Microsoft Flight Simulator

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for Microsoft Flight Simulator with the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 reveals a clear performance curve across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the combination delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 123.8 FPS, while Medium reaches 98.5 FPS. High settings drop to 72.1 FPS, and Ultra remains above the 60 FPS threshold at 69.2 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 54.6 FPS, indicating that the preset scaling has a substantial impact on frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance picture shifts noticeably. Low settings yield 102.1 FPS, Medium drops to 81.6 FPS, and High settles at 61.8 FPS. Ultra falls below the playable threshold with 56 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra here is 46.1 FPS, a slightly smaller spread than at 1080p, which suggests that resolution scaling begins to compress the preset differences. The transition from 1080p Low to 1440p Low costs 21.7 FPS, while the same resolution step at Ultra costs 13.2 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 5060 and Ryzen 5 3600 combination struggles to maintain smooth frame rates at higher presets. Low settings produce 76 FPS, which clears the playable threshold. Medium drops to 56.7 FPS, High falls to 44.8 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 44.1 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra at 4K is 31.9 FPS, the smallest spread across all three resolutions. This compression indicates that at 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor regardless of preset, and the CPU has less headroom to influence the outcome.

The data shows no recorded minimum or maximum frame time values, so the analysis relies on average FPS alone. Across all resolutions, the pattern is consistent: Low settings always clear 60 FPS, while Ultra only does so at 1920x1080. The 1440p High preset sits just 1.8 FPS above the playable threshold, making it a borderline option for users who prioritize visual fidelity over headroom.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database places the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 at the 71st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17035. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-1260P, which scores 17007, a delta of 0.2% behind. The Intel Core i5-11400 scores 17067, putting it 0.2% ahead of the Ryzen 5 3600. Two AMD EPYC server chips, the EPYC 7573X and EPYC 7742, also cluster nearby with scores of 17070 and 16998 respectively, representing deltas of -0.2% and 0.2%. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator, since the benchmark differences are within a fraction of a percent.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 holds the 72nd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 26331. Its nearest rivals are a mixed group. The AMD Radeon 860M scores 26401, a delta of -0.3%, meaning the RTX 5060 trails by a negligible margin. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 scores 26421, also -0.3%. The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary scores 26553, putting it 0.8% ahead. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT scores 26011, which is 1.2% behind the RTX 5060. These deltas suggest that swapping the RTX 5060 for any of these GPUs would produce almost indistinguishable results in this simulator, assuming the CPU remains constant.

For users considering this combo, the data implies that the Ryzen 5 3600 and RTX 5060 are well matched in terms of relative performance tiers. Both sit near the 71st to 72nd percentile of their respective component categories. The nearest rivals for each part would likely yield frame rates within a few FPS of the measured values, though the database does not record direct game benchmarks for those alternative components.

How This Combo Ranks

Among all tested combinations in the database, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 1703 out of 3714 combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. That places it in the upper half of all tested systems, specifically at roughly the 45.9th percentile when calculated from the rank and total count. The rank reflects the combined influence of both components, and the data indicates that this system outperforms more than half of the tested configurations while trailing a significant portion of higher-end builds.

The rank of 1703 suggests that while the Ryzen 5 3600 and RTX 5060 are capable mid-range parts, the simulation's demanding nature at higher resolutions and presets limits their standing. At 1080p, the combo performs well enough to rank competitively, but at 4K Ultra, the 44.1 FPS result would drag the overall ranking down relative to systems with more powerful GPUs. The data does not provide a breakdown of rank by resolution, so the single global rank must be interpreted as an aggregate across all tested scenarios.

Benchmark results indicate that the combo's position in the middle of the pack is consistent with the component-level percentiles. The CPU at the 71st percentile and GPU at the 72nd percentile both sit above average, yet the game's heavy single-thread and GPU demands at high settings prevent this combo from climbing higher in the rankings. The 3714 total combos include systems with top-tier CPUs and GPUs that would significantly outperform this pairing at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 60 FPS on 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 69.2, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 2560x1440?

A: High settings produce 61.8 FPS on average, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold. This is the highest preset that remains playable at 1440p.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: Only at Low settings, where the average FPS is 76. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 56.7, 44.8, and 44.1 respectively.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 3600 compare to its nearest CPU rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400 scores 17067 in the database, which is 0.2% higher than the Ryzen 5 3600's 17035. The difference is negligible for gaming purposes.

