Microsoft Flight Simulator

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 4600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture (Renoir), built on TSMC's 7 nm process. It runs at a 3.70 GHz base clock with a 4.20 GHz boost, and it carries 8 MB of shared L3 cache plus 512 KB of L2 per core. This is a desktop part on the AM4 socket with dual-channel DDR4 memory support, and it ranks in the 75th percentile among all CPUs in the database, so it is a competent mid-range processor by general compute standards.

For Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's workload is substantial. The game's simulation logic—physics, flight dynamics, and world generation—scales well across threads. The 4600G's 12 threads show up in the benchmark results: its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 13593, while single-core is 1919, and in 3DMark the 16-thread score (4863) is nearly identical to the max-thread score (4889), indicating the processor is effectively using all available cores. Its PassMark multithread score is 15992, with a physics score of 676, which feeds directly into how the game calculates environmental interactions.

However, the data suggests that in this combo, the CPU is rarely the final bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the average FPS is 54.9, which is the highest measured result across any resolution or settings. At 1080p Ultra, that drops to 29.9 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at the same resolution is 25 FPS, a 45% reduction, which points to the graphics card being the primary constraint as settings increase. The CPU's single-thread performance (PassMark single-thread score of 2653, Geekbench single-core 1575) is adequate for the flight sim's main thread, but the GPU's workload dominates once you raise visual fidelity.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Looking at the measured FPS rows, the playable sweet spot for this combo is clearly at 1080p. At 1920x1080, the Low preset yields 54.9 FPS, which is smooth enough for most flight scenarios. Medium gives 40.2 FPS, which is still acceptable for a sim where precise control matters more than twitch reflexes. High drops to 30.4 FPS, and Ultra sits at 29.9 FPS—both are borderline for a game that benefits from stable frame pacing.

At 2560x1440, the numbers fall off a cliff. Low gives 42.8 FPS, which is decent, but Medium drops to 31.8 FPS, High to 24.9 FPS, and Ultra to 23.4 FPS. The jump from 1080p to 1440p costs roughly 22% performance even on Low, and the higher presets become increasingly difficult to justify. At 4K (3840x2160), nothing is playable: Low yields 30.0 FPS, Medium 21.9 FPS, High 16.9 FPS, and Ultra 18.0 FPS.

The best experience per the measured data is 1080p Medium. It delivers 40.2 FPS, which is 32% faster than High and 33% faster than Ultra, while offering a significant visual upgrade over Low. If you need higher frame rates for dense airports or low-altitude flying, 1080p Low at 54.9 FPS is the safe fallback. Avoid 4K entirely—the GPU cannot sustain even 30 FPS on Low there.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling pattern is a textbook case of GPU-bound behavior. From 1080p to 1440p, the average FPS across all settings drops by about 22-30%. From 1440p to 4K, the drop is even steeper. At Low settings, going from 1080p (54.9 FPS) to 1440p (42.8 FPS) is a 22% reduction, then to 4K (30.0 FPS) is another 30% cut. At High settings, 1080p (30.4 FPS) to 1440p (24.9 FPS) is an 18% drop, and then to 4K (16.9 FPS) is a 32% plunge.

This non-linear scaling is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The Radeon RX 580 has 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, and its FP32 throughput is 6.175 TFLOPS. At 4K, the pixel rate of 42.88 GPixel/s becomes the limiting factor. The CPU, meanwhile, is not the constraint here—if it were, you would see similar FPS across resolutions at the same settings, which is not the case.

The data shows that the RX 580 is the bottleneck at every resolution above 1080p Low. The 4600G has enough headroom to feed the GPU at 1080p, but as resolution climbs, the GPU's fill rate and shader count (2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, 32 ROPs) simply cannot keep up. If you plan to play at 1440p or higher, the GPU is what needs upgrading, not the CPU.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific pairing of AMD Ryzen 5 4600G and AMD Radeon RX 580 ranks 1681 out of 1795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. That puts it in the bottom 6% of all configurations tested for this game. It is a low ranking, and the measured FPS data confirms why: the combo struggles to maintain 30 FPS at 1080p High, and it is entirely unplayable at 4K.

To contextualize the individual components, the CPU's nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 5355GE (avg score 17482, delta 0%), the Intel Core i5-12450H (avg score 17475, delta 0.1%), the Intel Core i3-14100T (avg score 17636, delta -0.8%), and the Intel Core i3-13100F (avg score 17665, delta -1%). The 4600G's average benchmark score is 17489, so it is statistically tied with the Ryzen 3 PRO and the i5-12450H, and it is within 1% of the i3 parts. This means the CPU is not holding the combo back relative to its class—it is a solid mid-pack processor.

The GPU, however, is a different story. The RX 580's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 (avg score 13564, delta 0%), the GTX 950 (avg score 13549, delta 0.1%), the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (avg score 13416, delta 1.1%), and the NVIDIA P106-090 (avg score 13716, delta -1.1%). The RX 580's average score is 13559, placing it right alongside these older or lower-tier cards. In a game as demanding as Microsoft Flight Simulator, this level of GPU performance is simply insufficient for high-resolution or high-preset play. The combo's rank reflects the GPU's limitations more than the CPU's.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 1080p?

A: Yes, but only at lower presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 54.9 FPS and Medium averages 40.2 FPS. High (30.4 FPS) and Ultra (29.9 FPS) are borderline playable but may feel choppy in dense areas.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU/GPU pairing?

A: 1080p is the only resolution where the combo consistently delivers playable frame rates. At 1440p, only Low (42.8 FPS) is above 40 FPS, and at 4K, the best result is 30.0 FPS on Low, which is not smooth enough for a flight sim.

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

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck at higher resolutions. The FPS drops significantly from 1080p to 4K at all settings, while the CPU's benchmark scores are competitive with its direct rivals (e.g., within 1% of the Intel Core i3-13100F).

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1681 out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 6% of all configurations for this game. The low rank is driven primarily by the RX 580's limited performance.

Q: What settings should I use for the most stable experience?

A: 1080p Medium (40.2 FPS) is the best balance of visual quality and smoothness. If you prioritize frame rate, 1080p Low (54.9 FPS) is the safest option for consistent performance.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 4600G a capable CPU for this game?

A: Yes, the CPU's multi-threaded performance (Cinebench R23 multi-core 13593) is adequate for the simulation workload, and it ranks in the 75th percentile among all CPUs. The limitation is the GPU, not the processor.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080:

• Low: 54.9 FPS
• Medium: 40.2 FPS
• High: 30.4 FPS
• Ultra: 29.9 FPS

2560x1440:

• Low: 42.8 FPS
• Medium: 31.8 FPS
• High: 24.9 FPS
• Ultra: 23.4 FPS

3840x2160:

• Low: 30.0 FPS
• Medium: 21.9 FPS
• High: 16.9 FPS
• Ultra: 18.0 FPS

The data shows a clear pattern: the combo performs best at 1080p Low, and every step up in resolution or settings costs a significant chunk of performance. At 4K, even the lowest preset barely hits 30 FPS, and the High preset falls to 16.9 FPS, which is effectively unplayable. The RX 580's 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p, but the card's raw compute (6.175 TFLOPS) and fill rate are insufficient for 4K. The CPU, with its 12 threads and 4.20 GHz boost, is not the limiting factor in any of these measurements—the GPU is what determines the ceiling.