Computer requirements for running RF on Steam

K

kelkert

New member
The IT police at work have finally caught up to me and I'm no longer able to run RF on Steam through my work computer. I'm going to purchase a computer for personal use and want to make sure it is capable of running RF on Steam. From the Horizon Hobby website I see the RF computer requirements (https://www.horizonhobby.com/produc...tor-with-interlink-dx-controller/RFL2000.html - "Overview" page). Since a "DVD Drive" is in this list, I'm wondering if these requirements are for running the RF installed application and not via Steam. A Google search produced an AI generated list of computer requirements, but my confidence in this list is low.

Can anyone provide recommended computer requirements for running RF on Steam?

Thank you!
 
Real Flight doesn't run on Steam. Steam is a purchase point for the program, that is downloaded, installed, and then runs on your computer. Steam does have its own small program that monitors use, and automatically installs any free patches or updates (plus, of course, presenting you with ads to buy other games). There are no disk versions of Real Flight any more.

RF is pretty low demand. But you need to define what you are looking for. Laptop or desktop? Include monitor/keyboard/etc. or not. Budget you want to stay under. Do you play other games? Will it be used for other tasks more intensively than general internet browsing/email?

The 5 year old Costco laptop I am typing this on uses an i7 Intel chip, with 16 GB ram and a Nvidia 1660Ti 6GB video card. I can completely max out all specs in Real Flight, and still get well over 150 frames per second.

Avoid a computer that uses only "integrated graphics", but instead has a separate video GPU. I prefer Nvidia GPU's. Many laptops come with both kinds of graphics adaptors, and you have to configure them to use the better GPU for Real Flight, while using the integrated GPU for saving battery at other times.
 
Thanks for the response & details.

I plan on getting a laptop. I'm currently using a Samsung external monitor for displaying RF (not my work laptop screen) and plan to do the same with the new computer. I don't currently play other games and no plans to start. The computer will also be used for web browsing, email, various Microsoft Office tools... nothing very intense. This will be the 'secondary' home computer, so don't want to invest too much. I'm asking for requirement so I can see how much a computer with those specs costs. I don't see myself going over $1,000 and would like be a few hundred below that (if it's possible).

Thanks for the graphics card suggestion. That is exactly the type of information I'm looking for.
 
@kelkert, sorry for the confusion. An old set of system requirements ended up on the product page you linked. I believe there is already a note to fix that.

Here are the current and correct system requirements, taken from the Steam store page for RealFlight Evolution. Definitely no DVD drive required any longer!

Minimum:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 or 11
Processor: Intel or AMD processor
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Full DirectX 11 compliant
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 15 GB available space
Additional Notes: Some graphics settings may be reduced. Physics still runs at full fidelity.

Recommended:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 or 11
Processor: Intel or AMD processor
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Discrete graphics - Full DirectX 11 compliant
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 15 GB available space
VR Support: SteamVR or Oculus PC. Keyboard or gamepad required
 
Thank Ryan, appreciate the detailed and quick response.

BTW, I'm a big fan of RealFlight! Having been flying for less than 4 years, RealFlight has saved me countless dollars in crashed planes and hundreds of hours in repair time.
 
Follow up question... One computer I'm considering uses an Nvidia graphics card (nvidia® geforce rtxtm 3050 6gb gddr6) that is compliant with DirectX 12 but states it's not backward compatible to DirectX 11. Is this OK or will it be an issue?
 
That is very odd. As far as I am aware, all Nvidia cards that support DX12 also support DX11 (and even earlier versions). I wasn't able to find a definitive "yes", other than generic AI generated answers. It would be a first to not support DX11. And generate a bazillion very mad gamers out there....

No reference to an "RTXTM" card - I assume it is an RTX 3050, and the "tm" is the "trademark" symbol.
The risk is that since RF uses DX11, it won't run if that computer won't support it.
But I would strongly question the manufacturer about that statement. Also follow up with a direct question about it to Nvidia themselves - they would be the ultimate authority. Methinks an ad copywriter got it wrong. But it's not my money at risk, or my hassle to try to return it if it doesn't work!
Contact Nvidia, and if they give a green light, look for the equivalent computer with it from another vendor. It should be an excellent card that will serve well into the future. Maybe not a hard core Virtual Reality, or all options turned on for Microsoft Flight Simulator setup- but for what you indicated, and Real Flight, a very good one.
 
Sorry, risk of copy paste -- yes, the "tm" was for trademark... "RTX 3050" is correct. I appreciate the response and I'll verify DX11 support with Nvidia. Like you, I can't imagine it would not support pre-DX12 versions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top