Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i3-12100F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER combination delivers a playable experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the margin depends heavily on resolution and preset selection. The recorded data shows that 1080p Medium achieves 78 FPS average, while 4K Ultra drops to 33 FPS. This pairing sits at rank 2571 out of 3714 tested combos, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. The CPU and GPU each contribute differently across resolution tiers, and the measured FPS breakdown reveals clear scaling patterns that define what this system can and cannot handle.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database places the Intel Core i3-12100F at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13494. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core 3 N355, which scores 13492 with a delta of 0 percent, making it virtually identical in aggregate performance. The Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, sitting 0.3 percent behind the i3-12100F, so a system with that older six-core processor would behave nearly the same in CPU-bound scenarios. On the other side, the Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, which is 0.7 percent ahead, and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, 1.1 percent behind. For Microsoft Flight Simulator, any of these processors would produce similar frame rates when paired with the same GPU, as the differences are within a couple of percentage points.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER holds the 62nd percentile among all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 18093. Its closest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, which scores 18159, a delta of negative 0.4 percent, meaning the mobile chip is slightly faster on average. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189, 0.5 percent ahead, while the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373, 1.5 percent ahead. The Intel Arc A770M scores 18383, 1.6 percent ahead. These deltas are small enough that a user swapping between the RTX 2060 SUPER and any of these rivals would see nearly identical FPS in this game, assuming the CPU remains constant. The data suggests that the RTX 2060 SUPER performs like a mid-range card from its generation, and these alternatives represent similar performance tiers.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average FPS is 101, which is the highest recorded for this combo. Moving to 2560x1440 Low drops the average to 81 FPS, a 20 FPS decrease, and at 3840x2160 Low the average falls to 60 FPS. This scaling pattern indicates that even at Low presets, the GPU becomes a limiting factor as resolution increases, because the pixel count grows substantially. The CPU, with its 4 cores and 8 threads, appears sufficient to feed the GPU at 1080p Low, evidenced by the 101 FPS result, but it cannot overcome the GPU's rendering limits at higher resolutions.

At Medium settings, the pattern continues but with lower absolute numbers. The 1080p Medium average is 78 FPS, 1440p Medium averages 63 FPS, and 4K Medium averages 47 FPS. The delta between 1080p and 1440p Medium is 15 FPS, while the delta between 1440p and 4K Medium is 16 FPS, showing a nearly linear drop with resolution. For High settings, 1080p High averages 59 FPS, 1440p High averages 47 FPS, and 4K High averages 35 FPS. The gaps are 12 FPS and 12 FPS respectively, again showing consistent GPU scaling. Ultra settings produce 56 FPS at 1080p, 45 FPS at 1440p, and 33 FPS at 4K, with similar step downs.

The CPU role becomes clearer when comparing preset differences at the same resolution. At 1080p, the jump from Low (101 FPS) to Medium (78 FPS) is 23 FPS, from Medium to High (59 FPS) is 19 FPS, and from High to Ultra (56 FPS) is only 3 FPS. The small gap between High and Ultra suggests that the CPU, not the GPU, is starting to cap performance at 1080p, because the extra graphical load of Ultra does not translate into a large FPS penalty. At 1440p, the same preset ladder shows 81, 63, 47, and 45 FPS, with the High to Ultra gap shrinking to 2 FPS, reinforcing that CPU limitation emerges when the GPU is not fully saturated. At 4K, the averages are 60, 47, 35, and 33 FPS for Low through Ultra, and the High to Ultra gap is again 2 FPS. The data indicates that the GPU dominates performance scaling across resolutions, but the CPU imposes a ceiling around 100 FPS at 1080p Low and around 60 FPS at 4K Low, where further GPU headroom would otherwise allow higher frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank for this CPU and GPU pairing in Microsoft Flight Simulator is 2571 out of 3714 tested combinations. That places it in the 69th percentile of all tested combos, meaning roughly 30 percent of systems perform worse and 70 percent perform better. This rank reflects the combined capability of the i3-12100F and RTX 2060 SUPER, which individually sit at the 68th and 62nd percentiles respectively. The rank is not a simple average, but the game's specific engine workload, which favors strong single-core performance for simulation logic and moderate GPU throughput for rendering, yields this particular position.

