Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i7-12700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 delivers exceptional performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator, a title known for its demanding rendering of vast landscapes and complex aircraft models. Across all tested resolutions and presets, this combination consistently exceeds the 60 FPS playability threshold, with average frame rates ranging from a low of 79 FPS at 4K Ultra to a high of 212 FPS at 1080p Low. The data indicates a system that is not merely capable of running the simulator, but one that provides substantial headroom for high-fidelity visuals and smooth gameplay, even at the most punishing settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rate data for this combination shows clear scaling across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080, the system produces exceptionally high frame rates. With Low settings, the average FPS reaches 212. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 185 FPS, with a minimum of 158 FPS and a maximum of 213 FPS. At High settings, the average is 139 FPS, and at Ultra, it remains a very smooth 133 FPS. These numbers indicate that at 1080p, the RTX 5090 is rarely the limiting factor, as even the most demanding preset holds an average well above 120 FPS.

Stepping up to 2560x1440, the performance remains robust. The Low preset delivers an average of 192 FPS. The Medium preset averages 149 FPS, with a minimum of 127 FPS and a maximum of 172 FPS. High settings see the average at 112 FPS, while Ultra settings still produce a highly playable 107 FPS average. The transition from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance cost, but the system's power is such that every preset at this resolution remains firmly in high-refresh-rate territory.

At 3840x2160, the demands on the GPU become more pronounced, yet the performance is still impressive. The Low preset averages 142 FPS. Medium settings average 110 FPS, with a minimum of 94 FPS and a maximum of 127 FPS. The High preset averages 83 FPS, and the Ultra preset, the most demanding configuration tested, still achieves an average of 79 FPS. The data shows that even at 4K resolution, the combination of the i7-12700K and RTX 5090 keeps frame rates comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold, with the minimum recorded frame rate at 4K Medium being 94 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this specific CPU-GPU combination ranks 73rd out of 3714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This top-tier ranking places it in the 98th percentile of all systems tested, indicating that it outperforms the vast majority of configurations. This high rank is a direct result of the RTX 5090's immense graphical horsepower, which is among the most powerful on the market, as indicated by its 92nd percentile ranking among all GPUs.

The CPU, the Intel Core i7-12700K, holds an 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs, showing it is a strong performer in its own right. However, the data suggests that the GPU is the primary driver of this system's exceptional in-game ranking. While the CPU is certainly capable, the sheer performance of the RTX 5090 is what propels this combo to the very top of the charts. The system's rank of 73 out of 3714 confirms the synergy of these two high-end components, with the GPU's dominance being the most significant factor in achieving this elite standing.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The most significant performance shifts occur when changing resolution, which directly impacts the GPU's workload. For instance, at Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 133 at 1080p to 107 at 1440p, and further to 79 at 4K. This 54 FPS difference between 1080p and 4K demonstrates that the RTX 5090 is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions, as its workload increases substantially with pixel count.

The CPU's role becomes relatively more important at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the system produces an average of 212 FPS, a figure so high that it suggests the CPU is working hard to feed the GPU. The scaling between presets at a fixed resolution also points to the GPU's influence. At 1080p, going from Low to Ultra results in a 79 FPS drop (from 212 to 133 FPS). This performance cost is due to the increased graphical complexity, which is handled by the GPU. The i7-12700K, with its 12 cores and 20 threads, provides ample processing power to handle the simulation's physics and AI, but the data indicates that for this title, the frame rate is dictated by the graphics card at all but the lowest settings.

The Verdict

Yes, this PC can unequivocally run Microsoft Flight Simulator. The verdict data confirms that all tested settings at every resolution are playable, with average frame rates well above the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 1920x1080, the best playable setting is Ultra, which yields an average of 133 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset also delivers the best experience, with an average of 107 FPS. Even at the demanding 3840x2160 resolution, the Ultra preset is playable, achieving an average of 79 FPS.

The system offers a remarkable level of flexibility. Users can choose to prioritize maximum visual fidelity at 4K and still enjoy a smooth experience, or they can opt for lower settings at 1080p to achieve frame rates exceeding 200 FPS for the most fluid simulation possible. The data shows no configuration where the system falls below the playable threshold, making this a top-tier choice for running this flight simulator at its highest settings.

FAQ

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

A: Yes. The benchmark data shows an average FPS of 79 at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate this combo achieves?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 212 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other systems?

A: This CPU-GPU combination ranks 73rd out of 3714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the top 2% of all tested systems.

Q: At which resolution and settings is the minimum FPS the highest?

A: The highest minimum FPS recorded is 158 FPS, which is at 1920x1080 resolution with Medium settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck in this system for this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary factor. The average FPS scales significantly with resolution, dropping from 133 FPS at 1080p Ultra to 79 FPS at 4K Ultra, demonstrating the GPU's workload is the main performance driver.

Q: Does the system maintain over 60 FPS at all times in the tested configurations?

A: Yes. All recorded average and minimum FPS values across every resolution and preset tested are above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The lowest minimum FPS recorded was 94 FPS at 4K Medium settings.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average FPS of 133.

At 2560x1440, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average FPS of 107.

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that remains at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average FPS of 79.