Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 delivers a solid, if resolution-dependent, experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator. At 1920x1080 and 2560x1440, this combination clears the 60 FPS threshold at every tested preset, including Ultra. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset falls just short of playability, though Medium remains comfortably above the line. The data shows a system that is fundamentally capable across the board, with the primary trade-off occurring at 4K resolution where visual fidelity must be moderated to maintain smooth performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its highest frame rates. The Low preset averages 158.6 FPS, which is exceptionally high for a flight simulator. Medium drops to 123.2 FPS, and High averages 91.7 FPS. Even the most demanding Ultra preset maintains an average of 88.9 FPS, leaving substantial headroom above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scaling is consistent. Low averages 123.5 FPS, a modest reduction from 1080p. Medium averages 99.4 FPS, still well above 60 FPS. High averages 76 FPS, and Ultra averages 71 FPS. The gap between Medium and High is notable at 23.4 FPS, while the gap between High and Ultra is smaller at 5 FPS. This suggests that the transition from Medium to High carries a significant rendering cost, while the step from High to Ultra is comparatively lighter.

At 3840x2160, the picture changes. Low averages 92.6 FPS, which remains highly playable. Medium averages 71.4 FPS, still above the 60 FPS threshold. However, High drops to 52.9 FPS, and Ultra averages 53.6 FPS. Both of these presets fall below the playability line. Interestingly, the Ultra preset slightly outperforms High at 4K, with a 0.7 FPS advantage. This is an unusual inversion, likely a result of the specific rendering paths for each preset. The data indicates that 4K resolution requires dropping to Medium or lower for consistent smoothness.

Across all resolutions, the min and max FPS fields are null in the data, meaning only average frame rates are available for analysis. The average FPS figures are sufficient to determine playability, but they do not capture frame-time spikes or stutters. Nevertheless, the average values show a clear hierarchy: 1080p is universally smooth, 1440p is smooth at all presets, and 4K is smooth only at Low and Medium.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling between resolutions reveals which component dominates in this game. Microsoft Flight Simulator is known for heavy CPU utilization, and the data supports this. The Ryzen 9 9900X, with 12 cores and 24 threads, provides strong single-thread and multi-thread performance. Its 3DMark single-thread score of 1286 and multi-thread max score of 13929 indicate robust processing capability. However, the GPU scaling is more pronounced when moving from 1080p to 1440p to 4K.

At 1080p, the CPU is likely the primary limiter, as the GPU has ample headroom. The Ultra preset averages 88.9 FPS, which is high but not maxing out the RTX 3080's potential. At 1440p, the GPU begins to take a larger role. The drop from 123.5 FPS at Low to 71 FPS at Ultra shows a 42.5% reduction, indicating the GPU is increasingly stressed. At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. The RTX 3080, with 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 8704 shading units, is pushed hard. The drop from Low at 92.6 FPS to High at 52.9 FPS is a 39.7 FPS reduction, showing that the GPU cannot sustain high settings at this resolution.

The CPU's role is evident in the consistency of frame rates at lower resolutions. The Ryzen 9 9900X's 3DMark 16-thread score of 12552 and Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 32172 suggest it can feed the GPU efficiently. The fact that 1080p Low hits 158.6 FPS indicates the CPU is not holding back performance at lower GPU loads. The scaling between resolutions—from 158.6 FPS at 1080p Low to 92.6 FPS at 4K Low—shows a 41.6% reduction, which aligns with the GPU's increasing workload. The data indicates that at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU and GPU are well-balanced, while at 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra, with an average FPS of 88.9. This preset stays well above the 60 FPS threshold, providing the highest visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The data shows that even the most demanding preset is playable, so there is no reason to compromise.

For 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, averaging 71 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold, though with less headroom than at 1080p. The 71 FPS average suggests that most scenes will remain smooth, but demanding areas may see dips. Still, the data supports Ultra as the optimal choice for this resolution.

For 3840x2160, the best settings are Medium, averaging 71.4 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. High and Ultra both fall below the threshold, at 52.9 and 53.6 FPS respectively. Medium offers a significant visual improvement over Low, which averages 92.6 FPS, while maintaining playability. The step from Medium to High costs 18.5 FPS, which is too steep for 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 1920x1080 on Ultra settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1080p Ultra is 88.9, which is well above the 60 FPS playability threshold.

Q: What is the highest playable preset at 2560x1440?

A: Ultra is playable at 1440p, with an average FPS of 71. All four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—stay above 60 FPS at this resolution.

Q: Is 4K Ultra playable with this hardware?

A: No. At 3840x2160, Ultra averages 53.6 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. High averages 52.9 FPS, also below the line. Medium is the best playable preset at 71.4 FPS.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same preset?

A: At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 158.6 at 1080p to 92.6 at 4K, a reduction of 66 FPS. At Ultra, the drop is from 88.9 to 53.6, a reduction of 35.3 FPS.

Q: Does the Ultra preset ever outperform High?

A: Yes, at 3840x2160. Ultra averages 53.6 FPS while High averages 52.9 FPS, a 0.7 FPS difference. This is an anomaly in the data, but it does occur.

Q: What is the lowest playable setting at 4K?

A: Low is playable at 4K, averaging 92.6 FPS. Medium is also playable at 71.4 FPS. High and Ultra are not playable, as they fall below 60 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 1066 out of 3714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 28.7% of all configurations tested. The CPU's percentile versus all CPUs is 92, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of processors. Its average benchmark score of 57498 is nearly identical to the AMD EPYC 9015, which scores 57555 with a delta of -0.1%. The Intel Core i9-14900 scores 58115, putting the Ryzen 9 9900X about 1.1% behind. This suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor in this combo.

The GPU's percentile versus all GPUs is 68, which is lower than the CPU's percentile. The RTX 3080's average benchmark score is 23172, and its nearest rival, the NVIDIA P106-100, scores 23249 with a delta of -0.3%. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M scores 23273, a 0.4% difference. These deltas are negligible, indicating the GPU performs as expected for its class. The rank of 1066 out of 3714 reflects the balance of this combo: a top-tier CPU paired with a solid mid-to-high-tier GPU. The data suggests that this rank is driven more by the GPU's relative position than the CPU's, as the CPU is near the top of its class.

The Verdict

The data is clear: this PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, with the caveat that 4K Ultra is not achievable. At 1920x1080, all presets clear 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 88.9 FPS. This is the ideal resolution for this combo, offering maximum visual fidelity with significant headroom. At 2560x1440, all presets also clear 60 FPS, with Ultra averaging 71 FPS. This is the best balance of visual quality and performance, as the 71 FPS average provides a smooth experience without requiring compromises. At 3840x2160, only Low and Medium presets are playable, with Medium averaging 71.4 FPS. High and Ultra fall short at 52.9 and 53.6 FPS respectively.

The verdict by resolution is unambiguous. For 1080p and 1440p, this is a fully capable system that can run the game at the highest settings. For 4K, the system requires a settings reduction to Medium or lower. The Ryzen 9 9900X provides ample CPU performance, while the RTX 3080 is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it delivers the full Ultra experience with a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, users must accept Medium settings for smooth play, or High/Ultra at the cost of frame rate. Overall, this is a strong combination for Microsoft Flight Simulator, with the understanding that 4K Ultra remains out of reach.