Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-11400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER delivers a strong showing in Microsoft Flight Simulator, a title known for its heavy demands on both processing and graphics hardware. The recorded data shows that this combination handles the game well across all common resolutions, with the primary limitation appearing only at the most demanding settings in 4K. The following analysis breaks down the optimal settings, the balance of CPU versus GPU load, and how this specific pairing compares to other hardware configurations in the database.

Best Settings per Resolution

For Microsoft Flight Simulator, the goal is to maintain an average frame rate at or above the 60 FPS playable threshold while using the highest visual quality possible. The measured data shows that this combo can achieve this at every resolution, but the ceiling for settings varies significantly.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the most demanding preset that stays above 60 FPS is High, which produces an average of 63.4 FPS. This is a very tight margin above the 60 FPS target, indicating that this resolution is the true stress test for the RTX 4070 SUPER. The Ultra preset dips to 59.4 FPS, which is just below the playable threshold, making High the recommended ceiling for a smooth experience. For those who prefer higher frame rates over maximum fidelity, the Medium preset at 84.3 FPS and Low at 106.3 FPS offer substantial headroom.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves considerably. The Ultra preset is the best choice, maintaining an average of 78.7 FPS. This clears the 60 FPS threshold with a comfortable margin, allowing users to enable the highest settings without worrying about frame rate drops. The lower presets provide even more performance: High achieves 88.2 FPS, Medium reaches 116 FPS, and Low runs at 143.6 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), this hardware combination is barely challenged. The best settings are again Ultra, with an average of 104.7 FPS. This is far above the playable threshold, making this resolution ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. The High preset delivers 104.4 FPS, nearly identical to Ultra, while Medium hits 144.5 FPS and Low reaches 159.2 FPS. The data shows that at 1080p, the CPU and GPU have enough headroom to run the game at its maximum visual quality with excellent performance.

CPU and GPU Roles

Understanding which component drives performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator is key to optimizing the experience. The benchmark results indicate a clear shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution changes.

At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high, with Low settings reaching 159.2 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a drop to 104.7 FPS, a reduction of about 34%. This pattern suggests that the GPU is the primary limiter even at this resolution, as the frame rate drops significantly when graphical load increases. The Intel Core i5-11400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides enough processing power to feed the RTX 4070 SUPER at these high frame rates, but the graphics card is still the main factor in determining final performance.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain high but begin to show more GPU influence. The Low preset runs at 143.6 FPS, while Ultra drops to 78.7 FPS, a reduction of roughly 45%. This larger percentage drop compared to 1080p indicates that the GPU is working harder to fill the additional pixels, making its role more dominant. The CPU still keeps up, as evidenced by the healthy frame rates even at Low settings, but the graphical workload is now the deciding factor.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the limiting component. The Ultra preset manages only 59.4 FPS, just below the playable threshold, while High reaches 63.4 FPS. The difference between Low (106.3 FPS) and Ultra (59.4 FPS) is a 44% reduction, but the absolute numbers are much lower than at other resolutions. This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario at 4K, where the RTX 4070 SUPER's 12 GB of memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are being pushed to their limits. The CPU's role diminishes here, as the frame rate is dictated almost entirely by the graphics card's ability to render complex scenes at high pixel counts.

The data shows a clear progression: at 1080p and 1440p, the system is well-balanced, with the GPU taking the lead as resolution increases. At 4K, the GPU becomes the sole bottleneck, and users must compromise on settings to maintain playable frame rates.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured average frame rate at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 59.4 FPS, which falls just below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The highest playable preset at this resolution is High, which averages 63.4 FPS.

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

A: The Ultra preset at 2560x1440 averages 78.7 FPS, making it the best choice. It is the only resolution where Ultra settings comfortably exceed the 60 FPS target while delivering maximum visual quality.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 159.2 FPS, while Ultra averages 104.7 FPS. This represents a 52% performance increase when dropping from Ultra to Low.

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4070 SUPER?

A: The data does not indicate a significant CPU bottleneck. At 1080p, the combo achieves 159.2 FPS on Low settings, suggesting the CPU can keep up with the GPU's output. The frame rate drops more sharply at higher resolutions, which points to the GPU as the primary limiting factor.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 4K with Medium settings?

A: The Medium preset at 3840x2160 averages 84.3 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. This is a solid option for users who want better performance than High but still desire good visual quality.

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

A: The 1080p resolution yields higher frame rates across all presets. At Ultra, 1080p averages 104.7 FPS compared to 78.7 FPS at 1440p. However, both resolutions support Ultra settings above 60 FPS, so the choice depends on the monitor's native resolution and refresh rate.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users considering this specific CPU and GPU pairing, the database shows several alternatives that would behave similarly. On the CPU side, the Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17177, placing it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are remarkably close in performance. The AMD EPYC 7H12 scores 17120, a mere 0.3% difference, meaning users would see virtually identical frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core i5-12450H scores 17239, which is 0.4% higher, while the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G scores 17278, 0.6% higher. The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U scores 17074, 0.6% lower. These differences are negligible for gaming purposes, so any of these processors would pair equally well with the RTX 4070 SUPER.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 43223, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are also very close. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43262, a 0.1% difference, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43268, also 0.1% higher. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 scores 43301, 0.2% higher, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43667, 1% higher. These results indicate that the RTX 4070 SUPER's performance level is well-established, and users with any of these GPUs would see similar frame rates in this game, assuming the rest of the system is equivalent.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database's overall ranking for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 655 out of 3714 tested combos. This places it in the top 18% of all configurations tested for this game. This is a strong result, reflecting the balance between the CPU's solid multi-threaded performance and the GPU's high-end capabilities. The rank indicates that this system outperforms the vast majority of other hardware pairings in the database, making it a reliable choice for this simulator.

The high ranking is supported by the measured frame rates, which show that the combo can handle Ultra settings at both 1080p and 1440p, and High settings at 4K. While it does not reach the very top of the rankings, which would require more powerful components, it offers a level of performance that satisfies the 60 FPS threshold in all tested scenarios except for 4K Ultra.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-11400F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is a capable system for Microsoft Flight Simulator, with the data confirming playable performance across all major resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the system can run the game at High settings with an average of 63.4 FPS, which just clears the 60 FPS threshold. Lower presets offer more headroom, with Medium at 84.3 FPS and Low at 106.3 FPS. Ultra settings are not recommended, as they drop to 59.4 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the system excels, running Ultra settings at 78.7 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this combo, offering maximum visual fidelity with a comfortable frame rate margin. All presets are playable, from Low at 143.6 FPS to High at 88.2 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the system is more than sufficient, with Ultra settings averaging 104.7 FPS. This makes it suitable for high-refresh-rate displays, and all settings presets are well above the playable threshold.

In summary, this PC runs Microsoft Flight Simulator effectively. Users with 1080p or 1440p monitors can enable Ultra settings without compromise. At 4K, they should use High settings to maintain a smooth experience, and the system still provides high frame rates on Medium or Low if desired. The combination of the 6-core, 12-thread CPU and the 12 GB, 83rd percentile GPU delivers a well-rounded performance profile that handles this demanding simulation with confidence.