Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a uniquely demanding title, and the data for the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 shows a system that is consistently bound by the graphics card at higher resolutions, yet still capable of delivering a playable experience across a wide range of settings. The measured frames per second reveal clear scaling patterns that define exactly where this combination excels and where it struggles.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a steep penalty as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160, which is the classic signature of a GPU-limited workload. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo produces 89.4 FPS, but dropping to 2560x1440 Low reduces that to 75 FPS, and at 3840x2160 Low it falls to 50.5 FPS. That is a 43.5% reduction in average FPS from 1080p to 4K at the lowest preset.

The pattern holds across every settings tier. With High settings, the system moves from 56.5 FPS at 1080p to 44.9 FPS at 1440p, then down to 31.4 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows a similar trajectory: 51.1 FPS at 1080p, 38.3 FPS at 1440p, and 32.8 FPS at 4K. The delta between 1440p and 4K is consistently smaller than the delta between 1080p and 1440p, suggesting that the GPU is already working near its ceiling at 1440p and that further resolution increases yield diminishing returns in frame rate.

This scaling behavior points squarely at the RTX 2060 as the limiting component. The CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but as pixel count grows, the graphics card’s 6 GB of memory and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth become the bottleneck. At 4K Ultra, the system bottoms out at 32.8 FPS, which is below the 40 FPS threshold for smooth flight simulation. The data indicates that 4K is only viable on Low settings, where 50.5 FPS is achievable, while 1440p offers a more balanced experience across all presets.

How This Combo Ranks

Out of 1795 tested combinations, this pairing of the Ryzen 7 5700G and RTX 2060 ranks 1486th in Microsoft Flight Simulator. That places it in the lower 17% of all tested combos, which is a sobering statistic for a game that is known to be one of the most hardware-intensive titles on the market. The rank reflects the RTX 2060’s modest position in the GPU hierarchy—it sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs—and the Ryzen 7 5700G’s stronger 83rd percentile among CPUs.

The rank is not a verdict on either component individually; it is a statement about their combined ceiling in this specific title. In a game that heavily favors single-thread performance and raw GPU throughput, this combo lands behind the vast majority of systems with higher-tier graphics cards. However, the rank also masks the fact that the system is entirely usable at 1080p and 1440p with adjusted settings, as the measured FPS data shows. The 1486th rank is a relative measure, not an absolute one, and it tells you that most other tested combos will push higher frame rates, especially at 4K.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary driver of the performance ceiling in Microsoft Flight Simulator. With 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, the card delivers 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is adequate for 1080p but becomes strained as resolution and texture detail increase. The card’s boost clock of 1680 MHz and its 1920 shading units provide the raw compute needed for the game’s terrain rendering, but the 160 W TDP and dual-slot design indicate a mid-range part that is not built for extreme workloads.

The benchmark results reinforce this. The GPU scores 14111 in Passmark G3D and 67425 in Geekbench Vulkan, placing it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (0.5% faster) and the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (1.7% slower), which confirms that the RTX 2060 is squarely in the middle of the pack. In this game, the GPU’s limitations manifest most clearly at 4K, where the average FPS across all presets hovers between 31.4 and 50.5. Even at 1440p, the card struggles to maintain 60 FPS on Medium settings, posting 54.3 FPS, while High drops to 44.9 FPS.

The 6 GB VRAM is a particular concern for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which streams large textures and terrain data. At 4K Ultra, the card likely hits memory capacity, contributing to the 32.8 FPS result. The data suggests that the RTX 2060 is best treated as a 1080p-to-1440p card for this title, with settings tuned to keep VRAM usage in check.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: The data shows 2560x1440 as the sweet spot. At Medium settings, the combo delivers 54.3 FPS, which is playable, while High settings yield 44.9 FPS. At 1920x1080, you can achieve 72.3 FPS on Medium, but the visual fidelity gain from 1440p justifies the frame rate trade-off.

Q: Can this system handle 4K in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: Only at lower presets. At 4K Low, the combo averages 50.5 FPS, which is smooth enough for casual flight. At 4K Medium, it drops to 40.2 FPS, and at 4K High or Ultra, it falls to 31.4 FPS and 32.8 FPS respectively, which is below the 40 FPS threshold for comfortable play.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RTX 2060’s average benchmark score is 16074, placing it 0.5% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and 1.7% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M. It is also 1.8% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500. The GPU sits in the 58th percentile overall.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 5700G holding back the RTX 2060 in this game?

A: No, the benchmark data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU scores 20755 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2930 in single-core, placing it in the 83rd percentile. The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is consistent with GPU-bound behavior, not CPU saturation.

Q: What settings should I use for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: At 1920x1080, Low settings produce 89.4 FPS, which is well above 60. To hit near 60 FPS at 1080p, you would need to stay below Medium, since Medium posts 72.3 FPS and High drops to 56.5 FPS. At 1440p, Low settings give 75 FPS, but Medium drops to 54.3 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank against other tested systems?

A: It ranks 1486th out of 1795 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the lower 17% of systems, meaning most other tested hardware combinations will achieve higher frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is a strong performer that is not the bottleneck in this configuration. With 8 cores and 16 threads based on Zen 3 architecture, the CPU delivers a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20755 and a single-core score of 2930. Its Passmark single-thread score of 3283 and average benchmark score of 25626 place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, making it a capable partner for the RTX 2060.

The CPU’s nearest rivals show how competitive it is. It trails the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U by just 0.3%, but beats the Intel Xeon D-2752TER by 0.4% and the Intel Core 5 210H by 0.5%. The 5700G’s 16 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are adequate for feeding the GPU in Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is more dependent on GPU rasterization than CPU physics.

The data shows no evidence of CPU limitation. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K is smooth and predictable, with the GPU clearly dictating performance. At 1080p Low, the system hits 89.4 FPS, and the drop to 75 FPS at 1440p Low and 50.5 FPS at 4K Low is entirely attributable to the graphics card’s workload. The CPU’s single-thread performance is sufficient to keep up with the game’s simulation logic, and its multi-threaded capabilities are more than enough for background tasks.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a clear hierarchy of settings for this combo, and the best choice depends entirely on your target resolution. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 89.4 FPS, which is excellent for fast action, but Medium at 72.3 FPS offers a better visual balance without sacrificing smoothness. High at 56.5 FPS is acceptable for those who prioritize visuals over frame rate, while Ultra at 51.1 FPS is borderline but playable.

At 2560x1440, the situation changes. Low settings produce 75 FPS, which is ideal for a fluid experience, but Medium at 54.3 FPS is the practical sweet spot for most users. High at 44.9 FPS is workable for scenic flights, while Ultra at 38.3 FPS dips below the 40 FPS comfort threshold. For 1440p gaming, the recommendation is to start with Medium and adjust downward if you prefer higher frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the choices are stark. Low settings at 50.5 FPS are the only option that provides a consistently smooth experience. Medium at 40.2 FPS is marginal, and both High (31.4 FPS) and Ultra (32.8 FPS) are too choppy for realistic flight simulation. If 4K is a must, stick to Low presets and accept the visual compromises.

The overall recommendation is to prioritize 1440p with Medium settings for the best balance of visual fidelity and performance. This yields 54.3 FPS, which is above the minimum playable threshold and avoids the stutter that plagues the 4K results. For 1080p users, Medium at 72.3 FPS is the best all-around choice, offering a significant frame rate cushion over High while still looking good. This system is not built for 4K gaming, and the data confirms that its strengths lie in lower resolutions where the RTX 2060 can keep up with the CPU’s capabilities.