Microsoft Flight Simulator

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 lands at rank 2912 out of 3714 tested combinations in the database for Microsoft Flight Simulator. That places this combo in the lower 22nd percentile of all recorded configurations, meaning roughly 78% of tested systems deliver higher average frame rates in this title. The ranking reflects a substantial bottleneck: the CPU sits in the 94th percentile among all processors, while the GPU rests in only the 58th percentile among all graphics cards. This asymmetry suggests the graphics card is the limiting factor in nearly every scenario, a pattern that becomes clearer when examining how frame rates scale across resolutions and presets.

The low overall rank does not mean the combo is unusable, but it does indicate that users should temper expectations. At 1920x1080, the system achieves playable frame rates at Medium settings, and at 2560x1440, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160, where even Low averages 55 FPS, just short of the 60 FPS playability bar. The ranking position, 2912 out of 3714, aligns with a system that can handle the game at modest settings on lower resolutions but struggles at higher demands.

CPU and GPU Roles

The recorded measurements reveal a clear division of labor between the two components. The Ryzen 7 9700F, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, provides ample headroom for the simulation's CPU-heavy flight model and world-generation logic. The RTX 2060, however, becomes the decisive factor once resolution and preset complexity rise. The evidence: at 1920x1080, dropping from Ultra to Low increases average FPS from 51 to 92, a gain of 41 FPS. At 2560x1440, the same preset drop yields 41 to 74 FPS, a gain of 33 FPS. At 3840x2160, the swing is 30 to 55 FPS, a 25 FPS improvement. These diminishing returns as resolution climbs indicate the GPU is saturated at higher pixel counts, while the CPU remains capable of feeding frames.

The scaling between resolutions reinforces this interpretation. At Low settings, moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS from 92 to 74 (a 19.6% drop), and from 1440p to 4K reduces it further to 55 (a 25.7% drop). At Medium settings, the drops are 71 to 58 (18.3%) and 58 to 42 (27.6%). At High settings, the drops are 54 to 43 (20.4%) and 43 to 32 (25.6%). The consistent double-digit percentage declines across every preset show that pixel throughput is the primary constraint. The CPU's role is less visible in these numbers, but its strength is evident in the fact that even at 1080p Ultra, the system still manages 51 FPS, a figure that would be far lower with a weaker processor. The data implies the RTX 2060 is the component to upgrade first if higher settings or resolutions are desired.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the database identifies the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Medium, which averages 71 FPS. The recorded minimum is 61 FPS and the maximum is 82 FPS, meaning the frame rate stays comfortably above the playability threshold even during dips. Low settings average 92 FPS, but Medium is the better choice for visual quality while still clearing 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the only playable preset is Low, averaging 74 FPS. The next step up, Medium, falls to 58 FPS, just below the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows no playable settings at High or Ultra at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS. Low comes closest at 55 FPS, Medium averages 42 FPS, High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 30 FPS. The verdict is clear: this combination cannot maintain playable frame rates at 4K for this game.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for both components provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly in this configuration.

For the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average benchmark score of 69996. The nearest rival is the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX with an average score of 69875, a difference of 0.2%. The Intel Core i7-14700KF scores 70163, which is 0.2% higher than the 9700F. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X scores 69515, 0.7% lower. The Intel Core i7-14700K scores 69355, 0.9% lower. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator when paired with the RTX 2060, since the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU's 94th percentile ranking means it is not the limiting factor; swapping to any of these rivals would not meaningfully change the measured FPS.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290. The nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 at 15283, a 0% difference. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, 0.1% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, 0.6% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171, 0.8% lower. These alternatives would produce nearly identical frame rates in this game. The RTX 2060's 58th percentile ranking means it sits in the middle of the pack, and the narrow score deltas (all within 0.8%) indicate that users with any of these GPUs would see essentially the same performance profile: playable at 1080p Medium, playable at 1440p Low, and not playable at 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings?

A: No. The measured average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 51, which falls below the 60 FPS playability threshold. The best playable setting at this resolution is Medium, averaging 71 FPS.

Q: What is the highest resolution at which this combo can maintain 60 FPS?

A: The system can maintain 60 FPS at 2560x1440, but only on Low settings, which average 74 FPS. At 1920x1080, Medium settings average 71 FPS, which is the highest quality preset that clears 60 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the performance limits?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 58th percentile. Frame rates drop consistently as resolution increases, which points to graphics processing as the bottleneck.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to all tested systems?

A: It ranks 2912 out of 3714 total combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the lower portion of the distribution, with roughly 78% of tested configurations delivering higher average FPS.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 4K with Low settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings is 55, which is 5 FPS short of the 60 FPS playability bar. No 4K preset reaches playable levels.

Q: Are there any GPUs that perform nearly identically to the RTX 2060 in this game?

A: Yes. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580, AMD Radeon 680M, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM, and AMD Radeon RX 7600 all have average benchmark scores within 0.8% of the RTX 2060, so they would produce nearly the same frame rates.

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the experience depends heavily on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system clears 60 FPS on both Low (92 FPS) and Medium (71 FPS), with Medium being the recommended choice for balanced visuals and performance. At 2560x1440, only Low achieves playable frame rates at 74 FPS; Medium drops to 58 FPS, just under the threshold. At 3840x2160, no preset reaches 60 FPS, with the best case being Low at 55 FPS.

The verdict by resolution is clear: 1080p offers the most flexibility with two playable presets, 1440p offers a single playable preset, and 4K is not viable. Users seeking higher settings at 1440p or any 4K capability would need a more powerful GPU. The CPU is not the constraint here; the data shows the RTX 2060 holds the system back. For those willing to play at 1080p Medium or 1440p Low, this combo delivers a playable experience. For anything more demanding, the hardware falls short of the 60 FPS target.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average frame rates is as follows. Note that minimum and maximum values were only recorded for Medium settings at each resolution.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: 55 FPS average
• Medium: 42 FPS average, 36 FPS minimum, 49 FPS maximum
• High: 32 FPS average
• Ultra: 30 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: 74 FPS average
• Medium: 58 FPS average, 49 FPS minimum, 66 FPS maximum
• High: 43 FPS average
• Ultra: 41 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: 92 FPS average
• Medium: 71 FPS average, 61 FPS minimum, 82 FPS maximum
• High: 54 FPS average
• Ultra: 51 FPS average

The Medium preset at 1080p shows a narrow range from 61 to 82 FPS, indicating stable performance. At 1440p Medium, the range widens to 49 to 66 FPS, with dips below the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K Medium, the range is 36 to 49 FPS, consistently below playable levels. The absence of min/max data for Low, High, and Ultra presets means only average values are available for those settings, but the averages alone are sufficient to determine playability. The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: every step up in preset costs roughly 10 to 20 FPS, and every step up in resolution costs a similar amount. This linear degradation confirms the GPU-bound nature of the configuration.