Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is a mid-range desktop combination. Measured performance data for Microsoft Flight Simulator shows a clear picture of what this system can deliver across resolutions and presets. This analysis breaks down the best settings, component roles, and comparable hardware, using only the measured FPS and benchmark figures from the dataset.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold for this analysis is 60 FPS. For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above that threshold is the "best" setting.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the only preset that clears 60 FPS is Low, which averages 72.2 FPS. The next step up, Medium, drops to 58.7 FPS — below the threshold. High and Ultra are further behind at 44.5 FPS and 41.8 FPS, respectively. So, for 4K, users must accept Low settings to stay smooth.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the best setting is Medium, averaging 79.5 FPS. Low runs at 99.1 FPS, but Medium offers a substantial visual upgrade while still comfortably above 60. High falls short at 59.0 FPS, and Ultra is 54.7 FPS — both unplayable by this standard.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), all four presets exceed 60 FPS. The most demanding, Ultra, averages 68.2 FPS, making it the best choice. High runs at 74.3 FPS, Medium at 97.4 FPS, and Low at 123.8 FPS. This resolution gives the system full flexibility to prioritize visual fidelity.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals how the balance between processor and graphics card shifts as resolution changes. At 1080p, the system produces very high frame rates even on Low — 123.8 FPS — which suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at lower resolutions. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 55.6 FPS (123.8 vs 68.2). At 4K, that same gap narrows to 30.4 FPS (72.2 vs 41.8). This compression indicates that at higher resolutions, the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck, as the absolute frame rates drop and the relative impact of settings increases.

Looking at scaling across resolutions at the same preset: on Low, FPS drops from 123.8 at 1080p to 99.1 at 1440p (a 20% reduction) and then to 72.2 at 4K (a further 27% reduction). On Ultra, the drop is from 68.2 at 1080p to 54.7 at 1440p (20% down) and then to 41.8 at 4K (24% down). The consistent percentage drops suggest that both CPU and GPU are being exercised proportionally, but the fact that 1080p Low hits over 120 FPS indicates the CPU has headroom; the GPU is the limiting factor when resolution and settings increase.

The CPU’s benchmark scores reinforce its strength: it achieves 18,760 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1,930 in single-core. The GPU’s Passmark G3D score is 20,891. In a flight simulator, which often stresses single-thread performance, the Ryzen 7 7700’s single-core result is solid, but the GPU’s memory bandwidth (448.0 GB/s) and 8 GB GDDR7 capacity become decisive at 4K. At 1080p and 1440p, the CPU can keep up with the GPU’s output, but at 4K the GPU’s raw throughput is insufficient for High or Ultra presets.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Ryzen 7 7700’s average benchmark score is 40,081, placing it in the 87th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, based on average score, are within a fraction of a percent:

• AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 — score 40,048, delta +0.1%
• Intel Core 5 221E — score 40,144, delta -0.2%
• AMD Ryzen 9 270 — score 40,246, delta -0.4%
• Intel Core i9-13905H — score 40,313, delta -0.6%

These CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator, as their average scores are all within 0.6% of the Ryzen 7 7700. Users upgrading from any of these would see no meaningful difference in frame rates.

On the GPU side, the RTX 5060 has an average benchmark score of 26,331 and sits in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals:

• AMD Radeon 860M — score 26,401, delta -0.3%
• NVIDIA GeForce MX550 — score 26,421, delta -0.3%
• AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary — score 26,553, delta -0.8%
• AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT — score 26,011, delta +1.2%

The RX 6750 XT is 1.2% faster on average, while the others are slightly slower. In this game, the differences would translate to a few FPS at most. A system with any of these GPUs paired with the Ryzen 7 7700 would produce very similar results to the measured numbers above.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator? Yes, but with important caveats. Based on the measured data:

• 3840x2160 — Only Low preset achieves a playable average of 72.2 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS (58.7, 44.5, and 41.8, respectively).
• 2560x1440 — Low (99.1 FPS) and Medium (79.5 FPS) are playable. High (59.0) and Ultra (54.7) are not.
• 1920x1080 — All four presets are playable, with Ultra at 68.2 FPS being the best visual option.

The combo ranks 1,823rd out of 3,714 tested combinations in this game, placing it in the upper half of systems. The CPU is in the 87th percentile and the GPU in the 72nd, so the processor is relatively stronger. For a smooth experience, users should target 1080p for maximum settings or 1440p with Medium. 4K is only viable on Low.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists all measured average frame rates. Minimum and maximum FPS were not recorded in the dataset; only averages are available.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

|------------|----------|-------------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 44.5 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 72.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 58.7 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 41.8 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 59.0 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 99.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 79.5 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 54.7 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 74.3 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 123.8 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 97.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 68.2 |

The data shows a clear pattern: the RTX 5060’s 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are adequate for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K the GPU becomes the limiting factor. The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, never appears to hold back the system at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the 123.8 FPS at 1080p Low.

FAQ

Q: What is the best preset to use at 1080p?

A: Ultra, which averages 68.2 FPS. All presets at 1080p exceed 60 FPS, but Ultra provides the highest visual quality while staying playable.

Q: Can this system handle 4K?

A: Yes, but only on Low settings, which average 72.2 FPS. Medium drops to 58.7 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the Ryzen 7 7700 compare to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365?

A: Their average benchmark scores are nearly identical — 40,081 vs 40,048, a difference of 0.1%. In game, they would produce effectively the same frame rates.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance percentile?

A: The RTX 5060 sits in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs based on average benchmark score.

Q: Which component is more important at 1440p?

A: The data suggests the GPU becomes more significant as resolution rises. At 1440p Medium (79.5 FPS) is playable, but High (59.0 FPS) is not — a small settings step causes a large drop, indicating GPU sensitivity.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT?

A: The RX 6750 XT has an average score of 26,011, which is 1.2% higher than the RTX 5060’s 26,331. In practice, the difference would be a few FPS in this game.