Microsoft Flight Simulator

# Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates for Microsoft Flight Simulator with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT reveal a predictable but important scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 127 FPS average, which drops to 102 FPS at 1440p Low (-19.7%) and then to 75 FPS at 4K Low (-40.9% from 1080p). This steep decline at 4K signals the GPU becoming the primary constraint at higher resolutions, as the pixel throughput demand outpaces what the RX 6750 XT can deliver in this simulation-heavy title.

The Medium settings tier shows a similar trajectory: 99 FPS at 1080p, 79 FPS at 1440p, and 59 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K here is 40.4%, nearly identical to the Low settings drop. This consistency suggests that the resolution scaling penalty is largely independent of the graphics preset, pointing to a fixed pixel-throughput limitation rather than a settings-driven bottleneck. At High settings, the pattern continues with 74 FPS at 1080p, 60 FPS at 1440p, and 44 FPS at 4K — a 40.5% reduction from 1080p to 4K.

Ultra settings produce the lowest absolute numbers: 71 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p, and 42 FPS at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 19.7%, and from 1440p to 4K is 26.3%, resulting in a 40.8% total reduction. The near-uniform scaling across all four settings presets — roughly 40% loss from 1080p to 4K — is a strong indicator that the limiting component at 4K is the GPU's raw rendering capacity, not the CPU or memory subsystem.

The Ryzen 5 5500X3D, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, appears to have ample headroom at lower resolutions. The fact that 1080p Low reaches 127 FPS while 4K Ultra drops to 42 FPS demonstrates that the RX 6750 XT's 12 GB GDDR6 memory and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth become saturated as resolution increases. The GPU's 2560 shading units and 64 ROPs are simply not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K in a title as visually demanding as Microsoft Flight Simulator.

What the data does not show is any sign of CPU limitation at 1080p. If the processor were the bottleneck, we would expect to see smaller FPS differences between 1080p and 1440p, but the consistent 19-20% drop across all settings suggests the GPU is already the limiting factor even at 1080p. The 3.00 GHz base and 4.00 GHz boost clocks, combined with the large 96 MB shared L3 cache, provide sufficient single-thread performance to keep up with the GPU's output at lower resolutions, but the RX 6750 XT cannot maintain high frame rates when pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play at with this CPU/GPU combo?

A: The data shows 1440p is the sweet spot. At Medium settings, 1440p delivers 79 FPS average (68 min, 91 max), which is 52 FPS higher than 4K Ultra and only 20 FPS lower than 1080p Low. This resolution balances visual fidelity with playable frame rates, while 4K at any setting struggles to stay above 75 FPS.

Q: How does the RX 6750 XT compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RX 6750 XT's average benchmark score is 26011, placing it 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon R9 M395X (25891), 0.6% ahead of the AMD FirePro W7100 (25856), and 0.7% ahead of the AMD FirePro D700 (25842). It also leads the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile by 1.1% (25740). These are close margins, indicating the RX 6750 XT sits at a competitive performance tier.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5500X3D a strong CPU for gaming in this title?

A: The CPU's PassMark multithread score is 20363, with a single-thread score of 2941, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (36945 average score), is just 0.2% behind, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36938) is also 0.2% behind. This indicates the 5500X3D delivers competitive processing power for flight simulation workloads.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The measured data shows 42 FPS average at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is barely above the 30 FPS threshold typically considered minimum for playable flight simulation, and it is 29 FPS below the 1080p Ultra result of 71 FPS. For smoother 4K gameplay, dropping to Low settings yields 75 FPS.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT ranks 1304 out of 2996 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the upper-middle portion of the database. This ranking reflects the GPU's 71st percentile standing among all GPUs and the CPU's 85th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Are the measured FPS numbers consistent across settings?

A: Yes, the data shows a consistent pattern. At 1080p, Low produces 127 FPS, Medium 99 FPS, High 74 FPS, and Ultra 71 FPS. The Medium setting includes a minimum FPS of 84 and maximum of 113, while at 1440p Medium the range is 68 to 91. This consistency suggests stable performance without major frame-time spikes.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D brings 6 cores and 12 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer codename), manufactured on TSMC's 7 nm process. Its base clock of 3.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.00 GHz, combined with a substantial 96 MB shared L3 cache, provide the computational foundation for Microsoft Flight Simulator's complex flight dynamics and world-streaming logic. The CPU's PassMark single-thread score of 2941 and multithread score of 20363 demonstrate solid processing capability, though the game's performance at higher resolutions is clearly dominated by the GPU.

The CPU's percentile ranking of 85 among all CPUs indicates it outperforms the vast majority of processors in general workloads. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with an average score of 36945 (0.2% lower), the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 at 37093 (0.2% higher), and the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 at 36938 (0.2% lower). The Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112, which is 0.3% higher. These narrow margins show the 5500X3D sits in a highly competitive performance band, though none of these rivals are separated by more than a fraction of a percent.

In the context of this game, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU at all measured resolutions. Evidence for this comes from the scaling pattern: if the CPU were limiting performance, we would expect the FPS gap between 1080p and 1440p to be smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K. Instead, the data shows nearly identical percentage drops between each resolution step across all settings. At 1080p Low, the CPU can push 127 FPS, but at 4K Ultra the GPU caps output at 42 FPS. This suggests the CPU has sufficient headroom to feed the GPU even at lower resolutions, and the bottleneck shifts entirely to the graphics card as resolution increases.

