Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination ranks 1107th out of 1795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database. This rank of roughly the 38th percentile is a direct reflection of the hardware pairing’s mixed capabilities: the CPU is a strong performer in general benchmarks, but the GPU’s age and memory configuration hold the combo back in this specific, demanding title. The data indicates this is not a top-tier setup for Flight Simulator, but it is far from the bottom, with the measured results showing a system that can deliver playable frame rates at several settings, though it struggles at the highest presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination’s ranking at 1107 out of 1795 combos is a decisive indicator of its standing. This position places it below the median tested configuration, meaning that over 600 other combos achieve better performance in this game. The rank is heavily influenced by the GPU, which sits at the 65th percentile of all GPUs, while the CPU is stronger, at the 83rd percentile. This imbalance suggests the graphics card is the primary limiting factor in the pairing. Consequently, users should expect performance that aligns more closely with the GPU’s tier than the CPU’s, as the RTX 2070 SUPER is the bottleneck in most scenarios. The combo’s overall rank is a practical summary of how these two components interact under Flight Simulator’s specific workload, which is known for being both CPU-intensive and GPU-demanding at high settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1770 MHz. In the context of Microsoft Flight Simulator, the 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor. The data shows that at 4K resolution, the average frame rate drops from 62.9 FPS at Low settings to 34.5 FPS at Ultra, a clear sign that the GPU is being overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and high-detail textures. The GPU’s compute capabilities, rated at 9.062 TFLOPS for FP32, are insufficient to maintain high frame rates at the Ultra preset. The GPU’s percentile rank of 65 means it outperforms about two-thirds of all GPUs, but in this game’s most demanding settings, it falls short of delivering a smooth experience, as evidenced by the sub-35 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a consistent and predictable drop as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 64.7 FPS at 1080p to 52.2 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 39.4 FPS at 4K. This represents a 39% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The pattern is similar at other settings; for example, at Low settings, the frame rate drops from 111.7 FPS at 1080p to 86.7 FPS at 1440p, and then to 62.9 FPS at 4K. This scaling behavior indicates that the GPU is the limiting component, as the frame rate drops are proportional to the increase in pixel count. The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is likely sufficient to keep up even at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low (111.7 FPS), which suggests the GPU is still the bottleneck even at that resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. With Low settings, the average FPS is 111.7, which is highly playable. Moving to Medium settings yields 86.8 FPS, and High settings produce 64.7 FPS. At Ultra, the frame rate drops to 60.9 FPS, which is still technically playable but close to the edge of smoothness. At 2560x1440, the performance degrades further. Low settings yield 86.7 FPS, Medium settings drop to 68.9 FPS, and High settings produce 52.2 FPS. Ultra settings at 1440p result in 51.9 FPS, which is marginally below the 60 FPS target for a smooth experience. At 3840x2160, the results are more challenging. Low settings produce 62.9 FPS, which is playable, but Medium settings drop to 47.8 FPS, High settings to 39.4 FPS, and Ultra settings to 34.5 FPS. The data clearly shows that the Ultra preset is only viable at 1080p, while 4K gaming requires Low settings to maintain a playable frame rate.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the most viable resolution, with all settings producing average frame rates above 60 FPS, including 60.9 FPS at Ultra. At 2560x1440, only Low and Medium settings exceed 60 FPS, while at 3840x2160, only Low settings (62.9 FPS) achieve this.

Q: Can this combo handle 4K gaming?

A: Yes, but with significant compromises. At 4K, the average frame rate ranges from 62.9 FPS at Low settings to 34.5 FPS at Ultra. For a playable experience, users must stick to Low or possibly Medium settings, which yield 62.9 and 47.8 FPS respectively.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X has an average benchmark score of 26214, which is nearly identical to its closest rivals. It is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i9-11900KF and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500GT, while being 0.2% behind both the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X.

Q: Is the GPU or CPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU’s percentile rank (83) is significantly higher than the GPU’s (65), and the frame rate drops consistently with resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU bottleneck. The high FPS at 1080p Low (111.7) further confirms the CPU is not the primary constraint.

Q: What is the GPU’s performance relative to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 22206. It is 0.5% behind the NVIDIA RTX A400, 0.9% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z, and 2.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5700. It trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile by 2.3%.

Q: What is the CPU’s boost clock and core count?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its performance in multi-threaded tests, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22620, reflects its strong multi-threading capabilities.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X is a Zen 3 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, running at a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. Its performance in synthetic benchmarks is robust, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22620 and a single-core score of 3193. The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache and 7 nm process node contribute to its efficiency. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU’s role is to handle the simulation’s complex physics and AI calculations. The data suggests the CPU is more than capable, as the frame rates at 1080p Low (111.7 FPS) are high enough to indicate the CPU is not the bottleneck. The CPU’s percentile rank of 83 places it well above the GPU’s rank, further supporting the conclusion that the graphics card is the limiting factor. Its performance is closely matched with rivals like the Intel Core i9-11900KF, which has an average score of 26196, just 0.1% lower than the Ryzen’s 26214.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for optimal settings. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the best choice is 1920x1080 with High settings, which yields 64.7 FPS, or Medium settings at 86.8 FPS for headroom. At 2560x1440, Medium settings (68.9 FPS) offer the best balance, as High settings drop to 52.2 FPS, which may be acceptable for some but not ideal. At 3840x2160, Low settings (62.9 FPS) are the only option for a playable experience, as Medium settings fall to 47.8 FPS. The Ultra preset is only recommended at 1080p, where it produces 60.9 FPS. For users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate, 1440p High (52.2 FPS) or 4K Medium (47.8 FPS) are viable, but they will not reach the 60 FPS threshold. The data suggests that the combo’s sweet spot is 1080p Medium to High, or 1440p Medium, providing the best trade-off between image quality and performance.