Graphics Presets Explained
Estimated Lesson Time: 35–45 Minutes
Lesson Overview
Congratulations!
You’ve reached the final lesson of Module 3.
Over the past seventeen lessons you’ve learnt exactly what every major graphics setting in Microsoft Flight Simulator does.
You’ve discovered:
- Which settings affect the CPU.
- Which settings affect the GPU.
- Which settings affect VRAM.
- Which settings increase RAM usage.
- Which settings have the biggest visual impact.
- Which settings are worth reducing.
Now it’s time to put everything together.
Microsoft Flight Simulator provides several graphics presets:
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Ultra
Many users simply select one of these presets and never change another setting.
However…
The best performance rarely comes from using a preset exactly as it is.
The goal of this lesson is to understand what each preset changes and why building a custom preset is usually the best approach.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson you will understand:
What Graphics Presets are.
What each preset changes.
Which preset is best for different hardware.
Why no preset is perfect.
Why custom settings almost always produce the best balance.
How to build your own preset.
1. What Is A Graphics Preset?
A Graphics Preset is a collection of predefined settings.
Instead of adjusting every option individually…
Microsoft Flight Simulator changes multiple settings at once.
This provides an easy starting point for new users.
Each preset adjusts dozens of options, including:
Clouds.
Terrain LOD.
Object LOD.
Shadows.
Texture Resolution.
Reflections.
Lighting.
Trees.
Grass.
Water.
Traffic.
Many other graphics settings.
Think of a preset as a “starting template” rather than a final configuration.
2. Low Preset
The Low preset is designed for systems with limited hardware performance.
It reduces almost every graphics setting to minimise CPU and GPU workload.
Typical characteristics:
- Lower Terrain LOD.
- Lower Object LOD.
- Simpler shadows.
- Reduced cloud quality.
- Basic reflections.
- Simpler vegetation.
- Lower texture quality.
Advantages
Highest FPS.
Lowest GPU load.
Lowest CPU demand.
Useful for older systems.
Helpful for troubleshooting performance problems.
Disadvantages
Reduced visual quality.
Short draw distances.
Simpler scenery.
Lower immersion.
Not representative of what MSFS is capable of visually.
Recommended For
- Older PCs.
- Entry-level GPUs.
- Systems struggling to maintain smooth performance.
- Initial troubleshooting.
3. Medium Preset
Medium improves image quality while keeping performance requirements relatively modest.
Typical improvements include:
Better cloud quality.
Improved shadows.
Higher object density.
Sharper terrain.
Improved vegetation.
Better reflections.
Advantages
Good balance.
Noticeable improvement over Low.
Suitable for many mid-range systems.
Disadvantages
Some scenery still lacks long-distance detail.
Airports remain less immersive than higher presets.
Certain lighting effects are reduced.
Recommended For
- Entry-level gaming PCs.
- Older CPUs.
- Mid-range graphics cards at higher resolutions.
4. High Preset
High is where Microsoft Flight Simulator begins to showcase much of its visual potential.
Typical improvements include:
Longer draw distances.
Better cloud rendering.
Sharper textures.
Improved reflections.
More detailed airports.
Higher quality shadows.
Better vegetation.
Advantages
Excellent image quality.
Very immersive.
Strong balance between visuals and performance.
Suitable for many modern gaming systems.
Disadvantages
Higher GPU workload.
Higher CPU workload.
Performance may drop at large airports on less powerful hardware.
Recommended For
- Modern gaming PCs.
- Mid-range to high-end systems.
- Most users seeking an excellent balance.
5. Ultra Preset
Ultra enables the highest quality settings available.
Examples include:
Maximum cloud quality.
Maximum shadows.
Longest draw distances.
Maximum object density.
Highest texture quality.
Most detailed reflections.
Maximum vegetation.
Best overall visuals.
Advantages
Outstanding realism.
Maximum immersion.
Excellent screenshot quality.
Ideal for powerful hardware.
Disadvantages
Very demanding on both CPU and GPU.
May reduce performance significantly at large airports or in complex weather.
Not every setting offers a noticeable visual improvement compared with High.
Recommended For
- High-end gaming PCs.
- Powerful CPUs.
- High-end GPUs.
- Users prioritising visual quality over maximum FPS.
