Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 291st out of 3,714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the top 8% of all configurations. This is a high-performance pairing where the RTX 4080’s raw graphics power dominates, while the i5-12400F provides sufficient single-thread performance to avoid bottlenecking in this simulation-heavy title. Benchmark data shows this combo delivers well above the 60 FPS playability threshold at every resolution and preset tested, making it a versatile option for flight sim enthusiasts.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank of 291 out of 3,714 tested combinations places it firmly in the upper echelon of systems capable of running Microsoft Flight Simulator. This position reflects the GPU’s dominance: the RTX 4080 sits in the 86th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54,247. The CPU, while less impressive at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, still delivers strong multi-threaded performance with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12,380 and a single-core score of 1,680. In a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which relies heavily on single-thread performance for flight physics and simulation logic, the i5-12400F’s 909-point 3DMark single-thread score proves adequate.

The data indicates that this pairing is GPU-bound at higher resolutions, which is typical for flight simulators with heavy scenery rendering. At 4K Ultra, the combo achieves 70 FPS average, while at 1080p Ultra it reaches 117 FPS. The gap between resolutions (70 FPS at 4K vs. 117 FPS at 1080p under Ultra settings) shows that the RTX 4080 scales predictably with resolution, while the CPU maintains consistent frame delivery. The i5-12400F’s 6 cores and 12 threads, with a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, handle the simulation’s background tasks without becoming a limiting factor, even at 1080p where CPU load is proportionally higher.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured data shows an average of 70 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which clears the 60 FPS playability threshold. The verdict confirms Ultra as the best playable setting at this resolution, with an average of 70 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: At 1920x1080, the combo reaches 117 FPS average on Ultra settings, the highest frame rate among all resolutions. At 2560x1440 Ultra, it delivers 95 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Ultra, 70 FPS. All three resolutions are fully playable at maximum settings.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, while the RTX 4080 SUPER scores 54,209, a delta of only 0.1%. This means the two GPUs are essentially identical in performance, with the RTX 4080 holding a negligible edge in the benchmark data.

Q: Is the i5-12400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in this game?

A: The data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The CPU’s single-thread benchmark scores (909 in 3DMark single-thread, 1,680 in Cinebench R23 single-core) are sufficient to keep up with the GPU. The FPS differences between resolutions show scaling that is consistent with GPU-bound performance.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the combo delivers an average of 132 FPS, with a minimum of 112 FPS and a maximum of 152 FPS. This provides a smooth experience with headroom above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the combo maintain 60 FPS at 4K with Low settings?

A: Yes, and significantly higher. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 125, which is more than double the playability threshold. This suggests the combo has substantial performance reserves even at the most demanding resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data covers three resolutions and four settings presets, providing a comprehensive picture of performance. At 1920x1080, the combo starts at 184 FPS average on Low settings, climbs to 164 FPS average on Medium (with a minimum of 139 and maximum of 188), reaches 123 FPS on High, and settles at 117 FPS on Ultra. The 1080p results show that the RTX 4080 is barely challenged, with even the most demanding preset delivering nearly double the playability threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain robust. Low settings produce 170 FPS average, Medium delivers 132 FPS average (112 minimum, 152 maximum), High reaches 99 FPS, and Ultra drops to 95 FPS. The transition from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 20-30% performance across all settings, which is expected given the 78% increase in pixel count. The minimum FPS at Medium (112) still exceeds the 60 FPS threshold by a substantial margin.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4080’s limits become visible. Low settings yield 125 FPS average, Medium produces 97 FPS average (83 minimum, 112 maximum), High drops to 73 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 70 FPS. Even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS remains 10 FPS above the playability threshold, and the data shows no settings preset falls below 60 FPS. The 4K Medium preset’s minimum of 83 FPS demonstrates that the combo maintains consistent frame delivery without severe dips.

The Verdict

This PC can definitively run Microsoft Flight Simulator, and it does so with authority. The verdict data confirms that at every resolution tested — 1920x1080, 2560x1440, and 3840x2160 — all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are marked as playable, meaning they all clear the 60 FPS threshold. The best settings at each resolution are Ultra, with average FPS of 117 at 1080p, 95 at 1440p, and 70 at 4K.

The practical takeaway is that users can max out the game’s settings at any resolution without worrying about frame rate drops below playability. At 4K Ultra, the 70 FPS average provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, though users sensitive to frame dips might prefer High settings (73 FPS) for additional headroom. The 1440p Ultra experience at 95 FPS is particularly sweet spot, offering high visual fidelity with smooth performance. At 1080p, the combo is arguably overkill — the 117 FPS at Ultra means the RTX 4080 is not being fully utilized, but this configuration future-proofs against more demanding flight sim add-ons or scenery packs.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the i5-12400F’s nearest rivals in benchmark performance are all within a 0.3% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS scores 19,047 (0% delta), the Intel Core 3 201E scores 19,056 (-0.1% delta), the Intel Core i5-1335U scores 18,982 (0.3% delta), and the AMD EPYC 7773X scores 18,979 (0.3% delta). These CPUs would deliver near-identical simulation performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator, though the mobile-oriented options (7535HS and 1335U) may have different power characteristics.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4080’s closest rival is the RTX 4080 SUPER with a 0.1% delta, making them effectively interchangeable for this game. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54,828 (-1.1% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55,698 (-2.6% delta), and the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55,757 (-2.7% delta). These AMD alternatives would deliver slightly lower or higher performance depending on the specific benchmark, but all fall within a 2.7% range of the RTX 4080. For Microsoft Flight Simulator specifically, the RTX 4080 SUPER would be the safest alternative, while the AMD options could offer comparable frame rates with potentially different driver-level optimizations.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which achieves an average of 117 FPS. This is the maximum settings preset available, so users get the full visual experience at this resolution. The next step down, High, delivers 123 FPS, but there is no need to compromise since Ultra already clears the threshold with a 57 FPS margin.

At 2560x1440, Ultra is again the best choice, delivering 95 FPS average. This provides a 35 FPS buffer above the playability threshold. Users who prefer higher frame rates could drop to High (99 FPS) or Medium (132 FPS), but the Ultra preset’s 95 FPS is already smooth for a flight simulator, where framerates above 60 are generally sufficient for a pleasant experience.

At 3840x2160, Ultra remains the most demanding playable preset, with an average of 70 FPS. This is the tightest margin in the dataset, but it still clears the 60 FPS threshold by 10 FPS. For users who want more headroom, High (73 FPS) or Medium (97 FPS) are viable alternatives. The Medium preset’s minimum FPS of 83 ensures no noticeable stuttering, making it the safest choice for 4K users who prioritize consistent frame delivery over maximum visual fidelity.