Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a notoriously demanding title, and the data for the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 paired with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT shows a configuration that is heavily influenced by resolution. This combination provides a playable experience at 1080p and 1440p, but struggles to maintain high refresh rates at 4K, with the GPU becoming the primary limiting factor as resolution increases.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p, the combo achieves its highest performance, with an average of 134.5 FPS on Low settings. This drops to 106.9 FPS on Medium, 80.6 FPS on High, and 79.7 FPS on Ultra. The relatively small gap between High and Ultra at 1080p (only 0.9 FPS) suggests that the Ultra preset imposes a significant load that the GPU begins to struggle with, even at this lower resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance takes a noticeable hit across all settings. The Low preset average falls to 110 FPS, a 24.5 FPS drop from 1080p. Medium follows at 84.2 FPS, and High at 65.8 FPS. Ultra at 1440p produces an average of 59.5 FPS, which is just below the 60 FPS threshold often considered the baseline for smooth gameplay. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p shows a performance reduction of approximately 18% for Low, 21% for Medium, 18% for High, and 25% for Ultra.

At 3840x2160, the data shows the combo is clearly GPU-bound. The Low preset average drops to 82.1 FPS, which is a massive 52.4 FPS reduction from 1080p. Medium falls to 65 FPS, and High to 49.2 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K yields an average of only 43.2 FPS. This represents a 46% drop from the 1080p Ultra result and a 27% drop from the 1440p Ultra result. The pattern strongly indicates that the RX 7700 XT's capabilities are being saturated at 4K, and the CPU is no longer the bottleneck. The frame rate differences between 1440p and 4K are larger than those between 1080p and 1440p, confirming that the GPU's rendering workload is the dominant factor at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

In the broader context of all tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 5 3600 and RX 7700 XT ranks 757th out of 1795 combos. This places it in the upper-middle portion of the overall performance distribution, indicating that while it is not a top-tier setup, it outperforms a majority of the tested configurations. The rank of 757 out of 1795 means it sits in about the 58th percentile of all combos tested for this game.

This ranking is a result of the balance between the CPU and GPU. The Ryzen 5 3600 is a solid mid-range processor from the 3000 series, while the RX 7700 XT is a newer, more powerful graphics card. The data suggests that in many scenarios, particularly at lower resolutions, the CPU may be holding the GPU back, preventing the combo from achieving a higher rank. Conversely, at 4K, the GPU is the limiting factor, and the CPU's performance is less relevant. The combination's ranking reflects this dynamic, showing that it is a capable mid-range setup that can handle the game well at 1080p and 1440p but is not optimized for 4K gaming.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the primary driver of graphical performance in this configuration. It is based on the RDNA 3.0 architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is a key factor in the card's ability to handle the high-resolution textures and complex scenery that Microsoft Flight Simulator is known for. The card's boost clock is listed at 2544 MHz, with a game clock of 2171 MHz.

The GPU's role is most evident when examining the performance drop at 4K. The benchmark results show that while the card can deliver 134.5 FPS at 1080p Low, it can only manage 43.2 FPS at 4K Ultra. This indicates that the GPU's computational resources are being fully utilized at higher resolutions and settings. The 12 GB VRAM buffer is sufficient for the game's demands, as the data does not suggest any memory-related stuttering or severe drops beyond what would be expected from raw compute limitations. The card's performance, relative to its benchmark average, places it at the 73rd percentile among all GPUs, showing it is a strong performer in the current market. Its nearest rival in average benchmark score is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, with a deltaPct of 0, indicating virtually identical synthetic performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 79.7 FPS. This is slightly lower than the 80.6 FPS achieved on High settings, suggesting the Ultra preset provides a minimal visual benefit for a slight performance cost at this resolution.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 3840x2160, the average FPS on High settings is 49.2 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. On Ultra settings, the average drops to 43.2 FPS. For a smoother 60 FPS experience at 4K, you would need to use Medium settings, which yield an average of 65 FPS.

Q: How does this combo's performance at 1440p compare to 1080p?

A: At 2560x1440, the performance is significantly lower than at 1080p. For example, on High settings, the average FPS drops from 80.6 at 1080p to 65.8 at 1440p. This is a substantial reduction, but 1440p High is still a very playable experience.

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

A: The bottleneck shifts depending on the resolution. At 1080p, the CPU is more likely to be the limiting factor, as the GPU has more headroom. At 4K, the data clearly shows the GPU is the bottleneck, as performance scales heavily with resolution and settings.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in the benchmark database?

A: This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT ranks 757th out of 1795 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Q: What is the boost clock of the RX 7700 XT?

A: The boost clock for the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is listed as 2544 MHz. The game clock is specified as 2171 MHz.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following data represents the measured average FPS for this specific configuration across all tested resolutions and settings.

• 1920x1080 (1080p)
• Low: 134.5 FPS
• Medium: 106.9 FPS
• High: 80.6 FPS
• Ultra: 79.7 FPS

• 2560x1440 (1440p)
• Low: 110 FPS
• Medium: 84.2 FPS
• High: 65.8 FPS
• Ultra: 59.5 FPS

• 3840x2160 (4K)
• Low: 82.1 FPS
• Medium: 65 FPS
• High: 49.2 FPS
• Ultra: 43.2 FPS

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls. The data suggests that at lower resolutions, such as 1080p, the CPU is sufficient to feed the GPU, as frame rates are high. However, comparing the 1080p Ultra score of 79.7 FPS to the 1440p Ultra score of 59.5 FPS, the drop is less severe than the drop from 1440p to 4K, indicating the GPU is taking on more load.

The CPU's performance is reflected in its benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 15045 and a single-core score of 2124. While not top-tier, these scores are respectable. The processor is placed in the 76th percentile when compared to all CPUs, indicating it is a solid mid-range performer. The data from the game shows that the Ryzen 5 3600 can keep up with the RX 7700 XT at 1080p, but as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck. The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache provides adequate performance for the game's simulation aspects, and its 65W TDP suggests it is an efficient part that will not present significant cooling challenges in a standard build. For this game, the CPU is not the star of the show, but it does not hold the system back in a meaningful way except at the very lowest resolutions and settings, where its single-thread performance may prevent the GPU from reaching its absolute maximum frame rate.