Microsoft Flight Simulator

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 lands at rank 514 out of 1795 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the combo in the upper-middle tier of the database, outperforming roughly 71% of all recorded configurations. The position reflects a balanced pairing where neither component dramatically bottlenecks the other, though the data suggests the CPU is the more limiting factor in this specific title.

Benchmark results indicate that the RTX 4070 alone sits at the 81st percentile among all GPUs, while the i5-10400F ranks at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs. The gap is modest, but it hints that the processor's standing is slightly weaker relative to its pairing. In the game's measured rows, the combo achieves playable frame rates across all settings at 4K, which is notable given that the GPU's nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks—such as the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, which scores 0.6% higher—do not consistently deliver this level of performance in demanding flight simulators. The rank of 514 suggests that while many higher-end combos exist, this configuration holds its own in a title known for heavy simulation overhead.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F provides 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. This Comet Lake processor, built on Intel's 14 nm process, offers 12 MB of shared L3 cache. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU handles the intricate flight model calculations, weather simulation, and AI traffic logic. The single-thread performance is crucial here, and the CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1453 points reflects a competent level for this workload.

The multi-threaded capabilities are less critical for this game, but the processor's Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10297 points ensures that background simulation threads do not become a bottleneck at lower resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 134.9 FPS, which is likely near the CPU's limit given the simulation overhead. The processor's 3DMark single-thread score of 688 points and 2-thread score of 1350 points suggest that the game's primary thread benefits from the 4.30 GHz boost clock. Compared to its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks, the i5-10400F trails the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C by 0.8% and the Intel Core i5-8500 by 1.1%, but leads the AMD EPYC 7552 by 0.4%. These small deltas indicate that the CPU's performance is consistent with its peer group, though it is not a standout for simulation-heavy titles.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. It packs 5888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory runs on a 192-bit bus, delivering 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's boost clock reaches 2475 MHz, and its FP32 throughput is rated at 29.15 TFLOPS. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU is responsible for rendering the vast terrain, detailed aircraft models, and dynamic lighting. The 12 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for 4K textures, which is evident in the measured results.

The RTX 4070's PassMark G3D score of 26927 points places it at the 81st percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, scores 37507 in aggregate benchmarks, which is 0.6% higher, yet the RTX 4070 delivers superior frame rates in this game's measured rows. The GPU's ray tracing cores (46 RT cores) and tensor cores (184) are not heavily utilized in standard flight sim rendering, but the raw rasterization power drives the high FPS numbers seen at 1440p and 4K. The memory bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s helps maintain consistent frame pacing across detailed scenery, particularly at Ultra settings where the average FPS at 4K drops to 53.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers strong results across all presets. Low settings yield an average of 134.9 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium settings produce 125.7 FPS, High settings reach 98.6 FPS, and Ultra settings hold at 93.9 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 41 FPS, indicating that the GPU has headroom at this resolution and that the CPU begins to play a larger role in limiting maximum frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average FPS figures drop but remain highly playable. Low settings achieve 123.4 FPS, Medium reaches 102.6 FPS, High sits at 79.6 FPS, and Ultra dips to 74.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 48.6 FPS, which is wider than at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as pixel count increases.

At 3840x2160, the results show a clear GPU-bound scenario. Low settings average 97.4 FPS, Medium delivers 75.3 FPS, High manages 57 FPS, and Ultra drops to 53 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 44.4 FPS. The minimum FPS values are not recorded in the data, but the averages indicate that even the most demanding preset remains above the 50 FPS threshold, which is impressive for a flight simulator at 4K.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K reveals the balance between CPU and GPU workload. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 134.9 at 1080p to 97.4 at 4K, a reduction of 27.8%. This is a smaller percentage drop than what would be expected if the GPU were the sole bottleneck, suggesting that the CPU's simulation overhead caps performance at lower resolutions. At Medium settings, the drop is from 125.7 to 75.3 FPS, a 40.1% reduction. This larger percentage drop indicates that the GPU is taking on more rendering work as settings increase.

High settings show a drop from 98.6 to 57 FPS, a 42.2% reduction, while Ultra settings drop from 93.9 to 53 FPS, a 43.6% reduction. The trend is clear: as resolution increases, the GPU becomes the limiting component, while the CPU's influence diminishes. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the combo is firmly GPU-bound, with the RTX 4070's 12 GB VRAM and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth being sufficient to maintain a 53 FPS average. At 1080p Low, the CPU's single-thread performance is the primary constraint, as evidenced by the modest FPS gain from 134.9 at Low to 125.7 at Medium—a counterintuitive result that suggests the simulation logic, not the rendering, is the bottleneck at that resolution.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured rows, the best experience for players targeting 60 FPS is at 1440p High, which delivers 79.6 FPS. This setting provides a solid balance between visual fidelity and performance, with the average FPS well above the 60 FPS threshold. For 4K users, High settings at 57 FPS are close to the 60 FPS target, and the slight dip to 53 FPS at Ultra may be acceptable for a flight simulator where frame pacing is less critical than in fast-paced action titles.

At 1080p, the data suggests that Ultra settings at 93.9 FPS are the optimal choice, as the GPU has enough headroom to render the highest quality without dropping below 90 FPS. The jump from High to Ultra at 1080p is only 4.7 FPS, making Ultra the clear choice for users with 1080p displays. For those who prioritize frame rate above all, 1440p Low at 123.4 FPS is the highest achievable result below 4K, but the visual compromise is significant. The data indicates that Medium settings at 1080p (125.7 FPS) offer a better balance than Low, as the 9.2 FPS difference is minimal compared to the visual improvement.

Ultimately, the combo's sweet spot is 1440p High, where the CPU and GPU work in harmony to deliver a smooth experience. At 4K, High settings are recommended over Ultra, as the 4 FPS difference does not justify the additional rendering load. The measured data supports a configuration that leverages the RTX 4070's strengths without overburdening the i5-10400F's simulation capabilities.