Today I will analyze the best laptops for FSX available in 2021, for enthusiasts of one of the best flight simulator software ever produced.

After years of waiting and development, Microsoft has updated its beloved flight simulator, letting you take to the skies with incredible realism. FSX has been beloved since the first version’s release in 2004. This post will delve into the best laptops for FSX, the latest and best version if you are a simulation enthusiast.

According to the Redmond giant, “Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises. From light planes to wide-body jets, fly highly detailed and stunning aircraft in an incredibly realistic world. Create your flight plan and fly anywhere on the planet. Enjoy flying day or night and face realistic, challenging weather conditions.”

While Microsoft had stopped developing it back in 2006, the game has remained active with a massive community of simulation enthusiasts. Third-party developers have also created fantastic add-ons for the game. These include private companies like  Aerosoft and PMDG.

What is the Best Laptop to Run Microsoft FSX?

At the very least, your laptops for FSX must meet the following requirements to run the latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator successfully:

Minimum requirements

• Processor: Intel i5-4460 | AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• OS: Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher
• Architecture: x64
• Memory: 8 GB
• Video Memory: 2 GB
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 770 | AMD Radeon RX 570

However, your laptop’s performance depends on a vast number of other factors. Unlike other sims such as the Euro Truck Simulator, or Farm Simulator, FSX has several add-ons that require extra hardware requirements to function smoothly.

Any laptop running Windows 10 will also run Microsoft FSX without any significant problems. However, for the optimal experience, you need a more powerful gaming laptop.

Recommended Laptop System Requirements for Microsoft FSX

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a behemoth application. It takes more than 100GB of hard disk space, and that’s just the basic installation without all the bells and whistles. Tack those on, and you’re looking at over 130GB+ of hard disk space.

For the best flight simulation experience, Microsoft recommends the following specs for your laptop.

Recommended configuration

• Processor: Intel i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
• OS: Windows 10 version 18362.0 or higher
• Architecture: x64
• Memory: 16 GB
• Video Memory: 4 GB
• Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 970 | AMD Radeon RX 590

These specs guarantee a smooth running flight simulation experience for years to come. You can run Microsoft Flight simulator on much less powerful hardware, but the graphic setting becomes poor, ruining your experience.

The flight simulator puts a strain even on the best of laptops. It’s a big game. With the updated version, you need a pretty solid internet connection to download and flesh out your world continually.

However, with the right setup, you enter a world of unbridled exploration where you can pick a destination on the map and fly there in your own private and customized plane. The perfect way to safely stay-at-home and beat the COVID-19 pandemic blues.

The Best Laptops for FSX

Lenovo Legion Y540-15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6″ IPS, 60Hz, 300 nits, Intel Core i7-9750H Processor, 16G DDR4 2666Mz, 512GB, 1TB 7200, NVIDIA GTX1660Ti, Win 10, 81SX00NNUS, Raven Black

The Lenovo Legion Y540-15 Gaming Laptop pushes gaming experience and performance to a whole new level. Sleek, high-performance and painlessly portable, the Legion is a serious laptop packing the latest hardware configuration for the ultimate gaming experience.

It comes with the latest Intel Core i7-9750H processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti graphics, 16 GB DDR4 2666 MHz Memory, 1TB HDD + 512GB M.2 NVME SSD Storage, and Harman speakers with Dolby Atmos.

It delivers a full-size, backlit, high-response keyboard and a separate number pad for the most ergonomic gaming experience. Whether running the Microsoft Flight Simulator, at school, or on the go, the Legion delivers that precision engineering that makes it a delight.

Furthermore, it packs more than 2 million pixels into a Near-Edgeless 15″ FHD display with beautifully thin bezels. At a blazing refresh rate, the Legion brings any game to life. You also get a plethora of connection options, including 2 x 2 Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 4.1, a USB Type-C, 3 x USB 3.1, 2 x HDMI 2.0, RJ45 port, Kensington lock, and an audio jack.

If you are worried about the cooling, the Legion is optimally cooled with Lenovo cold front cooling system.

MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US 15.6″ Full HD Gaming Laptop Computer Quad Core i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4G Graphics, 8GB DRAM, 128GB SSD + 1TB Hard Drive, Steelseries Red Backlit Keyboard

MSI has distinguished itself among gamers for its top-of-the-range high-performance machines. The MSI GL62M 7REX-1896US 15.6″ Full HD Gaming Laptop is no different which brings it to our list of the best laptops for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The MSI GL62M is a 15.6″ IPS Level thin and light gaming laptop packing the latest Intel Core  i7-7700HQ and a dedicated GeForce GTX 1050Ti with 4GB of dedicated gaming memory. RAM stands at 8GB, which seems low for a laptop with these specs, but it’s enough to run Microsoft Flight Simulator with no glitches.

Storage-wise, the MSI GL62M gaming laptop sports a 128GB M.2 SATA SSD and an additional 1TB hard disk.

