Microsoft Flight Simulator

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B570 pairing delivers a functional, if not spectacular, experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The data indicates a configuration that is heavily dependent on settings management to achieve smooth frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the role of each component, and provides practical settings guidance based strictly on the provided benchmark data.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture, codenamed Granite Ridge. It operates on the AMD Socket AM5 platform and features a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz. With a 65W TDP, it’s a power-efficient part, but its performance class is what matters here. The CPU’s benchmark scores place it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs tested, indicating it is a high-performing part overall. Its average benchmark score of 69,996 places it in a tight cluster with several other top-tier processors. Specifically, it is 0.2% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.7% faster than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% faster than the Intel Core i7-14700K. However, it is 0.2% slower than the Intel Core i7-14700KF. This shows that in raw CPU compute, the 9700F is essentially on par with some of the most powerful chips from the previous generation.

In a flight simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU is responsible for simulating the world, physics, and flight model. The data shows that the CPU has a single-thread score of 4,691 and a multithread score of 36,470 on Passmark tests. While the game is known to be demanding on a single core, the 9700F’s strong single-thread performance, combined with its 16 threads for background tasks, provides a solid foundation. The CPU’s large 32 MB shared L3 cache is beneficial for holding the large data sets the game streams in. Its 89.6 GB/s memory bandwidth on a dual-channel DDR5 bus ensures the CPU can feed data to the GPU without becoming a bottleneck in this scenario. The benchmark results show this CPU is not the limiting factor at lower resolutions; rather, the GPU takes on that role as the resolution increases.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is a graphics card based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation). It is built on a 5 nm process and features 2,304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 ROPs. The card comes with 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. Its base and boost clocks are both rated at 2500 MHz. The GPU’s overall benchmark performance places it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 20,556. This puts it in a very tight performance band with its nearest rivals. The data shows it is 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, 0.4% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, and 0.1% slower than the Intel Arc A750, and 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon R9 M390X. This indicates the Arc B570 is a mid-range performer, competitive with that specific group of cards.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU is critical for rendering the high-fidelity scenery, clouds, and aircraft models. The measured FPS data reveals that the Arc B570 is the primary performance limiter in this pairing, especially as resolution and settings increase. At 1080p with Low settings, the game hits an average of 86 FPS, showing the GPU can handle less demanding loads. However, the performance drops significantly as load increases. The 10 GB VRAM buffer is a key consideration for this game, which is notorious for using large amounts of VRAM at high settings and resolutions. The card’s 380.0 GB/s bandwidth is a solid figure, but the data suggests it is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra, where the average dips to 28 FPS. The GPU’s performance in this simulator is the deciding factor for the settings you can use.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on your target resolution and desired smoothness. The data provides a clear picture of the trade-offs between visual fidelity and performance.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice for a balanced experience. It delivers an average of 50 FPS, which is playable for a flight simulator. Dropping to Medium yields 67 FPS, but the visual hit is unnecessary if you can tolerate 50 FPS for better visuals. The Ultra preset at 48 FPS is also within a playable range, but it is only 2 FPS slower than High, which is a marginal difference. However, given the game's nature, a stable 50 FPS on High is a more reliable target than 48 FPS on Ultra. The Low preset offers 86 FPS, but the visual quality is likely too compromised for a game about looking at scenery.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset provides a good balance. It averages 54 FPS, which is a solid playable frame rate. The High preset drops to 41 FPS, which is on the lower end of smoothness for a simulator, as it can feel less fluid. The Ultra preset at 39 FPS is borderline, and the Low preset at 69 FPS sacrifices too much visual detail. The Medium setting here provides a 13 FPS improvement over High, which is a significant gain for a modest reduction in visual quality.

At 3840x2160, the data suggests you should stick to Low or Medium settings. The Low preset averages 51 FPS, which is the only setting at this resolution that approaches a consistently smooth experience. Medium averages 40 FPS, which is playable but may have noticeable stutters in busy areas, as indicated by the min FPS of 34. The High (30 FPS) and Ultra (28 FPS) presets are not recommended for a playable experience, as they fall below the threshold for smooth motion in a flight simulator. For 4K, the Low preset is the only one that delivers a consistently playable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2406th out of 2996 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the bottom 20% of all tested systems. This low ranking is a direct result of the GPU’s performance, as the CPU is a top-tier part that sits in the 94th percentile of all CPUs. The ranking indicates that while the CPU is more than capable for this task, the Intel Arc B570 holds the entire system back, especially when compared to other configurations that likely feature more powerful graphics cards.

The data shows a significant mismatch in performance tiers. The CPU is a high-end component, while the GPU is a mid-range part. In a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is heavily GPU-bound at higher settings, this means the system will not perform to the level the CPU alone would suggest. The combo rank of 2406 out of 2996 is a clear indicator that this pairing is not optimized for high-end performance in this specific title. The frame rates at higher settings and resolutions confirm this, as the system struggles to maintain playable numbers at 4K. This is a pairing that would be better suited for 1080p gaming or for users who are willing to sacrifice settings for a stable experience.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K?

A: The data shows it is only playable at 4K with the Low preset, which averages 51 FPS. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, while High and Ultra fall to 30 FPS and 28 FPS respectively, which are not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: What is the best resolution to use with this combo?

A: The data suggests that 1920x1080 is the most comfortable resolution. At 1080p, you can use the High preset for 50 FPS or the Ultra preset for 48 FPS. At 1440p, you will need to drop to Medium settings to get 54 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals?

A: Based on benchmark data, the Arc B570 is 0.1% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and 0.4% faster than the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M. It is 0.1% slower than the Intel Arc A750 and 0.5% slower than the AMD Radeon R9 M390X.

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

A: The GPU is the primary limiting factor. The CPU ranks in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU only ranks in the 65th percentile. The measured FPS data shows performance drops significantly with resolution increases, which is a classic sign of a GPU bottleneck.

Q: What is the expected performance at 1440p on High settings?

A: The measured data shows an average FPS of 41 at 2560x1440 on High settings. This is a playable frame rate, but it is lower than the 54 FPS you would get on Medium settings.

Q: How does this combo rank overall in the database?

A: This combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and Intel Arc B570 ranks 2406th out of 2996 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

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

The following is the complete set of measured FPS data for this combination.

3840x2160 (4K)

• Low: Average FPS: 51
• Medium: Average FPS: 40 (Min: 34, Max: 46)
• High: Average FPS: 30
• Ultra: Average FPS: 28

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Low: Average FPS: 69
• Medium: Average FPS: 54 (Min: 46, Max: 62)
• High: Average FPS: 41
• Ultra: Average FPS: 39

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Low: Average FPS: 86
• Medium: Average FPS: 67 (Min: 57, Max: 77)
• High: Average FPS: 50
• Ultra: Average FPS: 48

The data reveals a consistent pattern: performance scales predictably with settings and resolution. The gap between Low and Ultra is significant, with a 35 FPS difference at 1080p (86 vs 48 FPS) and a 23 FPS difference at 4K (51 vs 28 FPS). The min FPS data for the Medium preset at each resolution shows that there is some frame-time variance, but it remains within a reasonable range for a flight simulator. This breakdown provides a clear roadmap for users to dial in their preferred balance of visual quality and frame rate.