Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ranks 1737th out of 1795 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the bottom 4% of all systems. This indicates that while the combination is functional, it sits near the very bottom of the performance hierarchy for this specific title. The low rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's modest capabilities and the CPU's limited core count, both of which struggle with the simulation's heavy demands. In practical terms, this setup will deliver playable but not smooth experiences, and only at lower resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 1737 out of 1795 places this system in the 3.2nd percentile of all tested combinations. This is a stark figure — it means that over 96% of systems tested deliver better performance in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The ranking is not surprising given the hardware: the GTX 1650 sits at the 43rd percentile among all GPUs, and the i3-12100F is at the 72nd percentile among all CPUs. The GPU is the primary bottleneck here, as the CPU's relative standing is much stronger.

The data indicates that this combination is best suited for low-fidelity flight simulation. The 4-core, 8-thread CPU is adequate for basic tasks, but the GPU's 4 GB of VRAM and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth limit texture loading and rendering at higher settings. In a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which streams massive amounts of terrain and scenery data, this becomes a critical weakness. The rank reflects that this combo is at the edge of playability, and users should expect to make significant compromises.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process, with 896 shading units and 32 ROPs. Its base clock is 1485 MHz with a boost of 1665 MHz, and it features 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 128.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock runs at 2001 MHz, translating to 8 Gbps effective. These specifications are modest by modern standards, and the GPU's 2.984 TFLOPS of FP32 performance shows in the benchmarks.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU's role is to render the complex environment, including terrain, weather effects, and aircraft models. The 4 GB VRAM is a significant constraint — the game's high-resolution textures and detailed scenery can easily exceed this capacity, causing stuttering or texture pop-in. The measured FPS data confirms this: at 3840x2160 with High settings, the average FPS drops to 14.4, which is barely playable. Even at Low settings at this resolution, the average is only 27.7 FPS, indicating the GPU is the limiting factor.

The GPU's nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, scores 8746 versus the GTX 1650's 8713, a delta of -0.4%. This essentially places the GTX 1650 at parity with that mobile chip, but both are far below what Microsoft Flight Simulator needs for high-fidelity visuals. The GPU's 43rd percentile ranking among all GPUs reinforces that it is a low-tier option, and the measured FPS at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings (29.7 FPS) shows that even at the most common resolution, it cannot maintain a smooth 30 FPS at maximum quality.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S architecture, built on a 10 nm process. It has a base clock of 3.30 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with 12 MB of shared L3 cache. The CPU's TDP is 58 W, and it supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory in dual-channel mode. Its Cinebench R23 scores are 11912 for multi-core and 1681 for single-core, which are respectable for a budget chip but not exceptional.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU is responsible for physics calculations, flight dynamics, and AI traffic simulation. The 4-core configuration is a limitation, as the game can utilize more cores for background tasks. However, the single-core performance is strong, as shown by the 1681 Cinebench R23 single-core score, which helps with the game's primary thread. The CPU's 72nd percentile ranking among all CPUs suggests it is above average, but it is still paired with a GPU that holds the system back.

The CPU's nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX, has an average score of 13534 versus the i3-12100F's 13516, a delta of -0.1%. This is a remarkable comparison — the i3-12100F nearly matches a high-end workstation chip in average benchmarks, highlighting its efficiency. However, in a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's 4 cores will eventually hit a wall, especially with heavy scenery or complex aircraft. The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system reaches 49.6 FPS, which indicates the CPU can handle the game at lower loads, but the GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher settings.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's capabilities across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the highest resolution, the system struggles significantly. With Low settings, the average FPS is 27.7, which is playable but not smooth. Medium settings drop this to 24.0 FPS, High settings to 14.4 FPS, and Ultra settings to 17.9 FPS. None of these are ideal for a flight simulator, where smooth visuals are crucial for immersion.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance improves but remains constrained. Low settings yield 40.1 FPS, which is a significant jump from the 4K results. Medium settings produce 27.7 FPS, High settings 21.6 FPS, and Ultra settings 22.7 FPS. The pattern is consistent: Low settings are the only ones that approach playability, while Ultra settings remain below 30 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the most common resolution, the system performs best. Low settings achieve 49.6 FPS, which is smooth enough for most users. Medium settings drop to 35.4 FPS, High settings to 25.4 FPS, and Ultra settings to 29.7 FPS. The data shows that the GTX 1650 can handle 1080p Low settings comfortably, but anything above Medium will result in noticeable stuttering. The 4 GB VRAM is likely the limiting factor at higher settings, as the game's textures exceed the available memory.

FAQ

Q: Is this combination capable of playing Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K?

A: The data shows average FPS of 14.4 at High settings and 17.9 at Ultra settings for 3840x2160, which are below comfortable playability thresholds. Even at Low settings, the average is 27.7 FPS, which is borderline. 4K is not recommended for this setup.

Q: What is the best resolution and settings for this combo?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 with Low settings provides the best experience at 49.6 FPS average. Medium settings at 35.4 FPS are also acceptable, but High and Ultra settings drop below 30 FPS, which may cause stuttering.

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

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F has an average benchmark score of 13516, which is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 3975WX at 13534 (a -0.1% delta). It also edges out the Intel Core i7-1250U by 0.4% and the Intel Core i3-10105 by 0.6%.

Q: Is the GPU the bottleneck in this system?

A: Yes, the data supports this. The GTX 1650 ranks at the 43rd percentile among all GPUs, while the CPU ranks at the 72nd percentile. The GPU's 4 GB VRAM and 128.1 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for high settings in Microsoft Flight Simulator, causing FPS drops at higher resolutions.

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

A: The GTX 1650 scores 8713 in average benchmarks, which is 0.4% below the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile (8746) and 0.5% above the NVIDIA Quadro P2200 (8671). This places it in a tight performance band with these competing cards.

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

A: The data shows that Ultra settings are only playable at 1920x1080, where the average FPS is 29.7. At 2560x1440, Ultra drops to 22.7 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it drops to 17.9 FPS. None of these results are ideal for a smooth experience, so Ultra settings are not recommended.