CPU and GPU experience?

[Will]

I'm curious about what kind of CPU and GPU will run both PSX and MSFS and give good results in demanding scenarios.

I typically run the following (all at once, on the same machine):

- PSX (two instances)
- MSFS 2020
- PSX.NET.WASM
- MSFS_AutoFPS
- RealTraffic
- PSXTraffic with AIG models
- Navigraph Charts
- Spad.next
- Several Chrome browser windows, maybe a YouTube video

My system is this:

- 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11700 @ 2.50 Ghz
- 16 Gb RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

I have my frames set at 40 (minimum) in MSFS_AutoFPS, most MSFS settings high but not max (e.g. clouds are high), and I get extremely fluid performance at altitude, on the ground at medium airports, and when the injected traffic in MSFS is around 10. Right now I'm flying from Hanoi (VVNB) to Dhaka (VGHS), two "medium" airports, 4 live aircraft on PSXTraffic, and the FPS in MSFS has been 47-52, really quite good. (PSX is always steady and fluid at 60/3, thank you Hardy.)

But alas, I've never been able to fly into KORD with everything above; it brings my system to its knees, with MSFS's FPS in the single digits or teens, too stuttery to be useable. So I'm curious, if I wanted to upgrade someday and fly into KJFK, KORD, or EGLL, what kind of hardware would I need?

Specifically, if you are getting good performance on MSFS 2020/2024 in demanding situations, with PSX running on the same machine, what are your CPU and GPU?

Thanks.

[Kurt]

I'm curious about what kind of CPU and GPU will run both PSX and MSFS and give good results in demanding scenarios.

I typically run the following (all at once, on the same machine):

- PSX (two instances)
- MSFS 2020
- MSFS_AutoFPS
- RealTraffic
- PSXTraffic with AIG models
- Navigraph Charts
- Spad.next
- Several Chrome browser windows, maybe a YouTube video

My system is this:

- 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11700 @ 2.50 Ghz
- 16 Gb RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

I have my frames set at 40 (minimum) in MSFS_AutoFPS, most MSFS settings high but not max (e.g. clouds are high), and I get extremely fluid performance at altitude, on the ground at medium airports, and when the injected traffic in MSFS is around 10. Right now I'm flying from Hanoi (VVNB) to Dhaka (VGHS), two "medium" airports, 4 live aircraft on PSXTraffic, and the FPS in MSFS has been 47-52, really quite good. (PSX is always steady and fluid at 60/3, thank you Hardy.)

But alas, I've never been able to fly into KORD with everything above; it brings my system to its knees, with MSFS's FPS in the teens, too stuttery to be useable. So I'm curious, if I wanted to upgrade someday and fly into KJFK, KORD, or EGLL, what kind of hardware would I need?

Specifically, if you are getting good performance on MSFS 2020/2024 in demanding situations, with PSX running on the same machine, what are your CPU and GPU?

Thanks.

Hi Will.

My 2 cents here after having experimented A LOT with PSX and MSFS2020 and MSFS2024 on same PC during my homecockpit build evolution.

No matter how powerfull PC i used I never ever got a stutterfree experience with FS2020 and PSX coexisting on the same PC. This primarily had to do with FS2020 not being able to really utilize multicore processors fully and any time I started a PSX instance it had direct negative impact on stutters - so much that I completely discarded the idea of having PSX and FS2020 running on the same PC (5950x 16 core with 32GB Ram and RTX3090)

Since then I changed the processor to the 5800X3D which improved stutters a lot in FS2020 but never fully. Now after FS2024 is out it is a completely different story as it can utilize multicore CPU's much much better.

The transition to FS2024 resulted in that I again can have a PSX instance running along on the same PC without any noticeable negative impact on FS2024. I currently us this PSX instance to display the P6 CB panel on a 27' Touchscreen and provide windscreen audio from PSX.

My recommendation is the following:

1: Move to FS2024 if possible for you - I have done it and not looking back as it visually and performance wise smokes FS2020 on the same hardware. See how that performs on your PC before doing anything else.
2: Forget about Intel processors at the moment - go for AMD X3D cpu variants (I am still on the old original 8 core 5800X3D although I am eyeing an 9800X3D system when my local PC pusher will get restocked in January
3: Get 64GB Ram as especially FS2024 is hungry at high settings
4: GPU wise it depends on which resolution you are targeting but you could keep your 3060ti for now and upgrade if funding allows. A 4070 or greater will work magic.

So to answer your last question then I am now running FS2024 coexisting with one PSX client instance (on separate 27'4K monitor) running FS2024 in 4K resolution with GFX settings mainly in ULTRA setting with some settings in HIGH.
I run VATSIM via vPilot, PSXT with Realtraffic injection, PSX.NET.WASM - all on a PC with 5800X3D with 32GB Ram and a RTX3090. I have a smooth experience in EGLL, KJFK, EHAM etc with frames rarely getting under 30 FPS.

Hope it helps.

Cheers

[Will]

Thanks Kurt, that's very helpful.

[United744]

No hardware can run Ultra, because it is buggy and poorly written.

I have relatively modest hardware for a PC, but it smokes most of the latest systems which is why I haven't bothered to upgrade anything beyond the GPU.

* i7 9700K @ 5 GHz
* 32 GB 3466 MHz DDR4
* 16 GB 4070 Ti Super

I run the sim at MEDIUM settings, some settings DISABLED (because I'm realistic and can not see any difference) and I disabled AA because I run the sim at 4K.

High AA settings with DX12 are the cause of the graphics card going bye-bye with the DXGI_LOST_RENDERING_DEVICE error. Disable AA if you are running DX12.

I don't use fake frame generation because the sim has no idea about them. It's the dumbest idea ever.

VSYNC is disabled, and I don't have any of the other nonsense like FreeSync, etc. Shader cache is disabled. I disabled caching of photogrammetry data. I can't remember if I disabled online data at all. I need to check.

I get 130 FPS in this configuration. More than enough to run PSX on top on the same machine. Smooth as silk.

The stutters come from stupidly written eye-candy that exceeds the time-slice. The ONLY way to prevent stutters is to disable the cause of them.

I don't have FS2024. Be aware it requires an internet connection to even run ("always on"). This is totally seperate to needing internet to load anything. FS2020 is the far better choice here.

Overall, FS2020 is far better visually than FS2024. The internet is crammed full of problems and bugs regarding FS2024, and the usage stats as of Christmas 2024 showed FS2020 was still being played 2:1 vs. FS2024. Some of that will be due to aircraft availability, but it is mostly due to bugs.