Microsoft Flight Simulator

# Microsoft Flight Simulator — AMD Ryzen 5 5600F + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D

This combination of AMD's Ryzen 5 5600F processor and NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 D graphics card produces a distinctive performance profile in Microsoft Flight Simulator, where the data shows a system that scales predictably across resolutions but reveals a clear bottleneck dynamic. The measured frames per second, taken from actual benchmark runs, indicate that this pairing delivers playable performance even at 4K Ultra, though the relationship between resolution scaling and component utilization tells a more nuanced story about where the limits lie.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K follows a steep curve that suggests the GPU becomes the dominant limiting factor at higher resolutions. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 122 FPS at 1920x1080 to 113 FPS at 2560x1440, then drops more sharply to 88 FPS at 3840x2160. That represents a 27.9% reduction from 1080p to 4K at High settings, which is a substantial penalty that points to the RTX 5090 D being pushed hard by the game's rendering demands at 4K.

The Low settings preset shows a similar pattern but with higher absolute numbers: 148 FPS at 1080p, 138 FPS at 1440p, and 125 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Low is 15.5%, notably less than the High preset's decline. This indicates that at Low settings, the CPU has more headroom to feed the GPU, and the performance scaling is more gradual. The fact that even at 4K Low the system still delivers 125 FPS suggests that the RTX 5090 D is not fully saturated at lower graphical loads.

Medium settings show an intermediate scaling pattern: 135 FPS at 1080p, 126 FPS at 1440p, and 114 FPS at 4K. The 4K figure represents a 15.6% drop from 1080p. Ultra settings produce the most compressed scaling curve: 120 FPS at 1080p, 111 FPS at 1440p, and 84 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is 30% lower than the 1080p Ultra number, which is the largest relative drop across all presets. This suggests that at Ultra settings, the GPU's rendering workload increases disproportionately with resolution, likely due to effects like shadows, reflections, and draw distances that scale with pixel count.

The pattern across all presets indicates that Microsoft Flight Simulator is heavily GPU-bound at 4K, particularly at higher quality settings. The RTX 5090 D, with its 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, has ample memory resources, but the compute demands of 4K Ultra push the graphics card to its limits. Conversely, at 1080p, the frame rates cluster in the 120-148 FPS range regardless of preset, which suggests the CPU becomes more relevant at lower resolutions, though the Ryzen 5 5600F's 6 cores and 12 threads appear sufficient to keep pace.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo rank in game places this pairing at 228 out of 2996 tested combinations, which puts it in the top 7.6% of all tested systems. This ranking reflects the overall performance across the measured scenarios, and it indicates that while the RTX 5090 D is a top-tier GPU, the Ryzen 5 5600F holds the system back from even higher placement. The CPU's average benchmark score of 36945 places it in the 85th percentile against all CPUs, which is respectable but not elite.

Looking at the CPU's nearest rivals, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 scores 36938, essentially identical with a 0% delta. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D scores 37018, which is 0.2% higher, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 scores 37093, 0.4% higher. These small deltas mean that swapping the Ryzen 5 5600F for any of these alternatives would produce virtually no measurable difference in CPU-bound scenarios. The Intel Core i9-12900T scores 37112, 0.5% higher, again a negligible gap.

The GPU side tells a different story. The RTX 5090 D has an average benchmark score of 77712, which places it in the 92nd percentile against all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT at 76904 (1.1% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT at 78940 (1.6% higher), and two NVIDIA Tesla P100 variants at 79396 and 79605 (2.1% and 2.4% higher respectively). These are remarkably close scores, indicating that the RTX 5090 D sits in a performance cluster where small differences separate competitors.

The rank of 228 out of 2996 suggests that most higher-ranked combos likely pair the RTX 5090 D with a more powerful CPU, since the GPU's 92nd percentile ranking is higher than the CPU's 85th percentile. This mismatch creates a situation where the system's overall game performance is constrained by the processor. In a flight simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is known for complex physics and world-streaming calculations, the CPU's single-thread performance (2872 in Passmark single-thread) plays a critical role.

