Instant compatibility check with FPS benchmarks and optimization tips
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Performance
1080p (Full HD)
1440p (2K / QHD)
4K (Ultra HD)
Requirements Check
Recommendations
Your hardware doesn't meet minimum requirements for this game.
Your GPU supports ray tracing.
Average FPS: resolution vs quality settings
| Ultra | High | Medium | Low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4K Ultra HD | 77 | 82 | 104 | 134 |
| 1440p QHD | 104 | 107 | 136 | 148 |
| 1080p Full HD | 133 | 134 | 150 | 160 |
Cell color: green is 120+ FPS, teal is 60+, amber is 30+, red is below 30. Cards marked Estimated above have no measured row and are scaled from your GPU benchmark percentile.
Performance Analysis: Microsoft Flight Simulator on Your System
The pairing of an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 creates a significant performance imbalance, but the benchmark data for Microsoft Flight Simulator shows that this combination is overwhelmingly capable. The RTX 4090 is a top-tier GPU, while the Ryzen 5 5500 is a mid-range 6-core processor, yet the measured frame rates at every resolution and preset exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold. The data indicates that this is a system where the GPU does most of the heavy lifting, allowing the CPU to keep pace without becoming a bottleneck in this specific title.
Similar Performance Alternatives
Examining the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly in this system. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19,593 and sits at the 73rd percentile of all CPUs. Its closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430, which scores 19,617, a negligible 0.1% difference. The Intel Core i5-12500 is also nearly identical, scoring 19,668, which is 0.4% higher than the Ryzen 5 5500. On the other side, the Intel Core i7-10700F scores 19,499, putting it 0.5% behind, while the Intel Core i5-11600KF scores 19,723, leading the pack by 0.7%. These four processors will deliver effectively indistinguishable performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator, meaning users upgrading from one to another would see no measurable change in frame rates.
For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has an average benchmark score of 60,347 and ranks in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the Intel Arc Pro A60, which scores 60,326, a 0% difference that makes them functionally equivalent in synthetic tests. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60,140, which is 0.3% lower, while the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896, outperforming the RTX 4090 by 2.5%. The AMD Radeon PRO V710 is further behind at 58,657, a 2.9% deficit. In practical terms for this game, these GPU alternatives would produce similar frame rates, though the RTX 4090’s specific architecture and driver optimizations may still give it an edge in real-world scenarios.
CPU and GPU Roles
The benchmark results reveal a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU across different resolutions. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves an average of 159.6 FPS on Low settings, 149.7 FPS on Medium, 134.3 FPS on High, and 132.7 FPS on Ultra. The relatively small gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution—roughly 17%—suggests that the CPU is beginning to limit performance, as the GPU is capable of much higher output. Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates drop to 147.9 FPS on Low, 136 FPS on Medium, 106.5 FPS on High, and 104.2 FPS on Ultra. The scaling here is more pronounced, indicating that the GPU is becoming more relevant as pixel count increases. At 3840x2160, the trend continues: 133.7 FPS on Low, 103.6 FPS on Medium, 81.8 FPS on High, and 76.6 FPS on Ultra. The drop from 1080p Low to 4K Ultra is substantial, confirming that the RTX 4090 is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions.
The data shows that the CPU matters most at 1080p, where the Ryzen 5 5500’s single-thread performance (3DMark single-thread score of 836) becomes a limiting factor. At 4K, the GPU’s raw power (82.58 TFLOPS FP32) takes over, and the CPU’s role diminishes. Notably, the difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is only 27 FPS, while at 4K it is 57 FPS, highlighting how the GPU scaling dominates as resolution increases. For players targeting high refresh rates at 1080p, the CPU would be the bottleneck, but for 4K gaming, the RTX 4090 ensures maximum settings are viable.
