Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is an overwhelmingly capable combination for Microsoft Flight Simulator, delivering a smooth 60+ FPS experience at every resolution and preset tested. Benchmark results indicate that this system not only meets but substantially exceeds the playable threshold, with the weakest recorded performance being 72.3 FPS at 4K Ultra settings. The data positions this combo at rank 244 out of 3714 tested configurations, placing it in the top 7% of all systems for this specific title, which reflects a high degree of headroom for demanding flight simulation scenarios.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160) across four quality presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra). All results represent average frame rates, with no minimum or maximum values recorded in the dataset.

At 1920x1080, the system demonstrates exceptional performance across all presets. The Low preset achieves 174.8 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded for this combination. Moving to Medium yields 157.5 FPS, a 9.9% reduction from Low. The High preset delivers 133 FPS, while the most demanding Ultra preset still maintains a robust 125.4 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra represents a 28.3% performance drop, yet even the most graphically intensive setting remains more than double the 60 FPS playable threshold.

The 2560x1440 results show a predictable performance decline relative to 1080p, but the system retains substantial headroom. Low settings produce 159.4 FPS, Medium reaches 139.6 FPS, and High delivers 103.6 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p achieves exactly 100 FPS, which is a notable milestone as it represents the first sub-100 FPS result in the dataset. The performance gap between Low and Ultra at this resolution is 37.3%, indicating that the GPU workload scaling is more pronounced than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the system continues to deliver playable performance across all settings. The Low preset yields 130 FPS, which is still exceptionally smooth for 4K gaming. Medium settings produce 103.7 FPS, while High drops to 75 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K delivers 72.3 FPS, which remains comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The scaling from Low to Ultra at this resolution shows a 44.4% performance reduction, the largest drop observed across any resolution, highlighting the significant GPU load imposed by 4K Ultra settings.

Comparing across resolutions, the performance degradation from 1080p to 4K is most severe at the Ultra preset, where the frame rate falls from 125.4 to 72.3 FPS, a 42.3% reduction. In contrast, the Low preset only drops from 174.8 to 130 FPS, a 25.6% reduction, suggesting that lower settings are relatively less resolution-sensitive. The High preset shows a 43.6% reduction from 133 to 75 FPS, while Medium exhibits a 34.2% drop from 157.5 to 103.7 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700 provide context for CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Xeon D-2752TER has an average score of 25530, representing a negligible -0.1% deltaPct relative to the Ryzen 7 5700's average benchmark score of 25517. The AMD Ryzen 5 7640U scores 25485, a 0.1% deltaPct, meaning the Ryzen 7 5700 is marginally faster. The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H achieves 25550, which is -0.1% deltaPct, placing it essentially on par with the tested CPU. Finally, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U scores 25446, representing a 0.3% deltaPct, making it the closest rival in terms of raw performance. In practice, any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator, with differences well under 1%.

For the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080's nearest rivals show more meaningful performance deltas. The AMD Radeon 8060S has an average score of 55757, which is 0.6% lower than the RTX 5080's 56083. The AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698, a 0.7% deltaPct, again slightly slower. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X achieves 54828, representing a 2.3% gap, indicating a more noticeable but still modest performance difference. On the faster side, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores 57367, which is -2.2% deltaPct, meaning it outperforms the RTX 5080 by that margin. These GPU alternatives would produce frame rates within a few percentage points of the tested configuration, making them viable substitutes for users seeking similar gameplay experiences.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 72.3 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold by 20.5%. The verdict data confirms Ultra is listed among playable settings at this resolution.

Q: What is the highest frame rate this system achieves?

A: The maximum recorded average FPS is 174.8, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This represents the best-case scenario for high-refresh-rate displays.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700 has an average benchmark score of 25517, placing it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U, scores 25446, which is only 0.3% slower, while the AMD Ryzen 5 6600H is 0.1% faster with a score of 25550.

Q: Is the RTX 5080 significantly faster than its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5080 scores 56083 on average, which is 0.6% faster than the AMD Radeon 8060S and 0.7% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB. However, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE is 2.2% faster with a score of 57367.

Q: What performance difference exists between 1080p and 4K at Ultra settings?

A: At Ultra settings, the system delivers 125.4 FPS at 1920x1080 and 72.3 FPS at 3840x2160, representing a 42.3% reduction in frame rate when moving from 1080p to 4K.

Q: Does the system maintain 60 FPS at all tested settings and resolutions?

