This $20,000 Microsoft Flight Simulator rig is more expensive than some real planes

Microsoft
$20,000 Microsoft Flight Simulator rig (Image credit: Microsoft)

Nvidia's modding team, known as GeForce Garage, has put together an irresponsibly large and immersive Microsoft Flight Sim rig that may only be rivaled by flying an actual plane. Amateur pilots eat your heart out.  

Sitting comfortably?

(Image credit: Secretlab)

Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs around
Best PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on

The rig's PC portion uses a beefy EK water-cooled system, powered by none other than the Geforce RTX 3080, running Microsoft Flight Simulator on three LG CX 65" TVs linked together via Nvidia Surround, at an ultrawide 5760 x 1080 resolution. 

All of the flight controls and avionics displays are from the Logitech G series of accessories, and the motion platforms are from Next Level Racing. 

That gear helps step up the immersion by tilting your cockpit as you roll and pitch your plane. We are only talking about 10 degrees so, don't expect to perform barrel rolls in your own home, but still pretty cool. 

There's even a ButtKicker transducer attached under the seat so you can feel the rumble of your landing gear and engine as you take off and land. We've not seen one of those in use since the early 2000s.

Honestly, outside of strapping a super high-res VR headset to your head as well, this is probably about as immersive a Flight Sim set up as you're going to get. You just need a whole bunch of cash and somewhere for it to actually live. It's not like this thing is going to fold up under your couch.

Here's a breakdown of all of the gear used in the video, and it's one hell of a shopping list. 

PC

  • Chassis: CoolerMaster SL600M
  • Graphics: GeForce RTX 3080
  • Motherboard: ASUS ROG MAXIMUS XII Formula
  • Processor: Intel i9-10900k
  • Memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB (4x8) 4000Mhz
  • Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (x2)
  • Power: SeaSonic FOCUS Plus Platinum 850W
  • Cooling: EKWB- Quantum-Velocity CPU Block with Monoblock, Founders Edition GPU Quantum-Vector waterblock, Quantum-Torque Fittings, and two CoolStream Radiators
  • Cables: Mainframe Customs

Rig - Logitech G Peripherals

  • Flight Yoke System + Flight Rudder Pedals
  • Flight Throttle Quadrant
  • Professional Simulation LCD Multi-instrument Controller (x6)
  • Professional Simulation Radio Controller (x2)
  • Flight Switch Pane
  • Flight Multipanel
  • G703 Lightsync PC Gaming Speakers
  • G915 Lightspeed Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
  • G560 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming mouse

Next Level Racing Platform & Extras

  • Traction Plus Platform
  • Motion Platform V3
  • GTTRACK Flight Simulator
  • Free Standing Single Monitor Stands (x3)
  • LG OLED 65" 4K TV x3

The price tag on this extravagant cockpit is roughly around $20,000 and took over 12 hours to build by one person. In case you're wondering you can score yourself a sweet bird for just over $10,000, assuming you have a place to store it and a pilot's license. 

The GeForce Garage team is currently running a contest to go with its latest creation, where one lucky winner with the best in-game screenshot of Microsoft Flight Simulator can win an elusive RTX 3080 GPU. That's live later today over on the Microsoft Flight Simulator Forum, and might be your best chance to bag a new graphics card right now.

Jorge Jimenez
Hardware writer, Human Pop-Tart

Jorge is a hardware writer from the enchanted lands of New Jersey. When he's not filling the office with the smell of Pop-Tarts, he's reviewing all sorts of gaming hardware, from laptops with the latest mobile GPUs to gaming chairs with built-in back massagers. He's been covering games and tech for over ten years and has written for Dualshockers, WCCFtech, Tom's Guide, and a bunch of other places on the world wide web.