Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and Intel Arc B580 combination delivers a distinctly mixed experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator, a game that stresses both CPU and GPU heavily. Benchmark data indicates the pairing is capable of smooth performance at 1080p and 1440p, but falls below the 60 FPS threshold at 4K across every tested preset. The measured results show a clear scaling pattern: lower resolutions and lower settings yield playable frame rates, while higher fidelity demands exceed what this hardware can deliver. This analysis breaks down the exact performance figures, compares the CPU and GPU to their closest rivals, and provides a clear verdict on where this system stands.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160 (4K), no tested settings preset achieves the 60 FPS playable threshold. The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS does not exist at this resolution. The measured data shows the best average frame rate at 4K comes from the Low preset, which delivers 55.4 FPS average. This falls short of the 60 FPS target by a margin of 4.6 FPS. The High preset produces 35.3 FPS average, Medium produces 43.7 FPS average, and Ultra produces 30.2 FPS average. None of these figures approach the playable threshold, so the verdict for 4K is that no settings are playable.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium. The Medium preset delivers an average frame rate of 63.1 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold by 3.1 FPS. The Low preset runs faster at 80.1 FPS average, but Medium represents the highest quality setting that maintains playable performance. The High preset drops to 43.9 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 43.3 FPS average, both well below the threshold. The verdict data confirms that Low and Medium are the only playable settings at 1440p, with Medium being the best choice.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is also Medium. The Medium preset achieves an average frame rate of 72.5 FPS, which exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by 12.5 FPS. The Low preset runs at 97.6 FPS average, which is the highest frame rate measured across all resolutions and settings. The High preset produces 58.9 FPS average, just 1.1 FPS below the playable threshold, and Ultra drops to 51.5 FPS average. The verdict data lists Low and Medium as playable, with Medium as the best settings at 1080p.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X has an average benchmark score of 29123, placing it in the 81st percentile among all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, based on average score and percentage difference, include the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, which scores 29093 with a delta of 0.1 percent faster, and the Intel Xeon Phi 7210, which scores 29245 with a delta of 0.4 percent slower. The Intel Core i5-13500HX scores 29270, which is 0.5 percent slower than the 5800X, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT scores 28940, which is 0.6 percent faster. These rivals are all within one percent of the 5800X’s average score, meaning any of these processors would deliver nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021, placing it in the 68th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP, which scores 23061 with a delta of 0.2 percent faster, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which scores 22895 with a delta of 0.6 percent slower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 scores 23172, which is 0.7 percent slower than the B580, and the NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249, which is 1 percent slower. These GPU rivals are all within one percent of the B580’s average score, so they would produce very similar frame rates in this game. For users considering alternatives, swapping the 5800X for any of its listed rivals or the B580 for any of its listed rivals would yield essentially the same performance profile in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The data indicates that the 5800X and B580 are well-matched in terms of their benchmark standing, with both sitting near the middle of their respective percentile rankings. The CPU’s 81st percentile and the GPU’s 68th percentile suggest that the processor is relatively stronger than the graphics card, but the measured FPS results show that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. The rival comparisons confirm that this pairing is not unique in its performance class, as several other CPU and GPU combinations would behave similarly.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160 resolution, the measured average frame rates show a steep drop as settings increase. The Low preset delivers 55.4 FPS average, which is the highest at 4K. The Medium preset produces 43.7 FPS average, representing a decrease of 11.7 FPS from Low. The High preset produces 35.3 FPS average, a further drop of 8.4 FPS from Medium. The Ultra preset produces 30.2 FPS average, which is the lowest figure at 4K and represents a total decrease of 25.2 FPS from Low to Ultra. No minimum or maximum frame rate data is available for any 4K setting, so the analysis relies solely on average FPS.

At 2560x1440 resolution, the frame rates improve significantly compared to 4K. The Low preset delivers 80.1 FPS average, which is the highest at 1440p and exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by 20.1 FPS. The Medium preset produces 63.1 FPS average, which clears the threshold by 3.1 FPS. The High preset produces 43.9 FPS average, which is 19.2 FPS below the Low figure and 19.2 FPS below the threshold. The Ultra preset produces 43.3 FPS average, which is nearly identical to High, differing by only 0.6 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 36.8 FPS, showing a wide performance spread across settings.

At 1920x1080 resolution, the frame rates are the highest across all resolutions. The Low preset delivers 97.6 FPS average, which is the highest measured figure in the entire dataset. The Medium preset produces 72.5 FPS average, which is 25.1 FPS below Low but still 12.5 FPS above the threshold. The High preset produces 58.9 FPS average, which is 13.6 FPS below Medium and 1.1 FPS below the threshold. The Ultra preset produces 51.5 FPS average, which is 7.4 FPS below High and 8.5 FPS below the threshold. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 46.1 FPS, which is the largest spread across any resolution.

