Microsoft Flight Simulator

Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus paired with the Intel Arc B580 presents a specific performance envelope for Microsoft Flight Simulator, and the measured data shows that this combo is highly resolution-dependent. At 4K, the system struggles to maintain a smooth experience, but dropping to 1440p or 1080p unlocks playable frame rates, provided you are willing to compromise on visual fidelity. The CPU is a top-tier part, placing in the 96th percentile among all CPUs, but the Arc B580, while competent, sits in the 68th percentile for GPUs, making the graphics card the primary bottleneck in this pairing. Benchmark results indicate that this is a system for high-refresh 1080p or solid 1440p gaming in this specific flight sim, not a 4K powerhouse.

Best Settings per Resolution

For Microsoft Flight Simulator, the goal is to hold at least 60 FPS on average. The data shows that the most demanding preset that achieves this varies significantly by resolution.

At 3840x2160 (4K), no preset clears the 60 FPS threshold. The highest playable settings list is empty, meaning even the Low preset only produces an average of 58 FPS, which falls just short of the 60 FPS target. Pushing to Medium drops the average to 45 FPS, and High and Ultra are even lower at 34 and 32 FPS respectively. In short, you cannot hit a stable 60 FPS at 4K with any settings on this combo.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves. The best settings that maintain an average of 60 FPS or higher is Medium, which delivers an average of 61 FPS. The Low preset is also playable at 78 FPS average, but Medium is the highest visual quality you can select while staying above the playable threshold. High and Ultra presets fall below the mark, averaging 46 and 44 FPS respectively.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the system has more headroom. The most demanding preset to stay at or above 60 FPS is also Medium, but with a more comfortable margin, producing an average of 76 FPS. The Low preset runs at 97 FPS average, and High just misses the cut at 57 FPS. Ultra remains out of reach at 54 FPS average.

The pattern is clear: this combo is best suited for Medium settings at 1080p or 1440p. For a smoother experience, you can use Low settings, but you will have to sacrifice visual detail to gain significant frame rate headroom.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: No. The measured data shows that no preset at 3840x2160 achieves an average of 60 FPS. The best result is the Low preset at 58 FPS average, which is below the playable threshold.

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

A: The Medium preset is the highest quality option that maintains a playable frame rate, with an average of 61 FPS. The Low preset runs faster at 78 FPS average, but Medium offers a better balance of visuals and performance.

Q: How much faster is the Low preset compared to Medium at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 97 FPS, which is 21 FPS higher than the Medium preset's 76 FPS average. This represents a significant performance boost of roughly 28% for users willing to lower graphical quality.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary constraint. The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus scores in the 96th percentile of all CPUs, while the Intel Arc B580 scores in the 68th percentile of all GPUs. The GPU's lower relative standing means it is more likely to be the bottleneck in demanding games.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested systems?

A: This specific CPU and GPU combination is ranked 2788 out of 3714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the lower half of all tested configurations.

Q: Does the game use DirectX 12 Ultimate features with this GPU?

A: The Intel Arc B580 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), and the game is capable of using those features. The measured FPS data reflects the performance with the game's standard presets; the data does not specify whether ray tracing or other DX12 Ultimate features are enabled in those tests.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and Intel Arc B580 holds a rank of 2788 out of 3714 combos. This places it in the 25th percentile of all tested systems, meaning roughly 75% of tested hardware combinations deliver better performance in this specific title. This is a relatively low ranking, which aligns with the measured FPS data showing that the system cannot handle 4K or Ultra settings.

The ranking is heavily influenced by the GPU's performance ceiling. While the CPU is a high-end part, the Arc B580's mid-range standing in the GPU hierarchy limits the overall system capability in a simulation game that is often demanding on both processor and graphics card. The combo rank shows that while this is a functional gaming PC, it is not a top-tier performer for Microsoft Flight Simulator, and users should adjust their expectations accordingly, targeting 1080p or 1440p with medium settings for a smooth experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for each component provides context for what other hardware would deliver similar performance.

For the CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus has an average benchmark score of 84003. Its closest rival is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, which scores 83807, a negligible delta of 0.2%. This means the 285K would perform nearly identically in CPU-bound scenarios. Other close matches include the AMD EPYC 4584PX (score 83090, delta 1.1%) and the AMD EPYC 9135 (score 82980, delta 1.2%), which are slightly slower but within a couple of percent. The AMD EPYC 7F72 is actually slightly faster, scoring 85072, which is -1.3% delta relative to the 290K Plus. For gaming, any of these would provide a similar CPU experience, though the EPYC parts are server-focused.

On the GPU side, the Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021. Its closest rivals are remarkably close in score. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP (score 23061, delta -0.2%) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (score 23172, delta -0.7%) are nearly identical in average benchmark performance. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (score 22895, delta 0.6%) is also a very close match. The NVIDIA P106-100 (score 23249, delta -1%) rounds out the list. This is an interesting set of rivals, as it includes both older and newer cards from different tiers, but the benchmark data suggests they all fall into a similar performance band. In practice, swapping the Arc B580 for any of these would yield very similar frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of performance across resolutions and settings.

At 3840x2160:

• Ultra averages 32 FPS.
• High averages 34 FPS.
• Medium averages 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS.
• Low averages 58 FPS.

At 2560x1440:

• Ultra averages 44 FPS.
• High averages 46 FPS.
• Medium averages 61 FPS, with a minimum of 52 FPS and a maximum of 70 FPS.
• Low averages 78 FPS.

At 1920x1080:

• Ultra averages 54 FPS.
• High averages 57 FPS.
• Medium averages 76 FPS, with a minimum of 64 FPS and a maximum of 87 FPS.
• Low averages 97 FPS.

The data shows a consistent scaling pattern. Dropping from Medium to Low provides a substantial FPS boost at every resolution, while moving from Medium to High incurs a significant performance penalty. The minimum FPS figures for Medium settings also indicate that while the average is above 60 FPS at 1440p and 1080p, there can be dips below that threshold during intense scenes.

The Verdict

Can this PC run Microsoft Flight Simulator? The answer is a qualified yes, depending on your resolution and settings expectations.

At 3840x2160, the verdict is clear: this system cannot run the game at a playable 60 FPS with any settings. The best average is 58 FPS on Low, which is below the playable threshold.

At 2560x1440, the system is playable. The verdict lists Low and Medium as playable settings. The best settings for visual quality while maintaining 60+ FPS is Medium, which achieves an average of 61 FPS. This is a viable option for 1440p gaming, though you should expect occasional dips below 60 FPS, as the minimum FPS recorded is 52.

At 1920x1080, the system is also playable, with Low and Medium qualifying. The best settings here are again Medium, delivering a stronger average of 76 FPS. This is the sweet spot for this hardware combination, offering a good balance of visual fidelity and smooth performance.

In summary, this CPU and GPU combo is a solid 1080p and capable 1440p machine for Microsoft Flight Simulator, provided you stick to Medium settings or lower. It is not suited for 4K gaming or for running the Ultra preset at any resolution, as those configurations all fall below the 60 FPS target. If you own a 1080p or 1440p monitor and are willing to tune settings down from the absolute maximum, this system will deliver a playable experience.