Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an exceptionally strong combination for Microsoft Flight Simulator, delivering well above the 60 FPS playable threshold at every tested resolution and preset. Benchmark data shows this combo ranks 195th out of 3,714 tested configurations, placing it in the top tier of systems for this title. The GPU drives performance decisively, while the CPU provides ample headroom, resulting in playable frame rates even at 4K Ultra settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU each have close rivals based on average benchmark scores. For the AMD Ryzen 7 5700, nearestRivals data shows it sits within a narrow performance band of competing processors. The Intel Xeon D-2752TER scores 25,530, which is 0.1% ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700’s average of 25,517. The AMD Ryzen 5 7640U scores 25,485, just 0.1% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H scores 25,550, also 0.1% ahead. The AMD Ryzen 7 5825U trails by 0.3% with a score of 25,446. These deltas are negligible in real-world gaming, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator. In practice, the 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 7 5700 with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz and 16 MB of L3 cache provides more than enough processing power for the simulation’s physics and AI workloads, so users upgrading from any of these rivals would see no meaningful change in frame rates at the tested presets.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090’s nearestRivals are less obvious. Its average benchmark score is 60,347, while the Intel Arc Pro A60 scores 60,326 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 scores 60,140 (0.3% behind), the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M scores 61,896 (2.5% ahead), and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 scores 58,657 (2.9% behind). Despite these benchmark similarities, the RTX 4090’s 24 GB of GDDR6X memory, 16,384 shading units, and 1.01 TB/s memory bandwidth make it a far more capable gaming GPU in practice, especially at 4K where memory capacity and bandwidth matter. The benchmark scores are aggregate metrics across many workloads, so for Microsoft Flight Simulator specifically, the RTX 4090 will outperform these rivals due to its raw compute and memory advantages. Users considering alternatives should note that the RTX 4090 is end-of-life, with the GeForce 50 series as its successor, but no successor performance data is available here.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear pattern: the GPU is the dominant component for Microsoft Flight Simulator across all resolutions, but the CPU becomes relatively more important as resolution decreases. At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090 is heavily utilized, and frame rates scale primarily with GPU workload. Moving from Low to Ultra at 4K drops average FPS from 134.6 to 76.2, a 43% reduction, which reflects the GPU’s rendering burden. At 2560x1440, the same preset change goes from 161.2 FPS at Low to 103.4 FPS at Ultra, a 36% reduction. At 1920x1080, the drop is from 171.4 FPS at Low to 132.9 FPS at Ultra, only a 22% reduction. This diminishing percentage drop at lower resolutions indicates that the CPU begins to limit performance at 1080p, where the GPU has more headroom. Specifically, at 1080p Low, the system hits 171.4 FPS, but at 4K Low it reaches 134.6 FPS — a difference of 36.8 FPS. That gap narrows at Ultra settings: 132.9 FPS at 1080p versus 76.2 FPS at 4K, a difference of 56.7 FPS. The larger gap at Ultra suggests the GPU is the primary constraint at higher presets, while the CPU becomes more relevant at lower presets where the GPU is less stressed.

The Ryzen 7 5700’s single-thread performance, measured at 901 in 3dmark_single_thread and 2,916 in Cinebench R23 single-core, is sufficient to feed the RTX 4090 at 1080p without creating a bottleneck, as evidenced by the 171.4 FPS result at Low settings. However, the CPU’s 16 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s are modest by modern standards, yet they still allow the combo to exceed 130 FPS at 1080p Ultra. For 1440p and 4K, the GPU takes over as the deciding factor, with the CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads handling the simulation’s background tasks without issue. Users with higher-refresh-rate 1080p monitors will see the CPU matter more, but at 1440p and above, the RTX 4090 is the clear driver of performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination ranks 195th out of 3,714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the 94.7th percentile of all systems tested. This rank reflects the GPU’s dominance in this title — the RTX 4090 scores in the 88th percentile against all GPUs, while the CPU sits in the 78th percentile against all CPUs. The combo’s high ranking is driven almost entirely by the GPU, which is one of the most powerful available. The CPU’s performance is adequate but not exceptional; its average benchmark score of 25,517 places it near the Intel Xeon D-2752TER (25,530) and AMD Ryzen 5 6600H (25,550), both of which are mid-range parts. Yet the combination still lands in the top 5% of systems because the RTX 4090’s 82.58 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 24 GB of VRAM handle the simulation’s heavy rendering demands.

