Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most demanding titles in the benchmark database, and this pairing of an Intel Core i5-14400F with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 delivers a top-tier experience. The data shows that this combo ranks 3rd out of 3,714 tested combinations, placing it in the 99.9th percentile for this specific title. This is a system that not only runs the game but does so with enough headroom to use the highest visual presets at every resolution we track. The benchmark results indicate that the RTX 4080 carries the load at higher resolutions, while the i5-14400F proves more than capable of feeding frames at 1080p.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 61 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS playable threshold. The verdict data lists Ultra as the best playable setting at 4K, with an average of 61 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for this hardware?

A: At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset delivers an average of 112 FPS, which offers a high refresh rate experience without needing to lower settings. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 174 FPS, making it ideal for very high refresh rate monitors.

Q: How does the i5-14400F compare to nearby CPUs in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The i5-14400F has an average benchmark score of 32,279, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U, scores 32,233, a delta of 0.1%. The Intel Core i9-11900 is 0.2% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is 0.2% ahead.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 significantly faster than its nearest GPU rival?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54,247, which is 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER (54,209). However, the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55,698, which is 2.6% higher than the RTX 4080 in average GPU benchmarks.

Q: What minimum FPS can I expect at 1440p Medium settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the measured minimum FPS is 149, with an average of 176 and a maximum of 202. This indicates very stable frame pacing with no dips below the playable threshold.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at any resolution?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary scaling factor. Going from 1080p to 4K Ultra drops the average FPS from 174 to 61, a 64% reduction, which points to a GPU-bound scenario. The i5-14400F's single-core score of 3,055 in Cinebench R23 indicates it has sufficient headroom for this simulator.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank of 3 out of 3,714 tested configurations places this system in the top 0.08% of all combinations tested for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This is a remarkable position, indicating that this specific pairing of CPU and GPU is exceptionally well-suited to the game's demands. The ranking consolidates the i5-14400F's position in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs with the RTX 4080's 86th percentile standing among GPUs. In practical terms, this means the system outperforms the vast majority of other tested setups, including many that feature higher-tier CPUs or GPUs but perhaps not the optimal balance for this specific simulator. The data shows that this combo is not just playable but is a top contender for enthusiasts seeking maximum fidelity. The delta between the 3rd rank and the hundreds of thousands of lower-ranked alternatives is substantial, reinforcing that this build is a high-end choice for this game.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of scaling across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system is overwhelmingly fast. The Low preset yields an average of 356 FPS. Medium averages 273 FPS, with a minimum of 232 and a maximum of 313. High averages 229 FPS, and Ultra still manages a very high 174 FPS average. This resolution is firmly CPU and GPU bound, with the i5-14400F proving capable of driving the RTX 4080 to extreme frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the workload shifts more toward the GPU. Low averages 230 FPS, Medium 176 FPS (minimum 149, maximum 202), High 148 FPS, and Ultra 112 FPS. The step from High to Ultra at 1440p is a 24% drop in average FPS, showing the cost of the highest settings. Even so, every preset clears 100 FPS, making this the sweet spot for high refresh rate monitors with Ultra settings.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4080's capabilities are fully taxed. Low averages 124 FPS, Medium 95 FPS (minimum 80, maximum 109), High 79 FPS, and Ultra drops to 61 FPS average. The scaling from 1440p to 4K at Ultra is steep, representing a 45% performance reduction, which is expected given the pixel count increase. The minimum FPS at 4K Medium of 80 FPS confirms that even in complex scenes, the frame rate remains well above the 60 FPS threshold. The data shows that 4K Ultra is the absolute limit for this hardware, scraping past the playable threshold with an average of 61 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the CPU, the i5-14400F's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks are all within 0.5% of its average score. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (0.1% higher) and Intel Core i9-11900 (0.2% higher) would offer nearly identical CPU-bound performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core i7-12800H is 0.5% higher. In practice, any of these chips would deliver a nearly indistinguishable experience for this game, as the simulation's frame pacing is likely more dependent on the GPU at higher resolutions.

For the GPU, the RTX 4080's closest match is the RTX 4080 SUPER, with a delta of just 0.1% in average benchmark score. This makes the 4080 SUPER a direct alternative with essentially identical performance. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% lower, while the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB and AMD Radeon 8060S are 2.6% and 2.7% higher in raw compute benchmarks, respectively. However, in Microsoft Flight Simulator specifically, the RTX 4080's driver optimizations and feature set may yield different results than the synthetic averages suggest. The data indicates that a system with an RTX 4080 SUPER would behave almost identically to this build.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a clear division of labor between the i5-14400F and the RTX 4080 across resolutions. At 1920x1080, the frame rates are exceptionally high, with the Low preset hitting 356 FPS and Ultra at 174 FPS. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p is a 51% reduction, indicating that the GPU is still the primary limiting factor, but the CPU is delivering enough throughput to avoid major bottlenecks. The i5-14400F's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3,055 and multi-core score of 21,645 provide a strong foundation for the simulation's physics and AI calculations.

At 2560x1440, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced. The drop from 1080p to 1440p at Ultra settings is 36% (from 174 to 112 FPS), which is roughly proportional to the pixel count increase. This suggests the system scales predictably and is not held back by the CPU. The i5-14400F's 83rd percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it has ample headroom for this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4080 is unequivocally the dominant component. The average FPS at Ultra drops to 61, a further 45% reduction from 1440p. This steep decline is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload, where the 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth are being fully utilized. The CPU's role diminishes at 4K, as the frame rate is dictated almost entirely by the graphics card's rasterization and shading power. The data confirms that for this game, the RTX 4080 is the key to high-resolution performance, while the i5-14400F provides a solid, non-bottlenecking platform.

The Verdict

This system can absolutely run Microsoft Flight Simulator, and it clears the 60 FPS playable threshold at every resolution and preset tested. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 61 FPS, making it the best playable setting for 4K. The High (79 FPS), Medium (95 FPS), and Low (124 FPS) presets all provide even more headroom. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 112 FPS, which is excellent for high refresh rate displays, and all lower presets exceed 148 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Ultra preset averages 174 FPS, while the Low preset hits 356 FPS, making this resolution ideal for competitive or extremely smooth play.

The verdict data lists all four settings as playable at every resolution. The best configuration is 1920x1080 Ultra with an average of 174 FPS, but the most balanced experience is 2560x1440 Ultra at 112 FPS. For 4K, the hardware just barely achieves 60 FPS at Ultra, so users seeking a consistent 60+ FPS minimum may prefer the High preset at 79 FPS average. This build is a high-end solution for the simulator, with the RTX 4080 providing the necessary muscle for 4K and the i5-14400F ensuring no CPU-induced stutters.