Hi folks.

I've been using a second PC networked to my primary flightsim PC to handle some things like ATC, Navigraph Charts, and various tools like SimToolkitPro, FS-FlightControl, etc. Using a networked PC is sometimes a bit clunky, and some newer tools don't seem to support a networked setup.

My primary monitor is an ultra-widescreen running at 3440 x 1440, and my GPU is an RTX 4070 Super.

I have a second monitor that I use for work, which is a 4k monitor, currently connected to my work laptop. If I added this monitor to my flightsim PC, would it have a significant effect on my MSFS framerates or performance? I'd be using it mostly for tools outside of MSFS, but also for some pop-up windows from within the sim, e.g, BATC. What I don't intend to do is use the 2nd monitor to expand the MSFS main screen.

I have onboard graphics available too, but I don't know if trying to utilize that for the 2nd display is likely to cause more trouble than it's worth.

Right now I'm primarily flying 2020, but will be moving to 2024 in the future.

Thanks!

Alistair

 

Edited May 8, 20251 yr by Alistair Logie
spelling/grammar

It is very simple: 3440 x 1440 is 4,953,600 pixels. If you add a 4k monitor, which has a resolution of 3480 x 2160 you are adding 7,516,800 pixel for a total of over 12,000,000 pixels so not quite 3 times the pixels (15,000,000) would be approx 3 x....

Figure out your current fps. It should roughly go down by 2/3 the amount of frame rate. Best thing is to try it out...

 

I run a similar setup and I am quite happy with the frame rates....

Go for it. I recently added a 4K TV to run FS2020 and 20224 and now use my ultra-wide 2K screen (3440x1440) as a second monitor to display tools just as you intend to do. I lost a few FPS going from 2K to 4K but not a lot. Having my second monitor turned ON or OFF makes no difference in resulting FPS.

14700K with RTX4080 16GB

On 5/9/2025 at 3:12 AM, Silicuss said:

It is very simple: 3440 x 1440 is 4,953,600 pixels. If you add a 4k monitor, which has a resolution of 3480 x 2160 you are adding 7,516,800 pixel for a total of over 12,000,000 pixels so not quite 3 times the pixels (15,000,000) would be approx 3 x....

Figure out your current fps. It should roughly go down by 2/3 the amount of frame rate. Best thing is to try it out...

That calculation is only valid when the extra monitor is also used in MSFS as an extra screen. The OP wants to use the extra monitor to display 2D applications and not the sim itself so the impact would be far less.

I would recommend plugging in the second monitor into the onboard graphics port and proceeding from there. I did just that and have no issues The discrete gpu handles the sim and the second monitor would be handled by the on board.  Once configured anything moved to the second monitor should not be taking resources from your primary GPU.