Microsoft Flight Simulator

Intel Core i5-10400F and Intel Arc B390 is a combination that delivers playable frame rates only in the most forgiving scenarios for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The recorded data shows a system that is heavily constrained by its graphics component, with the CPU's capabilities largely untapped. The verdict is clear: no resolution and preset combination reaches the 60 FPS playable threshold. The closest approach is 56 FPS at 1080p Low, which is below the target. The database records this combo at rank 3302 out of 3714 tested configurations, placing it in the lower percentile of systems tested.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS does not exist. The highest average frame rate recorded is 33 FPS at Low settings. Medium settings produce 26 FPS, while High and Ultra both yield 19 FPS. None of these approach the 60 FPS threshold, so no settings can be recommended for 4K play.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves slightly but remains below the target. Low settings reach 45 FPS, the maximum recorded at this resolution. Medium settings drop to 35 FPS, High to 26 FPS, and Ultra to 25 FPS. The best achievable average is 45 FPS, which is still 15 FPS short of the playable threshold.

For 1920x1080, the lowest preset delivers the highest frame rate. Low settings produce 56 FPS, the closest any configuration comes to 60 FPS. Medium settings achieve 43 FPS, High settings 33 FPS, and Ultra 31 FPS. Even at the lowest settings, the system falls 4 FPS short of the playable mark, meaning no settings combination at 1080p clears the 60 FPS bar.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data indicates a significant GPU bottleneck across all resolutions. The Intel Arc B390, with a 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463, are all within a 1.3% to 2.7% margin. This suggests the GPU is operating at a performance level far below what modern flight simulation demands.

The CPU, Intel Core i5-10400F, is considerably stronger. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283 and single-core score of 1451 place it at the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The disparity between CPU and GPU performance is stark. As resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average frame rate at Low settings drops from 56 to 45 FPS, a 19.6% decrease. Moving from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 at Low settings further reduces the average to 33 FPS, a 26.7% decrease. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the rendering load overwhelms the graphics processor.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings at each resolution reinforces this. At 1080p, Ultra delivers 31 FPS versus 56 FPS at Low, a 44.6% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is from 45 to 25 FPS, a 44.4% reduction. At 4K, Ultra matches Low at 19 FPS, indicating the GPU has reached its absolute limit. The CPU's role is secondary; its multi-threaded performance is not the limiting factor in any of these measurements.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the recorded averages are 33 FPS at Low, 26 FPS at Medium, 19 FPS at High, and 19 FPS at Ultra. The Medium preset has the only recorded min and max values: 22 FPS minimum and 30 FPS maximum. This narrow band shows the GPU is consistently saturated.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 45 FPS at Low, 35 FPS at Medium, 26 FPS at High, and 25 FPS at Ultra. Medium settings show a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 20 FPS, demonstrating the GPU's sensitivity to visual fidelity.

At 1920x1080, the averages are 56 FPS at Low, 43 FPS at Medium, 33 FPS at High, and 31 FPS at Ultra. Medium settings record a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. The 1080p Low result of 56 FPS is the single highest average in the entire dataset, yet it remains below the 60 FPS threshold.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 60 FPS at any resolution?

A: No. The database shows no resolution or preset combination achieves the 60 FPS playable threshold. The closest is 56 FPS at 1920x1080 Low settings.

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo produces?

A: The maximum recorded average is 56 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the highest result across all resolutions and presets.

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

A: The Intel Arc B390 scores 1482 in 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12. Its nearest rival, NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, a 1.3% difference. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460 (1.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446 (2.5% slower).

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 56 FPS average. Ultra settings produce 31 FPS average. This represents a 25 FPS reduction when moving from the lowest to the highest preset.

Q: Does increasing resolution from 1440p to 4K have a large impact?

A: Yes. At Low settings, the average drops from 45 FPS at 2560x1440 to 33 FPS at 3840x2160, a 12 FPS decrease. At Ultra settings, the average drops from 25 FPS to 19 FPS, a 6 FPS decrease.

Q: Which component is the bottleneck?

A: The GPU is the primary bottleneck. The CPU ranks at the 68th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU ranks at the 9th percentile. The GPU's low performance relative to the CPU explains the sub-60 FPS results at all settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The database places this combination at rank 3302 out of 3714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the bottom 11.1% of all tested configurations. The ranking reflects the GPU's severe limitation. The CPU's strong benchmark scores do not compensate for the GPU's position in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This rank is consistent with the measured frame rates, which fail to reach the playable threshold at any resolution.

The Verdict

This PC cannot run Microsoft Flight Simulator at the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict by resolution confirms no playable settings exist at 3840x2160, 2560x1440, or 1920x1080. The best case scenario is 56 FPS at 1080p Low, which is below the target. At 1440p, the best is 45 FPS at Low settings. At 4K, the best is 33 FPS at Low settings. The system consistently falls short of the playable mark, and the GPU's low percentile ranking indicates this is a hardware limitation rather than a configuration issue.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the nearest rivals are all within a fraction of a percent of its average benchmark score of 14185. The Intel Xeon 6756E scores 14163, a 0.2% difference. The Intel Core 7 160UL scores 14232, a 0.3% difference. The AMD EPYC 7552 scores 14115, a 0.5% difference. The AMD Ryzen 3 7320C scores 14277, a 0.6% difference. Any of these CPUs would behave similarly in this game, though the GPU remains the limiting factor.

For the GPU, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463 (1.3% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M with a score of 1460 (1.5% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM with a score of 1446 (2.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 with a score of 1443 (2.7% slower). These GPUs would produce nearly identical frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The data suggests that swapping the Intel Arc B390 for any of these alternatives would not meaningfully change the playability outcome.