NVIDIA & AMD Optimisation
Estimated Lesson Time: 10–15 Minutes
Lesson Overview
Welcome to Module 4 of the Performance Academy.
Congratulations on completing Module 3.
By now, you should have a strong understanding of every major graphics setting inside Microsoft Flight Simulator, including how each setting affects image quality, CPU workload, GPU workload and overall simulator performance.
Throughout Module 3, we focused on optimising the simulator itself.
In this module, we’re taking optimisation one step further by looking at something just as important:
Your graphics drivers.
Whether you own an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, the software that controls your GPU plays a major role in how Microsoft Flight Simulator performs.
Many users spend hours adjusting settings inside the simulator but never take the time to understand the software controlling their graphics card.
As a result, they often miss valuable optimisation opportunities or make unnecessary changes that can reduce performance or image quality.
This module is designed to change that.
By the end of Module 4, you’ll understand exactly how NVIDIA Control Panel and AMD Adrenalin work, what each setting does, and when you should change it—or leave it alone.
Rather than copying settings from YouTube videos or internet forums, you’ll learn the reasoning behind every recommendation so you can build the best configuration for your own PC.
What You’ll Learn in Module 4
Throughout this module, we’ll cover:
- NVIDIA Control Panel
- AMD Adrenalin Software
- DLSS
- FSR
- NVIDIA Reflex
- Frame Generation
- Shader Cache
- G-SYNC & FreeSync
- Graphics driver optimisation
- Driver installation
- GPU monitoring
- Troubleshooting graphics issues
- Building the perfect driver profile
By the end of this module, you’ll have a complete understanding of how to optimise your graphics card for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Windows vs Graphics Drivers
One of the biggest misconceptions in PC optimisation is believing that Windows and your graphics drivers perform the same role.
Although they work closely together, they have very different responsibilities.
Windows
Windows is your operating system.
It is responsible for managing:
- Hardware resources.
- Memory allocation.
- Storage.
- Background applications.
- System security.
- Power management.
- Device communication.
Think of Windows as the operating system that coordinates your entire computer.
Graphics Drivers
Your graphics driver is specialised software that allows Windows and applications such as Microsoft Flight Simulator to communicate with your graphics card.
The driver translates rendering instructions into commands your GPU understands.
Without the correct driver, your graphics card cannot perform efficiently.
Modern graphics drivers also provide advanced technologies such as:
- DLSS
- Frame Generation
- NVIDIA Reflex
- AMD FSR
- Radeon Anti-Lag
- Shader Cache management
- GPU scheduling
- Display configuration
These technologies can significantly improve image quality, responsiveness and overall performance when configured correctly.
Why GPU Drivers Matter
Every frame you see inside Microsoft Flight Simulator passes through your graphics driver before being rendered by the GPU.
The driver helps determine how efficiently the graphics card processes rendering tasks.
Updated drivers may include:
- Performance optimisations for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- Support for new graphics technologies.
- Bug fixes.
- Stability improvements.
- Compatibility updates.
- Security patches.
However…
Newer drivers are not always automatically better.
Occasionally, a newly released driver may introduce issues with specific games or hardware combinations.
This is why understanding driver management is just as important as knowing how to update your drivers.
Throughout this module, you’ll learn when updating is beneficial and when it may be better to wait for a more mature release.
CPU vs GPU Optimisation Recap
Before we continue, let’s quickly revisit one of the most important concepts from previous modules.
Microsoft Flight Simulator relies heavily on both your CPU and GPU, but they perform different jobs.
The CPU
Your processor is responsible for simulation calculations such as:
- Aircraft systems.
- Flight models.
- Navigation.
- AI traffic.
- Glass cockpit updates.
- Terrain generation.
- Object management.
- Airport activity.
When your CPU cannot prepare frames quickly enough, you’ll become MainThread limited.
The GPU
Your graphics card is responsible for rendering what you actually see.
This includes:
- Clouds.
- Lighting.
- Reflections.
- Shadows.
- Water.
- Textures.
