How to Set Up Sim Update 4 in MSFS 2024 (Step-by-Step)

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on setting up Sim Update 4 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS 2024). Proper setup is crucial for enhancing performance, maintaining frametime consistency, and ensuring overall flight smoothness. Whether you're using General Aviation (GA), airliners, Virtual Reality (VR), or desktop, these steps will help you optimize your experience.

Step 1: Install DLSS Swapper

• Download the DLSS Swapper tool from the official GitHub repository: DLSS Swapper.
• Follow the installation instructions provided on the GitHub page to set up the tool properly.

Step 2: Clear Shader Caches

• Navigate to the following directory:
  • For NVIDIA users: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\NVIDIA
• Locate the shader cache files and delete them. This helps in clearing old data that may affect performance.

Step 3: Delete Rolling Cache

• Open MSFS 2024 and go to the options menu.
• Find the rolling cache settings and delete the current rolling cache.
• This ensures that any old or corrupted data doesn't hinder the simulator's performance.

Step 4: Adjust Rolling Cache Size

• Still in the rolling cache settings, set the desired size for the rolling cache.
• A good rule of thumb is to set it to a size that balances performance without using excessive disk space, typically between 8-32 GB, depending on your system's capacity.

Step 5: Clear Scenery Index

• Navigate to the scenery indexes folder:
  • Path for STORE users: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\SceneryIndexes
• Delete any existing scenery index files to refresh the data MSFS uses for scenery rendering.

Step 6: Configure Sim Settings

• Open the settings menu in MSFS 2024.
• Adjust the following settings for optimal performance:
  • Resolution: Set to your monitor's native resolution.
  • Anti-aliasing: Choose the option that best balances quality and performance, such as DLSS if available.
  • Render Scaling: Set this according to your GPU's capability; a value between 100-150% is often effective.
  • Terrain and Object Level of Detail: Adjust these sliders based on your hardware; higher settings can degrade performance on lower-end systems.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively set up Sim Update 4 in MSFS 2024 for improved performance and stability. Regular maintenance of your cache and settings will ensure a smoother flying experience. Consider revisiting these settings after major updates or if you notice performance issues. Happy flying!