Render Scaling Explained
Estimated Lesson Time: 30–40 Minutes
Lesson Overview
In previous lessons, we’ve covered Display Settings, Anti-Aliasing and Frame Generation.
Now we’re going to explore one of the most powerful graphics settings in Microsoft Flight Simulator:
Render Scaling.
Render Scaling directly affects how many pixels your graphics card has to render every single frame.
Unlike changing your monitor’s resolution, Render Scaling changes the internal resolution that the simulator renders before displaying the final image.
This means it can dramatically affect:
- GPU workload
- FPS
- Image sharpness
- Cockpit clarity
- Terrain detail
- Overall visual quality
Understanding Render Scaling will allow you to improve performance without always lowering your monitor’s native resolution.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson you will understand:
What Render Scaling is.
What internal rendering resolution means.
The difference between upscaling and downscaling.
How Render Scaling affects image quality.
How it affects GPU performance.
When to increase Render Scaling.
When to decrease Render Scaling.
m How to find the best Render Scaling value for your own PC.
1. What Is Render Scaling?
Render Scaling controls the resolution that Microsoft Flight Simulator renders internally before sending the image to your monitor.
Many people think it changes their monitor’s resolution.
It doesn’t.
Your monitor stays at the same resolution.
Instead…
The simulator changes the resolution it renders internally.
Example
Imagine your monitor is:
3840 × 2160 (4K)
Your monitor always displays:
3840 × 2160
However…
Render Scaling determines how large the image is before it’s displayed.
The simulator may actually render:
- 50%
- 70%
- 100%
- 125%
- 150%
- 200%
before showing it on your screen.
Airport Photography Analogy
Imagine you’re taking photographs.
You can either:
Take the photo at full resolution…
Or…
Take it at a lower resolution and enlarge it later.
The enlarged photo still fills the page…
But some detail has been lost.
Render Scaling works exactly the same way.
2. Internal Rendering Resolution
Internal resolution is simply:
“The resolution the GPU actually renders.”
Your monitor resolution…
and…
Your internal rendering resolution…
are not always the same.
Example
Monitor:
3840 × 2160
Render Scale:
100%
Internal resolution:
3840 × 2160
Everything is rendered natively.
Monitor:
3840 × 2160
Render Scale:
80%
The simulator renders fewer pixels internally before scaling the image back up to your monitor’s native resolution.
The image still fills your screen…
But your GPU has rendered less work.
Monitor:
3840 × 2160
Render Scale:
150%
The simulator actually renders more pixels than your monitor can display.
The image is then scaled back down.
This creates an extremely sharp image…
But requires significantly more GPU power.
3. Upscaling
Upscaling occurs when the simulator renders below your monitor’s native resolution.
It then enlarges the image back to your display resolution.
Example:
4K Monitor
↓
Render Scale 70%
↓
GPU renders fewer pixels
↓
Image is enlarged
Advantages:
Higher FPS
Lower GPU usage
Lower temperatures
Useful on weaker GPUs
Disadvantages:
Slightly softer image
Cockpit displays may lose sharpness
Fine details may appear blurrier
4. Downscaling
Downscaling is the opposite.
The simulator renders above your monitor’s native resolution.
The image is then reduced back down.
Advantages:
Extremely sharp image
Excellent anti-aliasing
Very crisp cockpit displays
Reduced shimmering
Disadvantages:
Huge GPU workload
Much lower FPS
Higher GPU temperatures
Higher VRAM usage
Example
1080p Monitor
Render Scale:
200%
The simulator actually renders close to 4K internally before reducing the image back to 1080p.
The image quality improves…
But GPU workload increases dramatically.
5. Understanding The Percentage
Microsoft Flight Simulator allows you to adjust Render Scaling using percentages.
50%
Very low internal resolution.
Lowest GPU workload.
Highest FPS.
Image noticeably softer.
Usually only useful for very low-end systems or troubleshooting.
70%
Good performance increase.
Image slightly softer.
Can work well with upscaling technologies.
80%
Many users find this offers a good compromise if they need extra GPU performance while maintaining acceptable image quality.
100%
Native rendering.
The simulator renders exactly at your monitor’s resolution.
This is the reference point for all comparisons.
120%
Sharper image.
Higher GPU workload.
Useful on high-end systems.
150%
Excellent image quality.
Significant GPU load.
Suitable only for powerful graphics cards.
200%
Extremely demanding.
Usually unnecessary for most users.
Primarily useful for testing or very high-end hardware.
6. Visual Examples
Let’s imagine you’re looking at the same aircraft cockpit.
