Best pre-built gaming PCs for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Over the years, there have been plenty of aircraft simulators on PC, but none ever toppled the mantle held by the aptly named Microsoft Flight Simulator. It remains one of the most visually striking simulators ever made, thanks to an accurate recreation of the entire planet Earth created with real-time satellite data streamed from Microsoft's cloud servers.

Of course, promising this much detail means having a capable gaming desktop to run Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a necessity. You could build a PC from scratch, which can be cheaper than sourcing a pre-built desktop, but not everyone has the skills or confidence to source individual components and put everything together—and that's fine.

I've been a fan of Microsoft Flight Simulator and adjacent realism-focused titles for years, and I can offer first-hand advice on which PC parts make the most significant impact on these intensive titles. With first-hand reviews of pre-built gaming desktops written by my colleagues, I'm here to share the best options that fit a range of budgets. Here are the best pre-built PCs for Flight Simulator that we've tested so far in 2024.

Ben Wilson

I've built more custom gaming desktops than I can count, and I understand how daunting it can be for a first-time PC gamer. Pre-built PCs are great if you make the right pick, and I'm here to help you meet the recommended specifications for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The quick list

If you want the facts, check out this short list of the best pre-built gaming desktop PCs for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. For more information, hit 'read more below' underneath any pick to learn more.

Best PCs for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Now, I'll examine each of my picks in-depth and explore the specifications of each pre-built desktop. My colleagues have used, reviewed, and tested each PC to understand its pros and cons, which will help you make the right decision.

Best overall

Lenovo's Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) is a powerful and stylish desktop PC that can be configured with a ton of hardware options. It might not be the best for enthusiasts who plan on DIY upgrades in the future — Lenovo still uses some proprietary parts that get in the way of major hardware overhauls — but for anyone who wants a premium PC that just works, it should be a great choice.

In our Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) review, Windows Central's Zachary Boddy remarked, "This desktop hasn't let me down once, and it's perfect for those who don't want to worry about building their own PC."

Lenovo offers up to a 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF processor (CPU), NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card (GPU), 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state-drive (SSD) storage. That's a lot of power, but there are plenty of stops along the way for anyone who wants a more affordable build. Liquid and air cooling are available, and the 34L case is quite stylish (although it lacks USB-C on the front).

Read our in-depth Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) review

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Best value

If you're in search of a pre-built gaming PC that can run Microsoft's Flight Simulator for less than $1,000, Lenovo's LOQ Tower (Gen 8) should be the right choice. While you can configure your own PC at Lenovo, Best Buy has been offering a discounted build that never seems to go off sale.

For about $650, you can land a LOQ Tower with 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13400F CPU, 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, and 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. It will run Flight Simulator with ease, and you might even have some dough left over for a gaming monitor upgrade.

In our Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 8) review, Zachary Boddy noted that it's "a modest gaming PC with affordable hardware perfect for playing all the latest and greatest PC games at medium-to-high settings at 1080p."

Its compact design makes for a cramped interior that's not easily upgradeable, but for those just dipping their toes into PC gaming, that shouldn't be too big of a deal.

Read our in-depth Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 8) review

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Best custom PC

Although we haven't reviewed the Maingear MG-1 on Windows Central, I received a model to test out recently and absolutely loved it. Maingear is a "boutique" builder that puts its PCs together by hand and with great care. One of the only drawbacks to the MG-1 is the lack of a dust screen for the case's air intake.

Cable management is stellar, Maingear uses non-proprietary motherboards and other performance hardware for easy future upgrades, and it offers an impressive range of configuration options. You can build the PC you want, and it can all be visualized within a 3D building tool on Maingear's website.

Maingear MG-1 models range from about $1,200 to $4,000 and beyond, depending on how much performance you need. Looking at Flight Simulator alone, the base model will do a great job. Customer support is stellar, and you get a decent warranty where Maingear handles practically everything, no matter the piece of hardware that gives you trouble. 

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Best compact

The ASUS ROG G22CH is sort of a gaming PC masquerading as a console. Its stylized case measures just 4.5 (W) x 12.7 (H) x 11.3 (D) inches, with large vents and even some RGB lighting included. If you lack the space for a full-size tower, this is a solid (if expensive) option.

ASUS offers up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900KF CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD in the ROG G22CH, altogether far more than enough for a smooth Flight Simulator experience. 

