Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-12600KF paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 presents a mid-range combination for Microsoft Flight Simulator, a title known for its demanding rendering of vast landscapes and complex aircraft models. The measured data indicates that this system is capable of delivering smooth gameplay, but the achievable quality settings depend heavily on the display resolution. At the playable threshold of 60 FPS, the combination shows clear limitations at 4K, moderate headroom at 1440p, and full freedom at 1080p.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average frame rate at or above 60 FPS is the recommended starting point.

• 3840x2160 (4K): The Low preset is the only option that clears the 60 FPS bar, achieving an average of 71 FPS. The Medium preset falls below the threshold with 55 FPS average, while High and Ultra averages drop to 42 FPS and 40 FPS respectively, making them unsuitable for smooth play at this resolution.
• 2560x1440 (1440p): The Medium preset is the highest playable setting, delivering an average of 75 FPS. This provides a solid balance, with the Low preset offering a higher average of 96 FPS for users prioritizing frame rate over visual fidelity. The High preset averages 56 FPS, just below the playable threshold, and Ultra averages 54 FPS.
• 1920x1080 (1080p): The Ultra preset is playable, with an average of 66 FPS. This allows users to experience the game at its highest visual quality. The High preset averages 70 FPS, Medium averages 93 FPS, and Low averages 119 FPS, providing a wide range of options for those seeking higher refresh rates.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, but only at the Low preset. The measured data shows an average of 71 FPS at 3840x2160 with Low settings. Higher presets at 4K, including Medium, High, and Ultra, all fall below the 60 FPS playable threshold, with averages of 55, 42, and 40 FPS respectively.

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

A: The Medium preset is the most demanding option that maintains at least 60 FPS, averaging 75 FPS. While High and Ultra presets are not playable by this standard, averaging 56 and 54 FPS, the Low preset averages 96 FPS for a faster, less detailed experience.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at 1080p?

A: Yes. The benchmark data records an average of 66 FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. This makes the Ultra preset a viable option for 1080p displays.

Q: How does the frame rate scale between Low and Medium settings?

A: The difference is significant and consistent across resolutions. At 1080p, the average drops from 119 FPS on Low to 93 FPS on Medium. At 1440p, the average drops from 96 FPS to 75 FPS. At 4K, the average drops from 71 FPS to 55 FPS.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combination can achieve?

A: The highest measured average is 119 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is the only configuration in the data that approaches a 120 FPS experience.

Q: Are there any settings where the minimum frame rate is also above 60 FPS?

A: Yes. At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the minimum recorded frame rate is 79 FPS. At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the minimum is 64 FPS. The 4K Medium preset has a minimum of 47 FPS, indicating occasional dips below the threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in component responsibility as resolution changes. At 1920x1080, the CPU is likely the primary driver of performance. The frame rates are high across all presets, with Low averaging 119 FPS. The scaling from Low to Medium (119 to 93 FPS) and then to High (70 FPS) and Ultra (66 FPS) shows that the GPU is still capable of handling the increased load, but the relatively smaller gaps between High and Ultra suggest that the CPU may be nearing its limit in feeding the GPU with draw calls for the complex simulation logic.

At 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take on a more significant role. The average frame rates for Low and Medium are 96 and 75 FPS, which are still high, but the drop from Medium to High (56 FPS) is substantial. This indicates that the rendering workload at this resolution is starting to outpace the CPU's ability to supply data, making the GPU the limiting factor for the higher presets.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is unequivocally the bottleneck. The average frame rate for Low is 71 FPS, but Medium drops to 55 FPS, and High and Ultra fall to 42 and 40 FPS. This steep decline with each preset increase is characteristic of a GPU that is saturated with pixel and shading work. The CPU, while still important for the simulation's logic, has enough headroom to keep up, as evidenced by the consistent ability to reach higher FPS at lower resolutions. In summary, the i5-12600KF provides sufficient processing power for high frame rates at 1080p and solid performance at 1440p, but the RTX 4060's 8 GB memory and 128-bit bus are the primary constraints at 4K, where even the Medium preset struggles.

The Verdict

This system can run Microsoft Flight Simulator, but the experience is highly dependent on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the verdict is a clear "yes" with all presets, including Ultra, surpassing the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the system is also playable, with the Medium preset delivering 75 FPS and Low at 96 FPS; however, High and Ultra are not recommended as they average 56 and 54 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system is only playable on the Low preset, which averages 71 FPS. The verdict data explicitly lists "Low" as the only playable setting at 4K, while 1440p has "Low" and "Medium" as playable, and 1080p has all four presets playable. For users who prioritize visual fidelity, 1080p with Ultra settings is the optimal configuration. For those with 1440p displays, Medium is the best balance of quality and performance.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average, minimum, and maximum frame rates recorded for each resolution and settings preset combination.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 42 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 71 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 55 | 47 | 64 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 40 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | High | 56 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 96 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 75 | 64 | 86 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 54 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | High | 70 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 119 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 93 | 79 | 107 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 66 | N/A | N/A |

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this specific CPU and GPU combination ranks 1978 out of 3714 tested combos. This places it in the lower half of all configurations, which aligns with the measured performance showing it as a solid 1080p and entry-level 1440p solution rather than a high-end 4K performer. The rank reflects that while the system is fully capable of running the game, many other hardware pairings deliver higher frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions and preset levels.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU and GPU each have nearest rivals that would produce nearly identical performance in this game.

For the Intel Core i5-12600KF, the nearest rival is the Intel Core i9-10900K, with an average score delta of -0.3%, meaning the i9 is effectively a statistical tie. Other close alternatives include the AMD Ryzen 5 8500GE (0.3% delta), the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (-0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (-0.3%). All of these processors would yield a similar experience in CPU-bound scenarios, such as the high frame rate 1080p runs.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, with a delta of -0.2%. Other close matches include the AMD Radeon 780M (0.3%), the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (0.5%), and the AMD Radeon Pro 460 (0.7%). These GPUs would produce very similar frame rates, particularly in GPU-bound scenarios at 1440p and 4K. Users who own any of these parts can expect the same general performance characteristics as the RTX 4060 in this title.