5 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

Some people are reluctant to upgrade because they are afraid that there will be issues that they do not want with the new simulator. This is why I have resisted the temptation to upgrade, and it is also why I am a bit apprehensive now that I have decided to make the switch. If someone has everything running perfectly in MSFS 2020, then it is completely understandable if they are reluctant to "rock the boat". In my case, I have reached the "tipping point", because I want to be able to visit some "MSFS 2024 only" airports, and enjoy features like the improved night lighting, better depiction of dawn and dusk (more subtle red band on the horizon), the increased detail at ground level, and improved flight dynamics/ground handling with payware aircraft. I am just hoping that those reported issues that have concerned me in the past are not as bad as some people claim 

Oh you'll be beside yourself the first week or two.  You will invent new swear words to describe certain "features", just as I did.  But after that, it should be good.  Especially now.

(you like my rosy positivity?  heh heh)

On 12/9/2025 at 9:58 PM, UrgentSiesta said:

Honest question: can ONE addon really move the needle like that…?

Pmdg 747 will.

Long time flight simmer. I still have 2020 installed but after SU 4 was finalized I really jumped in to 2024. I moved all of my airports into 2024 and most of my airplanes and, so far, everything is good. I'm still grinding through the controller set ups, that's a pain. All that said I just took my first night flight from Seattle to Portland and the difference at the airports, and along the way, has pretty much sold me. I am having some stupid problem with Active Sky, for some reason it won't install into the 2024 toolbar. I've submitted a ticket. So, I'm on my way and looking forward to the PMDG 737 and 747. 

On 12/11/2025 at 12:55 PM, JYW said:

It's totally your choice and you don't need to justify that choice to anyone.   But..... imagine if people had said "I've got my Pentium IV set up perfectly now... no need to move to an i7".     Or, "I've got FSX set up perfectly now.  No need to move to MSFS".

As well as you might have MSFS 2020 set up, you're missing out on stacks of additional performance, visuals, new features and improved flight dynamics by sticking with 2020 and not migrating to 2024.   

I mean the thing is, isn't it inevitable?    So why put it off?

You don't need to justify anything as far as MSFS2024 features and pros for me.

Just worry about your own enjoyment, flight sim wants and needs for now.

I promise you, I'm going to have a great experience no matter the sim version I'm on.

 

I still use fs2020 and I do use the PMDG 737 a lot so the updated 737 coming for '24 is a factor.

But, I think another very big factor that has slowed the transition is the huge price tag currently for getting/building a top level computer. FS2020 runs very stable and many may want to move to '24 when they get a new computer, but are putting that off. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, it was just a no-brainer to get the latest hardware as computers advanced, but the supply issues caused by the AI craze have pushed prices to quite absurd levels for some components. I, thankfully, can afford to build a new rig which I will be doing, but I do notice the price tags and I'm sure there are many that are just not in a position to swing it. So, they stick with what is working well.

1 hour ago, rjquick said:

I still use fs2020 and I do use the PMDG 737 a lot so the updated 737 coming for '24 is a factor.

But, I think another very big factor that has slowed the transition is the huge price tag currently for getting/building a top level computer. FS2020 runs very stable and many may want to move to '24 when they get a new computer, but are putting that off. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, it was just a no-brainer to get the latest hardware as computers advanced, but the supply issues caused by the AI craze have pushed prices to quite absurd levels for some components. I, thankfully, can afford to build a new rig which I will be doing, but I do notice the price tags and I'm sure there are many that are just not in a position to swing it. So, they stick with what is working well.

I'm glad the days of pricey rigs for MSFS are over for many since ASOBO gave us an efficient sim.

My 2020 computer works better in 2024 and probably not far off a PS5.

Anyway MSFS 2024 is great all around.  

Also I no longer buy the expensive sim controls because the XBOX controller can do it all.

dd

Edited December 14, 2025Dec 14 by Sky_Pilot071

1 hour ago, rjquick said:

I still use fs2020 and I do use the PMDG 737 a lot so the updated 737 coming for '24 is a factor.

But, I think another very big factor that has slowed the transition is the huge price tag currently for getting/building a top level computer. FS2020 runs very stable and many may want to move to '24 when they get a new computer, but are putting that off. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, it was just a no-brainer to get the latest hardware as computers advanced, but the supply issues caused by the AI craze have pushed prices to quite absurd levels for some components. I, thankfully, can afford to build a new rig which I will be doing, but I do notice the price tags and I'm sure there are many that are just not in a position to swing it. So, they stick with what is working well.

Interesting thing, IMHO, is that I truly don’t feel the difference between 2020 and 2024 on the same hardware. and mine isn’t great by any means. 

i.e., I don’t think it’s necessary to buy a new rig for v2024 at all, as long as v2020 is already running well. 

1 hour ago, rjquick said:

I still use fs2020 and I do use the PMDG 737 a lot so the updated 737 coming for '24 is a factor.

But, I think another very big factor that has slowed the transition is the huge price tag currently for getting/building a top level computer. FS2020 runs very stable and many may want to move to '24 when they get a new computer, but are putting that off. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, it was just a no-brainer to get the latest hardware as computers advanced, but the supply issues caused by the AI craze have pushed prices to quite absurd levels for some components. I, thankfully, can afford to build a new rig which I will be doing, but I do notice the price tags and I'm sure there are many that are just not in a position to swing it. So, they stick with what is working well.

You may not need to buy a new computer for MSFS 2024, provided you use settings that are reasonable for your computer.

This person is running an i7 4790K, 1080 Ti with 11GB VRAM, and 32 GB ram, and they claim MSFS 2024 works fine for them at 1440p:

i7 4790K with an 1080 Ti is an ancient computer.  But this person found MSFS 2024 worked fine for them.  And if you have an older computer, you can lower the resolution to 1080p, and MSFS 2024 may still run fine.

Edited December 14, 2025Dec 14 by abrams_tank

8 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Interesting thing, IMHO, is that I truly don’t feel the difference between 2020 and 2024 on the same hardware. and mine isn’t great by any means. 

i.e., I don’t think it’s necessary to buy a new rig for v2024 at all, as long as v2020 is already running well. 

I think many have become so used to having to buy a new computer for a new flight simulator that they simply assume MSFS 2024 must be the same.

But same here - in terms of performance, I think 2024 actually has an edge for me. And let's not even start on how much more quickly it loads... 

24 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

And if you have an older computer, you can lower the resolution to 1080p

This is an extraordinarily important consideration. 

IMHO, rendering resolution has a FAR greater impact on performance than the benefits it pertains. 

most folks would get a much better experience by lowering the resolution to 1080 and raising the settings to High/Ultra than lowering settings to get decent performance at 2K/4K. 

Edited December 14, 2025Dec 14 by UrgentSiesta

2 hours ago, rjquick said:

I still use fs2020 and I do use the PMDG 737 a lot so the updated 737 coming for '24 is a factor.

But, I think another very big factor that has slowed the transition is the huge price tag currently for getting/building a top level computer. FS2020 runs very stable and many may want to move to '24 when they get a new computer, but are putting that off. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, it was just a no-brainer to get the latest hardware as computers advanced, but the supply issues caused by the AI craze have pushed prices to quite absurd levels for some components. I, thankfully, can afford to build a new rig which I will be doing, but I do notice the price tags and I'm sure there are many that are just not in a position to swing it. So, they stick with what is working well.

You shouldn't need a new computer.

I mean if you have an 8GB vidcard and plan to run 4K, /then/ you might need to upgrade the card.   Other than that, 24 should run as well as 20 or better on your existing hardware.