Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator pairs the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 in a combination that places 1036th out of 1795 tested combos. The data shows a system that is capable of smooth flight in less demanding settings, but which requires careful adjustment to achieve high fidelity at 4K. The benchmark results reveal a clear performance hierarchy driven by both the CPU’s six cores and the GPU’s 8 GB of VRAM.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, which are the figures that directly influence how the CPU handles the simulation’s complex flight models and scenery loading. The CPU’s 16 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are the specifications that matter most for feeding the game engine with terrain and aircraft data.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 5600GT achieves a multi-core score of 17,272 in Cinebench R23 and a single-core score of 2,438 in the same test. These numbers place it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20,740. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-10700, scores 20,746 (a 0% delta), while the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X scores 20,680 (a 0.3% delta). This tells us the 5600GT is essentially on par with those processors in general compute tasks.

For Microsoft Flight Simulator, the single-thread performance is often the primary constraint, as the game’s main loop is heavily serialized. The 5600GT’s single-core score of 913 in 3DMark single-thread suggests it has adequate headroom, but the measured FPS at lower resolutions will reveal whether the CPU becomes a bottleneck when the GPU is not fully stressed. The game’s reliance on CPU for physics and AI is apparent; the data indicates that the 6-core layout is sufficient, but not exceptional, for this workload.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Ryzen 5 5600GT and RTX 4060 ranks 1036th out of 1795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the field, which is a surprising result given the individual component scores. The CPU’s percentile rank of 78 and the GPU’s percentile rank of 66 would suggest a more favorable overall position, but the game’s specific demands pull the combo down.

The data implies that Microsoft Flight Simulator is not a title where this pairing excels. The RTX 4060, which scores 19,545 in Passmark G3D and sits at the 66th percentile of all GPUs, is comparable to the Intel Arc B580 (which has a 0.7% delta) and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (a -0.6% delta). However, the combo’s rank indicates that the synergy between these two parts is not optimal for this simulator. This suggests that either the CPU is holding back the GPU in certain scenarios, or the GPU’s 8 GB VRAM is insufficient for the game’s high-resolution textures.

Benchmark results show that the combo is not a top-tier performer, but it is also not at the very bottom. The rank of 1036 out of 1795 means there are 759 other combos that perform worse, which provides context for what users can expect: a playable experience, but with compromises required at higher settings.

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

The measured FPS data shows a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 72.2 at 1080p to 56.0 at 1440p, and then further to 39.2 at 4K. This represents a 22% decrease from 1080p to 1440p and a 46% decrease from 1080p to 4K. Such a steep decline indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions.

At Low settings, the pattern is similar but with higher absolute numbers: 116.7 FPS at 1080p, 94.1 at 1440p, and 69.4 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 4K is 41%, which is slightly smaller than at High settings. This suggests that even at Low settings, the GPU is still the bottleneck, as the CPU is not able to push the frame rate much higher.

The data reveals that the limiting component shifts depending on the resolution. At 1080p, the CPU’s single-thread performance might be a factor, but the FPS numbers are high enough that it is not a major concern. At 4K, the GPU’s rendering load dominates, and the 8 GB VRAM may also be a constraint. The relative consistency of the FPS drop across settings points to a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions.

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

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4060 and Ryzen 5 5600GT deliver 116.7 FPS on Low settings, 91.8 FPS on Medium, 72.2 FPS on High, and 63.7 FPS on Ultra. The difference between Low and Ultra is 53 FPS, which is a substantial gap that highlights the impact of graphical presets on performance. The jump from Medium to High is 19.6 FPS, while the jump from High to Ultra is only 8.5 FPS, indicating diminishing returns at the top end.

At 2560x1440, the same settings produce 94.1 FPS on Low, 75.8 FPS on Medium, 56.0 FPS on High, and 54.2 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 39.9 FPS, and the difference between High and Ultra shrinks to just 1.8 FPS. This suggests that at 1440p, the Ultra preset offers minimal benefit over High for a significant performance cost.

