Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a demanding title, and the combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 produces a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions. The recorded data shows that this system is fully capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 1080p with maximum settings, while 1440p requires a slight settings reduction, and 4K is only playable at the lowest preset. The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the dominant factor at higher resolutions, but the CPU’s older architecture becomes a noticeable constraint at lower resolutions where frame rates are higher.

Best Settings per Resolution

For a smooth experience at or above 60 FPS, the most demanding preset that maintains this threshold varies significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system achieves 69.4 FPS on the Ultra preset, which is the highest quality option available. This means users can run the game with every visual feature enabled at full HD and still stay comfortably above the playable threshold. The recorded data confirms that 1080p is not a challenge for this hardware combination.

Moving to 2560x1440, the situation changes. The Ultra preset drops to 57 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS target. The High preset, however, delivers 60.1 FPS, making it the best settings choice for this resolution. This is a narrow margin, but it is sufficient for a consistent experience. The difference between High and Ultra at 1440p is likely noticeable in terms of shadow quality and draw distance, but the frame rate advantage of the High preset is the deciding factor.

At 3840x2160, the demands of the game become steep. The High preset averages 45.1 FPS, Medium averages 59.5 FPS, and Ultra averages 43.9 FPS, none of which reach the 60 FPS target. Only the Low preset, with an average of 71.7 FPS, clears the threshold. Therefore, the best settings for 4K are Low, which is a substantial compromise in visual fidelity. The data shows a clear pattern: as resolution increases, the playable preset tier drops from Ultra to High to Low.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals which component limits the system. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are high, with Low settings reaching 119.1 FPS and Ultra reaching 69.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 49.7 FPS, indicating that the GPU has significant headroom when the CPU is not fully taxed. However, the Ryzen 5 2600, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, may become a bottleneck at these high frame rates, as the CPU must feed the GPU with draw calls and physics calculations.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates drop across all settings, with Low at 101.1 FPS and Ultra at 57 FPS. The reduction from 1080p to 1440p is about 15-18% for most presets, which is less than the pixel count increase, suggesting that the GPU is becoming more heavily utilized. The CPU’s role diminishes as resolution rises, because the GPU spends more time on pixel shading, allowing the CPU to keep up more easily.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the primary constraint. The frame rates fall sharply, with Low at 71.7 FPS and Ultra at 43.9 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 27.8 FPS, which is a smaller absolute gap than at lower resolutions, but the overall performance level is much lower. The CPU’s impact is minimal here, as the GPU is saturated with work. The scaling from 1440p to 4K is roughly 30% slower for equivalent settings, which aligns with the increased pixel workload. In summary, the RTX 5060 is the limiting factor at 4K, while the Ryzen 5 2600 plays a more significant role at 1080p, especially when targeting high frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides a complete picture of performance across all three resolutions and four settings. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers an average of 119.1 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this system. The Medium preset achieves 97.5 FPS, High reaches 75 FPS, and Ultra settles at 69.4 FPS. All of these values exceed the 60 FPS target, making 1080p fully playable with any settings combination. The step from Medium to High is a drop of 22.5 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra is only 5.6 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns from the highest preset.

At 2560x1440, the performance is more varied. Low settings produce 101.1 FPS, which is still very high. Medium drops to 79.1 FPS, High to 60.1 FPS, and Ultra to 57 FPS. The difference between Medium and High is 19 FPS, which is a significant reduction for a single settings tier. The Ultra preset falls just 3 FPS below the playable threshold, meaning that a slight tweak to a few options could bring it back above 60 FPS. The data shows that 1440p is playable from Low through High, but not at Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the performance drops considerably. Low settings average 71.7 FPS, which is the only playable option. Medium averages 59.5 FPS, just below the target, while High and Ultra average 45.1 FPS and 43.9 FPS, respectively. The gap between Low and Medium is 12.2 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 14.4 FPS. The Ultra preset is only 1.2 FPS slower than High, indicating that the most demanding settings have a marginal additional cost at 4K. None of the min or max FPS values were recorded, so the analysis relies on averages, but the consistency of the scaling suggests stable performance.

The Verdict

This PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the playable settings depend heavily on the chosen resolution. According to the verdict by resolution, at 1920x1080, all presets clear the 60 FPS threshold, with the best being Ultra at 69.4 FPS. This is the ideal scenario for this hardware, as it delivers the full visual experience without any frame rate concerns.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable at High, Low, and Medium, with High being the best choice at 60.1 FPS. The Ultra preset falls short at 57 FPS, so users must accept a minor quality reduction to maintain smoothness. The margin at High is thin, but it is still above the target.

At 3840x2160, only the Low preset achieves a playable average of 71.7 FPS. Medium is close at 59.5 FPS, but it fails to reach the threshold. High and Ultra are not viable options, as they average below 46 FPS. Therefore, the verdict is that 4K gaming is possible only with significant visual compromises. Overall, the system is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for users who prioritize frame rate over fidelity.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the Ryzen 5 2600 sits in the 75th percentile of all processors, with an average benchmark score of 21484. The nearest rivals, based on average score, include the Intel Core Ultra 5 228V, which scores 21440, just 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core i9-11900H, which scores 21367, also 0.5% lower. The Intel Xeon D-1746TER scores 21635, which is 0.7% higher, and the AMD EPYC 9454 scores 21223, which is 1.2% higher. These processors would behave similarly in gaming workloads, with the same balance of multi-core and single-core performance. Users upgrading from the Ryzen 5 2600 would not see a major difference with these alternatives, as they fall within a narrow performance band.

For the GPU, the RTX 5060 is in the 72nd percentile of all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 26331. The closest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M, which scores 26401, just 0.3% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce MX550, which scores 26421, also 0.3% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 26553, 0.8% higher, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26011, 1.2% lower. These GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator, meaning that users with any of these cards can expect similar performance at each resolution and settings combination. The differences are well within measurement noise, so the choice among these alternatives would not change the playable settings determined in this analysis.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K with Ultra settings?

A: No. The recorded data shows that at 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 43.9 FPS, which is well below the 60 FPS target. The only playable setting at 4K is Low, with an average of 71.7 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p?

A: The High preset delivers 60.1 FPS at 2560x1440, making it the most demanding option that stays above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset falls to 57 FPS, which is not playable by the strict standard.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, frame rates are high, with Low settings reaching 119.1 FPS. The Ryzen 5 2600 may become a limiting factor at these high frame rates, as the GPU has enough headroom to render frames faster than the CPU can provide data. This is less of an issue at higher resolutions.

Q: Is the RTX 5060 the main bottleneck at 4K?

A: Yes. At 3840x2160, the GPU is saturated with pixel work, and the CPU’s role is reduced. The frame rates are consistently low across all settings, indicating that the RTX 5060 cannot handle the resolution demands of this game at high quality.

Q: Which GPU is closest in performance to the RTX 5060?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT has an average benchmark score of 26011, which is 1.2% lower than the RTX 5060. The AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550 are also close, with scores 0.3% higher, so these would produce similar frame rates in this game.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The recorded data shows that at 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 97.5 FPS, which is comfortably above the 60 FPS target and leaves room for higher settings if desired.