Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 pairing in Microsoft Flight Simulator presents a fascinating study in component balance. The data indicates a system where the GPU is overwhelmingly the dominant performance driver, while the six-core, twelve-thread Rocket Lake processor provides a stable foundation without becoming the primary constraint. This analysis walks through the measured FPS data to understand how each component contributes to the final experience.

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, built on a 14 nm process. Its base clock is 2.60 GHz, boosting up to 4.40 GHz. This configuration places it in the 71st percentile of all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 17177. In the context of Microsoft Flight Simulator, this processor demonstrates sufficient headroom to feed the powerful RTX 4080, as the FPS data shows consistent scaling with GPU load.

The processor’s performance profile is interesting. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 5619 in the 3DMark 16-thread test and 868 in the single-thread test. The Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14340 and single-core score of 2024 further illustrate its capabilities. These numbers indicate a CPU that is neither a bottleneck at lower resolutions nor a star performer; it simply maintains frame delivery. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the i5-11400F sits within a tight band: it is 0.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7H12, 0.4% behind the Intel Core i5-12450H, and 0.6% behind the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G.

In practical terms, the CPU’s role in this game becomes clear when analyzing the FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p Low settings, the CPU must work harder to maintain high frame rates, yet it manages 157 FPS. This is only 32 FPS higher than at 4K Low (125 FPS), which suggests that the CPU is not collapsing under load; instead, the GPU is taking on more work at higher resolutions. The 12 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support provide sufficient bandwidth for the flight simulator’s terrain streaming and physics calculations, though the data does not isolate these specific workloads. The key takeaway is that this CPU does not appear to limit the RTX 4080 in this title, as evidenced by the relatively small FPS drop between low resolutions and 4K when settings are held constant.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the clear star of this benchmark. With 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, it provides 716.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU operates at a base clock of 2205 MHz and boosts to 2505 MHz, with memory running at 22.4 Gbps effective. This configuration places the RTX 4080 in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54247.

The GPU’s dominance is evident in the measured FPS data. At 4K Ultra settings, the RTX 4080 still manages 70 FPS average, which is a demanding scenario for any graphics card. The GPU’s nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, is only 0.1% ahead in average score, indicating that this is a top-tier performer. The AMD Radeon Pro W5700X is 1.1% behind, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB is 2.6% behind, showing the RTX 4080’s competitive position.

The 16 GB VRAM capacity is particularly relevant for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is known for loading large texture sets and detailed scenery. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the system achieves 70 FPS, and at 4K High, it reaches 73 FPS. This modest difference between Ultra and High at 4K suggests that the GPU is not running out of memory or compute headroom; instead, the settings are taxing the rendering pipeline consistently. The GPU’s 9728 shading units and 76 RT cores provide ample raw power for the simulator’s draw calls, and the 761.5 GTexel/s texture rate ensures that ground textures and aircraft details are rendered without visible stutter. The RTX 4080 is the component that determines the ceiling of performance in this pairing.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. At Low settings, average FPS drops from 157 at 1080p to 146 at 1440p, then to 125 at 4K. This represents a 20.4% decrease from 1080p to 4K. At Ultra settings, the drop is from 117 FPS at 1080p to 95 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 70 FPS at 4K, a 40.2% decrease. The larger percentage drop at Ultra settings indicates that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor as both resolution and graphical complexity increase.

The data points to the GPU as the primary bottleneck. Consider the Medium settings: at 1080p, the average FPS is 144, with a minimum of 122 and maximum of 165. At 1440p, this drops to 132 average, with a minimum of 112 and maximum of 152. At 4K, the average falls to 97, with a minimum of 83 and maximum of 112. The scaling is not linear; the gap between 1440p and 4K (35 FPS drop) is larger than the gap between 1080p and 1440p (12 FPS drop). This accelerating decline is characteristic of a GPU that is running out of pixel-pushing capacity at higher resolutions.

If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see a plateau at lower resolutions where the FPS stops increasing as resolution decreases. The data shows no such plateau. At Low settings, FPS increases from 125 at 4K to 157 at 1080p, a 32 FPS jump. This indicates that the CPU can deliver more frames, but the GPU cannot render them fast enough at higher resolutions. The CPU’s role is to feed the GPU, and it does so without introducing a hard cap on performance. For this reason, the RTX 4080 is the component that users should monitor if they want to improve frame rates, as it is the one being stressed by resolution changes.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides clear guidance on settings selection. At 1080p, the Medium preset offers an average of 144 FPS, which is only 13 FPS lower than Low settings (157 FPS) but provides significantly better visual fidelity. The High preset at 1080p yields 123 FPS, which is still above 120 FPS and offers a substantial visual upgrade over Medium. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, High settings at 1080p represent the best balance of smoothness and detail, as the 123 FPS average is well above the 60 FPS threshold and approaches the 144 Hz range.