6. Comparing The Presets
|
Preset |
Image Quality |
CPU Load |
GPU Load |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Low |
★☆☆☆☆ |
★☆☆☆☆ |
★☆☆☆☆ |
|
Medium |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
★★☆☆☆ |
|
High |
★★★★☆ |
★★★☆☆ |
★★★★☆ |
|
Ultra |
★★★★★ |
★★★★☆ |
★★★★★ |
7. Are Presets Perfect?
No.
Every PC is different.
For example:
Two users may both own an RTX 5080.
However:
One has a Ryzen 5 processor.
The other has a Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
Although the graphics cards are identical…
Their optimal settings will be different because the CPUs perform differently.
Likewise, two users with the same CPU may have different monitor resolutions, different amounts of VRAM or different flying preferences.
This is why presets are only a starting point.
8. Which Preset Is Actually Worth Using?
For many modern gaming PCs, High is often the best starting point.
It delivers:
Excellent visuals.
Good performance.
Balanced CPU workload.
Balanced GPU workload.
From there, you can customise individual settings based on your own hardware.
Examples:
Increase Terrain LOD.
Lower Clouds.
Reduce Traffic.
Increase Texture Resolution.
Adjust Reflections.
This approach usually provides better results than simply selecting Ultra.
9. Why Custom Settings Are Better
Throughout this module you’ve learnt exactly what every graphics setting does.
Instead of relying on a preset…
You can now make informed decisions.
For example:
Leave Textures on Ultra because your GPU has plenty of VRAM.
Reduce Clouds because you’re GPU limited.
Lower AI Traffic because you’re MainThread limited.
Increase Terrain LOD because you mainly fly VFR.
Reduce Ground Aircraft because you fly into busy airports.
This creates a configuration tailored to your PC and your style of flying.
10. Build Your Own Preset
Using everything you’ve learnt, build your own graphics profile.
Ask yourself:
- Am I CPU limited?
- Am I GPU limited?
- How much VRAM do I have?
- What resolution do I use?
- Do I mainly fly airliners or VFR?
- Do I prioritise FPS or image quality?
Answering these questions will help you create a setup that works for you.
11. Common Myths
Myth 1
“Ultra is always the best.”
False.
Ultra is only the best if your hardware can run it smoothly and you value the visual improvements.
Myth 2
“High is only for weaker PCs.”
False.
High is an excellent starting point for many modern systems because it offers strong visual quality without the full performance cost of Ultra.
Myth 3
“Changing presets is enough.”
False.
Presets are designed as starting points.
Fine-tuning individual settings often produces a better overall experience.
Myth 4
“Everyone should use the same settings.”
False.
Hardware, monitor resolution and flying style all influence the best configuration.
Student Exercise
Today we’re going to create your own custom graphics preset.
Step 1
Select the High preset as your starting point.
Step 2
Using the knowledge you’ve gained throughout Module 3, adjust individual settings based on your hardware and flying preferences.
Step 3
Run your Module 1 benchmark flight.
Record:
- Average FPS.
- Lowest FPS.
- MainThread status.
- GPU utilisation.
- VRAM usage.
- RAM usage.
- Overall smoothness.
- Overall image quality.
Step 4
Compare your custom preset with the default High preset.
Ask yourself:
- Does your custom preset provide smoother performance?
- Have you maintained the visual quality that matters most to you?
- Which changes had the biggest positive impact?
- Have you built a profile that suits your hardware and flying style?
Student Checklist
Graphics preset selected.
Custom settings created.
Benchmark flight completed.
CPU performance reviewed.
GPU performance reviewed.
VRAM usage monitored.
Best custom preset saved.
You now understand how every major graphics setting in Microsoft Flight Simulator affects performance and image quality.
Remember:
- Graphics presets are useful starting points but are not one-size-fits-all solutions.
- Low, Medium, High and Ultra each offer different balances between performance and visual quality.
- High is often an excellent starting point for many modern gaming PCs.
- Ultra delivers the best visuals but also places the greatest demands on your hardware.
- The best experience usually comes from creating a custom preset that matches your CPU, GPU, VRAM, monitor resolution and flying style.
- Optimisation is not about selecting the highest settings—it’s about making informed choices that create a smooth, stable and visually impressive simulator.
Knowledge Check
- What is a graphics preset?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Low preset?
- Why is the High preset often a strong starting point?
- Why isn’t the Ultra preset always the best choice?
- What factors should you consider when building your own graphics preset?
- Why is it important to identify whether you are CPU or GPU limited before changing settings?
- How can a custom preset provide a better experience than the default presets?
- Based on everything you’ve learnt in Module 3, what changes did you make to create the graphics profile that works best for your own PC?