Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-12400 paired with the Intel Arc B570 presents a specific performance profile in Microsoft Flight Simulator, a title known for its demanding rendering of world geometry and weather. The measured data provides a clear picture of where this combination excels and where it falls short, particularly when targeting the 60 FPS threshold. This analysis breaks down the findings across resolutions and presets, examines the balance between CPU and GPU load, and contextualizes the results against similar hardware.

Best Settings per Resolution

The benchmark data, measured across three resolutions and four quality presets, reveals a strict hierarchy for achieving playable frame rates. The playable threshold is defined as a sustained average of 60 FPS or higher.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B570 combination cannot reach the 60 FPS target at any preset. The highest average frame rate recorded is 51 FPS at Low settings. High settings yield 30 FPS, Medium drops to 40 FPS, and Ultra produces just 28 FPS. No settings at this resolution are considered playable, and there is no best preset to recommend for a 60 FPS experience.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves slightly. The data shows that only the Low preset achieves a playable result, with an average of 69 FPS. This is the best and only setting that clears the 60 FPS bar. High settings average 41 FPS, Medium averages 54 FPS, and Ultra averages 39 FPS, all falling short of the target.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the combination finds its footing. Both Low and Medium presets are playable. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 67 FPS. The Medium preset is identified as the best playable setting, as it offers a higher visual quality while still maintaining an average above 60 FPS. High settings average 50 FPS, and Ultra averages 48 FPS, both below the threshold.

The data implies that this hardware is best suited for 1080p gaming with moderate settings. Pushing to higher resolutions or maxing out the Ultra preset will result in a sub-60 FPS experience. The gap between Medium and High at 1080p is notable, suggesting a significant performance cost for the next tier of visual fidelity.

CPU and GPU Roles

The interaction between the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B570 varies significantly based on resolution, which is typical for a flight simulator where the CPU handles complex flight models and the GPU renders dense scenery.

The data shows a clear pattern of the GPU becoming the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 4K, the average FPS drops dramatically across all presets. For instance, the Low preset at 4K yields 51 FPS, compared to 86 FPS at 1080p. This is a 35 FPS difference, which strongly indicates that the Arc B570's rendering capabilities are being saturated by the sheer number of pixels at 4K. The CPU, while busy, is not the limiting factor here.

At 1440p, the scaling from 1080p shows a similar trend. The Low preset drops from 86 FPS to 69 FPS, a 17 FPS reduction. The Medium preset drops from 67 FPS to 54 FPS. This again points to the GPU being the primary constraint, as the workload increases with resolution.

However, the CPU's role becomes more apparent when examining the impact of preset changes within a single resolution. At 1080p, the jump from Low to Medium is a 19 FPS decrease (86 to 67). The jump from Medium to High is a 17 FPS decrease (67 to 50). These are substantial drops, suggesting that the game's settings are increasing both CPU and GPU load. The i5-12400, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is a capable mid-range processor, but it may struggle to feed the GPU at higher settings when combined with the Arc B570's own performance limits.

At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra is 23 FPS (51 to 28), but the absolute numbers are so low that the GPU is clearly overwhelmed. The 1440p data shows a similar pattern; the range between Low and Ultra is 30 FPS (69 to 39). The scaling between resolutions and presets indicates that for this game, the GPU is the dominant factor for achieving high frame rates, while the CPU provides a solid foundation but is not the main lever for performance gains at higher resolutions.

FAQ

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

A: No. The measured data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average frame rate achieved is 51 FPS at Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest quality setting I can use at 1080p and still get over 60 FPS?

A: The Medium preset is the best option. It delivers an average of 67 FPS, while the High preset drops to 50 FPS and the Ultra preset to 48 FPS.

Q: Is the Low preset at 1440p a playable experience?

A: Yes, the data shows an average of 69 FPS at 2560x1440 with the Low preset. This is the only preset at that resolution that clears the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The average frame rate drops from 86 FPS at Low to 48 FPS at Ultra, a difference of 38 FPS. This indicates a significant performance cost for the highest visual quality.

Q: Does the GPU or CPU have a larger impact on performance at 1440p?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The average FPS drops from 69 at Low to 39 at Ultra, and the scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a clear reduction in frame rates across all presets, pointing to the Arc B570 being the limiting factor.

