Microsoft Flight Simulator

This combo of an Intel Core i5-14600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is an extreme outlier for Microsoft Flight Simulator, ranking in the 95th percentile out of 3,714 tested combinations. The data shows this system does not merely run the game; it dominates it, delivering playable frame rates at every resolution and preset tested, including 4K Ultra. The RTX 4090, despite being end-of-life, provides massive headroom, while the 14-core i5-14600KF keeps pace without bottlenecking. For a flight sim known for heavy CPU and GPU loads, this pairing is effectively a top-tier enthusiast configuration.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark database places this specific CPU-GPU pairing at rank 95 out of 3,714 tested combinations. That means this system sits in the top 2.6% of all recorded configurations for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This is not a marginal placement; the data indicates a substantial performance buffer above the median, making it a reference-class setup for this title.

The CPU contributes strongly to this ranking. The Intel Core i5-14600KF scores in the 90th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49,394. Its nearest rivals in the database are extremely close: the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 trails by just 0.3%, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G is 0.4% behind, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% behind. Only the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 edges ahead by 0.8%. This clustering means the i5-14600KF is essentially at parity with top-tier alternatives from both AMD and Intel, so the CPU is not a weak link in this pairing.

The GPU is equally dominant. The RTX 4090 holds an 88th percentile ranking among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 60,347. Its nearest rivals are a mixed bag: the Intel Arc Pro A60 is statistically identical (0% delta), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is 0.3% behind, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 is 2.9% behind. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% ahead. These rival comparisons are notable because they are professional or workstation-class cards, not gaming-focused hardware, which underscores that the RTX 4090's gaming performance is exceptional within the database's measured results.

The combination's 95th percentile rank reflects synergy: the CPU's strong single-thread and multi-thread scores (4,594 in Cinebench R23 single-core, 32,544 in multi-core) pair with the GPU's massive 82.58 TFLOPS FP32 throughput. For a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which stresses both the CPU's physics and the GPU's rendering, this balance is why the combo ranks so high.

FAQ

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

A: Yes, definitively. At 3840x2160, the measured average FPS is 77 on Ultra settings, 81 on High, 108 on Medium, and 138 on Low. All presets clear the 60 FPS playable threshold, so 4K is fully viable even at maximum quality.

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

A: The data shows Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an average of 105 FPS. Since this exceeds the 60 FPS threshold, Ultra is the best choice. Lower presets yield even higher numbers: High at 110 FPS, Medium at 146 FPS, and Low at 188 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-14600KF compare to its closest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-14600KF's average benchmark score of 49,394 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (49,228, 0.3% behind) and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (49,196, 0.4% behind). The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is 0.8% slower, while the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 is 0.8% faster. In practice, these differences are negligible for gaming.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Medium and Ultra at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, Medium settings deliver 181 FPS average (with min 154 FPS and max 208 FPS), while Ultra drops to 130 FPS average. The difference is 51 FPS, but both are far above the 60 FPS playable threshold, so the visual quality trade-off favors Ultra for most users.

Q: Is the RTX 4090's performance still competitive despite being end-of-life?

A: Yes. The RTX 4090 scores in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Arc Pro A60, matches it exactly (0% delta), and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is only 0.3% behind. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is 2.5% faster, but the RTX 4090 remains a top-tier performer in this database.

Q: Does the system ever drop below 60 FPS at any tested setting?

A: No. The lowest measured average is 77 FPS at 4K Ultra. The only min FPS values recorded are for Medium settings: 92 FPS at 4K, 124 FPS at 1440p, and 154 FPS at 1080p. No setting in the measured data falls below the 60 FPS threshold.

Similar Performance Alternatives

If you are considering alternatives to this specific combo, the nearestRivals data for both components indicates which hardware would behave similarly in this game.

On the CPU side, the Intel Core i5-14600KF's average benchmark score of 49,394 places it within 1% of four other processors. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (score 49,228) is the closest match, being just 0.3% slower. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G (score 49,196) is 0.4% slower, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 (score 48,995) is 0.8% slower. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 388 (score 49,796) is the only one that is faster, by 0.8%. For Microsoft Flight Simulator, swapping the i5-14600KF for any of these would yield nearly identical frame rates, provided the GPU remains the same.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4090's average benchmark score of 60,347 is matched by the Intel Arc Pro A60 (score 60,326, 0% delta). The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 (score 60,140) is 0.3% slower, and the AMD Radeon PRO V710 (score 58,657) is 2.9% slower. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (score 61,896) is 2.5% faster. These are the only measured rivals, and the deltas are small enough that in real gameplay, the differences would be imperceptible. Choosing any of these GPUs would place the system in a similar performance envelope, though the RTX 4090's 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth are unique characteristics not shared by the rivals.