How This Combo Ranks
In the database of tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 5 5500 and RTX 4090 ranks 263rd out of 3,714 total combos. This places it in the top 7.1% of all tested systems, which is an impressive position given the CPU’s mid-range standing. The high rank is almost entirely attributable to the RTX 4090’s exceptional performance, which compensates for the Ryzen 5 5500’s more modest capabilities. The data suggests that most systems ranked above this combo pair the RTX 4090 with a stronger processor, such as a higher-core-count Ryzen 5000 series chip or a newer Intel Core i7 or i9. However, for this specific game, the combo still achieves playable frame rates at every resolution and preset, meaning the rank reflects overall system balance rather than playability. The 263rd rank out of 3,714 indicates that only a small fraction of systems can outperform this setup, making it a high-performance option despite the CPU bottleneck.
The Verdict
The verdict is unequivocal: this PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator at playable frame rates across all tested resolutions and presets. According to the measured data, the playable threshold is 60 FPS, and every configuration exceeds this mark. At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, delivering an average of 76.6 FPS, which clears the threshold by a comfortable margin. At 2560x1440, Ultra settings produce an average of 104.2 FPS, and at 1920x1080, Ultra settings reach 132.7 FPS. The verdictByResolution data confirms that High, Low, Medium, and Ultra settings are all playable at 4K, with Ultra being the recommended choice for maximum visual fidelity. For 1440p and 1080p, all presets are also playable, with the best settings being Ultra in both cases. In short, users can max out the game at any resolution without worrying about dropping below 60 FPS.
Measured FPS Breakdown
The measured frame rates provide a detailed picture of performance across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the system delivers 81.8 FPS on High, 133.7 FPS on Low, 103.6 FPS on Medium, and 76.6 FPS on Ultra. The spread between Low and Ultra is 57.1 FPS, showing significant scaling with graphical fidelity. At 2560x1440, the frame rates are 106.5 FPS on High, 147.9 FPS on Low, 136 FPS on Medium, and 104.2 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 43.7 FPS, indicating that the GPU has more headroom at this resolution. At 1920x1080, the results are 134.3 FPS on High, 159.6 FPS on Low, 149.7 FPS on Medium, and 132.7 FPS on Ultra. Here, the difference between Low and Ultra is just 26.9 FPS, which suggests the CPU is capping performance. Notably, the minimum and maximum FPS values are not provided in the data, so only average frame rates are available for analysis. The trend across all resolutions is consistent: Low settings always yield the highest frame rates, while Ultra yields the lowest, but even the lowest averages remain well above the 60 FPS threshold.
FAQ
Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming with this combo?
A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 76.6 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This makes Ultra the best settings choice for maximum visual quality at 4K.
Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at 1080p?
A: Yes, the data indicates a CPU limitation at 1920x1080. The difference between Low and Ultra settings is only 26.9 FPS (159.6 vs. 132.7), which is smaller than at higher resolutions, suggesting the Ryzen 5 5500 cannot fully utilize the RTX 4090’s power at this resolution.
Q: Can this system achieve 144 FPS at 1440p?
A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset achieves 147.9 FPS, which exceeds 144 FPS. However, Medium drops to 136 FPS, and High and Ultra fall to 106.5 and 104.2 FPS respectively, so only Low settings can maintain a 144 FPS average.
Q: How does this combo compare to other tested systems?
A: This combo ranks 263rd out of 3,714 tested combinations, placing it in the top 7.1% of all systems. The high rank is driven by the RTX 4090, which ranks in the 88th percentile of GPUs.
Q: Is the RTX 4090 overkill for this game?
A: The RTX 4090 provides 76.6 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is above the 60 FPS threshold but not excessively high. The GPU’s 88th percentile ranking suggests it is a top-tier card, but the CPU’s 73rd percentile ranking means the system is not fully balanced.
Q: What are the playable settings at 4K?
A: All four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—are playable at 3840x2160, with average frame rates of 133.7, 103.6, 81.8, and 76.6 FPS respectively. All exceed the 60 FPS playability threshold.