In practical terms, this rank means that only 194 of the 3,714 tested combos deliver higher frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Those higher-ranked systems would almost certainly feature faster CPUs, such as newer Ryzen 7000 or Intel 13th/14th-generation parts, but the delta in FPS would be small at 4K where the GPU is the bottleneck. At 1080p, a faster CPU might push frame rates slightly higher than the 171.4 FPS seen at Low settings, but the difference would be marginal. The rank also indicates that this combo is well-balanced for this game; the CPU does not hold back the GPU enough to push the combo into lower percentiles. For users with 4K displays, this combo’s rank is effectively top-tier, as the GPU is the limiting factor and the RTX 4090 is near the peak of available hardware.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 60 FPS or higher at every resolution and preset tested. The verdictByResolution data confirms that all four settings — Low, Medium, High, and Ultra — are playable at 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160. At 4K, the Ultra preset averages 76.2 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by 16.2 FPS. At 1440p, Ultra averages 103.4 FPS, a comfortable margin. At 1080p, Ultra hits 132.9 FPS, ensuring a smooth experience on high-refresh-rate monitors. The lowest recorded average is 76.2 FPS (4K Ultra), which is still well above the playable threshold. For users who prioritize maximum visual fidelity, the best setting is Ultra at all resolutions, as even the most demanding preset remains playable. Those with 4K displays can enjoy the game at Ultra without compromise. The only scenario where the system might fall short of 60 FPS would be in dense scenarios like large cities or heavy weather, but the measured data indicates that average performance across typical gameplay exceeds the threshold. The RTX 4090’s 24 GB of VRAM also ensures that texture-heavy environments at 4K will not cause memory-related stuttering, as the sim’s highest presets are well within its capacity.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest preset that maintains at least 60 FPS at 4K?

A: Ultra is playable at 3840x2160, with an average FPS of 76.2, which is 16.2 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: The combo ranks 195th out of 3,714 tested combinations, placing it in the top 5.3% of all systems for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game?

A: The GPU is the dominant factor at all resolutions, but the CPU becomes more relevant at 1080p. At 1080p Low, the system hits 171.4 FPS, while at 4K Low it drops to 134.6 FPS, showing GPU scaling. At Ultra, the 1080p-to-4K gap is 56.7 FPS (132.9 vs 76.2), confirming GPU-bound behavior at higher presets.

Q: What are the closest CPU rivals to the Ryzen 7 5700?

A: The Intel Xeon D-2752TER (25,530 avg score, 0.1% ahead), AMD Ryzen 5 6600H (25,550, 0.1% ahead), AMD Ryzen 5 7640U (25,485, 0.1% behind), and AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (25,446, 0.3% behind) are all within 0.3% of the Ryzen 7 5700’s 25,517 average score.

Q: Can the system handle 1440p gaming at maximum settings?

A: Yes, at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 103.4, which is 43.4 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the frame rate at 1080p Low settings?

A: The system averages 171.4 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings, making it suitable for very high refresh rate displays.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which delivers an average of 132.9 FPS. This is 72.9 FPS above the threshold, leaving ample headroom for demanding scenes. At 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best choice, averaging 103.4 FPS — 43.4 FPS above the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, Ultra remains the highest preset that clears 60 FPS, with an average of 76.2 FPS, which is 16.2 FPS above the threshold. In all cases, the data shows that even the most demanding preset is playable, so users should select Ultra for maximum visual quality. The only reason to choose a lower preset would be to increase frame rates for high-refresh-rate monitors, but at 1080p Ultra already exceeds 130 FPS. For 4K users, Ultra provides the best balance of fidelity and performance, with 76.2 FPS ensuring smooth gameplay. There is no resolution or preset where the system drops below 60 FPS, making this a top-tier configuration for Microsoft Flight Simulator.