Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a demanding flight simulation title that stresses both processor and graphics hardware. This analysis examines the measured performance of the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER across a range of resolutions and settings. The data shows a configuration that is capable of high frame rates, but the balance of load shifts significantly depending on the resolution and quality preset selected.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the performance bottleneck shifts as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 206.6 FPS. This is the highest frame rate recorded across all tests, indicating that at this resolution and settings level, the system is not heavily constrained by the GPU. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings drops the average to 167.5 FPS, a reduction of 39.1 FPS. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average falls further to 123.9 FPS. This progression from 1080p to 4K at Low settings shows a total drop of 82.7 FPS, or roughly 40% of the 1080p performance.

The scaling pattern changes when examining the High preset. At 1920x1080 High, the average FPS is 120.6. This is a significant step down from the Low preset at the same resolution, showing the impact of increased graphical fidelity. At 2560x1440 High, the average is 97 FPS, and at 3840x2160 High, it drops to 71 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 49.6 FPS. This steeper decline compared to the Low preset suggests that the GPU becomes a more limiting factor as both resolution and graphical complexity increase.

The data indicates that the CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X with its 12 cores and 24 threads, is capable of feeding the GPU adequately at lower resolutions. The high frame rates at 1080p, especially on Low settings, demonstrate that the processor is not the primary bottleneck in that scenario. However, as resolution increases, the rendering workload on the GPU grows, and the frame rate drops accordingly. The difference between the Low and Ultra presets at the same resolution is substantial, further confirming that the graphics card is the primary performance limiter when settings are maxed out.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average frame rate achieved by this CPU and GPU combination?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 206.6 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: How does the performance at 4K Ultra compare to 4K Low?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution, the Ultra preset yields an average of 69.9 FPS, while the Low preset achieves 123.9 FPS. This represents a performance difference of 54 FPS, or approximately 77% higher frame rate on Low settings.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X a limiting factor in this game?

A: Benchmark results indicate that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system reaches 206.6 FPS, suggesting the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at this setting. The frame rate scaling at higher resolutions points to the GPU becoming the limiting component as the rendering load increases.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers an average of 97 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 94.7 FPS. The difference is only 2.3 FPS, indicating that the additional visual features of the Ultra preset have a minimal impact on performance at this resolution.

Q: How does this combo rank among other tested configurations?

A: The data shows this combination ranks 100 out of 1795 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top percentile of all tested systems.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between the Low and Medium presets at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the Low preset averages 206.6 FPS, while the Medium preset averages 165.5 FPS. This is a difference of 41.1 FPS, showing a clear performance cost for stepping up from Low to Medium settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER plays a central role in determining the frame rates observed in this data. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. It operates at a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz. These specifications are critical for handling the high-resolution textures and complex scenery that Microsoft Flight Simulator presents.

The measured FPS data demonstrates the GPU's workload scaling. At 1920x1080 Low, the average is 206.6 FPS, which is a frame rate that suggests the GPU is not being fully utilized, as the CPU is likely keeping up with the demand. However, when the resolution is increased to 3840x2160 and the settings are set to Ultra, the average drops to 69.9 FPS. This significant reduction in performance is a direct result of the increased pixel count and the more demanding shaders and effects, all of which place a greater load on the GPU's 10,240 shading units and 112 ROPs.

The GPU's memory capacity of 16 GB is also a relevant factor. Flight simulators are known for using large amounts of video memory for terrain and aircraft textures. With 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth, the RTX 4080 SUPER is well-equipped to stream this data. The benchmark results show that even at the most demanding settings, the GPU is able to maintain a playable frame rate, though the performance headroom diminishes as the resolution scales up.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS dataset provides a clear picture of this system's capabilities across various configurations. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are 206.6 FPS on Low, 165.5 FPS on Medium, 120.6 FPS on High, and 119.5 FPS on Ultra. The close results between High and Ultra at this resolution suggest that the Ultra preset's additional effects are not particularly taxing on the GPU when compared to the jump from Medium to High.

Moving to 2560x1440, the averages are 167.5 FPS on Low, 132.5 FPS on Medium, 97 FPS on High, and 94.7 FPS on Ultra. The gap between High and Ultra narrows further here, with only a 2.3 FPS difference. This indicates that at 1440p, the GPU is still able to handle the Ultra preset's extra load without a severe frame rate penalty.

At the highest resolution, 3840x2160, the averages drop to 123.9 FPS on Low, 94 FPS on Medium, 71 FPS on High, and 69.9 FPS on Ultra. The difference between Low and Medium is 29.9 FPS, while the difference between High and Ultra is only 1.1 FPS. This pattern shows a diminishing return on performance cost as settings increase from High to Ultra, particularly at higher resolutions where the GPU is already under significant stress.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination achieves a rank of 100 out of 1795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the system in the top 5.6% of all configurations tested in the database. The high ranking is consistent with the measured frame rates, which show the system is capable of exceeding 60 FPS at 4K Ultra settings, a target that many systems would struggle to hit.

Comparing the individual components to their nearest rivals provides additional context. The CPU, with an average benchmark score of 54450, is only 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D and 0.7% ahead of the Intel Core i7-14700F. This shows that the processor is performing within the expected range for its class. The GPU, with an average score of 53610, is 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT and 2.9% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. These small percentage differences suggest that the overall combo rank is influenced by the synergy of both components working together effectively in this specific game.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's display resolution and performance target. For users with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset offers an average of 120.6 FPS, which is well above the threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at this resolution provides only a marginal improvement in visual quality for a negligible 1.1 FPS drop compared to High, making High a sensible choice for maximum performance.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers an average of 97 FPS, while Ultra achieves 94.7 FPS. The difference of 2.3 FPS is minimal, so users can select Ultra to enjoy the highest visual fidelity without sacrificing a meaningful amount of performance. The Medium preset at 132.5 FPS is an option for those seeking higher frame rates, but the visual compromise may not be necessary given the High preset's solid performance.

For 3840x2160 displays, the data suggests that the High preset, with an average of 71 FPS, provides a good balance between visual quality and smoothness. The Ultra preset at 69.9 FPS is nearly identical in performance and can be selected for the best image quality. The Medium preset at 94 FPS is a good choice for users who prefer a higher frame rate over maximum detail. The Low preset is generally not recommended at this resolution unless a very high frame rate is the absolute priority, as it significantly reduces visual fidelity to achieve 123.9 FPS.