The system's fans can get loud under load, but performance remains solid despite the compact design. In her ASUS ROG G22CH review, Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear said, "Its powerful CPU and GPU can handle any intensive gaming tasks you throw at it while producing high FPS and smooth gameplay."

Read our in-depth ASUS ROG G22CH (DB978) review

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Best for work and play

Dell's latest XPS Desktop (8960) shouldn't be considered a dedicated gaming PC, but Dell's wide range of hardware allows users to customize performance to their liking. I'd still recommend that anyone who plans on gaming full-time check out the other options in this list, but those shopping for a family PC with a bit more juice to handle Flight Simulator might be able to get what they want.

Prices generally start at less than $1,000 for introductory models with integrated graphics, but you'll no doubt want a discrete GPU for Flight Simulator. In that case, adding an RTX 3050 costs about $250. 

There are many other GPU options, and at the time of writing, a mid-range config with Core i7-14700 CPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, and NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti GPU is down to $1,400.

In our Dell XPS Desktop (8960) review, Zachary Boddy called it a "gentle evolution of its predecessor, pairing an understated design with the latest internals from Intel and NVIDIA." As long as you go into it with low expectations for future upgrades (Dell uses a lot of proprietary hardware here), it should make for a great PC for hybrid family use.

Read our in-depth Dell XPS Desktop (8960) review

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Best mini PC

The ASUS ROG G22CH also featured in this list is compact, but we can go smaller! The ROG NUC 970 is about the same size (or smaller!) as a Wi-Fi router, with a sleek design that works vertically or horizontally thanks to an included stand. In her ASUS ROG NUC 970 review, Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear called it "a very impressive mini PC with powerful performance and a very convenient range of ports."

ASUS achieves this compact feat using laptop hardware, namely up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H mobile CPU paired with up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. You won't be able to upgrade these components, but the DDR5 RAM and M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD are accessible. You're ultimately looking at performance just short of a desktop-class RTX 2080 Ti, which remains more than enough for Flight Simulator.

The PC can drive up to three monitors from the GPU thanks to HDMI and dual DisplayPort. The system otherwise boasts four USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), two USB-A 2.0, an SD card reader, RJ45 Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

You're looking at about $2,200 (at the time of writing discounted to $1,900) for this PC, so you might want to consider a premium gaming laptop for extra mobility. Nevertheless, it's a great little PC for those who want to use most of their available space for monitors and flight controls.

Read our in-depth ASUS ROG NUC 970 review

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How to choose the best PC for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020/2024) is an ambitious game, yet its system requirements aren't particularly demanding. That means it can run on a wide range of desktop PCs, including any options in this roundup.

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, with accessories like yokes and joysticks adding that missing piece of the puzzle for virtual pilots.

Out of all the desktop PCs we've recently tested, the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) is the best. It's a high-end PC with impressive performance hardware, all in a stylized case with RGB lighting.

Our top pick doesn't come cheap, and Lenovo's LOQ Tower (Gen 8) might be a better option. At the time of writing, you can pick up a $650 model at Best Buy that will handle Flight Simulator and plenty of other games.

And if you're an enthusiast who wants a PC that feels like you built it yourself, Maingear is the way to go. Its MG-1 can be configured right down to the cabling, and it's built by people who are clearly PC gamers.

Cale Hunt

I bring over eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and more to Windows Central. I have published hundreds of reviews and can efficiently curate buying guides and provide product advice.

Are the system requirements changing for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

No, at least not for the minimum specifications defined by Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020.) It's an expansive game with gorgeous, lifelike visuals that can transport you practically anywhere in the world (as long as you're willing to fly). 

While the minimum and recommended system requirements aren't exactly out of reach for most gamers, having more power in your PC will result in higher framerates, the ability to play at higher resolutions, and, ultimately, better-looking graphics.

According to Steam, you'll want at least a 4th Gen Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 CPU and an NVIDIA GTX 770 or AMD Radeon RX 570 GPU. At least 8GB of RAM is also required.

Steam lists the recommended specs as an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X CPU and NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 590. It also says that 16GB of RAM is required, but having more will undoubtedly help with the streaming textures.

All the PCs listed above are far ahead of what's required to get the game off the ground (see what I did there?), and they're even well ahead of the recommended specs.