The 12 threads available from the 6-core design are adequate for Microsoft Flight Simulator's multi-threaded rendering and simulation tasks. The large L3 cache helps with the game's tendency to stream terrain and aircraft data, reducing the need for frequent main memory accesses. The CPU's DDR4 memory support with dual-channel configuration and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for this workload, though it is not the deciding factor in frame rates at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D paired with the AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT achieves a combo rank of 1304 out of 2996 tested configurations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the pairing in the 43rd percentile of all combos, meaning roughly 43% of tested configurations perform worse and 57% perform better. Given that the CPU sits in the 85th percentile and the GPU in the 71st percentile individually, the combo rank is dragged down by the GPU's relative weakness for this particular game, which appears to be heavily GPU-bound at higher resolutions.

The rank of 1304 out of 2996 reflects a mid-pack position. To contextualize this, if the field of 2996 combos were divided into quartiles, this pairing would sit near the boundary between the second and third quartiles. This is not a top-tier combination for Microsoft Flight Simulator, but it is also far from the bottom. The CPU's strong performance (85th percentile) helps boost the combo above what the GPU alone might achieve, but the RX 6750 XT's 71st percentile standing limits the overall potential.

The gap between the CPU's and GPU's percentile rankings is notable. A 14-percentage-point difference suggests the CPU is capable of driving a more powerful GPU, meaning users who upgrade the graphics card while keeping the Ryzen 5 5500X3D could see substantial FPS improvements. Conversely, upgrading the CPU while keeping the RX 6750 XT would likely yield diminishing returns, as the data shows the GPU becomes the limiting factor even at 1080p. The combo rank of 1304 thus reflects a system that is CPU-heavy relative to its GPU, a configuration that makes sense for users who prioritize future GPU upgrades.

In terms of raw benchmark scores, the CPU's average benchmark score is 37018, while the GPU's average is 26011. These scores place the CPU at 85th percentile and GPU at 71st percentile, respectively. The combo rank of 1304 out of 2996 is consistent with these individual standings — it is not an outlier in either direction, suggesting the two components work together without unusual bottlenecks or synergies specific to this game.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset delivers the best experience for this CPU/GPU combination. At 4K resolution, Medium settings produce 59 FPS average with a minimum of 50 and maximum of 67, making this the highest quality preset that remains comfortably playable. High settings at 4K drop to 44 FPS, and Ultra falls to 42 FPS, both of which may be too choppy for smooth flight simulation. Low settings at 4K reach 75 FPS, but the visual quality reduction is substantial for a game that relies heavily on scenery fidelity.

At 1440p, the recommendation shifts to High settings, which deliver 60 FPS average. This is identical to the 4K Medium result but with higher visual quality, making it the preferred choice for users with 1440p displays. Medium settings at 1440p offer 79 FPS average (68 min, 91 max), providing a smoother experience if frame rate takes priority over visual fidelity. Ultra at 1440p produces 57 FPS, slightly below High, so there is no compelling reason to choose Ultra over High at this resolution.

For 1080p users, High settings at 74 FPS offer the best balance of visual quality and smoothness. Ultra at 1080p is only 3 FPS lower at 71 FPS, making it a viable choice for those who want maximum visual detail without significant frame rate loss. Medium at 1080p reaches 99 FPS, which is excellent for users with high refresh rate monitors, while Low at 127 FPS provides the fastest possible response for competitive or testing purposes. Given that Ultra and High are so close at 1080p (71 vs 74 FPS), Ultra is the recommended preset for this resolution.

The recommendation hierarchy is therefore: 1080p Ultra (71 FPS), 1440p High (60 FPS), or 4K Medium (59 FPS). This progression maintains roughly 60 FPS while stepping up in resolution and visual quality. For users prioritizing frame rate above all else, 1080p Medium at 99 FPS or 1440p Medium at 79 FPS are the best options. The data shows no settings preset at 4K can match the frame rates achievable at lower resolutions, so 4K users must accept either Medium at 59 FPS or Low at 75 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS dataset for Microsoft Flight Simulator with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 75 FPS average
• Medium: 59 FPS average (50 min, 67 max)
• High: 44 FPS average
• Ultra: 42 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 102 FPS average
• Medium: 79 FPS average (68 min, 91 max)
• High: 60 FPS average
• Ultra: 57 FPS average

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 127 FPS average
• Medium: 99 FPS average (84 min, 113 max)
• High: 74 FPS average
• Ultra: 71 FPS average

The 4K results show a 33 FPS spread between Low (75) and Ultra (42), with Medium serving as the middle ground at 59. The minimum FPS of 50 at 4K Medium indicates the system can dip noticeably below the average, though the maximum of 67 shows it can also exceed it. At 1440p, the spread between Low (102) and Ultra (57) is 45 FPS, with Medium at 79 and High at 60. The 1440p Medium range of 68 to 91 demonstrates frame time consistency, with the minimum staying above 60 FPS.

At 1080p, the spread from Low (127) to Ultra (71) is 56 FPS, the largest of any resolution. Medium at 99 FPS (84 min, 113 max) provides a strong middle option. The 1080p results show the highest absolute values in the dataset, with Low settings exceeding 120 FPS and Medium approaching 100 FPS. These figures confirm that the RX 6750 XT is capable of high frame rates at 1080p, but the GPU's limitations become apparent as resolution increases.

The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at each settings tier: Low drops from 127 to 102 FPS (-19.7%), Medium from 99 to 79 FPS (-20.2%), High from 74 to 60 FPS (-18.9%), and Ultra from 71 to 57 FPS (-19.7%). From 1440p to 4K: Low drops from 102 to 75 FPS (-26.5%), Medium from 79 to 59 FPS (-25.3%), High from 60 to 44 FPS (-26.7%), and Ultra from 57 to 42 FPS (-26.3%). The consistent scaling across all settings confirms a GPU-bound scenario, with the 4K step taking a heavier toll due to the quadratic increase in pixel count.