Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination delivers a solid, if not spectacular, experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The data places this pairing in the middle of the pack, with a combo rank of 1036 out of 1795 tested configurations. The measured frame rates show a system that can handle the sim at playable levels across most settings, though 4K Ultra presents a significant challenge. This analysis breaks down the specific roles of the CPU and GPU, the measured performance across resolutions, and what the data reveals about the system's limitations.

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

The Intel Core i5-11400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Rocket Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 2.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. For a flight simulator, which often relies on strong single-thread performance for its core simulation logic, this processor's specifications are relevant. The single-thread benchmark results are solid, with a Geekbench single-core score of 1979 and a Passmark single-thread score of 2981. The 3DMark single-thread score of 868 further supports that the CPU has adequate per-core strength for this title.

However, the data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in most scenarios tested here. The processor's multi-threaded performance is moderate, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 14372 and a Passmark multithread score of 16908. In a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which can leverage multiple cores for terrain and AI processing, this level of performance is sufficient to keep up with the GPU at most settings. The CPU's 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support contribute to its ability to feed data to the graphics card. The benchmark results place this CPU in the 75th percentile of all processors, indicating it is a capable mid-range part that should not severely limit the RTX 4060 in this specific game, particularly at lower resolutions where the GPU is more likely to be the limiting factor.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is the more critical component in this pairing for Microsoft Flight Simulator. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 1830 MHz and a boost clock of 2460 MHz. The 8 GB of VRAM is a crucial detail for this game, as high-resolution textures in flight simulators can consume memory quickly. The data shows that at 4K resolution, performance drops significantly, which could be partly attributed to the VRAM capacity being reached with higher detail settings.

The GPU's overall compute capability is solid, with a Passmark G3D score of 19545 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 101030. Its 3072 shading units and 24 RT cores are modern features that support the game's rendering requirements. The RTX 4060's performance percentile of 66 against all GPUs indicates it is a competent mid-range card. The benchmark results show it is closely matched with the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, which has an average score that is 0.6% lower. This suggests the GPU is a known quantity with predictable performance, and in the context of this sim, it is the component that dictates the highest achievable frame rates, especially at 1440p and 4K.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1036 out of 1795 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the pairing in the upper-middle portion of the database, meaning it outperforms the majority of tested systems but is not near the top. This rank is a holistic measure of the system's capability in this game, reflecting a balance between the CPU and GPU. While the CPU is a solid performer, the GPU's limitations at higher resolutions are the main factor preventing a higher rank.

When looking at the individual components, the RTX 4060's closest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, which has an average score 0.6% lower. The Intel Arc B580 is also a close competitor, with an average score 0.7% higher. These small deltas suggest that the GPU's performance is well-understood and that this combo's rank is consistent with the RTX 4060's standing. The CPU's nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, have nearly identical average scores, with a 0% delta. This indicates that the CPU performance is not a differentiator for this particular combo's ranking; it is the GPU that sets the overall capability.

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

The measured frame rates provide a clear picture of the system's performance. At 1920x1080, the system is very capable. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 117 FPS. Moving to Medium settings, the average drops to 90.7 FPS. High settings yield 68 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 66.3 FPS. These numbers show that at 1080p, the system can easily handle the game at high refresh rates with lower settings, and even Ultra settings are playable.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down as expected. Low settings deliver an average of 94.1 FPS, which is still excellent. Medium settings average 71.9 FPS, and High settings drop to 55.4 FPS. Ultra settings also produce an average of 55.4 FPS, interestingly matching the High setting result. This suggests that at 1440p, the system begins to hit a performance plateau, likely due to GPU limitations, where the difference between High and Ultra settings is minimal in terms of frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. Low settings average 69.9 FPS, which is playable. Medium settings drop to 53.4 FPS, High settings to 44.2 FPS, and Ultra settings to 38.1 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is below the ideal 60 FPS threshold, indicating that this combo is not well-suited for maximum detail at 4K. The data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: the system is strong at 1080p, adequate at 1440p, and struggling at 4K with high detail settings.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K clearly indicates where the bottleneck lies. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 117 at 1080p to 94.1 at 1440p (a 19.6% decrease) and then to 69.9 at 4K (a 40.3% decrease from 1440p). This steep drop-off with increasing resolution is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data at lower resolutions, but as the pixel count increases, the GPU's workload becomes more demanding, and its performance takes a significant hit.

This trend is even more pronounced at higher settings. At Ultra settings, the average FPS drops from 66.3 at 1080p to 55.4 at 1440p (a 16.4% decrease) and then to 38.1 at 4K (a 31.2% decrease from 1440p). The fact that the frame rate drops by nearly half when moving from 1080p to 4K on Ultra settings confirms that the RTX 4060's processing power and 8 GB of VRAM are the limiting factors. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, is sufficient to handle the simulation overhead, but the GPU cannot render the increased pixel count at high detail without a substantial performance penalty. The data shows that the system is well-balanced for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming, but the GPU becomes the clear constraint at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play Microsoft Flight Simulator with this combo for a high frame rate?

A: The data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system averages 117 FPS. Even at Medium settings, it achieves 90.7 FPS, making 1080p the best resolution for high refresh rates.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: Yes, but with compromises. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 69.9, which is playable. However, at Ultra settings, the average drops to 38.1 FPS, indicating that 4K Ultra is not a smooth experience for this combo.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. The frame rate drops significantly from 1080p to 4K, a pattern consistent with a GPU-limited system, while the CPU's performance percentile (75th) suggests it is not the main constraint.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 in this combo compare to its closest rival, the Intel Arc B580?

A: According to the benchmark data, the Intel Arc B580 has an average score that is 0.7% higher than the RTX 4060. This indicates they are very closely matched in overall performance.

Q: What is the difference in performance between High and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: The measured data shows that both High and Ultra settings at 2560x1440 produce an identical average FPS of 55.4. This suggests the system is hitting a performance ceiling at this resolution, regardless of the slight increase in detail from High to Ultra.

Q: What is the combo's overall ranking among all tested systems in this game?

A: The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1036 out of 1795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator.