Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G paired with the Intel Arc B580 produces a clear performance curve in Microsoft Flight Simulator, with the data showing a decisive shift in bottleneck behavior as resolution climbs. The measured frames per second (FPS) across three resolutions and four quality presets reveal a configuration that is capable at 1080p, increasingly strained at 1440p, and largely limited by the graphics card at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured results, placing the combo's standing within the broader tested database.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is substantial, but the magnitude varies significantly depending on the quality preset. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 96 FPS at 1920x1080 to 78.3 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 17.7 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average drops further to 55.6 FPS, representing a total decrease of 40.4 FPS from the 1080p baseline. This scaling pattern indicates that at Low settings, the system retains headroom, as the 1440p result remains above 60 FPS, and even 4K is playable.

The story changes dramatically when moving to higher presets. At High settings, the average FPS falls from 57.6 at 1080p to 43.3 at 1440p, and then to 34.4 at 4K. The jump from 1080p to 1440p alone costs 14.3 FPS, with a further 8.9 FPS loss when stepping up to 4K. Similarly, at Ultra settings, the average FPS goes from 55.4 at 1080p to 40.7 at 1440p, and finally to 33.5 at 4K. The gap between 1440p and 4K narrows at these higher presets, with a difference of only 8.9 FPS at High and 7.2 FPS at Ultra, compared to the 22.7 FPS gap at Low.

This data suggests that at Low settings, the CPU is more of a limiting factor, as the GPU can push higher frame rates but is held back by the processor's ability to feed it. As settings increase, the GPU load grows, making the Arc B580 the primary constraint. The relatively small FPS difference between 1440p and 4K at Ultra settings, where the average only drops from 40.7 to 33.5, indicates that the GPU is already saturated and the resolution increase has diminishing returns. The measured results show that the 5600G provides adequate single-thread performance for this simulator, but the GPU becomes the definitive bottleneck at higher resolutions and quality levels.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B580 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture and features 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 456.0 GB/s. The card operates at a boost clock of 2670 MHz and delivers 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. Its performance in this specific game is reflected in the measured FPS, which shows the card's capability is heavily dependent on the workload. The benchmark results for the GPU place it at the 66th percentile among all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 23021. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, scores 23181, placing the Arc B580 0.7% behind.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU's role is evident in the scaling from Medium to High settings. At 1080p, the average FPS drops from 77.6 at Medium to 57.6 at High, a clear indication that the increased graphical load is taxing the GPU. The VRAM capacity of 12 GB is a relevant factor here, as the simulator's detailed scenery and textures can consume significant memory. The measured data does not show any VRAM-related crashes or stutters, suggesting that 12 GB is sufficient for the tested configurations. The GPU's memory clock is listed as 2375 MHz with 19 Gbps effective speed, contributing to the 456.0 GB/s bandwidth that helps maintain steady frame delivery.

The Arc B580's performance relative to its rivals is consistent with its aggregate benchmark scores. When compared to the AMD Radeon 760M, which scores 22999, the Arc B580 is 0.1% ahead. Against the NVIDIA P106-100, it is 0.3% faster. These small deltas in synthetic benchmarks do not translate into a clear performance tier, but the in-game data shows the B580 is a solid performer for this title, particularly when settings are kept in the Low to Medium range.

FAQ

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

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where all presets achieve playable frame rates, with the Low preset hitting 96 FPS and the Ultra preset at 55.4 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset (78.3 FPS) and Medium preset (62.7 FPS) exceed 60 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in general benchmarks?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G has an average benchmark score of 19983. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i7-11600H (19949) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX (19928), while being 0.2% behind both the Intel Core i7-11800H and the AMD EPYC 7713P (both at 20024).

Q: Is the GPU or the CPU the limiting factor at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The data shows the GPU is the primary limiter. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 33.5. The small difference between 1440p Ultra (40.7 FPS) and 4K Ultra (33.5 FPS) suggests the GPU is already saturated, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up.

Q: What is the performance delta between the Arc B580 and the RTX 4060?

A: In aggregate GPU benchmarks, the Arc B580 scores 23021, which is 0.7% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060's score of 23181.

Q: Does the combo rank in the top half of all tested combinations?

A: No. The combo ranks 1392 out of 1795 tested combinations in this game, placing it in the lower portion of the database.

Q: How much FPS is gained by switching from Ultra to Low at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS increases from 55.4 at Ultra to 96 at Low, a gain of 40.6 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of 1795 tested CPU and GPU combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this pairing ranks 1392. This places it in the lower 22.4% of all combos, indicating that while the hardware is capable, it does not deliver top-tier performance in this specific title. The rank reflects the combination of the CPU's general processing power and the GPU's graphical capabilities, which are both mid-range in their respective categories. The CPU sits at the 78th percentile among all CPUs, while the GPU is at the 66th percentile, suggesting the pairing is balanced but not exceptional.

The rank is influenced by the game's demanding nature, which requires strong single-thread performance and substantial GPU throughput. The measured FPS at 4K, where the highest average is 55.6 FPS at Low settings, demonstrates that this combo is not suited for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming. The performance is more competitive at 1080p, where the Ultra preset still manages 55.4 FPS, placing it within a playable range for a flight simulator. Compared to other combos in the database, this setup is positioned for 1080p gaming, with 1440p being a secondary option only at lower quality presets.

Settings Recommendations

For the best balance of visual fidelity and smooth gameplay, the Medium preset at 1920x1080 is the recommended starting point. This setting delivers an average of 77.6 FPS, which is well above the threshold for a fluid experience in this simulator. The data shows that stepping up to High at 1080p reduces the average to 57.6 FPS, a significant drop that may be noticeable during fast maneuvers over dense scenery. If a higher resolution is desired, 2560x1440 with Medium settings produces an average of 62.7 FPS, which is also acceptable, but the High preset at this resolution drops to 43.3 FPS, which is less ideal.

For users prioritizing maximum visual quality, the Ultra preset at 1080p is viable, with an average of 55.4 FPS. However, the jump from Medium to Ultra at 1080p costs 22.2 FPS, a substantial trade-off for the visual enhancements. The Low preset is not recommended for regular play, as the performance gain over Medium is significant (96 FPS vs 77.6 FPS at 1080p), but the visual degradation is likely too severe for a game that relies on scenery detail. At 4K, only the Low preset (55.6 FPS) approaches playability, while Medium (41.6 FPS), High (34.4 FPS), and Ultra (33.5 FPS) all fall short of a smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combination is as follows. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 96 FPS, Medium achieves 77.6 FPS, High achieves 57.6 FPS, and Ultra achieves 55.4 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 78.3 FPS at Low, 62.7 FPS at Medium, 43.3 FPS at High, and 40.7 FPS at Ultra. At 3840x2160, the averages are 55.6 FPS at Low, 41.6 FPS at Medium, 34.4 FPS at High, and 33.5 FPS at Ultra. No minimum or maximum FPS values were recorded in the data.

These numbers show a consistent trend: each increase in resolution or quality preset results in a measurable FPS drop. The most significant single-step drop occurs when moving from 1080p Medium (77.6 FPS) to 1080p High (57.6 FPS), a loss of 20 FPS. The smallest drop is between 1440p High (43.3 FPS) and 4K High (34.4 FPS), a difference of 8.9 FPS. The data confirms that the combo is best utilized at 1080p, with diminishing returns at higher resolutions.