Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-11400F and AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT combination ranks 1321st out of 1795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the lower-mid tier of the database, meaning it sits behind roughly 73% of all tested pairings. The rank reflects a system that can run the sim, but it will not be at the forefront of high-refresh or extreme-fidelity play. The data shows a pairing that is more about consistent, playable performance than about pushing the envelope.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 1321 out of 1795 is a clear signal that this is not a top-tier configuration for Microsoft Flight Simulator. In a database where many combinations feature newer, higher-end hardware, this pairing finds itself in the lower half of the distribution. The rank suggests that while the system is entirely functional, it will require careful settings management to achieve a smooth experience at higher resolutions. The relative position indicates that the CPU and GPU are both capable, but they are not the kind of hardware that dominates this particular simulation's demanding rendering pipeline. The data points to a system that is a solid performer for its class, but one that will be challenged by the game's most intense visual presets.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the Rocket Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It has a 12 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 memory. In the context of Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is known for its heavy reliance on single-core performance for flight modeling and physics, the CPU's boost clock of 4.40 GHz is a significant asset. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a 3dmark single-thread score of 868 and a passmark_singlethread score of 2981, suggest solid per-core performance. The 12 threads allow for background tasks and the simulation's various subsystems to operate without completely bottlenecking the main game thread. The CPU sits at the 75th percentile when compared to all CPUs in the database, and its average benchmark score of 17181 is nearly identical to rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (17189) and the Intel Core i7-1260P (17212). This indicates that the 11400F provides a solid foundation, and in this game, its strong single-threaded capabilities are more relevant than its multi-core count, which is why we see it performing adequately but not exceptionally.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is based on the RDNA 1.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1605 MHz with a boost clock of 1905 MHz. The GPU is a key determinant of performance at higher resolutions and settings. In this pairing, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K with Ultra settings, the demand on the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor. The GPU's percentile ranking is 68th among all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 24731 is very close to that of the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile (24763) and the Intel Arc A350M (24647). The RX 5700 XT's performance in DirectX 11 and 12 tests (passmark scores of 116 and 64, respectively) shows it is a capable card from its generation. However, the data reveals that in this simulation, the GPU's limits are reached before the CPU's when settings are cranked up, especially at 4K resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's capabilities across resolutions and settings.

At 1920x1080, the system shows its strength. With Low settings, the average FPS is a strong 98. This drops to 76.1 on Medium, 57.5 on High, and 55.1 on Ultra. The system can handle 1080p gaming well, even at the highest preset, staying above the 55 FPS mark.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pressure increases. Low settings yield an average of 82.2 FPS. Medium settings bring this down to 64.4 FPS. High settings produce 48.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 42.6 FPS. The jump from 1080p to 1440p has a noticeable impact, but the system remains playable at Medium and Low.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the system is heavily taxed. Low settings produce an average of 60.2 FPS. Medium settings drop to 47.2 FPS. High settings fall to 33.4 FPS, and Ultra plummets to 32.2 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: 4K gaming is only viable at Low settings for a smooth experience, and even then, it is just at the 60 FPS threshold.

The data indicates a system where 1080p is the sweet spot for high-fidelity play, 1440p is manageable with some compromises, and 4K is only for those willing to sacrifice visual quality for playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Is this combination suitable for 4K gaming in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: The data shows that at 4K, the combo achieves an average of 60.2 FPS on Low settings, 47.2 FPS on Medium, 33.4 FPS on High, and 32.2 FPS on Ultra. This indicates that 4K is only playable at Low settings, and not at higher presets.

Q: What is the best resolution for a smooth experience with this hardware?

A: At 1920x1080, the system performs best, with the lowest average being 55.1 FPS on Ultra and the highest being 98 FPS on Low. This resolution offers the most headroom for visual settings.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F has an average benchmark score of 17181. This is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (17189, 0% delta) and the Intel Core i7-1260P (17212, -0.2% delta), showing it is competitive with those chips in general benchmark performance.

Q: How does the GPU compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT has an average benchmark score of 24731. It is slightly behind the NVIDIA RTX A5000 Mobile (24763, -0.1% delta) and slightly ahead of the Intel Arc A350M (24647, 0.3% delta).

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance more at 1440p?

A: The data shows that at 1440p, the FPS drops from 82.2 on Low to 42.6 on Ultra. This large drop when increasing settings indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor, as the workload on the graphics card increases significantly.

Q: What is the maximum average FPS this combo can achieve?

A: The highest average FPS recorded in the data is 98, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Settings Recommendations

The data suggests that the best experience for this combination is at 1920x1080 resolution. At this resolution, even the Ultra preset holds an average of 55.1 FPS, which is acceptable for a flight simulator. However, the Medium preset at 1080p (76.1 FPS) offers a significant performance boost with a modest visual compromise, likely providing the most balanced experience. For players who prefer smoother frame rates, the High preset at 1080p (57.5 FPS) is also viable. At 1440p, the Medium preset (64.4 FPS) is the highest setting that maintains a fluid frame rate. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p (48.2 and 42.6 FPS) may be playable for some, but they are less consistent. At 4K, only the Low preset (60.2 FPS) is recommended for a playable frame rate, as Medium drops to 47.2 FPS and below.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the system's bottleneck. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 98 at 1080p to 82.2 at 1440p, a 16% decrease, and then to 60.2 at 4K, a 39% decrease from 1440p. This pattern is even more pronounced at Ultra settings, where the average FPS falls from 55.1 at 1080p to 42.6 at 1440p (a 23% drop) and then to 32.2 at 4K (a 24% drop from 1440p). The relatively consistent percentage drops as resolution increases, particularly at higher settings, indicate that the GPU is the primary constraint. The CPU, with its strong single-threaded performance, is able to feed the GPU adequately at lower resolutions, but the GPU's rendering capabilities are exhausted as pixel count increases. The data suggests that for this pairing, the RX 5700 XT is the component that will limit the visual ceiling in Microsoft Flight Simulator, especially for 4K enthusiasts.