A: Yes. Every combination of the three resolutions and four presets produces average FPS above 60. The lowest recorded value is 72.3 FPS at 4K Ultra, which remains 20.5% above the playable threshold.

The Verdict

This PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator with complete confidence at all tested configurations. The verdict data lists High, Low, Medium, and Ultra as playable settings at every resolution, meaning the system never drops below the 60 FPS playable threshold regardless of user preferences.

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its strongest performance. The Ultra preset achieves 125.4 FPS, which is 109% above the playable threshold, making this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors or users who want maximum visual fidelity without compromise. Even at 1080p Ultra, there is substantial headroom for demanding scenarios such as dense urban areas or complex weather systems.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset produces exactly 100 FPS, which is 66.7% above the 60 FPS threshold. This represents a sweet spot for users with 1440p displays seeking a balance between visual quality and smoothness. The High preset at 103.6 FPS offers nearly identical performance, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional graphical features come at a minimal cost.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset delivers 72.3 FPS, which is 20.5% above the playable threshold. This is the most demanding configuration tested, yet the system still maintains a comfortable margin above 60 FPS. Users prioritizing 4K resolution should find this performance acceptable, though those sensitive to frame rate fluctuations might prefer the High preset at 75 FPS for slightly more stability.

Overall, the data strongly supports the conclusion that this combination of AMD Ryzen 7 5700 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is more than sufficient for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The system's rank of 244 out of 3714 combinations places it in the top 6.6% of all tested configurations, confirming its high-end positioning for this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals distinct roles for the CPU and GPU in Microsoft Flight Simulator. At 1920x1080, the frame rates range from 174.8 FPS at Low to 125.4 FPS at Ultra, a spread of 49.4 FPS. This relatively narrow range suggests that the CPU is playing a more significant role at lower resolutions, as the GPU is not fully saturated and frame rates are limited by processor capabilities. The AMD Ryzen 7 5700's 16 threads and 8 cores provide ample parallel processing for the simulation's complex physics and AI calculations.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rate spread expands to 59.4 FPS (from 159.4 at Low to 100 at Ultra). This widening gap indicates that the GPU is becoming a larger factor as pixel count increases, but the CPU still contributes meaningfully to overall performance. The 1440p Ultra result of exactly 100 FPS suggests a balanced workload where neither component is the sole bottleneck.

At 3840x2160, the frame rate spread grows to 57.7 FPS (from 130 at Low to 72.3 at Ultra), but the absolute values drop significantly. This pattern confirms that the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K, as the increased pixel fill rate demands more from the RTX 5080's 10752 shading units. The RTX 5080's 960.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 56.28 TFLOPS FP32 performance are being heavily taxed at this resolution, particularly at higher presets.

The resolution scaling from 1080p to 4K at the same preset provides insight into GPU load. At Low settings, the frame rate drops by 25.6% (174.8 to 130 FPS), while at Ultra settings, it drops by 42.3% (125.4 to 72.3 FPS). This disproportionate decline at higher presets indicates that the GPU's workload increases superlinearly with both resolution and graphical complexity. The CPU's role is more pronounced at lower resolutions and settings, where the simulation's single-threaded and multi-threaded demands can become the bottleneck.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, which achieves 125.4 FPS average. This is the most demanding preset available and still provides performance more than double the 60 FPS threshold. The 125.4 FPS result leaves substantial headroom for complex flight scenarios, making Ultra the clear recommendation for 1080p users.

For 2560x1440, Ultra is also the best setting, delivering exactly 100 FPS. This represents a 66.7% margin above the playable threshold, ensuring smooth gameplay even during demanding moments. The 100 FPS figure is particularly notable as it provides an excellent experience on 144Hz displays without requiring any compromise in visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset achieves 72.3 FPS, which is 20.5% above the 60 FPS threshold. While this is the lowest margin in the dataset, it remains playable and represents the best visual experience available at 4K. Users who prioritize absolute frame rate stability might consider the High preset at 75 FPS, but the Ultra setting's 72.3 FPS is sufficient for a smooth experience in most scenarios.

Across all resolutions, the data consistently shows that Ultra is the best setting choice, as the system never falls below 72.3 FPS even at 4K. The performance headroom at lower resolutions is substantial, with 1080p Ultra providing 109% more FPS than required by the playable threshold. This suggests that users can confidently enable all graphical features without concern for performance degradation.