Regardless of your preferred use, this MSI delivers a smooth experience. Its thin and light chassis makes it easily portable, while the red-backlit keyboard, combined with its Nahimic 2 Surround Sound System, make for the most immersive gaming experience.

Your trip to the Bahamas in Microsoft Flight Simulator will feel a lot smoother on this laptop.

Alienware M15-15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop Thin and Light, i7-8750H Processor, NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Card, 16GB RAM, 1TB Hybrid HDD + 128GB SSD, 17.9mm Thick & 4.78lbs

Light and thin at only 17.9mm, the Alienware M15-15.6″ FHD Gaming Laptop is the perfect companion for a no-comprises, mobile gaming experience. It’s mind-blowing display options give you an edge with fast, smooth gameplay and Eyesafe display technology that reduces blue light emissions and reduces strain on your eyes.

The Alienware M15 is a powerhouse packing the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB GDDR5 and powered by the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H (6-Core, 9MB Cache, up to 4.1GHz w/ Turbo Boost). Additionally, this laptop comes with 16GB 2x8GB, DDR4 at 2666MHz for a smashing performance, and uninterrupted gameplay and other activities.

Experience faster load times and a quieter system thanks to multiple storage options, including a 128GB PCIe M.2 SSD and high-capacity hybrid HDDs with 8GB solid-state memory.

In addition to the sleek design and robust configurations, the M15 offers incredible battery life with a 60WHr battery and an optional 90WHr upgrade to keep you on the move with up to a 17-hour life span on idle. That’s enough time to take a half-trip around the world, and enjoy the scenic views from above. An amazing choice for the best laptops for FSX.

2020 Newest ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop 15.6″ Full HD Display AMD Quad-Core Ryzen 5 3550H (Beats i7-7700HQ) 16GB DDR4 1TB PCIe SSD 4GB GTX 1650 RGB Backlit Webcam Win 10 + iCarp Wireless Mouse

ASUS has long distinguished itself in the gaming space with devices that push the boundaries. The ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop is one such device, packing the hardware configuration for a smooth Microsoft Flight Simulator experience.

The ASUS TUF is a powerhouse Windows gaming laptop that combines insane gaming performance with a narrow bezel IPS-Type for extended gameplay and lifespan thanks to its unique anti-dust cooling (ADC) system.

Equipped with a quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 3550H processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 16-series graphics card with 4GB of dedicated memory, the FX505DT can play the latest games and multitask with ease.

What about TUF’s memory and storage? Glad you asked. It packs an impressive 16GB DDR4 RAM and an additional 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD for storage. The TUF features one of the fastest Wi-Fi standards available, The latest Intel Wave 2 Wi-Fi 5 (802. 11AC) boasts data transfer rates of up to an incredible 1. 7Gbps.

To top it off, this laptop comes with an RGB backlit gaming keyboard rated at 20-million keystroke durability. Talking of durability, the TUF, as the name suggests, is a tough military-grade laptop design to withstand the fiercest of impacts. It features the 810 military standard construction.

ASUS Vivobook K571 Laptop, 15.6” FHD, Intel Core i7-9750H CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 16GB RAM, 256GB PCIe Nvme SSD + 1TB HDD, Windows 10 Home, K571GT-EB76, Star Black

Finally on our list is the non-assuming ASUS Vivobook K571 Laptop that looks like a regular laptop but packs a punch. It’s pretty sleek too.

The Asus VivoBook K571 is powered by the latest Intel Core i7 -9750h processor, supported by the  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated graphics card with 4GB memory for the ultimate computing and gaming experience.

This laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD,1TB HDD, and runs Windows 10, making it ideal as a daily computing or gaming laptop.

It comes with an impressive 15.6 inches, 120Hz Nano edge full HD display for the ultimate and uninterrupted gaming experience. With comprehensive connection options including 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.1 Type-A, USB 2.0, and HDMI, and the latest in Wi-Fi connectivity (5/802.11AC Wi-Fi), this laptop is the perfect companion as you take to the skies.

That’s not all; the VivoBook K571 features powerful round speakers that maximize every cubic millimeter of the available chassis to reduce noise and give you an incredible sound experience. It also features the ASUS IceCool Technology that minimizes heating issues under the palm rest while utilizing smart dual fans to ensure the laptop stays cool even after long hours of gaming.

Conclusion – The Best Laptops for FSX

Microsoft Flight Simulator opens up a world of possibilities as you explore the world. It’s more poignant now since most people cannot travel because of the pandemic. However, to get the best experience, you need a laptop that can handle the game’s size and intensity. The best laptops for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 mentioned above provide a good starting point as you begin your search.

Opt for the laptops with the latest hardware and software upgrades for the optimal experience. You’ll never see the world the same again.

Happy flying!

Did you like our list of the best laptops for FSX Flight Simulator? Are you into driving simulations too? Check our list of the Best Laptops for American Truck Simulator and best laptops for BeamNG drive.