Running MSFS 2020 on a laptop

[Mister Geezer]

Hello everyone

I am considering to get a PC laptop to run Microsoft FS2020 to prep for sims etc. I just need a laptop to just run this software, so I was thinking of buying something that will be capable but not near the top end of the price spectrum of gaming laptops.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions? The Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop caught my eye but I know nothing about it.

Thank you 😊

[terrain safe]

The main things to think of for MSFS are:
A processor that has a good speed/ core number.
Ram 16GB if possible as a minimum.
Disk as fast as you can get and big as MSFS takes up 165GB on my system even with minimal addons (only the free stuff)
The video card is very important as the better the screen the better video you will need. Bear in mind that 30FPS is Ok on a sim while playing a fast game such as Fortnite the faster framerate the better. Probably a 3060 as a minimum.

I have a 3700X, 32Gb ram, 2TB NVME Hdd and a 2070super attached to a 3440 x 1440 screen and to start a flight takes over a minute. However, the frame rate is good. This is a desktop PC but the components are comparable to a laptop. Don't forget that you need a flight stick or some other controller.

However, just buy an Xbox and fly it on there using the game pass.

Just my thoughts, I am sure that others who know more will be able to give better advice.

[Less Hair]

How about x-plane? This can be scaled down to smaller systems at reduced visuals. The core program is tiny and can even run on a mobile phone.

[NutLoose]

Buy an Xbox such as the X and a proper yoke, then get it as said on game pass.

I run it on a pc mine is a i7 6800 with 32mb ram, 1 gig m2 SSD, and Asus tuf 3080TI graphics running on a 55 inch hd TV at 60FPS post update 5. pre it was about 35FPS but the PC side is getting on so that's the bottle neck. as said for a sim 30FPS is fine.
What you will need is a fast internet connection regardless of about 70Mbs as the game streams graphics off the web for all the lovely scenery.

Go on youtube and look at it on Xboxes and Laptops etc. linky for the laptop you mentioned. More ram is better BTW

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=msfs+Acer+Nitro+5+

[Specaircrew]

MSFS 2020 is a great 'game' with lovely visuals but I wouldn't bother using it to prepare for sims as the EFIS/FMS/APFDS etc aren't very representative of real life. I suggest you give Prepar3D or Xplane a try as they're far more accurate ( if you buy the correct aircraft) and will run well on a less high spec laptop.

[Genghis the Engineer]

My high end business laptop grinds to a halt with X-Plane.

I choose, for the occasions I do a bit of simulator flying, to use the old Microsoft FS-X, which is massively less power hungry, and if you shop around there are some pretty good aircraft models. The graphics are nothing special, but I don't really care about that - it's the flight model that matters.

G

[rboymk1]

Hi there, a reply to an old post here but I'm in the same boat as you! I'm wanting something not too crazy but enough to run and of course laptop sized. It's nice to practice instrument flying and holding patterns now and again. Did you find a laptop by any chance?

thanks

[Asturias56]

The US magazine "Flying" runs a regular column on this subject - worth trying to find copies from the last year if you're serious

[NutLoose]

MSFS2024 will be coming out soon, that differs in that it downloads areas as it goes along, instead of trying to run the whole lot at once if that makes sense.

Will Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 have improved loading times?

One of the biggest priorities for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is to improve the simulator’s data management. One of the major changes to the simulator’s architecture being made is using Cloud streaming to help ensure that the client becomes thin. When users load into the sim, only the textures, meshes, and map data that they need will be downloaded to avoid unnecessary bandwidth and disk space usage.

This will keep the minimum specifications of the sim as low as it is now and will also reduce update and load times.


https://www.flightsimulator.com/microsoft-flight-simulator-2024-faq/