Q: Which GPU is the closest competitor to the RTX 5060?

A: The AMD Radeon 860M and NVIDIA GeForce MX550 both score within 0.3% of the RTX 5060, with scores of 26401 and 26421 against 26331.

Q: What frame rate can users expect at 1440p Medium?

A: The measured average FPS at 1440p Medium is 81.6, which provides comfortable headroom above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded data reveals how the CPU and GPU each influence performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator across different resolutions. At 1920x1080, the CPU plays a more prominent role, as the frame rates are high enough that the GPU is not fully saturated. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 54.6 FPS, and the fact that Ultra still achieves 69.2 FPS indicates that the Ryzen 5 3600 can feed the RTX 5060 sufficiently at this resolution. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with its 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost clocks, provide enough single-thread performance for the simulator's flight model and scenery processing.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts toward the GPU. The preset spread narrows to 46.1 FPS, and Ultra drops below 60 FPS to 56. The RTX 5060's 8 GB of GDDR7 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth become more relevant at this resolution, as the higher pixel count increases memory pressure and fill rate demands. The CPU still matters, but the data shows that the GPU is increasingly the limiting factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU dominates the performance equation. The preset spread compresses to 31.9 FPS, and even Medium settings fall to 56.7 FPS. The RTX 5060's 19.18 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 119.9 GPixel/s pixel rate are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at 4K with this simulator's demanding rendering workload. The CPU's influence diminishes at this resolution, as the GPU becomes the bottleneck regardless of the preset selected. The 76 FPS at 4K Low versus 44.1 FPS at 4K Ultra demonstrates that the GPU's workload scaling is the primary driver of performance differences at 4K.

The scaling between resolutions further illustrates this division. From 1080p Low to 1440p Low, the FPS drops by 21.7, and from 1440p Low to 4K Low, it drops by 26.1. These drops are consistent with the GPU being the primary limiter at lower presets. At Ultra, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 13.2 FPS, and from 1440p to 4K is 11.9 FPS, showing that the GPU is already saturated at 1440p Ultra and the additional resolution has a smaller marginal impact.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with a measured average of 69.2 FPS. This provides 9.2 FPS of headroom above the playable threshold, making it a viable choice for users who want maximum visual quality at 1080p.

At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is High, with an average of 61.8 FPS. This is a narrow margin, just 1.8 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold. Users who prefer more stability might consider Medium, which delivers 81.6 FPS, but the data shows High is technically playable by the database's criteria.

For 3840x2160, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS threshold, with an average of 76 FPS. Medium falls to 56.7 FPS, which is below the playable standard. The 4K Low preset offers substantial headroom of 16 FPS, but the visual compromise is significant given that it is the lowest preset in the game.

The database's verdictByResolution field confirms these selections: 1080p Ultra at 69.2 FPS, 1440p High at 61.8 FPS, and 4K Low at 76 FPS. These represent the highest preset each resolution can sustain while maintaining an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS.

The Verdict

This system can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the experience depends heavily on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo clears 60 FPS at every preset, including Ultra with 69.2 FPS. This is the resolution where the system performs most comfortably, offering users full access to the game's highest visual settings.

At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High settings with 61.8 FPS, but Ultra falls below the threshold at 56 FPS. Users at this resolution must choose between High settings with a slim margin or Medium with a more comfortable 81.6 FPS. The 1.8 FPS margin at High is tight, and any demanding in-game scenario could push frame rates lower, though the database only records averages.

At 3840x2160, the system can only run the game at Low settings, with 76 FPS. All higher presets fail to reach 60 FPS, with Medium at 56.7, High at 44.8, and Ultra at 44.1. The verdictByResolution data confirms that 4K playability is restricted to Low. The RTX 5060's 8 GB memory capacity and 128-bit bus, combined with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth, are not sufficient for this simulator's 4K rendering demands at higher presets.

The overall ranking of 1703 out of 3714 combos places this system in the middle of the tested field. It is a capable 1080p machine for Microsoft Flight Simulator, a borderline 1440p machine, and a limited 4K machine. Users who prioritize 4K should look toward higher-tier GPUs, while those who play at 1080p will find this combo fully capable of running the game at maximum settings.