Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 and AMD Radeon RX 580 pairing presents a stark contrast in Microsoft Flight Simulator: a modern, high-end CPU from 2023 paired with an end-of-life GPU from 2017. The data shows a system where the graphics card is the definitive limiting factor, capping performance well below what the processor is capable of delivering. This analysis examines the measured frame rates to understand the dynamics of this specific combination.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combination in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: The combo ranks 3376 out of 3714 tested combinations. This places it in the bottom 10% of all tested systems, indicating that while the CPU is powerful, the overall gaming experience is constrained by the GPU.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Ryzen 7 7700 has an average benchmark score of 40081. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, scores 40048, making the 7700 just 0.1% faster. The Intel Core i9-13905H scores 40313, which is 0.6% higher than the 7700's score.

Q: What is the best average frame rate achieved by this system at 1920x1080?

A: The highest average frame rate is 54 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset. This is the only measured setting that reaches a comfortable playable threshold.

Q: Does the system achieve a 60 FPS average at any tested setting?

A: No. The data shows the highest average FPS is 54 at 1080p Low. All other configurations at all resolutions and settings produce lower average frame rates, with the lowest being 18 FPS at 4K Ultra.

Q: What is the performance difference between the RX 580 and its nearest rival, the RTX 3050 Ti Mobile?

A: The RX 580 has an average benchmark score of 12928. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile scores 12940, making the RX 580 0.1% slower. This places them in the same performance tier.

Q: What is the FPS drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: At High settings, the average FPS drops from 31 at 1920x1080 to 19 at 3840x2160. This represents a 12 FPS decrease, or a 38.7% reduction in performance when moving to 4K.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is a desktop processor from the 7000 series, built on the Zen 4 architecture and codenamed Raphael. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. This is a high-end configuration with a 65 W TDP, and its benchmark scores reflect its capability. In the Cinebench R23 multicore test, it scores 18760, and in the single-core test it scores 1930. Its Passmark multithread score is 34470, and its single-thread score is 4063.

These scores indicate a processor with substantial headroom for the demands of Microsoft Flight Simulator. The game's simulation logic is known to be sensitive to single-thread performance, where the 7700 excels. Its 3dmark single-thread score of 1049 and Geekbench single-core score of 2525 demonstrate strong performance in lightly-threaded tasks. The CPU's percentile ranking of 87 vs all CPUs further confirms its position in the upper echelon of processors.

However, in this specific pairing, the CPU's role is largely to feed frames to the GPU. The measured FPS results show that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would be most stressed, the average frame rate is 54 FPS. This is a moderate result for a CPU of this caliber. The fact that the system cannot maintain higher frame rates at lower resolutions strongly suggests that the GPU is unable to process the frames fast enough, leaving the CPU's potential untapped. The CPU is not the bottleneck; it is waiting on the graphics card.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 580 is based on the Polaris 20 chip and the GCN 4.0 architecture. It has a base clock of 1257 MHz and a boost clock of 1340 MHz. It is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. Its compute capabilities are defined by 2304 shading units, and it delivers 6.175 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. With a TDP of 185 W, it is a power-hungry card by modern standards.

The GPU's benchmark scores show it is a mid-range performer. Its Passmark G3D score is 8813, and its 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1005. It sits at the 53rd percentile among all GPUs. The data shows it is closely matched with its nearest rivals, including the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile and the GTX 1660 SUPER, with performance deltas of less than 1%.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU's role is to render the complex scenery, terrain, and weather effects. The measured FPS data demonstrates that the RX 580 struggles with this task. At 1080p Low, it manages an average of 54 FPS, but this drops significantly as resolution or graphical fidelity increases. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS falls to 18. This pattern of declining performance with increased load is a clear indication that the GPU is the primary constraint in this system, unable to keep pace with the demands of the game at higher settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 7 7700 and the RX 580 ranks 3376 out of 3714 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This ranking is a direct result of the GPU's limitations. While the CPU is a high-performing component, the overall system's capability is defined by its weakest link, which in this case is the graphics card.

To contextualize this, consider the CPU's benchmark standing. The Ryzen 7 7700 sits in the 87th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, have nearly identical average scores. This suggests that if paired with a more capable GPU, this processor would likely be part of a much higher-ranking combo.

The GPU, however, is in the 53rd percentile of all GPUs. Its performance is comparable to mobile and older desktop parts. The massive gap between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's mid-range percentile explains the poor overall combo rank. The system is essentially a high-end engine in a low-end chassis. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is severely unbalanced for a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which has high graphical demands.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. This scaling behavior is a key indicator of where the performance bottleneck lies.

At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 54 at 1080p to 43 at 1440p, and then to 32 at 4K. This is a 22 FPS drop from 1080p to 4K. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 31 at 1080p to 25 at 1440p, and then to 19 at 4K. This is a 12 FPS drop. The 4K results are consistently low across all settings, with the Ultra preset yielding a mere 18 FPS.

The fact that performance drops so significantly with resolution indicates that the GPU is the limiting component. Increasing resolution increases the pixel count, which places a greater load on the GPU's pixel processing capabilities. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively consistent across resolutions, as the CPU's workload (simulation, physics) does not change with resolution. The data shows a substantial decline, confirming that the RX 580's rendering capabilities are being overwhelmed at higher resolutions. The system is not suitable for 4K gaming in this title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

This section details the exact average frame rates measured for this specific hardware combination in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 54 FPS (highest measured average for the entire system)
• Medium: 42 FPS (with a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 48)
• High: 31 FPS
• Ultra: 30 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 43 FPS
• Medium: 34 FPS (with a minimum of 29 and a maximum of 39)
• High: 25 FPS
• Ultra: 24 FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 32 FPS
• Medium: 25 FPS (with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 29)
• High: 19 FPS
• Ultra: 18 FPS (lowest measured average for the entire system)

The data shows a consistent trend: at every resolution, the Low preset provides the highest average FPS, and the Ultra preset provides the lowest. The differences between the presets are significant, particularly at 1080p, where the gap between Low and Ultra is 24 FPS. The frame rate ranges provided for the Medium preset at each resolution show some variance, indicating that performance is not entirely stable, but the averages provide a clear picture of the system's capabilities. No minimum or maximum FPS data is available for the other presets.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this system depend heavily on the target resolution and the user's tolerance for reduced frame rates.

For a playable experience at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only viable option, yielding an average of 54 FPS. This is close to the 60 FPS target and provides a smooth experience, albeit with reduced graphical fidelity. The Medium preset, at 42 FPS, is also playable but will feel less fluid, especially in fast-moving scenarios or during rapid descents. The High and Ultra presets, at 31 and 30 FPS respectively, are on the edge of playability and may be acceptable for users who prioritize visual quality over smoothness, but they are not recommended for a consistent experience.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only setting that provides a reasonable frame rate, with an average of 43 FPS. The Medium preset, at 34 FPS, is borderline. The High and Ultra presets, at 25 and 24 FPS, are not recommended for gameplay, as they will likely result in a stuttering and unresponsive experience.

At 3840x2160, none of the presets provide a playable frame rate. The Low preset achieves an average of 32 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset, at 18 FPS, is essentially a slideshow.

Ultimately, the data suggests that this system is best suited for 1080p gaming with the Low preset selected. Users who wish to play at higher resolutions or with higher graphical settings will need to consider a more powerful graphics card, as the RX 580 is the primary limiting factor. The benchmark results show that the CPU has ample performance headroom, but the GPU cannot deliver the required frame rates for a satisfactory experience at higher settings.