Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a combination that presents a significant imbalance in raw compute power, yet for Microsoft Flight Simulator, the data indicates this pairing delivers surprisingly strong results across all tested resolutions. The benchmark results, measured directly rather than estimated, show that even the most demanding preset at 4K stays above the 60 FPS playability threshold. While the quad-core processor is a modest partner for the flagship-class GPU, the frame rates achieved suggest that this specific flight simulator is not entirely bottlenecked by the CPU at the settings tested. This analysis examines the measured performance, optimal settings, and how this pairing compares to other hardware combinations in the database.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest graphics preset that maintains an average frame rate above 60 FPS at 3840x2160?

A: The Ultra preset at 4K achieves an average of 68.2 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playability threshold. The High preset is also playable at 70.9 FPS, but Ultra offers the highest visual fidelity while remaining playable.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 4080 SUPER compared to its nearest rival, the RTX 4080?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, while the RTX 4080 scores 54247. The deltaPct is -0.1, indicating the RTX 4080 SUPER is essentially on par with the RTX 4080, being only 0.1% slower in the aggregate benchmark.

Q: What is the performance ranking of the RTX 4080 SUPER relative to all GPUs in the database?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER falls in the 86th percentile among all GPUs, indicating it performs better than 86% of all graphics cards tested, and has an average benchmark score of 54209.

Q: In terms of multi-threaded processing, how does the Intel Core i3-12100F compare to its closest rival, the Intel Core i5-9500?

A: The i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13494, while the Core i5-9500 scores 13452. The deltaPct is 0.3%, meaning the i3-12100F is just 0.3% faster on average.

Q: At which resolution does the game reach its highest average frame rate with the Ultra preset?

A: The highest average frame rate for the Ultra preset is 116.9 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution. This is followed by 95.5 FPS at 2560x1440 and 68.2 FPS at 3840x2160.

Q: Are all tested settings playable at 2560x1440?

A: Yes, the data shows that Low, Medium, High, and Ultra presets at 2560x1440 all deliver average frame rates well above 60 FPS, with the lowest being 95.5 FPS on the Ultra preset.

Best Settings per Resolution

The data provides clear guidance on the maximum settings that maintain fluid gameplay, respecting the 60 FPS playable threshold. At each resolution, the Ultra preset is the most demanding option that still clears the 60 FPS line.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding playable setting is Ultra, which yields an average frame rate of 68.2 FPS. This is a narrow margin above the 60 FPS threshold, with only an 8.2 FPS buffer. While High settings are also playable at 70.9 FPS, the Ultra preset offers a higher visual quality ceiling and is still technically smooth. Lowering to Medium provides a significant performance boost to 95.5 FPS, but those seeking the highest fidelity can stay on Ultra.

For 2560x1440, the Ultra preset is the clear best choice, delivering an average of 95.5 FPS. This provides a substantial 35.5 FPS cushion above the playability threshold, ensuring a fluid experience without needing to compromise on visual quality. The High preset runs at 100.3 FPS, but the difference is negligible, making Ultra the ideal target.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset also reigns supreme, with an average frame rate of 116.9 FPS. This nearly doubles the 60 FPS threshold, offering a very high refresh rate experience. Even the most demanding settings are not a challenge, as the other presets range from 121.4 FPS on High to 179.3 FPS on Low, but Ultra provides the best balance of fidelity and speed.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance scaling across resolutions reveals how the workload shifts between the CPU and GPU. The data shows a clear pattern where the CPU maintains a relatively consistent performance ceiling, while the GPU's capabilities become the limiting factor as resolution increases.

At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset produces a 116.9 FPS average. When moving to 2560x1440, the Ultra average drops to 95.5 FPS, a decrease of 21.4 FPS. This indicates that the GPU is becoming more heavily utilized, but the CPU is still providing enough throughput to keep frame rates high. The Low preset at 1080p is 179.3 FPS, suggesting the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU at very high rates, but the load is not yet fully GPU-bound at this resolution.

The shift to 3840x2160 is more dramatic. The Ultra preset's average falls to 68.2 FPS, a 27.3 FPS reduction from the 1440p result. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a 48.7 FPS drop on Ultra settings. This significant decrease in frame rates, despite the GPU being extremely powerful, suggests that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary component determining performance at this resolution. The CPU's role is to feed the GPU, and the data shows that while it can handle the frame generation at 1080p, it is the GPU that is the limiting factor at 4K.

Across all resolutions, the Low preset at 1080p hits 179.3 FPS, but at 4K it is 121.4 FPS. This indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck in high-resolution scenarios. The CPU's performance is nearly constant, meaning the i3-12100F is not a major source of frame rate limitation in this game. Instead, the data suggests that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the dominant component for this game at all tested resolutions, with its impact becoming more pronounced as pixel count increases.

The Verdict

The benchmark data confirms that this system is more than capable of running Microsoft Flight Simulator at high frame rates. According to the verdictByResolution field, all settings and all resolutions are playable at or above the 60 FPS threshold.

At 3840x2160, the system can run the game at Ultra settings with an average of 68.2 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS playable mark. The 2560x1440 resolution is even more comfortable, with the Ultra preset averaging 95.5 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset delivers an excellent 116.9 FPS. The data indicates that the system will not just run the game, but will do so with headroom to spare, even at the highest settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for both components, there are several configurations that would likely deliver very similar performance in this game.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the closest GPU rival, with an average benchmark score of 54247, a deltaPct of -0.1% compared to the RTX 4080 SUPER. In practical terms, the two are identical, so a system using the RTX 4080 should see nearly the same frame rates. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (avg score 54828, deltaPct -1.1%) and AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (avg score 55698, deltaPct -2.7%) are also close in compute performance, though their gaming performance may vary.

For the CPU, the Intel Core i5-9500 (avg score 13452, deltaPct 0.3%) is a close match. The Intel Core 3 N355 (avg 13492, deltaPct 0) and the Intel Core 5 120UL (avg 13594, deltaPct -0.7%) are also within a narrow band of performance. These processors should produce similar CPU-bound performance, though the game's reliance on the GPU suggests the overall frame rates would remain almost unchanged.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER holds a rank of 318 out of 3714 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the pairing in the top 8.6% of all configurations tested in the database, indicating it is a very high-performing setup. The high rank is driven primarily by the GPU, given that the CPU is a modest 68th percentile part. The data shows the GPU is the dominant factor in the game's performance, making this combination an excellent choice for high-resolution flight simulation.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table summarizes the measured average frame rates for all tested settings and resolutions.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 68.2 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 70.9 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 95.5 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 121.4 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 95.5 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 100.3 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 132.1 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 166.2 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 116.9 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 121.4 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 160.8 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 179.3 |