50%
Soft instruments.
Slightly blurry text.
Lower GPU usage.
Higher FPS.
80%
Sharper.
Most cockpit labels readable.
Good compromise.
100%
Very sharp.
Excellent balance.
Recommended starting point.
150%
Extremely crisp displays.
Very smooth edges.
Excellent image quality.
Large GPU workload.
200%
Outstanding sharpness.
Minimal visual improvement compared to the performance cost on most systems.
7. Performance Impact
Render Scaling is primarily a GPU setting.
The higher the Render Scale…
The more pixels your GPU must process.
This means:
Higher Render Scale
↓
Higher GPU usage
↓
Higher temperatures
↓
Lower FPS
↓
Higher VRAM usage
Lower Render Scale
↓
Lower GPU usage
↓
Lower temperatures
↓
Higher FPS
↓
Lower VRAM usage
Render Scaling generally has very little direct effect on CPU workload.
If your simulator is heavily CPU limited, lowering Render Scaling may not significantly increase FPS because the CPU remains the limiting factor.
Always identify whether your system is CPU-bound or GPU-bound before making changes.
8. When Should You Increase Render Scaling?
Increase Render Scaling if:
- Your GPU has performance to spare.
- You want maximum image quality.
- Cockpit displays appear too soft.
- You play at 1080p and have a powerful GPU.
- You want to reduce shimmering.
9. When Should You Reduce Render Scaling?
Reduce Render Scaling if:
- Your GPU is consistently at very high utilisation.
- FPS is lower than desired due to GPU load.
- You play at 4K on a mid-range graphics card.
- GPU temperatures are becoming excessive.
- You need extra performance without reducing your monitor’s resolution.
10. Render Scaling & DLSS
Render Scaling works differently depending on your anti-aliasing method.
With TAA, the Render Scale slider directly controls the simulator’s internal rendering resolution.
When using DLSS, FSR, or XeSS, those technologies already render internally at a lower resolution before reconstructing the image. Because of this, changing Render Scaling may produce different results depending on the simulator version and the selected upscaling method.
Always test combinations using your benchmark route rather than assuming one setting is universally best.
11. Common Myths
Myth 1
“Lower Render Scaling always gives more FPS.”
Not always.
If your simulator is CPU limited…
Lowering Render Scaling may have little effect.
Myth 2
“100% is always the best.”
Not necessarily.
Some users prefer a lower value for extra performance.
Others increase it for sharper visuals.
Myth 3
“Render Scaling changes my monitor resolution.”
False.
It changes the simulator’s internal rendering resolution.
Your monitor resolution remains unchanged.
Student Exercise
Today we will compare Render Scaling.
Step 1
Load your Module 1 benchmark flight.
Use the same:
- Airport
- Aircraft
- Weather
- Resolution
Step 2
Test:
- 80%
- 100%
- 120% (if your GPU can comfortably handle it)
Step 3
Record:
- Average FPS
- Lowest FPS
- GPU utilisation
- GPU temperature
- VRAM usage
- Cockpit clarity
- Terrain sharpness
- Overall smoothness
Step 4
Compare the results.
Ask yourself:
- Which setting provided the best image quality?
- Which setting felt the smoothest?
- Was the visual improvement worth the performance cost?
- Does your GPU have enough headroom for a higher Render Scale?
Student Checklist
Current Render Scale recorded.
Benchmark flight completed.
GPU utilisation monitored.
FPS recorded.
Cockpit clarity compared.
Terrain sharpness compared.
Best Render Scale chosen for your system.
Lesson Summary
Congratulations.
You now understand one of the most important GPU settings in Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Remember:
- Render Scaling controls the simulator’s internal rendering resolution.
- It is different from your monitor’s native resolution.
- Lower Render Scaling reduces GPU workload and can improve FPS.
- Higher Render Scaling improves image sharpness but increases GPU demand.
- Upscaling renders below native resolution before enlarging the image.
- Downscaling renders above native resolution before reducing it.
- Render Scaling mainly affects the GPU rather than the CPU.
- The ideal setting depends on your hardware, monitor resolution and performance goals.
Knowledge Check
- What is Render Scaling?
- How does Render Scaling differ from changing your monitor’s resolution?
- What is internal rendering resolution?
- What is the difference between upscaling and downscaling?
- Why does increasing Render Scaling place more load on the GPU?
- When might reducing Render Scaling improve performance?
- Why might lowering Render Scaling have little effect if your simulator is CPU limited?
- Based on your benchmark testing, which Render Scale provided the best balance between image quality and performance for your own PC?