This one baffles me as it is consistent. Specs are Gigabyte Eagle AX Mobo AM5, 9800X3D, Gen 4 NVME 2TB, RTX 5080, TeamGroup 64GB Expo 1, 6000Mhz RAM, Corsair Tier 1 PSU @ 1000W.

It's a new PC build, all drivers and BIOS are current. I can install and play MSFS 2024 and any other game, no problems. With MSFS 2020, I install the 2GB setup files from the XBOX App, launch MSFS for the next part of the installation process. It will download the large update, the screen changes right before you get to the Main Screen. At that point it locks up, then I get a CTD. I relaunch the game again, same thing happens. I tried installing it on my Gen 4 SSD C :  drive with all defaults, CTD after the huge update. I tried installing it on my 2nd Gen 4 drive and CTD after the huge update, same result.

The update prior to download asks where you want it to save. I chose the default which is the operating system drive but it doesn't matter because it will install the update files where the MSFS resides.

Any ideas?

Edited September 25, 2025Sep 25 by Rodster
Forgot to add something

DX11 or DX12?  

Nvidia App installed?  

33 minutes ago, psolk said:

DX11 or DX12?  

Nvidia App installed? 

Thanks for responding! No to the Nvidia App. I can't even get into the game to select DX11 or DX12 (Beta).

You are very welcome

Credit to AI and because I have seen this posted here before, not my information but you can do it outside the sim... 

To change MSFS to DX11, edit the UserCfg.opt file by finding the line PreferD3D12 1 and changing the 1 to a 0 using Notepad, then save the file. Ensure the UserCfg.opt file is not set to read-only before making the change. 

 

Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. 1. Locate the UserCfg.opt file:

   • Navigate to the following path in File Explorer: `%LocalAppData%\Packages\<<!nav>>Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\`. 
      
   • Find the UserCfg.opt file in this folder. 
      
2. 2. Check the Read-Only attribute:

   • Right-click the UserCfg.opt file and select Properties. 
      
   • On the General tab, make sure the Read-only attribute is unchecked. If it's checked, uncheck it and click Apply then OK. 
      
3. 3. Edit the file:

   • Right-click on the UserCfg.opt file and choose Open with > Notepad. Do not use Wordpad, as it can corrupt the file. 
      
   • Look for the line that says PreferD3D12 1. 
      
   • Change the 1 at the end of the line to 0 so it reads PreferD3D12 0. 
      
4. 4. Save the changes:

   • Click File and then Save to save your changes to the UserCfg.opt file. 

Edited September 25, 2025Sep 25 by psolk

Thanks I will try that once my 150GB update is finished. What's weird is I can successfully install MSFS on my HP Omen 30L with a 3080. I tried copying the entire folder from the HP Omen 30L to a USB drive then copying it to my DIY PC and it too crashed and burned.

16 minutes ago, psolk said:

Credit to AI and because I have seen this posted here before, not my information but you can do it outside the sim... 

So, is that CTD caused when using DX12?. Does it depend on using DX12 together with the Nvidia App?. 

Sorry, but let me re-phrase my question: Is MSFS2020 having CTD's when running in DX12 mode and using the Nvidia App at the same time?.

Edited September 25, 2025Sep 25 by edpatino

1 hour ago, edpatino said:

So, is that CTD caused when using DX12?. Does it depend on using DX12 together with the Nvidia App?. 

Sorry, but let me re-phrase my question: Is MSFS2020 having CTD's when running in DX12 mode and using the Nvidia App at the same time?.

Nope, no problems with that setup on my end... DX12 with the app works fine

I actually like to "see" the app's optimization suggestions but don't let it actually optimize.  It actually suggested I turn some settings up...

7 hours ago, psolk said:

Credit to AI and because I have seen this posted here before, not my information but you can do it outside the sim... 

Hey huge thanks, that fixed the problem. I experimented a bit once I got MSFS 2020 to launch. I changed it back to DX11, quit the game and it crashed again. I changed the setting again in the config file to DX12(Beta) and it worked again.

So apparently my RTX 5080 will only work with MSFS in DX12 mode and not DX11 which is the games default setting. I am now able to hit pretty consistently 60FPS at JFK in High End mode at night. Once I get over a 1000ft, it pretty much locks in at 60FPS.

I tried Ultra and it jumped around until I get over 1500ft and it starts to hit 53FPS. I always use DLSS (Quality) regardless. Without DLSS for some reason I get some shimmering looking out towards the landscape.

Edited September 26, 2025Sep 26 by Rodster

EDIT: nevermind, I didn't read the initial message correctly.

Edited September 26, 2025Sep 26 by Daube

FYI, it looks like MS/Asobo decided to use DX12 as default because a couple of days ago MSFS 2020 started crashing as I was using DX11 on another PC with an RTX 3080 that runs both DX11/12. I had it set to DX11 because it seems to run a little smoother for me in DX11. Crash after crash as soon it loaded the airport. Up to that point it was fine. I thought about this thread and went and changed the graphics settings to DX12 and the no more crashes.