Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a stark contrast in capability. The CPU is a high-end desktop processor with a percentile rank of 94 among all CPUs, while the GPU is an integrated graphics solution with a percentile rank of only 5. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the recorded data shows that this combination struggles to reach playable frame rates at any tested resolution or preset. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the combination never reaches that mark. The best recorded average is 50 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, explores the role of each component, and provides context for how this combo ranks against others.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data is organized by resolution and settings preset. All values are from the database and represent the average frame rate unless otherwise noted.

At 3840x2160, the results are consistently below playable levels. With High settings, the average FPS is 18. Low settings improve this to 30 FPS. Medium settings yield an average of 23 FPS, with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 27. Ultra settings produce the lowest result at 17 FPS. None of these averages approach the 60 FPS threshold.

At 2560x1440, the situation improves but remains far from playable. High settings deliver an average of 24 FPS. Low settings reach 41 FPS. Medium settings average 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 and a maximum of 36. Ultra settings drop to 23 FPS. Again, no preset at this resolution clears the 60 FPS line.

At 1920x1080, the best results are observed. High settings average 30 FPS. Low settings reach 50 FPS, the highest average recorded for this combo. Medium settings average 39 FPS, with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 45. Ultra settings average 28 FPS. Even at the lowest resolution and preset, the average FPS falls 10 FPS short of the 60 FPS threshold.

Looking at the scaling patterns, resolution has a substantial impact. Moving from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 at Low settings reduces the average from 50 to 41 FPS, a drop of 9 FPS. Moving further to 3840x2160 at Low settings reduces it to 30 FPS. The settings preset also matters significantly. At 1920x1080, switching from Low to Ultra drops the average from 50 to 28 FPS, a reduction of 22 FPS. The same pattern holds at higher resolutions, though the absolute numbers are lower.

The minimum and maximum values are only recorded for Medium settings at each resolution. At 3840x2160 Medium, the frame rate ranges from 20 to 27 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, it ranges from 27 to 36 FPS. At 1920x1080 Medium, it ranges from 33 to 45 FPS. These ranges show that even the best-case scenarios for this combo remain below the playable threshold.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 60 FPS?

A: No. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the highest average FPS recorded is 50 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. All other settings and resolutions produce lower averages.

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves?

A: The best recorded average is 50 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next best is 41 FPS at 2560x1440 with Low settings.

Q: How does the GPU compare to other hardware in the database?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has a percentile rank of 5 among all GPUs. Its average benchmark score is 1184. Its nearest rivals include the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 with a score of 1186, which is 0.2% higher, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with a score of 1190, which is 0.5% higher.

Q: How does the CPU compare to other hardware in the database?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF has a percentile rank of 94 among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 70163. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F with a score of 69996, which is 0.2% lower, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K with a score of 70879, which is 1% higher.

Q: What is the frame rate range at Medium settings?

A: At 1920x1080 Medium, the range is 33 to 45 FPS. At 2560x1440 Medium, the range is 27 to 36 FPS. At 3840x2160 Medium, the range is 20 to 27 FPS.

Q: Which resolution offers the highest average FPS?

A: 1920x1080 offers the highest averages across all presets. For example, Low settings at 1920x1080 yield 50 FPS, while the same preset at 2560x1440 yields 41 FPS and at 3840x2160 yields 30 FPS.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For the GPU, the Intel Arc B370 sits very close to several older discrete and mobile graphics solutions. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 has an average score of 1186, which is 0.2% higher than the Arc B370. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 has a score of 1190, 0.5% higher. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M has a score of 1192, 0.7% higher. The AMD FirePro M2000 has a score of 1168, which is 1.4% lower. These deltas are all within roughly one percent, meaning a system using any of these GPUs would likely produce very similar frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator, given the same CPU and settings.

For the CPU, the Intel Core i7-14700KF is closely matched by several other processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F has an average score of 69996, which is 0.2% lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX has a score of 69875, 0.4% lower. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X has a score of 69515, 0.9% lower. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K has a score of 70879, which is 1% higher. These differences are small enough that swapping the CPU for any of these alternatives would not meaningfully change the frame rates in this game, since the GPU is the limiting factor.

The data indicates that the CPU is not the bottleneck in this configuration. The CPU performs in the top 6 percent of all CPUs, while the GPU performs in the bottom 5 percent. Any of the CPU rivals listed would behave similarly in this game, because the GPU cannot take advantage of additional CPU headroom.

