Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER holds a strong position for Microsoft Flight Simulator, ranking 603rd out of 3,714 tested combos. This places the configuration comfortably in the upper tier of systems, indicating it outperforms the vast majority of hardware combinations evaluated. The data shows a system built to handle the sim’s demanding flight model and dense scenery rendering without compromise, though the highest visual fidelity at 4K will push it to its limits.

How This Combo Ranks

With a rank of 603 out of 3,714 combos, this pairing sits in the top 16% of all tested systems for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The ranking reflects a balanced configuration where the CPU’s strong multi-threaded performance complements the GPU’s raw rasterization power. The i7-13700K’s average benchmark score of 46,881 places it in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the RTX 4070 SUPER’s average score of 43,223 lands it in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs. Together, they form a system that consistently delivers frame rates well above the 60 FPS playable threshold across most settings and resolutions.

The ranking becomes more meaningful when considering the measured frame rates. At 1080p, the combo averages between 104.5 and 184.9 FPS depending on settings, which is far beyond what a typical flight simulator setup achieves. Even at 4K, the system maintains an average of 57.9 FPS on Ultra settings, barely missing the 60 FPS target. This performance profile suggests the combo is optimized for high-refresh-rate displays at lower resolutions while remaining capable of near-ultra experiences at 4K.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU’s nearest rivals show how tightly contested this performance tier is. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 scores 46,971, a mere 0.2% lower than the i7-13700K, making it a nearly identical performer in synthetic benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 scores 47,022, which is 0.3% below the Intel chip. On the other side, the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX scores 46,654 (0.5% higher) and the Intel Xeon w3-2535 scores 46,653 (0.5% higher). These sub-1% deltas mean that swapping the i7-13700K for any of these alternatives would produce imperceptible differences in Microsoft Flight Simulator’s frame pacing and physics calculations.

For the GPU, the RTX 4070 SUPER’s nearest rivals are also remarkably close. The NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB scores 43,262 (0.1% lower), the RTX 5050 Mobile scores 43,268 (0.1% lower), and the Quadro M6000 scores 43,301 (0.2% lower). The RTX 4090 Mobile scores 43,667, which is 1% higher. These deltas suggest that users with any of these GPUs would see nearly identical frame rates in flight sim scenarios, assuming the CPU remains constant. However, the desktop RTX 4070 SUPER’s 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth give it a practical edge in texture-heavy scenes common in Microsoft Flight Simulator, even if synthetic scores are close.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear shift in component importance as resolution changes. At 1080p, the CPU plays a dominant role. The i7-13700K’s single-thread score of 2,116 in Cinebench R23 and multi-thread score of 30,745 help maintain high frame rates even on Low settings, where the GPU is less burdened. The jump from Low to Ultra at 1080p only drops the average from 184.9 to 104.5 FPS, a 43% reduction, indicating the GPU can handle the extra load without bottlenecking the CPU’s physics and AI calculations.

At 1440p, the balance shifts toward the GPU. The average frame rate on Ultra drops to 83.8 FPS, which is 19.8% lower than at 1080p Ultra. This scaling shows the GPU becoming the limiting factor as pixel count increases. At 4K, the GPU’s role becomes dominant. The Ultra preset averages 57.9 FPS, which is 30.8% lower than at 1440p Ultra. Meanwhile, the Low preset at 4K still achieves 106.4 FPS, proving the CPU can feed the GPU enough data even at high resolutions when the graphical load is light. The verdict is clear: the i7-13700K provides ample headroom, while the RTX 4070 SUPER determines the ceiling at higher resolutions and presets.

The Verdict

The data confirms this PC can run Microsoft Flight Simulator with strong performance at most settings. At 1920x1080, all four presets—Low, Medium, High, and Ultra—clear the 60 FPS threshold, with Ultra averaging 104.5 FPS. At 2560x1440, the system again clears 60 FPS on all presets, with Ultra averaging 83.8 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system clears 60 FPS on Low (106.4 FPS), Medium (81.7 FPS), and High (61.5 FPS). The only setting that falls short is 4K Ultra, which averages 57.9 FPS—just 2.1 FPS below the playable threshold.

The practical takeaway is that users targeting a smooth 60 FPS experience can play at High settings in 4K, or max out every visual option at 1440p and 1080p. For 4K Ultra enthusiasts, the system is tantalizingly close, and the marginal gap suggests that minor tweaks to shadow quality or draw distance would likely push it over the threshold. The data indicates a highly capable system that only struggles at the absolute maximum settings in 4K.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates show a consistent pattern across all resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system averages 184.9 FPS on Low, 145 FPS on Medium, 109.5 FPS on High, and 104.5 FPS on Ultra. These numbers reflect a system with significant headroom at 1080p, where even the most demanding preset nearly doubles the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the averages are 148.5 FPS on Low, 114.1 FPS on Medium, 84.9 FPS on High, and 83.8 FPS on Ultra. The drop from High to Ultra is minimal (just 1.1 FPS), suggesting that the Ultra preset’s additional effects are well-handled by the GPU. At 3840x2160, the averages are 106.4 FPS on Low, 81.7 FPS on Medium, 61.5 FPS on High, and 57.9 FPS on Ultra. The scaling from Low to Ultra shows a 45.6% reduction in frame rate, which is expected given the fourfold increase in pixel count compared to 1080p.

Min and max FPS values are not available in the data, so the analysis relies solely on averages. However, the consistent scaling across resolutions and presets suggests stable performance without severe hitches, which is critical for a flight simulator where smooth panning and instrument readability are paramount.

Best Settings per Resolution

For a consistent 60 FPS experience, the best settings vary by resolution. At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, which averages 104.5 FPS. This gives users full visual fidelity with a substantial margin above the threshold, making it the recommended choice for any 1080p display.

At 2560x1440, the best settings are also Ultra, averaging 83.8 FPS. This provides 23.8 FPS of headroom over the threshold, ensuring smooth performance even in dense urban areas or during heavy weather effects. At 3840x2160, the best settings are High, averaging 61.5 FPS. This is a slim margin of just 1.5 FPS, but it clears the threshold. Users prioritizing a larger buffer could opt for Medium at 81.7 FPS, but High delivers the best visual quality while remaining playable.

The data shows that for this combination, the sweet spot is 1440p Ultra, which balances visual fidelity and performance. At 4K, users must accept High settings to stay above 60 FPS, but the close margin indicates that the RTX 4070 SUPER is well-matched to the i7-13700K for this sim. The system is a strong choice for pilots who want to fly at high detail without sacrificing smoothness.