Microsoft Flight Simulator

Similar Performance Alternatives

The Intel Core i5-10400F sits at the 68th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 14,185. Its nearest rivals in raw CPU performance are tightly clustered: the Intel Xeon 6756E scores 14,163, a delta of just 0.2 percent, meaning the i5-10400F is essentially equivalent in multi-threaded throughput. The Intel Core 7 160UL posts 14,232, a 0.3 percent advantage over the i5-10400F. The AMD EPYC 7552 scores 14,115, trailing by 0.5 percent, and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C leads by 0.6 percent with a score of 14,277. In practical terms, any of these processors would deliver nearly identical frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios; the differences are within measurement noise.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER performs at the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 43,223. Its nearest rivals are also extremely close: the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43,262, a 0.1 percent edge, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile also scores 43,268, another 0.1 percent advantage. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 scores 43,301, a 0.2 percent lead, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43,667, which is 1 percent higher. The RTX 4070 SUPER thus trades blows with these four GPUs; users upgrading from any of them would see no meaningful change in frame rate. For Microsoft Flight Simulator specifically, the pairing of the i5-10400F and RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 805th out of 3,714 tested combinations, placing it in the top 22 percent of all recorded configurations.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data reveals how the balance of CPU and GPU load shifts across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the GPU has less pixel work to do, so the CPU plays a more prominent role in maintaining frame rates. The difference between Low and Ultra settings at this resolution is 30 FPS: 133.3 FPS at Low versus 103.3 FPS at Ultra. That gap of 30 FPS is the smallest across all resolutions, indicating that at 1080p the settings overhead is partially absorbed by the CPU's ability to feed frames. The i5-10400F, with 6 cores and 12 threads, has enough headroom for this workload, but the data suggests the CPU becomes a limiting factor when the GPU is underutilized at lower settings.

At 2560x1440, the scaling changes. Low delivers 124.2 FPS, Medium drops to 115.6 FPS, High to 87.2 FPS, and Ultra to 83 FPS. The drop from Low to Ultra is 41.2 FPS, a larger reduction than at 1080p. This indicates the GPU is taking on more of the rendering burden as resolution climbs, but the CPU still contributes to the frame pacing. The transition from Medium to High is the steepest step at this resolution, a 28.4 FPS decline. At 3840x2160, the GPU dominates. Low runs at 103.4 FPS, Medium at 83.7 FPS, High at 61.8 FPS, and Ultra at 59.5 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 43.9 FPS, the largest across all resolutions, confirming that at 4K the RTX 4070 SUPER is the primary driver of performance. The CPU's role diminishes because the GPU is saturated with pixel shading and memory bandwidth work, and the i5-10400F can keep up with the instruction stream without becoming the bottleneck.

Comparing resolution scaling at the same preset reinforces this. At Ultra, 1080p yields 103.3 FPS, 1440p yields 83 FPS, and 4K yields 59.5 FPS. The 20.3 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p and the 23.5 FPS drop from 1440p to 4K are both substantial, but the 4K result falls just below the 60 FPS playable threshold. At High, the pattern repeats: 107 FPS at 1080p, 87.2 FPS at 1440p, and 61.8 FPS at 4K. The High preset at 4K clears 60 FPS by a narrow margin, which underscores how sensitive this game is to resolution scaling on this GPU. For users targeting 4K, the GPU is the deciding factor; for 1080p and 1440p, the CPU still matters but the RTX 4070 SUPER provides ample overhead.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the database records the following average frame rates. Low settings produce 133.3 FPS, which is the highest result for this combination. Medium settings deliver 120.8 FPS, a 12.5 FPS reduction from Low. High settings run at 107 FPS, another 13.8 FPS step down. Ultra settings yield 103.3 FPS, the smallest drop from High at 3.7 FPS. No minimum or maximum FPS values are recorded for any resolution, so the analysis relies solely on average frame rates. All four presets at 1080p exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold by wide margins, with Ultra still 43.3 FPS above the cutoff.

At 2560x1440, the recorded averages are: Low at 124.2 FPS, Medium at 115.6 FPS, High at 87.2 FPS, and Ultra at 83 FPS. The Low to Medium step is 8.6 FPS, the Medium to High step is 28.4 FPS, and the High to Ultra step is 4.2 FPS. The sharp decline between Medium and High suggests that High preset introduces rendering features that disproportionately tax the GPU at this resolution. Still, every preset at 1440p remains above 60 FPS, with Ultra holding a 23 FPS cushion.

