Updated on August 14, 2022
In X-Plane 11, we have measured the FPS of various Nvidia GPUs. Depending on the scenario, the FPS varied significantly. Clear skies, daylight, and New York City were the conditions in which we evaluated the FPS. Results in X-Plane 11 were poor when using an AMD graphics card. AMD isn’t necessarily to blame for this. Other games run smoothly on the AMD hardware. If you want to run X Plane 11 right now, you’ll need an NVIDIA graphics card. We’ve compiled a list of the finest X-Plane 11 graphics cards below.
[Note: Graphics card prices are skyrocketing due to a lack of supply or some other reason.] Adding and contrasting them based on the Release price was our goal.]
Table of Contents
Best Graphics Card for X-Plane 11
The Nvidia GTX 1650 Gaming X is a fantastic pick if you’re searching for a graphics card with low power consumption and excellent performance in X Plane 11. X-Plane 11 at 1080p High graphics settings is no problem for this GPU. It is cost-effective and uses little energy. The MSI GTX 1650 Gaming X outperforms the GTX 1050 Ti in terms of performance. This graphics card is 35 percent quicker than the GTX 1050 Ti in X-Plane 11 and only 6-7 percent slower than AMD RX 570 in terms of performance.
Fans can be turned off during light use using the MSI GTX 1650 Gaming X’s fan-stop feature. In gaming, the GPU’s noise level drops to just 29 dBA, making it almost inaudible. Most of the fantastic features of a budget GPU can be found in this one.
In terms of XPlane 11 performance, it’s right up there with the GTX 1650 Super.
FPS Test at 1080p Resolution in X-Plane 11
Graphics
FPS (Vulkun)
FPS (Open GL)
Low
88
70
Medium
76
59
High
56
39
Specifications
Model name
MSI GTX 1650 Gaming X
Cuda Cores
896
Dimensions (Lx W x H)
245 mm x 127 mm x 39mm
Base Clock
1485 MHz
Boost Clock
1860 MHz
Memory
4GB GDDR6
Memory speed
8Gbps
Memory Bus
128-bit
Memory Bandwidth
128.08GB/s
Outputs
1x HDMI |2x DisplayPort
TDP
75W
Suggested PSU/ Minimum PSU
350W/300W
Power Connectors
1x 6-pin
Pros and Cons
⊕ Things I like
⊗ Things I Don’t Like
Extremely quiet in gaming
No Backplate
Good overclocking potential
Memory not Overclocked
Idle Fan stop
Low Temperature
8K Support
VIEW ON AMAZON
You may play X-Plane 11 with 1080p High settings on Zotac GTX 1660 Super. In terms of performance, it’s a touch slower than the GTX 1660 Ti, but it’s a lot faster than the GTX 1660. GTX 1660 Super is 10 percent quicker than GTX 1660 and GTX 1660 Ti is only 1-2 percent slower. The Nvidia GTX 1070’s performance can be matched with this GPU.
The Zotac GTX 1660 Super has a GDDR6 memory capacity of 6 GB. Not only is it fast, but the memory itself is lightning-fast. The GTX 1660 Super’s memory is clocked at 14 Gbps, whereas the GTX 1660 Ti’s memory is clocked at 12 Gbps, which indicates that the GTX 1660 Ti has slower memory. Although the GPU coolers did a good job of keeping the graphics card cool, the fans were a bit loud, which may be an issue for certain gamers who are sensitive to noise. With X-Plane 11, you’ll mostly certainly be using headphones or speakers to hear the game sounds. As a result, the Fans won’t make any noise. Overall, however, the Zotac GTX 1660 Super Twin Fan is an outstanding value for money and an extremely power-efficient card.
FPS Test at 1080p Resolution in X-Plane 11
Graphics
FPS (Vulkun)
FPS (Open GL)
Low
97
80
Medium
86
66
High
62
47
There was a large drop in FPS at 4K resolution because of less memory but, the game was playable at 4K with medium graphics maintaining almost 35 FPS.
Specifications
Model Name
Zotac GeForce 1660 Super Twin Fan
Cuda Cores
1408
Dimensions (Lx Wx H)
210mm x119 mm x41mm
Base Clock
1530 MHz
Boost Clock
1845 MHz
Memory
6GB GDDR6
Memory speed
14 Gbps
Memory Bus
192-bit
Memory Bandwidth
336 GB/s
Outputs
1x HDMI & 3x DisplayPort
TDP
125W
Suggested PSU
350W
Pros and Cons
⊕ Things I like
⊗ Things I Don’t Like
Almost as fast as 1660 Ti
No Idle Fan Stop
Compact design
No backplate
Energy efficient
Not that quiet while gaming
Ultra-Low Latency
no support for RTX and DLSS
Low temperature
Great overclocking capacity
Great price/performance ratio
VIEW ON AMAZON
A 1440p display is preferred by many gamers when playing games such as X-Plane 11, and the Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti is the finest option if you are one of them. The Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti is capable of running X-Plane 11 at 1440p with maximum graphics settings. Playable at 4K High graphics, the game works nicely with medium graphics settings at 1440p.
The Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti offers superior performance and a lower price than the Nvidia RTX 2080 Super. Compared to the Founders Edition, the Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC Pro is 2 percent quicker and 41% faster than the RTX 2060 Super.
This cooler from Gigabyte is better than the one from Founders Edition. Compared to the Nvidia 3060 Ti Founders Edition, it offers a 7°C improvement in cooling performance. There is a small increase in sound volume (35 dBA) over that of the Founders Edition. However, the noise level was tolerable.
FPS Test in X-Plane 11
Graphics
FPS(Open-GL)
1440p-MAX
40
1080-MAX
51
1080p-High
70
FPS Test at 4K Resolution in X Plane 11
Graphics
FPS (Vulkun)
FPS (Open GL)
Medium
75
61
High
37
35
Specifications
Model Name
Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC Pro
Cuda Cores
4864
Dimensions (Lx W x H)
286mm x 115mm x 51mm
Base Clock
1410 MHz
Boost Clock
1770 MHz
Memory
8GB GDDR6
Memory Clock
1750 MHz (14 Gbps)
Memory Bus
256-bit
Memory Bandwidth
448 GB/s
Outputs
2x HDMI and 2x DisplayPort
TDP
200W
Suggested PSU
600W
Pros and Cons
⊕ Things I like
⊗ Things I Don’t Like
Faster than RTX 2080 Super
As compared to Founders Edition, it’s not that quiet
Capable of 4K in many games
Runs in power limit all the time
Idle fan stop feature
Price increase over MSRP
Overclocked out of the box
Very low temperatures
Improved DLSS
Increased Power limit
VIEW ON AMAZON
The EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra is the final graphics card on the list. If you want to play X-Plane 11 at the highest settings, this is the graphics card for you. Playing at 4K resolution with maximum graphics settings is no problem for the EVGA RTX 3080. One of the most factory overclocked RTX 3080 models is the EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra. The RTX 3080 Founders Edition is 5% faster than the RTX 3080, while the RTX 2080 Ti is 38% faster. Although the RTX 2080 Ti is more expensive, it offers fewer functionality than the EVGA RTX 3080.
The EVGA RTX 3080’s thermal solution is excellent and quiet while playing X-Plane 11. An beautiful backplate completes the package. In addition, the power efficiency has been greatly increased. The RTX 3080 is a poor pick for playing X-plane 11 at 1440p or 1080p. That being the case, I would only suggest this GPU for 4K games.
Expected FPS from EVGA RTX 3080 in X-Plane 11
Graphics
FPS-1080p (Vulkun)
FPS-1440p
FPS-4K
Low
140
117
95
Medium
122
96
64
High
100
76
45
The RTX 3080 is one of the best options for 4K Resolution. Not just in X Plane 11, its performance is excellent in other games too.
Specifications
Model Name
EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3
Cuda Cores
8704
Dimensions (Lx W)
300mm x137 mm
Base Clock
1440 MHz
Boost Clock
1800 MHz
Memory
10GB GDDR6X
Memory speed
19 Gbps
Memory Bus
320-bit
Memory Bandwidth
760.3 GB/s
Outputs
1x HDMI & 3x DisplayPort
TDP
320W
Suggested PSU
700W
Pros and Cons
⊕ Things I like
⊗ Things I Don’t Like
A significant boost in performance over the RTX 2080/2080 Ti
Relatively Large price increase over Founders edition
60 FPS is now achievable at 4K
Memory not overclocked
It has great overclocking out of the box
Runs into power limit all the time
Superb noise level
The fantastic potential of overclocking
Idle Fan-stop
Compared to the founders’ edition, no significant rise in power usage
Improved DLSS
HDMI 2.1 support, AV1 decode
VIEW ON AMAZON
Conclusion-Best Graphics card for X-Plane 11 in 2020
Choosing the best graphics card is a matter of personal preference and what you plan to use it for. Gigabyte RTX 3060 Ti Gaming OC Pro is the greatest graphics card for X-Plane 11 and other games. With this graphics card, you may play games in 4K resolution. ZOTAC GTX 1660 Super is the best cheap graphics card for X-plane 11 at this time. Gaming at 1080p is a breeze thanks to this graphics card. With its low price and high performance, the GTX 1650 Gaming X is the best GPU to buy if you’re on a budget. The difference in FPS between the GTX 1650 Gaming X and the GTX 1650 Super is really small.