Comparing across resolutions, the 1080p Low setting delivers 97.6 FPS average, while the 4K Low setting delivers 55.4 FPS average, a difference of 42.2 FPS. The 1080p Ultra setting delivers 51.5 FPS average, while the 4K Ultra setting delivers 30.2 FPS average, a difference of 21.3 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is consistent across settings, with higher resolutions producing proportionally lower frame rates. The data shows that the Medium preset at 1440p (63.1 FPS) and the Medium preset at 1080p (72.5 FPS) are the only settings that combine quality and playability.

The Verdict

The question of whether this PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator depends entirely on the resolution and settings chosen. The verdict data is clear: at 3840x2160, there are no playable settings. Every preset at 4K falls below the 60 FPS threshold, with the best option being Low at 55.4 FPS average. This means 4K gaming is not viable on this hardware for this game, even at the lowest quality settings. The gap between the best 4K result and the threshold is 4.6 FPS, which is a meaningful shortfall that cannot be overcome without changing hardware or resolution.

At 2560x1440, the system can run the game with playable frame rates on Low and Medium presets. The Medium preset is the best playable option, delivering 63.1 FPS average, which clears the threshold by 3.1 FPS. This is a playable experience, though the margin is relatively slim. The Low preset runs at 80.1 FPS average, offering a comfortable cushion above the threshold. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p are not playable, with frame rates of 43.9 FPS and 43.3 FPS respectively. For users with 1440p monitors, the recommendation is to use Medium settings for the best balance of visual quality and performance.

At 1920x1080, the system performs best, with playable frame rates on Low and Medium presets. The Medium preset delivers 72.5 FPS average, which is 12.5 FPS above the threshold, providing a solid playable experience. The Low preset runs at 97.6 FPS average, which is very smooth and well above the threshold. The High preset at 1080p is borderline, with 58.9 FPS average, just 1.1 FPS below the threshold. The Ultra preset is not playable, with 51.5 FPS average. For 1080p users, Medium settings are the recommended choice, offering a comfortable margin above 60 FPS while maintaining reasonable visual quality.

Overall, the verdict is that this combination can run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 1080p and 1440p with Medium settings, but cannot achieve playable frame rates at 4K or at High or Ultra settings at any resolution. The system is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it provides the most headroom above the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as the CPU’s 81st percentile ranking suggests it is capable of handling the game’s processing demands.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset at 1920x1080 that stays at or above 60 FPS?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 delivers an average frame rate of 72.5 FPS, which is the most demanding setting that clears the 60 FPS threshold at that resolution.

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 3840x2160 resolution?

A: No. At 3840x2160, no settings preset reaches 60 FPS. The best result is the Low preset with 55.4 FPS average, which falls short of the playable threshold.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X has an average benchmark score of 29123, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 135H scores 29093, making the 5800X 0.1 percent faster. The difference is negligible.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate measured across all resolutions and settings?

A: The highest average frame rate is 97.6 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: Which settings are playable at 2560x1440 resolution?

A: The Low and Medium presets are playable at 2560x1440, with Low delivering 80.1 FPS average and Medium delivering 63.1 FPS average. The best playable setting is Medium.

Q: What is the combo rank of this CPU and GPU pairing in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: This combination ranks 2823 out of 3714 tested combos in the game, placing it in the lower portion of the benchmark database.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database for Microsoft Flight Simulator, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X paired with the Intel Arc B580 ranks 2823 out of 3714 tested combinations. This places the combo in the 24th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 76 percent of tested combos perform better in this game. The rank reflects the measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings, with the system’s inability to achieve 60 FPS at 4K being a significant factor in its position.

The CPU itself ranks in the 81st percentile among all tested CPUs, indicating that the processor is relatively strong. The GPU ranks in the 68th percentile among all tested GPUs, which is also above average. However, the combo rank of 2823 suggests that the pairing does not translate its individual component strengths into top-tier game performance. The data shows that Microsoft Flight Simulator is demanding on both the CPU and GPU, and this combination falls short at higher resolutions.

The rank of 2823 out of 3714 means that the system is not among the top performers, but it is also not at the very bottom. The measured FPS results show that the system can handle the game at 1080p and 1440p with Medium settings, which is a reasonable level of performance for this title. The 4K results drag down the overall ranking, as the system cannot maintain playable frame rates at that resolution. For users who prioritize 1080p or 1440p gaming, this combo provides a playable experience, but for 4K enthusiasts, the rank reflects its limitations.

The percentile data for the CPU and GPU suggests that both components are capable of performing well in other applications, but the specific demands of Microsoft Flight Simulator expose the GPU’s limitations at high resolutions. The combo rank of 2823 out of 3714 provides a clear benchmark for comparing this system to others, and it indicates that while the hardware is competent, it is not optimized for the most demanding settings in this game. The verdict remains that 1080p and 1440p Medium settings are the sweet spot for this pairing.