Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT combination delivers a split personality in Microsoft Flight Simulator, excelling at high refresh rates on lower presets while straining to maintain smooth motion at 4K Ultra. The benchmark data shows a CPU that provides strong single-threaded performance for a flight sim’s simulation logic, paired with a GPU that has ample memory bandwidth but is pushed hard by the game’s demanding visual load at maximum settings.

CPU Role

The Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the data indicates that the CPU’s single-thread performance is critical. The processor scores 882 in the 3dmark single-thread test and 2584 in Cinebench R23 single-core, which are the scores that matter most for the game’s core flight model and physics calculations. The 3dmark 2-thread score of 1737 also suggests that the game can leverage a second thread effectively, but the scaling from 2 to 4 threads (3313) and 8 threads (4798) shows diminishing returns, implying the title is not heavily reliant on many cores.

The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a notable asset for the streaming-heavy nature of flight simulators, where terrain and scenery data are constantly loaded. The 65W TDP means the processor runs cool, but the benchmark results confirm that its overall average benchmark score of 21765 places it in the 79th percentile of all CPUs. When compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 5600 sits within a tight performance band: it is 0.6% ahead of the Intel Xeon D-1746TER and 0.6% behind the AMD EPYC 9554P, with a 0.9% deficit to the Intel Core i7-11700F. These minor deltas show that for this game, the CPU is not the bottleneck; even a 0.6% difference in average score translates to less than a frame per second in practice.

The measured frames per second across all resolutions and settings reinforce this interpretation. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 151.2 FPS, and at 1440p Low it reaches 123.1 FPS, suggesting that the CPU can feed the GPU well above 120 FPS when the graphical load is low. However, the 4K Low score of 87.6 FPS indicates that even at the lowest settings, the GPU begins to become a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU’s performance is consistent; the game’s simulation thread appears well-served by the 3.50 GHz base and 4.40 GHz boost clocks, and the 12 threads provide enough headroom for background tasks without causing stutters.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a RDNA 2.0 architecture GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. Its base clock is 1825 MHz, with a game clock of 2015 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz. In this flight simulator, the GPU’s role is to render vast landscapes and complex aircraft models, and the data shows a clear trend: the card is capable but not overkill for the highest settings. The 16 GB VRAM is sufficient for the game’s textures, as evidenced by the fact that even at 4K Ultra, the average FPS is 46.4, which is playable but not smooth for a simulator where precision matters.

The GPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 49982. Its nearest rivals show a tight grouping: it is 0.5% ahead of the Intel Arc A550M, 1.7% behind the NVIDIA RTX A1000, and 1.9% ahead of the NVIDIA CMP 50HX. The most relevant comparison is the 2.6% advantage over the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, which suggests the RX 6800 XT is a strong performer in this title. The GPU’s 4608 shading units and 72 ray accelerators are put to work when the settings are raised, and the measured FPS drops from 151.2 at 1080p Low to 82.5 at 1080p Ultra, illustrating the heavy cost of the Ultra preset’s visual effects.

At 1440p, the data shows a significant gap between settings: 123.1 FPS at Low, 92.9 at Medium, 68.7 at High, and 68.6 at Ultra. The near-identical High and Ultra scores at 1440p (68.7 vs 68.6) suggest that the GPU hits a wall at that resolution, likely due to the CPU’s limits or a specific rendering path. At 4K, the card’s 512.0 GB/s bandwidth is still sufficient, but the frame rates drop to 87.6 at Low, 71.6 at Medium, 52.5 at High, and 46.4 at Ultra. The 4K Ultra result is the only one below 50 FPS, indicating that the RX 6800 XT can handle the game but requires a settings compromise for a consistent 60 FPS experience at that resolution.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to maintain a 60 FPS average?

A: At 1440p High, the combo averages 68.7 FPS, which is above 60. At 4K High, the average drops to 52.5 FPS, below the 60 FPS threshold. Therefore, 1440p is the highest resolution where a 60 FPS average is achievable on the High preset.

Q: How does the CPU’s single-thread performance affect flight simulator results?

A: The CPU scores 882 in 3dmark single-thread and 2584 in Cinebench R23 single-core. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system reaches 151.2 FPS, indicating that the single-thread performance is adequate to drive high frame rates when the GPU is not the bottleneck.

Q: Is 16 GB of VRAM sufficient for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: Yes, the data shows no VRAM-related issues. The GPU with 16 GB GDDR6 memory achieves 46.4 FPS at 4K Ultra, which is the most demanding setting in the measured data, indicating the memory capacity is not a limiting factor.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: The average FPS at 1080p High is 90.8, while at 1080p Ultra it is 82.5. This is an 8.3 FPS drop, showing that Ultra is more demanding but still playable at that resolution.

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

A: The combo ranks 630 out of 1795 total combos in this game, placing it in the upper third of all tested systems.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance relative to the NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti SUPER?

A: The RX 6800 XT has an average benchmark score of 49982, which is 2.6% higher than the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER’s score of 48704. This translates to the RX 6800 XT being slightly faster in this game.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 5 5600 and RX 6800 XT ranks 630 out of 1795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the system in the 65th percentile of all configurations, meaning roughly one-third of the tested combos perform better. The ranking reflects a balance: the CPU is not a top-tier part (79th percentile for CPUs), but the GPU is stronger (87th percentile for GPUs). The data shows that the bottleneck shifts with resolution. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 151.2 FPS, which is near the top of what the CPU can feed. At 4K Ultra, the 46.4 FPS result is below the average for high-end combos, indicating that the GPU is the limiting factor.

The ranking is also influenced by the fact that many higher-ranked combos likely pair the RX 6800 XT with a stronger CPU, such as a high-core-count processor. For example, the CPU’s nearest rivals include the AMD EPYC 9554P, which scores 21899 on average, just 0.6% higher. However, the EPYC’s multi-core advantage could help in scenarios where the flight simulator’s background threads are more demanding. The combo’s rank of 630 suggests it is a solid mid-to-high-tier performer, but not a top-tier system. For context, the deltaPct values for the CPU’s rivals are all within 1%, so the CPU choice has a minimal impact on the overall ranking. The GPU’s 2.6% lead over the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is more meaningful, but it is not enough to push the combo into the top 500.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for the best experience. At 1920x1080, the High preset offers 90.8 FPS, which is smooth and visually detailed. The Ultra preset drops to 82.5 FPS, still playable but with a 9% performance penalty. For 1440p, the High preset at 68.7 FPS is the optimal balance, as the Ultra preset yields a nearly identical 68.6 FPS, meaning there is no benefit to enabling Ultra at this resolution; the GPU is already at its limit. At 4K, the Medium preset at 71.6 FPS provides a playable experience, while High drops to 52.5 FPS and Ultra to 46.4 FPS, both of which are below the 60 FPS target for a smooth simulator experience.

For the best overall experience, the data suggests using 1440p High settings. This yields 68.7 FPS, which is above 60 and provides a good balance of visual quality and performance. If the user prefers 1080p, the High preset at 90.8 FPS is excellent, and Ultra at 82.5 FPS is also acceptable. At 4K, the Medium preset at 71.6 FPS is the only setting that maintains a 60+ FPS average, but the visual compromise may be significant. The 4K Low preset at 87.6 FPS is also an option for users prioritizing frame rate over fidelity. Ultimately, the data indicates that the combo is best suited for 1440p gaming, where it can handle High settings without dropping below 60 FPS. The RX 6800 XT’s 16 GB VRAM and 512.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for this resolution, but the 4K Ultra setting is only for users who accept frame rates in the 40s.