The Verdict

This PC cannot run Microsoft Flight Simulator at the playable threshold of 60 FPS. The verdict data shows no playable settings at any resolution. At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings, and no best settings are recorded. At 2560x1440, there are no playable settings. At 1920x1080, there are no playable settings. The combination fails to reach 60 FPS in every measured scenario.

The closest result is 1920x1080 with Low settings, averaging 50 FPS. That is 10 FPS below the threshold. Medium settings at 1920x1080 average 39 FPS, which is further away. High settings at 1920x1080 average 30 FPS. Ultra settings average 28 FPS. At higher resolutions, the results are even lower. The best at 2560x1440 is 41 FPS on Low, and the best at 3840x2160 is 30 FPS on Low.

For a flight simulator that demands steady frame rates for smooth camera panning and instrument readability, these numbers are insufficient. The average frame rates are already below the threshold, and the minimum values (where recorded) are lower still. For example, at 1920x1080 Medium, the minimum is 33 FPS, which is nearly half the playable threshold. The verdict is clear: this combo is not playable for this game.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a massive imbalance between the CPU and GPU. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with strong multi-core and single-core scores. The GPU ranks in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, with a single benchmark score of 1184. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU is the limiting factor across all resolutions and presets.

Evidence for this comes from the scaling between resolutions. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 50 at 1920x1080 to 41 at 2560x1440 to 30 at 3840x2160. This is a clear resolution-dependent decline, which indicates that the GPU is struggling to render pixels at higher resolutions. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would stay relatively flat across resolutions, because the CPU workload (game logic, physics, draw calls) does not scale with resolution the way pixel rendering does.

The settings preset also has a strong effect. At 1920x1080, moving from Low to Medium reduces the average from 50 to 39 FPS. Moving to High reduces it to 30 FPS. Moving to Ultra reduces it to 28 FPS. Higher presets increase the GPU load through more complex shading, more objects, and higher texture quality. The consistent drop with each preset step further confirms that the GPU is the constraint.

The CPU, by contrast, has ample headroom. With a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 44167 and a single-core score of 6235, it is far more capable than what this game requires at these frame rates. The GPU cannot push enough frames to stress the CPU. At 1920x1080 Low, the average of 50 FPS is likely below what the CPU could deliver if paired with a stronger GPU.

In summary, the GPU determines the performance at every resolution and preset. The CPU plays a secondary role, providing sufficient processing power but never becoming the limiting factor.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this combo ranks 3428 out of 3714. That places it in the bottom portion of all tested combos, around the 8th percentile. This is consistent with the GPU's low percentile rank of 5. The CPU's high rank does not compensate for the GPU's weakness.

The rank reflects the actual measured frame rates. Since no resolution or preset reaches 60 FPS, the combo is sorted near the bottom of the list. Combos with higher ranks achieve playable frame rates at least at some settings. This combo does not.

The GPU's nearest rivals all have similar benchmark scores (within 1.4%), and they would likely occupy similar ranks in this game. The CPU's nearest rivals also have similar scores (within 1%), so swapping the CPU would not change the rank meaningfully. The rank is essentially determined by the GPU's performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

Given the 60 FPS playable threshold, there are no settings that meet the requirement at any resolution. The database lists no playable settings for 3840x2160, 2560x1440, or 1920x1080. The best settings field is null for all resolutions, and the average FPS at best settings is null.

For reference, the highest average FPS at each resolution is achieved with Low settings. At 3840x2160 Low, the average is 30 FPS. At 2560x1440 Low, the average is 41 FPS. At 1920x1080 Low, the average is 50 FPS. These are the closest to the threshold, but they all fall short.

If the goal is to maximize frame rate without regard to visual quality, Low settings at 1920x1080 is the best option, yielding 50 FPS. Medium settings at 1920x1080 yield 39 FPS, which is 11 FPS lower. Higher settings yield even less. At higher resolutions, Low settings are also the best option, but the frame rates are lower.

The data suggests that even at the lowest settings and resolution, the combo cannot reach 60 FPS. Users would need to consider lowering the resolution below 1920x1080 or accepting frame rates well below the playable threshold. Neither option is reflected in the measured data, which stops at 1920x1080.

In conclusion, this combo is not suitable for Microsoft Flight Simulator at 60 FPS. The GPU is the primary limitation, and no settings or resolution in the database produce a playable result. The CPU is capable, but it is paired with a GPU that cannot deliver the necessary performance.