Display Settings

Display Settings Explained

Estimated Lesson Time: 25–35 Minutes

Lesson Overview


In the previous lesson, we learnt that every graphics setting affects Microsoft Flight Simulator differently.

Some settings mainly affect the CPU.

Some affect the GPU.

Some affect image quality.

Others affect smoothness and responsiveness.

Before we begin adjusting the detailed graphics settings, we first need to understand the Display Settings.

These settings determine how Microsoft Flight Simulator communicates with your monitor and graphics card.

Many users overlook these options, but choosing the correct display configuration can improve image clarity, reduce screen tearing, improve smoothness, and ensure your hardware is working efficiently.

In this lesson, we’ll explain every display setting step by step so you understand exactly what each one does and when to use it.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will understand:

The difference between Windowed Mode and Full Screen Mode.

How screen resolution affects image quality and performance.

What refresh rate is and why it matters.

How V-Sync works.

What HDR is and when to enable it.

What monitor scaling is.

How multiple monitors affect Flight Simulator performance.

How to choose the correct display settings for your PC.

Why Display Settings Matter

Display settings determine how your graphics card sends an image to your monitor.

Think of them as the bridge between your PC and your display.

Choosing the wrong settings may lead to:

  • Lower FPS
  • Screen tearing
  • Increased input latency
  • Blurry visuals
  • Unnecessary GPU load
  • Poor image scaling

Choosing the correct settings creates a smoother and more enjoyable flying experience.

1. Windowed Mode vs Full Screen

One of the first settings you’ll see is Display Mode.

You will normally have two options:

  • Full Screen
  • Windowed

What Is Full Screen?

In Full Screen Mode, Microsoft Flight Simulator occupies the entire display.

Windows treats the simulator as the primary application on your screen.

Advantages include:

  • More immersive experience
  • Fewer distractions
  • Easier use of technologies such as G-Sync or FreeSync (depending on system configuration)
  • Better control over display output on many systems

For most users, Full Screen is the preferred choice when flying.

What Is Windowed Mode?

Windowed Mode runs the simulator inside a Windows desktop window.

Advantages include:

  • Easier multitasking
  • Quickly switch to browsers
  • Easier access to SimBrief
  • Navigraph Charts
  • VATSIM software
  • Discord
  • Flight planning applications

Many content creators also prefer Windowed Mode because it makes recording and streaming easier.

Which One Is Better?

Modern versions of Windows have improved Full Screen Optimisations, meaning the performance difference between Full Screen and Windowed Mode is often very small.

The best option depends on how you use your PC.

Choose Full Screen if:

  • You mainly fly without switching applications.
  • You want the most immersive experience.
  • You use a single monitor.

Choose Windowed if:

  • You frequently switch to charts or flight planning software.
  • You stream.
  • You multitask.

Test both modes and choose the one that feels most stable on your system.

2. Screen Resolution

Resolution determines how many pixels are displayed on your screen.

The more pixels the GPU must render…

The harder it has to work.

Common Resolutions

1920 × 1080

Also called:

1080p

This remains one of the most common gaming resolutions.

Advantages:

  • Lower GPU workload.
  • Higher FPS.
  • Excellent for mid-range systems.

2560 × 1440

Also called:

1440p

Advantages:

  • Sharper image than 1080p.
  • Good balance between image quality and performance.
  • Popular among Flight Simulator users.

3840 × 2160

Also called:

4K

Advantages:

  • Extremely sharp cockpit displays.
  • Crisp scenery.
  • Excellent visual quality.

Disadvantages:

  • Very demanding on the GPU.
  • Uses more VRAM.
  • Lower FPS on weaker graphics cards.

Why Resolution Affects Performance

Every frame is made up of pixels.

At:

1080p

The GPU renders around 2 million pixels.

At:

1440p

Around 3.7 million pixels.

At:

4K

Over 8 million pixels.

That means your GPU is rendering approximately four times as many pixels at 4K compared with 1080p.

Higher resolution usually means better image quality—but also more GPU workload.

Choosing The Right Resolution

Always begin by selecting your monitor’s native resolution.

Running a lower resolution than your monitor was designed for can result in a softer or blurrier image because the display has to scale the picture.

Only reduce resolution if your hardware genuinely struggles and other optimisation options have been exhausted.

3. Refresh Rate

Refresh rate refers to how many times your monitor updates the image every second.

It is measured in:

Hertz (Hz)

Common examples include:

60Hz

75Hz

120Hz

144Hz

165Hz

240Hz

360Hz

Example

A:

60Hz

monitor can display up to 60 new images every second.

A:

144Hz

monitor can display up to 144 new images every second.

Higher refresh rates create smoother motion, particularly when your PC is producing enough FPS to take advantage of them.

FPS vs Refresh Rate

Many people confuse FPS with refresh rate.

They are different.

FPS is how many frames your graphics card renders.

