X-Plane 12 System Requirements
X-Plane 12, released Dec 17, 2022, is a simulation game from Laminar Research. Its recommended spec points at AMD Radeon RX 6600 graphics with an Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU; below we translate that into parts you can actually buy today.
Official System Requirements
The minimum specs for X-Plane 12 call for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050-class graphics, AMD Ryzen 3 3100-class processor, 8 GB of RAM and 23 GB of storage.
The recommended specs for X-Plane 12 call for AMD Radeon RX 6600-class graphics, Intel Core i5-8600K-class processor, 16 GB of RAM and 23 GB of storage.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 3 3100 | Intel Core i5-8600K |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 | AMD Radeon RX 6600 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 23 GB | 23 GB |
Original published requirement text
Minimum: Minimum:
Recommended: Recommended:
Best GPU for X-Plane 12
Full GPU guide →X-Plane 12's stated graphics card is roughly AMD Radeon RX 6600 level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Arc B570
~$259.99Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
Other options at this level
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Recommended
AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT
~$350AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT adds headroom with 16GB VRAM - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Performance
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti
~$430NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti leaves plenty of margin with 16GB VRAM for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Best CPU for X-Plane 12
Full CPU guide →X-Plane 12's stated processor is roughly Intel Core i5-8600K level. The current sweet spot is the AMD Ryzen 5 5500, with cheaper and faster options either side.
Budget
Intel Core i3-14100F
~$104.97Intel Core i3-14100F is the cheapest current chip that clears this game's recommended bar. Fine for 1080p.
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
~$84.93AMD Ryzen 5 5500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Performance
Intel Core i5-14400F
~$178.99Intel Core i5-14400F leaves plenty of margin for higher resolutions and frame rates.
Other options at this level
Prices are approximate, not live Amazon prices — the link opens the current listing on your regional Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended PC build for X-Plane 12
Full build guide →Want the whole tower speced out? Our X-Plane 12 build guide pairs these CPU and GPU picks with RAM, motherboard, SSD, PSU and case at budget, recommended and performance tiers, with an approximate total.
Can these parts run X-Plane 12?
- Can the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT run X-Plane 12?
- Yes. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is well ahead of X-Plane 12's AMD Radeon RX 6600 target, so expect a comfortable 1080p experience with headroom to spare.
- Can the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 run X-Plane 12?
- Yes. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 meets or beats X-Plane 12's Intel Core i5-8600K recommendation, so 1080p should run smoothly.
FAQ
- What is the cheapest GPU for X-Plane 12?
- Intel Arc B570 - Intel Arc B570 is the cheapest current card that clears this game's recommended bar with 10GB VRAM. Fine for 1080p.
- Which CPU should I get for X-Plane 12?
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500 - AMD Ryzen 5 5500 adds headroom - a safe pick for 1080p high or 1440p depending on the game.
- How much RAM does X-Plane 12 need?
- X-Plane 12 lists 16 GB of system memory. 16 GB is a safe modern baseline.
- Is a AMD Radeon RX 6600 still enough for X-Plane 12?
- It matches the game's stated target, so it will run, but it is an older part. A current card in the budget tier above gives you driver support and better efficiency for a similar outlay.