New 4k Gaming Rig For Microsoft Flight Simulator

TheBlackRat

New member
Good afternoon all,

Want to purchase a rig that plays MSFS at 4k at max settings with max FPs. Will be using the new Alienware 34 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor - AW3423DWF monitor. Any areas that need improvement? No budget.

Case
FRACTAL DEFINE 7 XL BLACK QUIET TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24-Core Processor i9-13900KF (3.0GHz) 36MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
24GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4090 - HDMI, DP
Graphics Card Support Bracket
PCS GRAPHICS CARD SUPPORT BRACKET
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SAMSUNG 990 PRO M.2, PCIe 4.0 NVMe (up to 7450MB/R, 6900MB/W)
1st Storage Drive
2TB Samsung 870 QVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (up to 560MB/sR | 530MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W RMx SERIES™ - MODULAR 80 PLUS GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
48 HOUR INSURED PALLET DELIVERY TO UK (MON-FRI, INC. HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS)
Build Time
Standard Build - Subject to stock availability on pre-order products
Price: £3,853.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z790-ddr5-pc/Gx49XZZKEF/
 

sck451

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
There are some tweaks that could be made (not least as you'll gain nothing from the i9, so you might as well go for the 13700K instead to save money and make it easier to cool). However, AMD's 3D v-cache CPUs are likely to be launched in January. The last 3D chip made a huge difference in MSFS, so I'd be inclined to wait for those and see whether they will offer similar gains this time round.

For the future, the other changes I'd suggest would be to storage (the 990 is great, but I'm not sure it's good value; you want the second SSD to be an NVMe drive too), and possibly also to the case. The Define 7 XL is an amazing case, but it is still somewhat limited by being "quiet" in its design. In some situations (and "having a 4090" is likely to be one of them) it'll be limiting in terms of cooling. I'd suggest another top-line system, like the Fractal Meshify 2, which is more designed around peak airflow/cooling/performance.
 

TheBlackRat

New member
There are some tweaks that could be made (not least as you'll gain nothing from the i9, so you might as well go for the 13700K instead to save money and make it easier to cool). However, AMD's 3D v-cache CPUs are likely to be launched in January. The last 3D chip made a huge difference in MSFS, so I'd be inclined to wait for those and see whether they will offer similar gains this time round.

For the future, the other changes I'd suggest would be to storage (the 990 is great, but I'm not sure it's good value; you want the second SSD to be an NVMe drive too), and possibly also to the case. The Define 7 XL is an amazing case, but it is still somewhat limited by being "quiet" in its design. In some situations (and "having a 4090" is likely to be one of them) it'll be limiting in terms of cooling. I'd suggest another top-line system, like the Fractal Meshify 2, which is more designed around peak airflow/cooling/performance.
Thanks for the reply!

So if I was to choose the i7-13700k over the i9-13900KF I would see zero difference?

In terms of AMD, I've never been a fan of AMD. I've always stuck with Intel. When do you think intel will bring out a new chipset?

In terms of the case, confirm Fractual Meshify 2 compact case is going to see better performance than the Define 7 XL?

In terms of the second driver to be NVMe driver, it dosent give me this option? Do I just select two SSD drivers and no Storage drive? Whats the difference?
 

robin h 25

Well-known member
Want to purchase a rig that plays MSFS at 4k at max settings with max FPs. Will be using the new Alienware 34 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor - AW3423DWF monitor.

I couldn't help but notice that you're wanting a 4K gaming rig and to play at 4K, but will be using a 1440p monitor (not 4K),
Do you have a 4K monitor? or are looking at getting one?

That Alienware is a nice monitor but its not 4K, It's 3440x1440 ( 1440p widescreen ), 4K is 3840x2160.
 

TheBlackRat

New member
I couldn't help but notice that you're wanting a 4K gaming rig and to play at 4K, but will be using a 1440p monitor (not 4K),
Do you have a 4K monitor? or are looking at getting one?

That Alienware is a nice monitor but its not 4K, It's 3440x1440 ( 1440p widescreen ), 4K is 3840x2160.
Oh you are very right! Thanks for noticing! What's the "go to" 4k monitor?
 

sck451

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Thanks for the reply!

So if I was to choose the i7-13700k over the i9-13900KF I would see zero difference?
I'm not sure about "zero" difference; I am sure about there being no meaningful difference.

In terms of AMD, I've never been a fan of AMD. I've always stuck with Intel. When do you think intel will bring out a new chipset?
That's very unsound thinking to my mind! Both brands provide very good products today and you should go with whichever is providing best performance and best value. For MSFS in particular, AMD is much better. (Also, their motherboards and their upgradability is considerably superior to Intel's.) Intel will probably bring out a 14000-series next year, but their current gen is still beaten by AMD's last gen 3D chip in MSFS, so I wouldn't presume it will "win".

In terms of the case, confirm Fractual Meshify 2 compact case is going to see better performance than the Define 7 XL?
I wouldn't go for the compact. I doubt it would fit the 4090 in it! You'd need to do "send in your own case" with a better one. Do I know it would be measurably better? No, but it's a sound principle to go for good airflow in computers, both for present-day needs and for future ones. If you need "quiet", go for the Define 7 (though it isn't silent), but if you don't, go for something better.

In terms of the second driver to be NVMe driver, it dosent give me this option? Do I just select two SSD drivers and no Storage drive? Whats the difference?
Yep, there's no need to include anything in the "storage" options. Just include two NVMe/M.2 SSD drives. The difference is (a) speed and (b) features. The "storage drives" are over the SATA protocol, old, with features based around hard drives, and limited to 600MB/s. M.2 drives are over the PCIe protocol, modern, with features based around solid-state storage, and are much faster, currently up to around 7000MB/s.

Oh you are very right! Thanks for noticing! What's the "go to" 4k monitor?
4K isn't "better" than 1440p (or UWQHD, which is what that Alienware display is). It's a higher resolution, but it's also more demanding and will produce lower framerates. I would suggest going for a 4K display would be inferior to the Alienware, which is probably the best display there is today.
 

sck451

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
(If you do want a 4K display, probably the best options are the Gigabyte M28U or the Samsung Neo G7. The former is about £450; the latter about £1100.)
 
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