Refresh Rate is how many frames your monitor can display.

Example:

Your PC renders:

120 FPS

Your monitor refreshes at:

60Hz

The monitor can still only display up to 60 refreshed images each second.

Matching your simulator’s performance to your monitor’s capabilities often provides the smoothest experience.

4. V-Sync

V-Sync stands for:

Vertical Synchronisation.

Its purpose is to synchronise the frame rate produced by your GPU with your monitor’s refresh rate.

Why Screen Tearing Happens

Imagine your GPU finishes rendering a new frame while the monitor is halfway through displaying the previous one.

The monitor may show part of one frame and part of another at the same time.

This creates a horizontal split across the screen known as:

Screen Tearing.

How V-Sync Works

V-Sync tells the GPU to wait until the monitor is ready before sending the next frame.

Advantages:

  • Eliminates screen tearing.
  • Creates a cleaner image.

Possible disadvantages:

  • Can increase input latency.
  • May reduce FPS if the system cannot consistently match the monitor’s refresh rate.

Should You Use V-Sync?

It depends on your setup.

If you experience noticeable screen tearing, V-Sync may improve visual smoothness.

If your monitor supports technologies such as G-Sync or FreeSync, you may find that those technologies reduce tearing without relying on traditional V-Sync.

Test both approaches and choose the one that provides the best experience on your system.

5. HDR (High Dynamic Range)

HDR stands for:

High Dynamic Range.

HDR allows compatible monitors to display:

  • Brighter highlights.
  • Deeper shadows.
  • Improved colour depth.
  • Greater contrast.

When configured correctly, HDR can make sunsets, clouds and lighting appear more realistic.

Should You Enable HDR?

Only enable HDR if:

  • Your monitor supports HDR.
  • Windows HDR is configured correctly.
  • You are happy with the image quality.

If your monitor does not support HDR, leave this option disabled.

6. Monitor Scaling

Monitor scaling determines how an image is displayed when it does not match the monitor’s native resolution.

For the sharpest image:

Use your monitor’s native resolution whenever possible.

Running a lower resolution may improve performance, but it can reduce image sharpness because the image must be scaled.

If you need additional performance, consider adjusting settings such as Render Scaling later in this module rather than changing your display resolution immediately.

7. Multiple Monitor Considerations

Many Flight Simulator users use more than one monitor.

Examples include:

  • SimBrief
  • Navigraph Charts
  • Little Navmap
  • Discord
  • Streaming software
  • Air Traffic Control software

Multiple monitors can significantly improve workflow.

Performance Considerations

Each active display requires some additional GPU resources.

If you display moving content—such as videos, live maps or additional simulator windows—on a second monitor, your GPU may have to do more work.

Static content, such as charts or checklists, generally has much less impact.

If you are troubleshooting performance, try temporarily disconnecting or disabling extra displays to see whether they are contributing to the issue.

Display Settings Checklist

Before changing other graphics settings, confirm:

Correct display mode selected.

✔ Native monitor resolution selected.

Refresh rate matches your monitor.

V-Sync reviewed.

HDR enabled only if supported.

Monitor scaling understood.

Multiple monitor setup reviewed.

Student Exercise

Let’s establish your display configuration.

Step 1

Open Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Navigate to:

Options → General Options → Display.

Step 2

Record:

  • Display Mode
  • Resolution
  • Refresh Rate
  • V-Sync status
  • HDR status
  • Number of monitors connected

Step 3

Confirm that:

  • Your monitor is running at its native resolution.
  • Windows is set to the correct refresh rate for your display.
  • Your chosen display mode suits the way you fly.

Step 4

Fly your Module 1 benchmark route.

Observe:

  • Image sharpness.
  • Smoothness.
  • Screen tearing.
  • Overall responsiveness.

Record your observations for comparison later in the course.

Lesson Summary

Congratulations.

You now understand the display settings that form the foundation of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s graphics configuration.

Remember:

  • Full Screen and Windowed Mode each have advantages depending on your workflow.
  • Resolution has one of the largest impacts on GPU workload.
  • Refresh rate determines how often your monitor updates the image.
  • FPS and refresh rate are related but not the same thing.
  • V-Sync helps eliminate screen tearing but may introduce additional input latency.
  • HDR can improve colour and contrast on supported displays.
  • Running your monitor at its native resolution provides the sharpest image.
  • Multiple monitors improve productivity but may increase GPU workload depending on what is displayed.

Knowledge Check

  1. What is the difference between Windowed Mode and Full Screen Mode?
  2. Why does increasing resolution place more load on the GPU?
  3. What is the difference between FPS and refresh rate?
  4. What causes screen tearing?
  5. How does V-Sync help reduce screen tearing?
  6. When should HDR be enabled?
  7. Why is it usually recommended to use your monitor’s native resolution?
  8. How can multiple monitors affect Flight Simulator performance?
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