Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Flight Simulator 2024
Four processors compared, from the Ryzen 9 7900X to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 pushes one main thread hard and also streams scenery data. Every pick has 64MB or more of L3 cache and boosts to 5.2GHz or more, ordered by boost clock.
Our comparison rests on published figures for L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads; where a maker leaves a figure out, we say so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
The largest L3 cache here (128MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Undercutting the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on price when we checked.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Rated Power
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
The lowest rated power here (120W).
Best for: Buyers who put rated power first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler. | Buyers who want AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest L3 cache here (128MB). | Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (opens in a new tab) |
| Undercutting the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on price when we checked. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest rated power here (120W). | Buyers who put rated power first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 4
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 9950X gives 16 cores and 32 threads without the X3D premium.
Best for
- Buyers who want AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AI is a problem.
Why we like it
It is the better buy when CPU encoding and editing matter more than the last few frames per second. It matches the Ryzen 9 7900X on L3 cache (64MB). It matches the Ryzen 9 9950X3D on boost clock (5.7GHz).
On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Ryzen 9 7900X at 170W. It also offers AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version.
Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. It was priced above the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and below the Ryzen 9 9950X3D at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 16 cores
- Rated power: 170W
- Threads: 32
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.7GHz maximum boost
- 16 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 9 7900X at the time of writing
Largest Game Cache2 of 4
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D adds a second eight-core die to the X3D formula, giving 16 cores for work while keeping 3D V-Cache for games.
Best for
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO.
Why we like it
It suits a single machine that must game and render. Nothing else here matches its 128MB L3 cache; the Ryzen 7 9850X3D comes closest at 96MB. It matches the Ryzen 9 9950X on boost clock (5.7GHz).
On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 9 9950X and the Ryzen 9 7900X at 170W. It also offers a design aimed at both games and content creation. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version.
Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. Only the Ryzen 9 9950X came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 4 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 128MB
- Max boost: 5.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 16 cores
- Rated power: 170W
- Threads: 32
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 128MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- 5.7GHz maximum boost
- 16 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 9 7900X at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 4
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 7900X has 12 Zen 4 cores on AM5.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO.
Why we like it
It is a cheaper way to the same thread count as the 9900X, at a higher power rating. It matches the Ryzen 9 9950X on L3 cache (64MB). It matches the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on boost clock (5.6GHz).
On core count it sits mid-pack at 12 cores: the Ryzen 9 9950X offers 16 cores, and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D comes in at 8 cores. It also comes with the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version.
Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D was closest. L3 cache is its weakest area, and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D covers it better at 128MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 170W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 9 9950X3D (128MB)
Lowest Rated Power4 of 4
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is a higher-clocked version of the eight-core X3D design.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated power first.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It targets players who want the most gaming headroom AMD offers in an eight-core chip. It is AMD's second-generation X3D eight-core chip with 96MB of L3 cache. Its 96MB L3 cache ranks second of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 9 9950X3D (128MB) and ahead of the Ryzen 9 7900X (64MB).
It matches the Ryzen 9 7900X on boost clock (5.6GHz). On core count it trails the group at 8 cores, while the Ryzen 9 9950X offers 16 cores. On rated power it leads this guide at 120W, ahead of the Ryzen 9 9950X (170W).
It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. Boost clock is its weakest area, and the Ryzen 9 9950X covers it better at 5.7GHz.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 96MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 120W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 96MB of L3 cache from 3D V-Cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- Higher-clocked take on the 9800X3D design
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 9 9950X (5.7GHz)
- Core count trails the Ryzen 9 9950X (16 cores)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We compared four processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the Ryzen 9 9950X to the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count and share AM5 socket and DDR5 memory.
- Who each pick suits
- The Ryzen 9 9950X for AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler; the Ryzen 9 9950X3D for the largest L3 cache here (128MB); the Ryzen 9 7900X for undercutting the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on price when we checked.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 9 7900X ($250 to $500) to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Flight Simulator 2024
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
L3 cache across these picks
Here L3 cache runs from 64MB on the Ryzen 9 7900X to 128MB on the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. For less, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D is the runner-up at 96MB.
Boost clock
Here boost clock runs from 5.6GHz on the Ryzen 7 9850X3D to 5.7GHz on the Ryzen 9 9950X. Start with the Ryzen 9 9950X if boost clock decides it.
Core count
Here core count runs from 8 cores on the Ryzen 7 9850X3D to 16 cores on the Ryzen 9 9950X. The Ryzen 9 9950X is the pick for core count.
Features beyond the spec table
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D: a design aimed at both games and content creation. The Ryzen 9 7900X: a 5nm process. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D: a higher-clocked take on the 9800X3D design.
Budget
$250 to $500 buys the Ryzen 9 7900X, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and the Ryzen 9 9950X; $500 to $1000 buys the Ryzen 9 9950X3D at our last check.
How to Choose a CPUs for Flight Simulator 2024
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler | Ryzen 9 9950X | AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler |
| Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles | Ryzen 9 9950X3D | The largest L3 cache here (128MB) |
| Spending as little as possible | Ryzen 9 7900X | Undercutting the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on price when we checked |
| Buyers who put rated power first | Ryzen 7 9850X3D | The lowest rated power here (120W) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D leads on L3 cache at 128MB, ahead of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D at 96MB.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 9950X | 64MB | 5.7GHz | 16 cores | 170W |
| Ryzen 9 9950X3D | 128MB | 5.7GHz | 16 cores | 170W |
| Ryzen 9 7900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 170W |
| Ryzen 7 9850X3D | 96MB | 5.6GHz | 8 cores | 120W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Ryzen 9 7900X was the lowest-priced pick and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 9 7900X, Ryzen 7 9850X3D, Ryzen 9 9950X |
| About $500 to $1000 | Ryzen 9 9950X3D |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest L3 cache: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D or the Ryzen 7 9850X3D?
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D leads at 128MB, with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D at 96MB. The Ryzen 9 7900X is at the other end of this group with 64MB.
How does the Ryzen 9 9950X compare with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on rated power?
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D comes out best at 120W, with the Ryzen 9 9950X at 170W.
Is the Ryzen 9 9950X3D worth paying more than the Ryzen 9 7900X?
On paper it adds L3 cache (128MB against 64MB), boost clock (5.7GHz against 5.6GHz) and core count (16 cores against 12 cores). The Ryzen 9 7900X was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
What makes the Ryzen 9 9950X3D the Largest Game Cache?
It earns the label for the largest L3 cache here (128MB). It suits players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Ryzen 9 9950X and the Ryzen 9 9950X3D apart?
The Ryzen 9 9950X: AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D: 3D V-Cache on one of its two core dies. The Ryzen 9 7900X: the Zen 4 architecture.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 9 9950X, chosen for AMD's recommendation of a liquid cooler. Look at the Ryzen 9 7900X for undercutting the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on price when we checked and the Ryzen 7 9850X3D for the lowest rated power here (120W) if those matter more to you.
Use 32GB of RAM for large photogrammetry cities.