At 3840x2160, the numbers become 69.4 FPS on Low, 52.9 FPS on Medium, 39.2 FPS on High, and 38.4 FPS on Ultra. The Low to Ultra gap is 31 FPS, but the High to Ultra difference is only 0.8 FPS. The data shows that at 4K, the Ultra preset is nearly indistinguishable from High in terms of frame rate, making High the more sensible choice for users seeking smoothness.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz, with 3072 shading units and 96 tensor cores. These specifications are the ones that determine how well the GPU can handle the game’s complex shaders and texture streaming.

The 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor in Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is known for its high-resolution terrain textures. At 1080p, the VRAM capacity is likely sufficient, which explains why the FPS at Low settings (116.7) is so high. However, at 4K, the larger texture sets can exceed 8 GB, which may cause the game to swap textures to system memory, reducing performance. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (38.4) suggests this could be happening, as the performance drop from 1440p is more severe than pure pixel count would dictate.

The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 19,545 places it at the 66th percentile, with the AMD Radeon 760M being a close rival (0.8% delta). This indicates that the RTX 4060 is a mid-range performer, and its capabilities align with the observed FPS numbers. The GPU is not powerful enough to maintain 60 FPS at 4K on High settings, as the 39.2 average FPS shows, but it can handle 1440p High at 56 FPS, which is a playable range for a simulator.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play at for a smooth experience?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 on Medium settings delivers 91.8 FPS, while 2560x1440 on Medium gives 75.8 FPS. For a target of 60 FPS or higher, 1440p Medium is the highest resolution that consistently stays above that threshold across all settings except Ultra.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the FPS drops from 69.4 on Low to 39.2 on High, which is a 44% decrease. This indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the CPU’s performance does not scale with resolution, while the GPU’s workload increases significantly.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its closest rivals in this game?

A: The RTX 4060 has a Passmark G3D score of 19,545, with the Intel Arc B580 being 0.7% ahead and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M being 0.6% behind. This puts the GPU on par with these competitors, but the combo rank suggests that the overall system performance is not favorable.

Q: Can the combo achieve 60 FPS at 1440p Ultra?

A: No. The measured FPS at 2560x1440 on Ultra is 54.2, which is below the 60 FPS target. Users would need to drop to High settings to get 56.0 FPS, which is still slightly below 60, or use Medium for 75.8 FPS.

Q: What is the impact of lowering settings from High to Medium at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, lowering from High (72.2 FPS) to Medium (91.8 FPS) provides a 27% performance increase. This is a significant gain that makes the game much smoother, with only a moderate reduction in visual quality.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5600GT a strong match for the RTX 4060?

A: The CPU’s average benchmark score of 20,740 is nearly identical to the Intel Core i7-10700 (20,746), and it ranks in the 78th percentile. However, the combo rank of 1036 out of 1795 suggests that the pairing does not excel in this specific game, likely due to the CPU’s single-thread limits or the GPU’s VRAM.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for the best experience with this combo. For users prioritizing smoothness at 1080p, the Medium preset at 91.8 FPS is the optimal choice, as it offers a 27% improvement over High (72.2 FPS) while maintaining a playable frame rate. The Low preset at 116.7 FPS is only for those who want maximum fluidity, but it sacrifices too much visual detail.

At 1440p, the Medium preset delivers 75.8 FPS, which is the best balance of visual quality and performance. The High preset at 56.0 FPS is just below the 60 FPS threshold and may feel less fluid, while Ultra at 54.2 FPS offers no meaningful benefit over High. For a fixed 60 FPS target, Medium is the only preset that consistently exceeds it.

At 4K, the story is different. The Ultra preset at 38.4 FPS is nearly identical to High at 39.2 FPS, so there is no reason to choose Ultra. The Medium preset at 52.9 FPS is the best compromise, providing a playable experience for a simulator, though users should expect frame rates below 60 FPS. The Low preset at 69.4 FPS is the only way to achieve a smooth experience at 4K, but it significantly reduces visual fidelity.

The data implies that the sweet spot for this combo is 1440p Medium, which offers 75.8 FPS and a good balance of detail. For those with 4K displays, sticking to Medium settings is the recommended path, as it avoids the VRAM limitations that likely drag down High and Ultra performance.