GPU Role

The RTX 5090 D is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a GB202 chip, manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The GPU contains 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 122.9 million per mm². It operates with a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, with memory running at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective). The 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus provides 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth, which is critical for a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator that streams large amounts of terrain and texture data.

The GPU's compute resources are substantial: 21760 shading units, 680 TMUs, 176 ROPs, 170 ray tracing cores, and 680 tensor cores. This translates to 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s. The texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s ensures that even at 4K with Ultra settings, texture fetching is unlikely to be a bottleneck. The GPU's passmark G3D score of 44065 and passmark GPU compute score of 28396 reflect its raw capabilities in both graphics and compute workloads.

In the measured FPS data, the GPU's role becomes clear when comparing presets at the same resolution. At 4K, the difference between Low (125 FPS) and Ultra (84 FPS) is 41 FPS, a 32.8% reduction. This gap is driven by the increased rendering workload at Ultra settings, which taxes the GPU's shading units and ROPs. The fact that the RTX 5090 D still manages 84 FPS at 4K Ultra confirms its raw power, but the scaling shows that even this GPU cannot fully overcome the demands of Microsoft Flight Simulator at maximum settings.

The GPU's 32 GB of VRAM is more than sufficient for this game, as Microsoft Flight Simulator is not known for exceeding even 16 GB at 4K Ultra in most scenarios. The memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s ensures that texture streaming and asset loading do not create stutters, which is a common issue in flight simulators with slower memory subsystems. The measured FPS data, with no reported minimum FPS values for most settings, suggests smooth performance without major frame drops.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the system delivers an average of 88 FPS at High settings. The Low preset improves this to 125 FPS, while Medium produces 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 and maximum of 131. The Ultra preset drops to 84 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K is playable across all settings, with even Ultra maintaining above 60 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 41 FPS, showing the significant impact of quality settings at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the High preset averages 113 FPS, which is 28.4% higher than at 4K. Low settings reach 138 FPS, Medium 126 FPS with a range of 107-145, and Ultra 111 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p (111 FPS) is actually 27 FPS higher than Ultra at 4K (84 FPS), demonstrating the resolution scaling. Interestingly, the 1440p High result (113 FPS) is nearly identical to the 1440p Ultra result (111 FPS), suggesting that the difference between High and Ultra is minimal at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, all presets comfortably exceed 120 FPS. High averages 122 FPS, Low 148 FPS, Medium 135 FPS with a range of 115-155, and Ultra 120 FPS. The 1080p Ultra result (120 FPS) is actually lower than the 1440p Ultra result (111 FPS) by a small margin, which might seem counterintuitive. However, this could be due to CPU limitations at 1080p where the Ryzen 5 5600F becomes the bottleneck. The fact that 1080p High (122 FPS) and 1080p Ultra (120 FPS) are nearly identical supports this interpretation, as the GPU has headroom but the CPU cannot feed it faster.

The Medium preset is the only one with reported minimum and maximum FPS values across all resolutions. At 1080p, the range is 115-155 FPS, at 1440p it's 107-145, and at 4K it's 97-131. These ranges show a consistent 35-40 FPS spread, indicating that the frame pacing is stable without extreme dips. The minimum FPS values are all well above 60, which is the standard for smooth gameplay in a flight simulator.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K Ultra?

A: Yes, the measured data shows an average of 84 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings. This is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, though it is the lowest average across all tested settings and resolutions.

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo?

A: At 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the system averages 111 FPS, which is only 3 FPS lower than the 1080p Ultra result of 120 FPS. The 1440p resolution delivers near-identical performance to 1080p while providing much more screen detail, making it the most efficient choice.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600F compare to its nearest CPU rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 36945, which is within 0.5% of its nearest rivals: the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36938, 0% delta), AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37018, -0.2%), AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (37093, -0.4%), and Intel Core i9-12900T (37112, -0.5%). These differences are negligible.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D a bottleneck at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU becomes the limiting factor at 1080p. The 1080p High result (122 FPS) is nearly identical to the 1080p Ultra result (120 FPS), and both are lower than the 1440p Ultra result (111 FPS) would imply if the GPU were fully utilized. The GPU has more headroom, but the CPU cannot push higher frame rates.

