Microsoft Flight Simulator

# How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 2256th out of 3714 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. That places this configuration in the lower-middle portion of the database, meaning it is not a top-tier setup for this title, but it is far from the bottom. The ranking reflects a combination that can handle the game at certain settings, but it will not dominate at high resolutions or maximum quality presets.

The CPU sits at the 68th percentile among all tested processors, which is respectable for a quad-core part. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core 3 N355, scores nearly identically with a delta of 0%, while the Intel Core i5-9500 is just 0.3% ahead. The Intel Core 5 120UL trails by 0.7%, and the Intel Core i7-1250U is 1.1% ahead. This tells us the i3-12100F is positioned right in the middle of a cluster of similar-performing chips, none of which are dramatically faster or slower in general benchmark terms.

The GPU is at the 65th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, which is 1% faster, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile at 1.2% faster, the Intel Arc B570 at 1.3% faster, and the Intel Arc A750 at 1.5% faster. The RTX 2070 SUPER holds its own against these cards, all of which are within a very narrow performance band. The ranking data shows that this CPU and GPU pairing is balanced in a way that neither component is a severe bottleneck at typical gaming resolutions, but the combination is not built for extreme fidelity or high refresh rate 4K play.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: Yes, the recorded data shows an average of 62.9 FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve the highest frame rate?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 112.6 FPS average. That is the highest recorded frame rate across all tested resolutions and presets.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for frame rate differences between presets?

A: The GPU shows a clear influence: at 4K, the frame rate drops from 63.2 FPS at Low to 36.2 FPS at High, a gap of 27 FPS. This indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and presets, since the CPU is not changing between those runs.

Q: Can it maintain 60 FPS at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: Yes, the measured average is 67.4 FPS at Medium, which is above 60. However, High settings at that resolution drop to 52 FPS, so the preset must be capped at Medium for smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its closest rival in the database?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M is 1% faster, while the RTX 3070 Mobile, Intel Arc B570, and Intel Arc A750 are between 1.2% and 1.5% faster. The differences are minimal, meaning the RTX 2070 SUPER is effectively on par with those cards for this game.

Q: What is the lowest preset that still reaches 60 FPS at 3840x2160?

A: Only Low settings pass the threshold, with an average of 63.2 FPS. Medium drops to 48.9 FPS, so it is not playable at 60 FPS at that resolution.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear pattern in how the CPU and GPU split responsibilities depending on resolution and preset. At 1920x1080, the CPU is less stressed, and the GPU is more capable of pushing higher frame rates. From Low to Medium, the frame rate drops from 112.6 FPS to 86.7 FPS, a 25.9 FPS reduction, and then from Medium to High it drops another 20 FPS to 66.7 FPS. The CPU i3-12100F, with its modest 4 cores and 8 threads, does not appear to bottleneck the card at lower presets, as the GPU is the one handling the increased graphical load.

When moving to 2560x1440, the scaling changes. Low sits at 88.6 FPS, Medium at 67.4 FPS, High at 52 FPS, and Ultra at 49.1 FPS. The gap between High and Ultra is only 2.9 FPS, which is much smaller than the 20 FPS gap between Medium and High. This suggests that at 1440p, the GPU is starting to become the primary limiting factor as resolution increases, because the CPU is not able to push more frames when the GPU is already saturated at higher settings.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is the definitive bottleneck. Low produces 63.2 FPS, Medium drops to 48.9 FPS, and High drops further to 36.2 FPS, with Ultra at 35 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is only 1.2 FPS, indicating that the GPU is fully loaded and the CPU is not adding any extra headroom. The recorded data shows that as resolution increases, the CPU becomes less relevant, and the RTX 2070 Turbo is what determines whether the game stays above 60 FPS. The CPU has enough single-core strength to handle the game's physics and flight model at lower resolutions, but at 4K the GPU bandwidth and compute limits dominate.

The Verdict

This PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but only under specific conditions. At 1920x1080, the combo clears 60 FPS on every preset, including Ultra, with a measured average of 62.9 FPS. This is the most forgiving resolution for this setup, and it is fully playable across the board. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable on Low and Medium settings, with averages of 88.6 FPS and 67.4 FPS, respectively. However, High and Ultra fall below the threshold at 52 FPS and 49.1 FPS, so those presets are not recommended for smooth flight. At 3840x2160, only Low is playable, with an average of 63.2 FPS. Medium, High, and Ultra all sit below 60 FPS, with 48.9 FPS, 36.2 FPS, and 35 FPS respectively. The verdict is clear: this combo is a 1080p gaming solution and a modest 1440p solution, but it should not be expected to handle 4K at high quality.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The database provides exact average FPS numbers for each resolution and preset, with no recorded minimum or maximum values. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are as follows: Low gives 112.6 FPS, Medium gives 86.7 FPS, High gives 66.7 FPS, and Ultra gives 62.9 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 49.7 FPS, showing that the game's graphical load scales heavily with preset quality at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the measurements are: Low at 88.6 FPS, Medium at 67.4 FPS, High at 52 FPS, and Ultra at 49.1 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 39.5 FPS. The largest single drop occurs between Medium and High, which is a 15.4 FPS difference, while the difference between High and Ultra is only 2.9 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the numbers are: Low at 63.2 FPS, Medium at 48.9 FPS, High at 36.2 FPS, and Ultra at 35 FPS. The difference from Low to Medium is 14.3 FPS, Medium to High is 12.7 FPS, and High to Ultra is only 1.2 FPS. The ultra preset is only slightly worse than High, indicating that the GPU is already at its limits once the resolution hits 4K. The data shows that the CPU and GPU combination loses most of its performance headroom when moving from 1440p to 2160p, and even the Low preset barely stays above the playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the best settings that keep the game at or above 60 FPS are Low, with an average of 63.2 FPS. Pushing to Medium cuts the frame rate down to 48.9 FPS, which is not acceptable for smooth gameplay. So, for a 4K display, the player must accept Low settings or consider lowering the resolution.

At 2560x1440, the best playable preset is Medium, with an average of 67.4 FPS. This is a reasonable compromise: it is 19.2 FPS lower than Low but still comfortably above 60. High at 52 FPS is not playable, so Medium is the highest setting that works at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Ultra, with an average of 62.9 FPS. This is the most demanding preset that still clears the 60 FPS threshold. High is also playable at 66.7 FPS, Medium at 86.7 FPS, and Low at 112.6 FPS, but Ultra offers the best visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. For a 1080p monitor, this combo can handle the game at its highest settings, though the margin is only 2.9 FPS above the threshold, so expect occasional dips if the game has heavy scenes.