Given that the playable threshold is 60 FPS, the combo clears that bar at 1080p Medium (78 FPS) and 1440p Medium (63 FPS), but not at 1080p High (59 FPS), 1440p High (47 FPS), or any 4K preset except Low (60 FPS). The rank of 2571 suggests that many other combinations, likely those with higher-end CPUs or GPUs, achieve smoother performance at higher presets. However, the fact that this combo reaches 78 FPS at 1080p Medium means it is far from the bottom of the database. The rank also implies that for users with this exact hardware, the game is playable but requires preset compromises, especially at 1440p and 4K.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear from the recorded data. At 3840x2160, the only playable setting is Low, which averages exactly 60 FPS. Medium at 4K averages 47 FPS, High averages 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 33 FPS, all below the 60 FPS threshold. Therefore, this PC can run the game at 4K only on Low settings, and even then the average sits right at the playable threshold, leaving little headroom for complex scenes.

At 2560x1440, the playable settings are Low and Medium. Low averages 81 FPS, well above the threshold, while Medium averages 63 FPS, just 3 FPS over the line. High at 1440p averages 47 FPS and Ultra averages 45 FPS, so those presets are not recommended for a smooth experience. At 1920x1080, Low and Medium are playable, with averages of 101 FPS and 78 FPS respectively. High at 1080p averages 59 FPS, one frame short of the threshold, and Ultra averages 56 FPS. The best playable setting at 1080p is Medium, which provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

Overall, this PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the experience depends on the display resolution. For a 1080p monitor, Medium settings deliver smooth gameplay. For 1440p, Medium is barely playable and Low is safer. For 4K, only Low settings work, and the 60 FPS average suggests occasional dips below that mark in dense areas.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 60 FPS on 1080p?

A: Yes, at Low and Medium settings. Low averages 101 FPS and Medium averages 78 FPS. High averages 59 FPS, just below the threshold, and Ultra averages 56 FPS.

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1440p?

A: Medium settings, which average 63 FPS. Low is also playable at 81 FPS, but Medium offers higher visual quality while staying above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is 4K playable with this hardware?

A: Only on Low settings, which average 60 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 60 FPS, with averages of 47, 35, and 33 FPS respectively.

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

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average score of 13494. The Intel Core 3 N355 scores 13492, essentially equal, the Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, 0.3 percent behind, and the Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, 1.1 percent behind.

Q: What GPU alternatives perform similarly to the RTX 2060 SUPER?

A: The RTX 3060 Mobile scores 18159, 0.4 percent higher, the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18189, 0.5 percent higher, and the AMD Radeon RX 460 scores 18373, 1.5 percent higher. These would produce near-identical FPS in this game.

Q: What is the combo rank for this CPU and GPU in this game?

A: The combo is ranked 2571 out of 3714 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database, with about 69 percent of tested combos performing better.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average FPS of exactly 60. No other 4K preset reaches the threshold, so Low is the only option for a playable experience at that resolution.

For 2560x1440, the best playable setting is Medium, which averages 63 FPS. This preset provides a modest 3 FPS margin above the threshold, so users who prefer extra headroom could drop to Low for 81 FPS, but Medium is the highest preset that clears 60 FPS.

For 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Medium, averaging 78 FPS. This leaves a comfortable 18 FPS buffer above the threshold, making it the recommended choice for 1080p displays. High settings miss the mark at 59 FPS, so Medium is the clear winner for both visual quality and smoothness.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the recorded FPS values are as follows. Low settings produce an average of 60 FPS with no min or max data recorded. Medium settings average 47 FPS, with a minimum of 40 FPS and a maximum of 54 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra settings average 33 FPS, with no min or max values for those presets. The Medium preset shows that frame times can vary significantly, with the minimum dipping to 40 FPS, which is 7 FPS below the average.

At 2560x1440, Low settings average 81 FPS, Medium averages 63 FPS with a minimum of 54 FPS and a maximum of 73 FPS, High averages 47 FPS, and Ultra averages 45 FPS. The Medium preset again exhibits notable variance, with the minimum 9 FPS below the average, indicating that complex scenes can cause temporary frame drops even though the average stays above 60 FPS.

At 1920x1080, Low settings average 101 FPS, Medium averages 78 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS, High averages 59 FPS, and Ultra averages 56 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p has the smallest relative variance among all Medium presets, with a minimum that is 11 FPS below the average but still 7 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p both fall below the playable threshold, making them unsuitable for smooth gameplay despite the higher resolution being easier on the GPU than 1440p or 4K.