame-rate guarantee.
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As of 15 July 2020, Microsoft Flight Simulator is due on PC on 18 August. Its three published requirement tiers—minimum, recommended and ideal—give you a useful first compatibility screen, but they do not say what frame rate or resolution a particular PC will deliver. Compare the whole column, not one component.
The figures below are from Microsoft Flight Simulator Support’s PC requirements sheet, first published on 23 April and updated on 13 July 2020. This is a document-based comparison, not a benchmark or a claim that Jitsumi tested the pre-release build. Microsoft announced the 18 August PC launch on 13 July. Read the specification sheet and the launch announcement .
The three tiers in the July 2020 requirements
All three levels list Windows 10 November 2019 Update (version 1909). The CPU choices pair AMD with Intel, while the graphics choices pair AMD with NVIDIA.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended | Ideal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 Nov 2019 Update (1909) | Windows 10 Nov 2019 Update (1909) | Windows 10 Nov 2019 Update (1909) |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 3 1200 / Intel i5-4460 | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X / Intel i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 2700X / Intel i7-9800X |
| GPU | Radeon RX 570 / NVIDIA GTX 770 | Radeon RX 590 / NVIDIA GTX 970 | Radeon VII / NVIDIA RTX 2080 |
| GPU memory (VRAM) | 2 GB | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| System memory (RAM) | 8 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Storage | 150 GB HDD | 150 GB HDD | 150 GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | 5 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
The storage row calls for an HDD at minimum and recommended, and an SSD at ideal. The bandwidth figures are listed alongside the hardware; they are not a frame-rate measurement.
Treat the labels as bundles, not performance scores
Each column is a complete set of targets. A PC with 16 GB of RAM but a graphics card below the recommended entry does not match the full recommended column. If your CPU lands in one tier and your GPU in another, record a mixed result; Microsoft does not define a way to average those rows into a single rating.
The support sheet names specific processors and graphics cards, but it does not provide benchmark scores or a comparison rule for models that are not listed. Do not infer equivalence from a brand, product-family name or a larger model number. Find a direct comparison from reliable testing when one is available.
Most importantly, the sheet does not name a target resolution, graphics preset, frame rate or test scene. “Recommended” is not a promise of 1080p at 60 frames per second, and “ideal” is not a 4K guarantee. Those conclusions need performance tests with stated settings and hardware.
Check the PC you have
1. Note Windows, processor and installed RAM
In Windows 10, open Settings > System > About. Record the Windows version, processor model and installed RAM. The version matters: the requirements list version 1909 or later under every tier.
2. Identify the graphics card and VRAM
Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc, choose Performance, then GPU. Record the card’s full name and its dedicated GPU memory; keep that separate from system RAM. Microsoft’s 2017 Windows 10 preview notes describe the GPU name and dedicated/shared memory counters in this tab. See the Windows Insider notes .
3. Check the install drive and connection
Make sure the drive you intend to use can provide the listed 150 GB. Note whether it is an HDD or SSD, since the ideal column specifies an SSD. Compare your measured connection speed in Mbps with the appropriate 5, 20 or 50 Mbps figure.
4. Compare each component against one column
Look across the same column for the operating system, CPU, GPU, VRAM, RAM, storage and bandwidth. If one or more of your parts are unlisted or sit between levels, call the result mixed or unknown rather than upgrading based on a guess.
What to do with a mixed result
The requirements are a starting point for deciding whether to investigate further. They are not a forecast of how a particular flight will feel. If you are considering a new graphics card or processor solely for Flight Simulator, wait for tests using the release build and the settings you care about. The published list cannot tell you whether that purchase will produce the result you want.
Sources
Microsoft Flight Simulator Support, “Minimum, Recommended, and Ideal PC Specifications for Microsoft Flight Simulator” (first published 23 April 2020; updated 13 July 2020). Official requirements .
Xbox Wire, “Microsoft Flight Simulator Set for Launch on August 18 for PC” (13 July 2020). Official launch announcement .
Windows Insider Blog, “Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16241 for PC” (13 July 2017). Task Manager GPU notes .
