Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 1439th out of 1795 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the combo in the lower half of the database, indicating that while it can run the game, it will not deliver top-tier performance. The ranking is particularly low for a CPU that sits in the 82nd percentile among all processors, which suggests the graphics card is the primary constraint holding this pairing back in this simulation title.

Benchmark results confirm this bottleneck dynamic. The Ryzen 7 5700X3D demonstrates strong synthetic performance, with an average benchmark score of 24673, placing it nearly even with the Intel Core i7-1360P (0.2% ahead) and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D (0.3% ahead). However, the RTX 2060 sits at only the 58th percentile among all GPUs, with an average score of 16074. The gap between the CPU’s high ranking and the GPU’s mid-range standing explains why the combo underperforms relative to what the processor alone can achieve.

GPU Role

The RTX 2060’s 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is a critical factor in Microsoft Flight Simulator’s heavy asset streaming. The GPU’s 1920 shading units and 48 ROPs handle the rendering workload, but the memory capacity is a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The card’s boost clock of 1680 MHz and base clock of 1365 MHz are modest by modern standards, and the data shows that the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates as resolution increases.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 16074 places it 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and 1.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500, but 1.7% behind both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and AMD Radeon Pro 5700. These nearest rivals show that the RTX 2060 is competitive with other mid-range cards from its era, but it lacks the headroom needed for demanding flight simulators. The 6 GB VRAM is particularly problematic for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is known for consuming large amounts of memory for terrain and scenery data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 94.9 FPS, which drops to 71.7 FPS at 1440p and further to 53 FPS at 4K. This represents a 44% reduction from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. The scaling at High settings is less severe but still significant: 51.8 FPS at 1080p falls to 45.1 FPS at 1440p (13% drop) and then to 32.9 FPS at 4K (36% drop from 1080p).

The resolution scaling pattern indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. At 1080p Low, the CPU has enough headroom to push the frame rate close to 100 FPS, but the GPU cannot maintain that performance as pixel count increases. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens at higher resolutions, suggesting that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and shading capacity are overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and high quality settings. At 4K Ultra, the combo manages only 30.4 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in a simulator that requires precise control inputs.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 1080p is the only resolution where the combo consistently exceeds 50 FPS across all settings. At 1440p, only Low settings (71.7 FPS) and Medium settings (58.4 FPS) remain playable, while 4K drops below 53 FPS even at Low settings.

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

A: The RTX 2060’s average benchmark score of 16074 is 0.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 7600S and 1.8% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500, but 1.7% lower than both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and AMD Radeon Pro 5700.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more responsible for the combo’s low ranking?

A: The CPU ranks in the 82nd percentile among all processors, while the GPU ranks only in the 58th percentile. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the bottleneck, as frame rates drop sharply with resolution while the CPU’s synthetic scores remain strong.

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

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D’s average score of 24673 is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core i7-1360P, 0.3% higher than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, and 0.5% higher than the Intel Core i5-11600, but 0.6% lower than the AMD Ryzen AI Max 385.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings at any resolution?

A: At 1080p Ultra, the combo reaches 51.1 FPS, which is playable. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 43.7 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 30.4 FPS. The data suggests Ultra is only viable at 1080p.

Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 2060 have and does it matter?

A: The GPU has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory. This is likely a limiting factor in Microsoft Flight Simulator, as the game’s large terrain and scenery datasets can exceed this capacity, especially at higher resolutions and quality settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D provides 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz. The CPU’s standout feature is its 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is the 3D V-Cache design that gives this processor its name. This large cache is beneficial for flight simulators, which often have complex data access patterns. Synthetic benchmarks show the CPU’s strength: a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 22366 and a single-core score of 3157, along with a Geekbench multicore score of 10108.

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 24673 places it in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-1360P, scores 24627, a delta of just 0.2%. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D is similarly close at 24605 (0.3% behind). This tight grouping suggests that the 5700X3D offers performance equivalent to several other mid-range and high-end processors. However, in Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU’s capabilities are not fully utilized because the RTX 2060 becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 94.9 FPS, which is close to the CPU’s potential, but at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 30.4 FPS, showing that the GPU is holding the CPU back.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the resolution target. At 1080p, Medium settings provide 73.7 FPS, which is a smooth experience, while High settings offer 51.8 FPS and Ultra drops slightly to 51.1 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 1080p is negligible (0.7 FPS), so players should choose High for a small performance buffer. At 1440p, Low settings deliver 71.7 FPS, but Medium drops to 58.4 FPS and High to 45.1 FPS. For 1440p, Medium is the best balance, offering near-60 FPS performance. At 4K, the combo cannot maintain playable frame rates above Low, which yields 53 FPS. The data shows that 4K Medium (41.9 FPS) and 4K High (32.9 FPS) are below the 40 FPS threshold for comfortable simulation gameplay.

The measured rows indicate that the best experience overall is 1080p Medium or High, depending on whether the user prefers higher visual quality at 51.8 FPS or a smoother 73.7 FPS. For users who prioritize frame rate over graphics, 1080p Low at 94.9 FPS is the fastest option. At 1440p, Medium is recommended, while 4K should be avoided unless the user accepts Low settings and the resulting 53 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers 94.9 FPS on Low settings, 73.7 FPS on Medium, 51.8 FPS on High, and 51.1 FPS on Ultra. The jump from Low to Medium costs 21.2 FPS (22% reduction), while the jump from Medium to High costs 21.9 FPS (30% reduction). High to Ultra is nearly flat, with only 0.7 FPS difference, indicating that Ultra offers no meaningful performance penalty but also no benefit over High in this test.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates are 71.7 FPS on Low, 58.4 FPS on Medium, 45.1 FPS on High, and 43.7 FPS on Ultra. The gap between Low and Medium is 13.3 FPS (19% reduction), Medium to High is 13.3 FPS (23% reduction), and High to Ultra is 1.4 FPS (3% reduction). The pattern shows diminishing returns at higher settings, with the GPU struggling more at 1440p.

At 3840x2160, the combo produces 53 FPS on Low, 41.9 FPS on Medium, 32.9 FPS on High, and 30.4 FPS on Ultra. The reduction from Low to Medium is 11.1 FPS (21%), Medium to High is 9 FPS (21%), and High to Ultra is 2.5 FPS (8%). At 4K, even Low settings barely reach 53 FPS, and Ultra falls below 31 FPS, confirming that this resolution is not practical for this combination unless the user accepts significant compromises in visual quality.

The data across all resolutions shows that the RTX 2060 is the limiting factor. The CPU’s strong synthetic scores cannot overcome the GPU’s 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth constraints. For a smoother experience, users should stick to 1080p Medium or High, where the combo remains comfortably above 50 FPS.