Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D paired with the Intel Arc B390 is a combination defined by an extreme performance mismatch. The CPU is a high-end desktop processor, while the GPU is an integrated-class part with a benchmark percentile of only 9. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the recorded frame rates are consistently below the 60 FPS playable threshold across all tested resolutions and presets. The data indicates a system where the graphics processor is the primary limiting factor, preventing the strong CPU from delivering a playable experience in this title.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D are all processors with average scores within a fraction of a percent of its own. The Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is the closest match, with a delta of 0.2%, meaning the Ryzen processor's average benchmark score is only 0.2% higher. The Intel Core i9-13950HX trails by a 0.5% margin, and the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 is 0.6% behind. The Intel Core i5-14600 is the only rival in the list that scores higher, outperforming the Ryzen 5 7500X3D by 0.7%. In practical terms, the database shows that any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical computational performance in this game, suggesting that swapping among them would not change the frame rate outcome given the GPU bottleneck.

The situation for the Intel Arc B390 is more severe, as its benchmark score places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are legacy NVIDIA parts with very low scores. The GeForce GT 520MX is the closest, with the Arc B390 scoring 1.3% higher. The GeForce 800M is 1.5% behind, the GeForce GT 625 OEM is 2.5% behind, and the GeForce GT 710 is 2.7% behind. This cluster of scores indicates that the Arc B390 delivers performance in the same class as these older entry-level GPUs. When analyzing the measured FPS in Microsoft Flight Simulator, it becomes clear that the Arc B390 behaves like these low-end parts, which is consistent with its position in the database's GPU rankings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results make the division of labor between the CPU and GPU unambiguous. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D, with its high Passmark scores including a multithread score of 25047 and a single-thread score of 3494, is more than capable of feeding frames to any modern graphics card. Its 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms its strength. In this specific combination, however, the Arc B390's GPU performance, measured at a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, is the binding constraint.

The scaling between resolutions and presets reveals the GPU bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 56 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 Low drops the average to 45 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Low it falls further to 33 FPS. This consistent drop as resolution increases shows that the renderer is fully saturated. The same pattern holds for Medium settings: 43 FPS at 1080p, 35 FPS at 1440p, and 26 FPS at 4K. The frame rate loss from 1080p to 4K is a direct consequence of the GPU's limited pixel throughput, which is rated at 60.00 GPixel/s. The CPU is not the cause of these drops, as its role in physics and simulation logic does not scale with resolution in the same way.

Preset scaling further isolates the GPU as the limiting component. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 25 FPS (56 down to 31), while at 3840x2160 the difference is only 14 FPS (33 down to 19). The smaller absolute gap at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is already overwhelmed by the pixel count, leaving less headroom for additional graphics features. The data shows that no setting combination at any resolution reaches 60 FPS, confirming that the Arc B390 is the component that determines playability, not the Ryzen 5 7500X3D.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's overall ranking for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this specific CPU and GPU combination sits at rank 3302 out of 3714 tested combos. This places it in the lower 11% of all tested configurations. The percentile ranking of the GPU, at 9, aligns closely with this overall combo rank, further evidence that the graphics processor dictates the system's standing in this game. The CPU's percentile of 89 is far higher than the combo's rank, which means the processor is not the reason for the low position.

The rank indicates that most other tested hardware combinations will deliver higher frame rates in this game. A user selecting this combo would be getting a system that is firmly in the lower tier of performance for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The database's measured data, not the theoretical capabilities of the individual components, determines this ranking. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D is a strong processor in isolation, but when paired with the Arc B390, the resulting system's performance is dragged down to near the bottom of the chart.

The Verdict

The verdict from the database is clear: this PC cannot run Microsoft Flight Simulator at a playable frame rate. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the measured data shows that every resolution and preset combination falls below this mark. At 3840x2160, none of the four tested presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are playable. The best average FPS at this resolution is 33 with Low settings, which is still far below the 60 FPS threshold. The same is true at 2560x1440, where the highest average FPS is 45 with Low settings. At 1920x1080, the closest result is 56 FPS with Low settings, but this still does not clear the 60 FPS bar.

The verdict by resolution lists no playable settings for any of the three resolutions. The arc B390's integrated nature, with system-shared memory and a 9th percentile benchmark score, makes it unsuitable for this flight simulator. Users seeking 60 FPS will need a different graphics solution. The CPU, the Ryzen 5 7500X3D, is not the problem, but the system as configured fails the playability test.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of what this combination delivers. At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 33 FPS. The Medium preset averages 26 FPS, with a minimum of 22 and a maximum of 30. The High preset averages 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset also averages 19 FPS. The minimum and maximum values for Low, High, and Ultra are not recorded in the database, but the averages show a steep decline as settings increase.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 45 FPS. The Medium preset averages 35 FPS, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40. The High preset averages 26 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 25 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at this resolution is 10 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is only 1 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset adds little visual cost over High for this GPU, or that the GPU is already saturated.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 56 FPS, the closest any setting comes to the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset averages 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 50. The High preset averages 33 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 31 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 25 FPS drop, which is the largest across all resolutions, as the GPU has more relative headroom at lower pixel counts. Even so, the best case scenario of 56 FPS is still below playable.

FAQ

Q: Can this system achieve 60 FPS in Microsoft Flight Simulator at any settings?

A: No. The database records no playable settings at any resolution. The highest average FPS measured is 56 at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best average frame rate recorded at 3840x2160?

A: The best average at 3840x2160 is 33 FPS, achieved with the Low preset. All other presets at this resolution are lower, with Medium at 26 FPS and both High and Ultra at 19 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B390 scores 1.3% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% higher than the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% higher than the GeForce GT 710. Its benchmark percentile is 9, placing it in the low end of all GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D the limiting factor in this system?

A: No. The Ryzen 5 7500X3D has a multithread score of 25047 and a single-thread score of 3494, with an 89th percentile ranking among all CPUs. The frame rate scaling between resolutions indicates the GPU is the bottleneck.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: The combination ranks 3302 out of 3714 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the lower portion of the database's results.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 56 FPS and the Ultra preset averages 31 FPS, a difference of 25 FPS. This is the largest preset gap measured across all resolutions.

Best Settings per Resolution

For this combination, the database's verdict lists no playable settings at any resolution, meaning there is no preset that achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher. The best settings per resolution are therefore defined by the highest FPS recorded, even though it falls short of the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the Low preset provides the highest average FPS at 33. At 2560x1440, the Low preset again provides the highest average at 45 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Low preset provides the highest average at 56 FPS.

In every case, the Low preset is the most demanding setting that yields the maximum frame rate, but it still does not reach 60 FPS. The data shows that no configuration of this CPU and GPU can meet the playable threshold. Users would need to lower the resolution below 1920x1080 or change the GPU to achieve a playable result, but neither option is captured in the measured dataset. The conclusion is that this system is not suitable for Microsoft Flight Simulator at the standard resolutions tested.