At 3840x2160, the data shows: Low at 103.4 FPS, Medium at 83.7 FPS, High at 61.8 FPS, and Ultra at 59.5 FPS. The Low to Medium drop is 19.7 FPS, the Medium to High drop is 21.9 FPS, and the High to Ultra drop is only 2.3 FPS. This last step is notable because it pushes the average just under the 60 FPS threshold. High is the most demanding preset that maintains playability at 4K, with a 1.8 FPS margin. Ultra falls short by 0.5 FPS, a marginal miss that could be sensitive to scene complexity or driver variations. The measured data classifies High, Low, and Medium as playable at 4K, with High being the best settings choice at 61.8 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-10400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 805th out of 3,714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the pairing in the 78th percentile of all recorded configurations, meaning roughly 22 percent of tested systems perform better. The rank reflects the balance between the CPU and GPU: the i5-10400F is a mid-range 10th Gen part, while the RTX 4070 SUPER is an upper-midrange GPU. The CPU's 68th percentile standing is lower than the GPU's 83rd percentile, which suggests the processor may hold back the graphics card in CPU-bound moments, such as dense urban areas or complex weather simulations.

However, the measured FPS data shows that this combo still delivers playable frame rates across most settings and resolutions. The rank of 805 indicates that many higher-end combinations, likely with newer CPUs like 12th or 13th Gen parts, outperform it. But the gap is not prohibitive: at 1080p Ultra, the combo hits 103.3 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 1440p Ultra, it manages 83 FPS, and at 4K High, it reaches 61.8 FPS. The ranking is a useful comparative metric, but the absolute FPS numbers are what matter for actual gameplay. The data shows that while the combo does not lead the field, it is firmly in playable territory for most configurations.

The Verdict

According to the recorded data, this system can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the playable range depends heavily on resolution and settings. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the verdict by resolution is as follows.

At 3840x2160, the playable settings are High, Low, and Medium. High is the best settings choice, achieving an average of 61.8 FPS. Ultra is not playable at 4K, with an average of 59.5 FPS, which falls just below the threshold. Users who want 4K Ultra would need to accept a frame rate below 60 FPS, or they can drop to High for a stable experience.

At 2560x1440, all four presets are playable: Low at 124.2 FPS, Medium at 115.6 FPS, High at 87.2 FPS, and Ultra at 83 FPS. Ultra is the best settings choice, and it clears the 60 FPS threshold by 23 FPS. This resolution offers the most headroom, allowing users to max out settings without concern.

At 1920x1080, every preset is also playable: Low at 133.3 FPS, Medium at 120.8 FPS, High at 107 FPS, and Ultra at 103.3 FPS. Ultra is the best settings choice, and it exceeds the threshold by 43.3 FPS. This is the most comfortable experience, with high frame rates even at maximum settings.

In summary, the combo is fully playable at 1080p and 1440p with any preset, and at 4K it is playable up to High settings. The only configuration that misses the mark is 4K Ultra, which falls short by a small margin.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average frame rate of 103.3 FPS. This is the highest quality setting available, and the system maintains a substantial buffer above the playable threshold.

For 2560x1440, the best settings choice is also Ultra, running at 83 FPS. The 23 FPS cushion over the 60 FPS threshold ensures that even in demanding flight scenarios, the frame rate is unlikely to dip below playable levels. The step from High to Ultra at this resolution is only 4.2 FPS, so the visual quality gain comes at a minimal performance cost.

For 3840x2160, the best settings choice is High, with an average of 61.8 FPS. This preset clears the threshold by just 1.8 FPS, which is a narrow margin but still within the playable range. Medium runs at 83.7 FPS and Low at 103.4 FPS, both of which are also playable, but High offers the best visual fidelity while staying above 60 FPS. Ultra at 59.5 FPS is not recommended, as it drops below the threshold.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K?

A: Yes, but only up to High settings. At 3840x2160, High averages 61.8 FPS, Medium averages 83.7 FPS, and Low averages 103.4 FPS. Ultra averages 59.5 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p?

A: Ultra is the best settings choice at 2560x1440, with an average frame rate of 83 FPS. All presets at this resolution exceed 60 FPS, so users can max out the game settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4070 SUPER scores 43,223 in the average benchmark. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43,262, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43,268, and the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 scores 43,301. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile is 1 percent higher at 43,667. The differences are minimal, so performance would be nearly identical.

Q: Is the i5-10400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER?

A: The CPU ranks at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU ranks at the 83rd percentile among all GPUs. In CPU-bound scenarios at lower resolutions, the processor may limit frame rates, but the measured data shows all presets at 1080p and 1440p exceed 60 FPS, so any bottleneck does not prevent playability.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p Ultra?

A: The recorded average is 103.3 FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings. This is 43.3 FPS above the 60 FPS playable threshold, providing a smooth experience.

Q: Does the game run better at 1440p or 1080p with this setup?

A: At 1080p, Ultra averages 103.3 FPS, while at 1440p, Ultra averages 83 FPS. The 1080p resolution yields higher frame rates, but 1440p Ultra still provides a comfortable 23 FPS cushion above the playable threshold.