At 1440p, the Medium preset delivers 132 FPS average, which is excellent for this resolution. The High preset at 1440p drops to 99 FPS, which is still playable but requires a 100 Hz or lower refresh rate to avoid tearing. The Ultra preset at 1440p yields 95 FPS, which is a marginal 4 FPS drop from High but may not justify the additional visual load. For most users at 1440p, Medium settings provide the best experience, as the 132 FPS average is smooth and the minimum of 112 FPS ensures minimal stutter.

At 4K, the choices narrow considerably. The Medium preset gives 97 FPS average, which is the only 4K setting that clears 90 FPS. The High preset drops to 73 FPS, and Ultra falls to 70 FPS. The Low preset at 4K reaches 125 FPS, but this sacrifices too much visual quality for a flight simulator that relies on scenery detail. The data suggests that 4K Medium is the optimal preset for this combo, as it provides a playable frame rate while maintaining some graphical fidelity. The minimum FPS of 83 at 4K Medium is acceptable, though users with VRR displays will benefit from the range. Overall, the recommendation is to use High at 1080p, Medium at 1440p, and Medium at 4K for the most consistent experience.

FAQ

Q: Is the Intel Core i5-11400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: No, the data shows the CPU is not the limiting factor. At Low settings, FPS scales from 125 at 4K to 157 at 1080p, indicating the CPU can deliver more frames than the GPU can render at higher resolutions. The CPU’s 71st percentile ranking and scores like 14340 in Cinebench R23 multicore support this conclusion.

Q: What is the best resolution to play this game with this combo?

A: The 1440p Medium preset offers the best balance, with an average of 132 FPS and a minimum of 112 FPS. At 4K, Medium is the only setting that exceeds 90 FPS, with an average of 97 FPS. For 1080p, High settings at 123 FPS provide excellent quality without sacrificing smoothness.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest competitors?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247. It is 0.1% behind the RTX 4080 SUPER, 1.1% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X, and 2.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB. This places it firmly in the top tier of GPUs, with a percentile rank of 86.

Q: Why does FPS drop so significantly from 1080p to 4K at Ultra settings?

A: The drop from 117 FPS at 1080p to 70 FPS at 4K represents a 40.2% decrease. This is because the GPU is the primary bottleneck, and the 4K resolution requires nearly four times the pixel throughput of 1080p. The RTX 4080’s 16 GB VRAM and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient, but the rendering load still scales with resolution.

Q: Is the 16 GB VRAM on the RTX 4080 enough for this game?

A: Yes, the measured data shows no VRAM-related performance collapse. At 4K Ultra, the game runs at 70 FPS, and at 4K High, it reaches 73 FPS. The minimal difference between these two settings suggests the GPU is not being forced into memory swapping, and the 16 GB capacity is adequate for this title’s textures.

Q: What is the combo’s overall ranking among tested systems?

A: This specific combination of Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 381st out of 3714 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 10.3% of all systems tested, which is consistent with the high FPS figures observed across all resolutions.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of this combo’s performance. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers an average of 157 FPS, the Medium preset averages 144 FPS with a minimum of 122 and maximum of 165, the High preset averages 123 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 117 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 40 FPS, which is significant but not as pronounced as at higher resolutions.

At 1440p, the Low preset averages 146 FPS, the Medium preset averages 132 FPS with a minimum of 112 and maximum of 152, the High preset averages 99 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 95 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra narrows to 51 FPS, indicating that the GPU is taking on more load. The Medium preset’s minimum of 112 FPS is particularly noteworthy, as it provides a consistent experience without severe drops.

At 4K, the Low preset averages 125 FPS, the Medium preset averages 97 FPS with a minimum of 83 and maximum of 112, the High preset averages 73 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 70 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 4K is 55 FPS, the largest of any resolution. The Medium preset’s minimum of 83 FPS is the lowest of any setting tested, but it remains playable. The data clearly shows that the RTX 4080’s performance degrades gracefully with resolution increases, with no sudden cliffs in the measured averages.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This combo of the Intel Core i5-11400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 ranks 381st out of 3714 tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 10.3% of all systems tested, which is a strong showing for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The rank reflects the overall performance across all settings and resolutions, and the data indicates that the GPU is the primary driver of this high ranking.

The ranking is particularly notable given the CPU’s modest standing in the broader market. The i5-11400F sits in the 71st percentile of all CPUs, while the RTX 4080 sits in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. The combination of a slightly-above-average CPU with a well-above-average GPU results in a system that outperforms 89.7% of all tested combos. This suggests that for a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is heavily GPU-dependent, the CPU choice has less impact on the final ranking than the GPU choice.

When comparing to the CPU’s nearest rivals, the i5-11400F is 0.3% faster than the AMD EPYC 7H12 and 0.6% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U, but 0.4% slower than the Intel Core i5-12450H and 0.6% slower than the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 8300G. These small deltas indicate that swapping the CPU for a comparable model would not significantly change the combo’s ranking in this game. The RTX 4080’s position, with its nearest rival being the RTX 4080 SUPER at 0.1% difference, reinforces that this combo’s performance is anchored by the GPU. The 381st rank out of 3714 combos confirms the RTX 4080’s ability to carry the system, and it confirms that this pairing is well-suited for high-resolution flight simulation.