Q: What is the best resolution and setting combination for this hardware?

A: The best playable experience is at 1920x1080 with the Medium preset, achieving an average of 67 FPS. This offers a balance of visual quality and performance that stays above the 60 FPS target.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-12400, based on average benchmark scores, offer a context for its processing power. The AMD EPYC 7643 is a 0.1% delta from the i5-12400's score, indicating near-identical overall CPU performance. The Intel Core i7-1355U is 0.3% lower, and the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 is 0.7% lower. The Intel Core i3-14100F is 0.9% higher. In practical terms, any of these CPUs would likely deliver a similar gameplay experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator, assuming the GPU remains the same, as the CPU performance is within a 1% margin.

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B570's nearest rivals are also closely matched. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile has a deltaPct of 0.1%, meaning its average benchmark score is essentially identical. The Intel Arc A750 is 0.1% lower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X is 0.5% lower. The NVIDIA Quadro M4000M is 0.4% higher. This suggests that a system with an Intel Arc A750 or a mobile RTX 3070 would produce very similar frame rates in this game, given the same CPU. The performance envelope for this GPU tier is quite narrow, meaning the choice between these cards would not drastically change the playable settings or resolutions.

When considering a full system replacement, swapping the i5-12400 for an i3-14100F (0.9% faster) or the Arc B570 for an Arc A750 (0.1% slower) would not yield a meaningful change in FPS. The overall ranking of this combo in the game would remain largely unchanged.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average, minimum, and maximum frame rates measured for this combination.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average 51 FPS. No min/max data recorded.
• Medium: Average 40 FPS, minimum 34 FPS, maximum 46 FPS.
• High: Average 30 FPS. No min/max data recorded.
• Ultra: Average 28 FPS. No min/max data recorded.

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average 69 FPS. No min/max data recorded.
• Medium: Average 54 FPS, minimum 46 FPS, maximum 62 FPS.
• High: Average 41 FPS. No min/max data recorded.
• Ultra: Average 39 FPS. No min/max data recorded.

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average 86 FPS. No min/max data recorded.
• Medium: Average 67 FPS, minimum 57 FPS, maximum 77 FPS.
• High: Average 50 FPS. No min/max data recorded.
• Ultra: Average 48 FPS. No min/max data recorded.

The min/max data for the Medium presets shows the frame time variance. At 1080p Medium, the minimum of 57 FPS is just below the target, but the average of 67 FPS indicates a generally smooth experience. At 1440p Medium, the minimum of 46 FPS and maximum of 62 FPS shows more significant fluctuation, which could be noticeable during complex scenes. The absence of min/max data for other presets limits a full analysis of frame pacing, but the averages provide a clear overall performance picture.

The Verdict

This PC configuration can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but with significant caveats depending on the target resolution and quality.

At 1920x1080, the system is playable. The Medium preset is the recommended setting, delivering an average of 67 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. The Low preset is also playable at 86 FPS, offering a smoother experience if visual fidelity is less important. High and Ultra presets are not recommended as they fall below 60 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the system is only playable at the Low preset, with an average of 69 FPS. This allows for 1440p gaming, but with the lowest visual settings. All other presets at this resolution fail to reach 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the system is not playable at any setting. The best average frame rate is 51 FPS at Low, which is well below the target. This hardware is not suitable for 4K gaming in this title.

In summary, the Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B570 can provide a solid 1080p experience with moderate settings. For 1440p, it is limited to low settings. For 4K, it is not a viable option for smooth gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-12400 and Intel Arc B570 combination is ranked 2988th out of 3714 tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which aligns with the measured FPS data showing it is not a high-end performer for this specific game.

The rank indicates that a significant number of other CPU-GPU pairings deliver better performance in this title. The fact that this combo is in the 21st percentile (2988 / 3714) underscores that while it can handle 1080p gaming, it is not a top-tier choice for flight simulation enthusiasts seeking high frame rates at higher resolutions. The data suggests that users with this hardware should prioritize 1080p gaming to achieve a satisfactory experience, and they should not expect to leverage the Ultra preset or 4K resolution for smooth play. The rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions, which is the primary bottleneck in this pairing.