Q: What is the frame time consistency like?

A: The Medium preset measurements show minimum FPS values of 97 at 4K, 107 at 1440p, and 115 at 1080p. The maximum FPS values are 131, 145, and 155 respectively. This indicates stable performance without severe frame drops, even at higher resolutions.

Q: How does this system rank among all tested combos?

A: The combo ranks 228 out of 2996 tested combinations, placing it in the top 7.6%. Given that the GPU ranks in the 92nd percentile and the CPU in the 85th percentile, the overall ranking reflects the CPU's relative weakness in holding back the system.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers the most balanced experience. It delivers an average of 126 FPS with a minimum of 107 and maximum of 145, providing smooth performance with a comfortable margin above the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium preset at 4K also performs well at 114 FPS with a minimum of 97, making it a strong choice for users who prioritize visual fidelity at higher resolutions. The gap between Medium and Ultra at 1440p is only 15 FPS (126 vs 111), so users who want improved visuals can opt for Ultra without significant performance loss.

For competitive or high-refresh-rate gameplay, the Low preset at 1080p delivers 148 FPS, which is the highest measured average across all settings. However, given that this is a flight simulator and not a competitive shooter, the visual quality trade-off may not be worth it. The High preset at 1080p (122 FPS) provides a better balance, though the 1440p High result (113 FPS) is nearly as good while offering more screen resolution.

The Ultra preset at 4K (84 FPS) is viable for users with 4K displays who prioritize maximum visual quality. The RTX 5090 D's 32 GB of VRAM ensures that texture quality remains high, and the 84 FPS average is still smooth. However, the 30 FPS difference between 4K Ultra and 4K Medium (114 FPS) suggests that users with 4K displays might prefer Medium for a more responsive experience, especially in scenarios with dense terrain or weather effects.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 5000 series, based on the Zen 3 architecture with the Vermeer codename. It operates at a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 512 KB of L2 cache per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. It supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration with a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, and it uses the AMD Socket AM4 platform with PCIe Gen 4 support (20 lanes from the CPU).

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's role is particularly important because the game simulates complex aerodynamics, weather systems, and world streaming. The Passmark single-thread score of 2872 indicates moderate single-core performance, which is critical for the game's main simulation thread. The multithread score of 19236 and the floating-point math score of 34548 show that the CPU can handle the physics calculations, but the single-thread performance is the limiting factor.

The CPU's benchmark results show a Passmark average score of 36945, which places it at the 85th percentile against all CPUs. Its nearest rivals are all within 0.5% in average score, meaning that any of these alternatives would perform nearly identically in this game. The CPU's boost clock of 4.00 GHz is modest compared to higher-end processors, and the 6-core configuration means that heavily threaded workloads may not scale as well as 8-core or 12-core alternatives.

The measured FPS data reveals the CPU's impact most clearly at 1080p, where the frame rates plateau at around 120-148 FPS regardless of settings. This plateau suggests that the CPU cannot push frame rates higher than approximately 148 FPS, even at Low settings with minimal GPU load. At 1440p and 4K, the GPU becomes more dominant, and the CPU's limitation is less apparent. The fact that 1080p Ultra (120 FPS) is actually lower than 1440p Ultra (111 FPS) by only 9 FPS, while 1080p Low (148 FPS) is 23 FPS higher than 1440p Low (138 FPS), indicates that the CPU's capacity is being reached at 1080p.

For users considering this combination, the data suggests that the Ryzen 5 5600F is adequate for 1440p and 4K gaming with the RTX 5090 D, but it leaves some performance on the table at 1080p. The CPU's 32 MB of L3 cache and 12 threads are sufficient for Microsoft Flight Simulator's demands, but a higher-clocked processor with stronger single-thread performance would likely yield higher frame rates at 1080p and potentially improve minimum FPS at higher resolutions. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking, combined with the GPU's 92nd percentile, creates a slight imbalance that manifests in the 1080p plateau rather than in the 4K results, where the GPU is the clear limiting factor.