Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT combination delivers a broad performance envelope in Microsoft Flight Simulator, with measured average frame rates ranging from 133.5 FPS at 1080p Low to 56.6 FPS at 4K Ultra. The CPU, a 6-core/12-thread Zen 2 part with a 3.60 GHz base and 4.20 GHz boost, holds its own against the GPU’s high-end RDNA 3 architecture, which features 20 GB of GDDR6 memory and a 320-bit bus. The CPU’s launch MSRP is $199, while the GPU’s launch MSRP is 899 USD. The data shows a clear scaling pattern: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the dominant factor, but the CPU still provides enough headroom to keep frame rates playable even at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS across resolutions reveals how the workload shifts from CPU to GPU as pixel count rises. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 102.6 FPS at 1920x1080 to 84.8 FPS at 2560x1440, then to 61 FPS at 3840x2160. The absolute reduction between 1080p and 1440p is 17.8 FPS, while the reduction between 1440p and 4K is 23.8 FPS—though these derived numbers are not in the source data, the pattern is evident from the listed values. The larger drop at higher resolutions indicates that the GPU is the primary limiter when pixel count increases, which is expected given the RX 7900 XT’s 20 GB VRAM and 800 GB/s bandwidth.

At Low settings, the scaling is less steep: 133.5 FPS at 1080p, 125.6 FPS at 1440p, and 106.2 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is only 7.9 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 19.4 FPS. This suggests that at Low settings, the CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads are more involved, as the GPU is not as heavily taxed. The Ryzen 5 3600’s benchmark scores—such as 15045 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2124 in single-core—support its ability to feed the GPU at lower resolutions.

Medium settings show a similar trend: 122.5 FPS at 1080p, 112.2 FPS at 1440p, and 80.8 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 31.4 FPS, the largest absolute reduction among the four presets, reinforcing that the GPU is the bottleneck at 4K. Ultra settings follow the same pattern: 97.7 FPS at 1080p, 79.4 FPS at 1440p, and 56.6 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured value, but it remains above 50 FPS, indicating that the combo can handle the game’s highest preset at 4K, albeit with a frame rate that may not satisfy all users.

GPU Role

The RX 7900 XT’s specifications directly influence the measured results. It features 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 320-bit bus, delivering 800 GB/s of bandwidth. This capacity is substantial for a flight simulator, which often loads large textures and terrain data. The GPU’s base clock is 1387 MHz, with a game clock of 2025 MHz and a boost clock of 2394 MHz. These clock speeds, combined with 5376 shading units and 192 ROPs, contribute to the high frame rates observed across all settings.

The GPU’s benchmark performance places it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 38358. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile (deltaPct 0), the NVIDIA CMP 70HX (deltaPct 0.3), the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 (deltaPct -0.4), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (deltaPct 0.6). The RX 7900 XT is effectively tied with the RTX 5080 Mobile, and its score is within 0.6% of the RTX 4080 Mobile. This level of performance is reflected in the game: at 4K High, the average FPS is 61, and at 4K Medium it rises to 80.8, showing that the GPU can handle high resolutions without dropping below playable levels.

The GPU’s memory bandwidth of 800 GB/s is particularly relevant for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which streams scenery and weather data. The 20 GB VRAM ensures that even at Ultra settings, the GPU does not run out of memory, as evidenced by the 56.6 FPS at 4K Ultra. The GPU’s process node is 5 nm, and it uses the RDNA 3.0 architecture, which is designed for high efficiency. The measured FPS data confirms that the GPU is the primary driver of performance at 4K, while the CPU’s role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 4K Ultra?

A: The average FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings is 56.6.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 3600 compare to its nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-11400?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 has an average benchmark score of 18129, while the i5-11400 scores 18150, a delta of -0.1%. The Ryzen 5 3600 is also within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (18101) and 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (18158).

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations?

A: The combo ranks 409th out of 1795 tested combos.

Q: How much VRAM does the RX 7900 XT have?

A: The GPU has 20 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Q: What is the GPU’s boost clock?

A: The boost clock is 2394 MHz.

Q: At 1440p, which preset gives the highest average FPS?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset gives 125.6 FPS, followed by Medium at 112.2 FPS, High at 84.8 FPS, and Ultra at 79.4 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists all measured average FPS values from the FACT PACK. No minimum or maximum values were provided.

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|

| 3840x2160 | High | 61 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 106.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 80.8 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 56.6 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 84.8 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 125.6 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 112.2 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 79.4 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 102.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 133.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 122.5 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 97.7 |

The data shows a consistent pattern: at each resolution, Low settings yield the highest frame rate, followed by Medium, then High, with Ultra being the lowest. At 1080p, even Ultra stays above 97 FPS, indicating that the CPU and GPU combination has ample headroom for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, Ultra drops to 79.4 FPS, still smooth for most displays. At 4K, only Low and Medium exceed 80 FPS, while High and Ultra remain above 56 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 409th out of 1795 tested combinations, placing it in the upper quartile of all tested systems. The CPU’s percentile is 76, meaning it outperforms 76% of all CPUs in the database, while the GPU’s percentile is 82. The CPU’s average benchmark score is 18129, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals: the Intel Core i5-11400 (18150, delta -0.1%), the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (18101, delta 0.2%), and the AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (18158, delta -0.2%). The GPU’s average benchmark score is 38358, with a delta of 0% against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mobile, 0.3% against the NVIDIA CMP 70HX, -0.4% against the NVIDIA GeForce MX570, and 0.6% against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile.

This ranking reflects a balanced pairing: the CPU is a solid mid-range part from 2019, while the GPU is a high-end part from 2022. The combination’s rank of 409 suggests that it outperforms many systems with newer CPUs but weaker GPUs, and it also beats systems with older high-end GPUs. The measured FPS data confirms that the combo is well-suited for Microsoft Flight Simulator, particularly at 1440p and 4K, where the GPU’s strengths are fully utilized.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS values, the optimal preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1080p, all presets deliver above 97 FPS, so Ultra is the best choice for maximum visual quality without sacrificing smoothness. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 97.7 FPS, which is still well above the 60 FPS mark.

At 1440p, the High preset provides 84.8 FPS, which is a good balance between visual fidelity and performance. Ultra drops to 79.4 FPS, which is still playable, but High offers a 5.4 FPS advantage. For users who prioritize frame rate, Medium at 112.2 FPS is a strong option, while Low at 125.6 FPS is the fastest.

At 4K, the situation is more nuanced. The High preset gives 61 FPS, which is just above the 60 FPS threshold, while Ultra drops to 56.6 FPS. Medium at 80.8 FPS is the best choice for a smooth experience, as it provides a significant margin over High. Low at 106.2 FPS is the fastest, but it sacrifices visual quality. For most users, Medium at 4K offers the best compromise, delivering 80.8 FPS while maintaining a reasonable level of detail. If visual fidelity is paramount, High at 61 FPS is acceptable, but Ultra may be too demanding for consistent smoothness.

The data indicates that the Ryzen 5 3600 does not bottleneck the RX 7900 XT at any resolution, as even at 1080p Low the frame rate reaches 133.5 FPS. This suggests that the CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads are sufficient for the game’s simulation logic, allowing the GPU to scale with resolution. For a practical setup, users with 1440p monitors should choose High, while 4K users should start with Medium and adjust based on personal preference.