If you built a system with the AMD Ryzen 9 7900 and an Intel Arc Pro A60, the data suggests you would get nearly the same benchmark scores as this i5-14600KF + RTX 4090 combo. The CPU and GPU deltas are both under 0.5%, meaning the ranking in-game would likely be within a few positions of the 95th percentile.

The Verdict

This PC can absolutely run Microsoft Flight Simulator, and it does so with exceptional headroom. The verdictByResolution data is unambiguous: at every resolution tested, all four settings presets (Low, Medium, High, Ultra) are marked as playable. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the lowest average frame rate recorded is 77 FPS at 4K Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, with an average of 77 FPS. At 2560x1440, Ultra also wins, averaging 105 FPS. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 130 FPS. In all three cases, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold by a margin of at least 17 FPS, and at 1080p Ultra, it more than doubles the threshold.

The data confirms this is not a borderline setup. There is no resolution or preset combination where the system struggles. The RTX 4090's raw power (82.58 TFLOPS FP32) and the i5-14600KF's strong single-core performance (4,594 in Cinebench R23) combine to deliver a smooth experience even in the most demanding scenario tested: 4K Ultra. Users can confidently max out the graphics settings at any resolution without worrying about drops below 60 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. All values are average FPS unless otherwise noted.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system delivers:

• Low: 138 FPS average
• Medium: 108 FPS average, with a minimum of 92 FPS and a maximum of 124 FPS
• High: 81 FPS average
• Ultra: 77 FPS average

The 4K results show a clear scaling pattern: moving from Low to Medium costs 30 FPS, from Medium to High costs 27 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs only 4 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded min/max values, showing a 32 FPS spread.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the results are:

• Low: 188 FPS average
• Medium: 146 FPS average, with a minimum of 124 FPS and a maximum of 168 FPS
• High: 110 FPS average
• Ultra: 105 FPS average

The 1440p data shows a similar pattern to 4K, but with higher absolute numbers. The gap between Low and Medium is 42 FPS, between Medium and High is 36 FPS, and between High and Ultra is a mere 5 FPS. The Medium preset's min/max spread is 44 FPS.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the numbers are:

• Low: 225 FPS average
• Medium: 181 FPS average, with a minimum of 154 FPS and a maximum of 208 FPS
• High: 136 FPS average
• Ultra: 130 FPS average

The 1080p results show the highest frame rates, with Low pushing past 225 FPS. The step from Low to Medium costs 44 FPS, from Medium to High costs 45 FPS, and from High to Ultra costs 6 FPS. The Medium preset has a 54 FPS spread between min and max.

Notably, the High and Ultra presets at each resolution produce results very close to each other, with differences of only 4-6 FPS across all resolutions. This suggests that the visual quality jump from High to Ultra is nearly free in terms of performance for this hardware.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the best settings are defined as the most demanding preset that still maintains an average of at least 60 FPS. The data shows that this system can run the highest preset at every resolution.

At 3840x2160, the best settings are Ultra, delivering an average of 77 FPS. This is 17 FPS above the playable threshold. Since Ultra is the most demanding preset available, there is no higher setting to test. The 77 FPS average provides a comfortable margin, and even if there were slight dips in dense scenarios, the headroom is substantial.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, with an average of 105 FPS. This is 45 FPS above the threshold. The jump from High (110 FPS) to Ultra (105 FPS) costs only 5 FPS, making Ultra the obvious choice for visual fidelity without sacrificing smoothness.

At 1920x1080, the best settings are Ultra as well, averaging 130 FPS. This is 70 FPS above the threshold. The difference between High (136 FPS) and Ultra (130 FPS) is just 6 FPS, so there is no reason to compromise on quality.

In summary, this hardware combination allows users to select Ultra settings at any resolution from 1080p to 4K and still maintain frame rates well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The i5-14600KF and RTX 4090 pairing is strong enough that the game's maximum visual quality is always achievable, with the 4K Ultra result of 77 FPS being the only instance where the system dips below 100 FPS.