- Anti-aliasing.
- Visual effects.
When your GPU reaches full utilisation, you become GPU limited.
Understanding which component is limiting your performance is essential before making any optimisation changes.
Changing GPU settings will not solve a CPU bottleneck, and reducing CPU-heavy settings will not improve performance if your GPU is already the limiting factor.
Common Myths About NVIDIA Control Panel & AMD Adrenalin
One of the biggest reasons people struggle with optimisation is misinformation.
Let’s address some common myths.
Myth 1
“Changing every NVIDIA Control Panel setting will dramatically increase FPS.”
False.
Many settings have little or no effect on Microsoft Flight Simulator, while others are designed for specific applications or workflows.
Making unnecessary changes can sometimes reduce performance or create image quality issues.
Myth 2
“There is one perfect NVIDIA profile for everyone.”
False.
The best configuration depends on your:
- CPU.
- GPU.
- Monitor resolution.
- Refresh rate.
- VRAM.
- Flying style.
- Performance goals.
Myth 3
“AMD and NVIDIA require completely different optimisation techniques.”
Not entirely.
While the software interfaces differ, the underlying principles remain the same.
Both platforms require a balanced approach that considers CPU performance, GPU performance and the type of flying you enjoy.
Myth 4
“The newest graphics driver always provides the best performance.”
Not necessarily.
Driver updates can introduce:
- Performance improvements.
- Bug fixes.
- New features.
But they can also occasionally introduce compatibility issues or regressions.
Always review release notes and test performance before assuming a newer driver is automatically better.
Why Copying Someone Else’s Settings Isn’t Always Best
One of the biggest mistakes Flight Simulator users make is copying settings from YouTube videos without understanding why those settings were chosen.
For example:
A content creator may have:
- An RTX 5090.
- A Ryzen 9 9950X3D.
- 64GB of DDR5 RAM.
- A 4K monitor.
If your system has:
- An RTX 3060.
- A Ryzen 5 processor.
- 32GB of DDR4 RAM.
Their settings are unlikely to provide the same experience.
Even two systems with the same graphics card may perform differently due to differences in CPU performance, memory configuration, monitor resolution or add-ons.
The goal of this course is not to give you one set of numbers to copy.
The goal is to teach you how to think like an optimiser.
Once you understand the reasoning behind each setting, you’ll be able to build a configuration that matches your own hardware and flying style.
That’s a skill you can continue using as you upgrade your PC in the future.
Student Task
Before making any changes throughout this module, record your current graphics driver configuration.
If you’re using an NVIDIA graphics card:
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Review your Global Settings.
- Review any Program Settings for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- Make a note of any settings you’ve previously changed.
If you’re using an AMD graphics card:
- Open AMD Adrenalin.
- Review your current Gaming Profile.
- Note any custom graphics settings or performance features you’ve enabled.
Creating this baseline allows you to compare your original configuration with your optimised profile later in the module and gives you a reference point if you ever need to restore your previous settings.
Lesson Summary
Congratulations.
You’ve officially begun Module 4 of the Performance Academy.
In this lesson, you’ve learnt:
- The purpose of this module.
- The difference between Windows and graphics drivers.
- Why GPU drivers are important for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
- The difference between CPU and GPU optimisation.
- Common myths surrounding NVIDIA Control Panel and AMD Adrenalin.
- Why understanding your own hardware is far more valuable than copying someone else’s settings.
In the next lesson, we’ll open NVIDIA Control Panel and begin exploring every major setting in detail, explaining exactly what each option does, how it affects Microsoft Flight Simulator and whether it’s worth changing.
Knowledge Check
- What is the difference between Windows and a graphics driver?
- Why are graphics drivers important for Microsoft Flight Simulator?
- What types of improvements can graphics driver updates provide?
- Why isn’t the newest driver always the best choice?
- What is the difference between CPU optimisation and GPU optimisation?
- Why is copying another user’s NVIDIA or AMD settings not always effective?
- What is the purpose of creating a baseline before making changes?
- What is the main goal of Module 4?