Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 delivers a playable but demanding experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator, ranking in the bottom 20% of tested combinations. The data indicates that the RTX 2060 is the primary bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions, while the 6-core CPU provides sufficient headroom to avoid major frame pacing issues. This configuration is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve smooth frame rates across most settings, but it struggles to maintain fluidity at 4K Ultra.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance rank of this CPU and GPU combo in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: This combination ranks 1434 out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the lower percentile of systems tested for this specific title.

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

A: Yes, but only with significant compromises. At 4K with Low settings, it averages 54.1 FPS, but this drops to 33 FPS on High and just 27.7 FPS on Ultra, which is below the threshold for a consistently smooth experience.

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

A: The data shows that 1080p is the most viable resolution. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 92.9 FPS, and even on Medium settings it maintains a solid 72.4 FPS average.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its closest rivals in general benchmark scores?

A: The Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score of 19221. This puts it roughly on par with the Intel Core i7-8700K (19210, a 0.1% difference) and slightly ahead of the Intel Core i5-1335U (19167, a 0.3% difference), while being slightly behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS (19364, a -0.7% difference).

Q: How does the GPU's performance compare to its nearest competitors in general benchmarks?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074. It performs nearly identically to the AMD Radeon RX 7600S (15996, a 0.5% difference) and is slightly ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 (15786, a 1.8% difference), while being slightly behind the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 (16351, a -1.7% difference).

Q: What is the launch MSRP for the components in this build?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has a launch MSRP of $174, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has a launch MSRP of 349 USD.

How This Combo Ranks

The benchmark data places this system in a challenging position for Microsoft Flight Simulator. With a rank of 1434 out of 1795 tested combinations, this setup sits in the bottom 20% of all tested hardware pairings for this game. This ranking is a strong indicator that while the system is functional, it is not optimized for the high-end experience that the simulator can offer. The performance ceiling is significantly lower than what many other tested configurations achieve, meaning users will need to manage their graphical expectations carefully.

This low ranking is primarily driven by the GPU's limitations. The RTX 2060's percentile of 58 against all GPUs suggests it is a mid-range performer, and in a game as demanding as Microsoft Flight Simulator, this translates to a substantial performance deficit. The CPU, on the other hand, performs better in relative terms, with a percentile of 77 against all CPUs. This asymmetry suggests the graphics card is the limiting factor, a conclusion reinforced by the FPS measurements across different resolutions. The system's overall rank is a direct consequence of this imbalance, where a relatively capable processor is paired with a graphics card that cannot fully utilize its potential at higher graphical settings.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a classic pattern of GPU-bound scaling. As resolution increases, the frame rate drops significantly, confirming that the RTX 2060's rendering capabilities are the primary constraint. The most telling comparison is the drop from 1080p to 4K at the same settings. At High settings, the average frame rate falls from 53.5 FPS at 1080p to 33 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 20.5 FPS. This steep decline is a clear sign that the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are being overwhelmed at higher resolutions.

The scaling is consistent across all settings. On Low, the system goes from 92.9 FPS at 1080p to 54.1 FPS at 4K. On Medium, it drops from 72.4 FPS to 39.4 FPS. On Ultra, it falls from 53.7 FPS to 27.7 FPS. This proportional decrease in performance at every preset indicates that the GPU is the bottleneck, not the CPU or system memory. The data suggests that to maintain a playable frame rate, users must prioritize resolution over graphical fidelity. The 1080p resolution offers the best balance, while 1440p is a middle ground, and 4K is only viable with significant settings reductions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system's performance is at its strongest, offering a range of options for the user. The highest average frame rate is achieved with Low settings at 92.9 FPS, which provides a very smooth experience. Moving up to Medium settings yields a still-impressive 72.4 FPS average. High and Ultra settings produce nearly identical averages, at 53.5 and 53.7 FPS respectively, indicating that the visual gains from Ultra over High come at almost no performance cost at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance cost of the higher resolution becomes evident. The Low setting produces an average of 75.9 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings drop to 59.8 FPS, which is a reasonable target for many users. High settings yield 46 FPS, and Ultra settings drop further to 40.8 FPS. These figures show that 1440p is a viable option for this hardware, but users will likely need to stick to Medium or Low settings for a consistently smooth experience.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2060 is clearly overburdened. The only setting that achieves a playable average is Low, at 54.1 FPS. Medium settings drop to 39.4 FPS, High to 33 FPS, and Ultra to a very choppy 27.7 FPS. These results indicate that 4K gaming with this setup requires significant compromises in visual quality, and even then, the experience may not be smooth enough for all users, particularly in dense or complex flight scenarios.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is unequivocally the limiting component in this configuration for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit memory bus, providing 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, are sufficient for 1080p and some 1440p scenarios, but they are strained by the demands of 4K. The GPU's boost clock of 1680 MHz and its 1920 shading units are not enough to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions, as evidenced by the FPS data.

The GPU's performance characteristics align with its general benchmark standing. Its average benchmark score of 16074 places it at the 58th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all similarly performing cards. This mid-range positioning is reflected in the game's performance, where it can handle lower resolutions with ease but struggles to keep up with the visual demands of a flight simulator. The 12 nm Turing architecture, with 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, does not provide a significant advantage in this title, as the performance is primarily limited by raw rasterization power and memory bandwidth. The data makes it clear that for a better 4K experience, a more powerful GPU would be necessary.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this system is at 1920x1080 resolution with Medium settings, which yields an average of 72.4 FPS. This provides a strong balance between visual quality and smoothness, offering a significant improvement over the Low preset while maintaining a frame rate well above the 60 FPS target. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p, while producing nearly identical frame rates around 53.5 FPS, are also viable if users prioritize visual fidelity over a higher frame rate.

For users with 1440p monitors, the recommended setting is Low, which achieves an average of 75.9 FPS. This is the only preset at this resolution that consistently delivers a high frame rate. While Medium at 59.8 FPS is playable, it may not be smooth enough for all users. At 4K, the only acceptable setting is Low, with an average of 54.1 FPS. All other settings at this resolution produce frame rates below 40 FPS, which is generally considered too choppy for a satisfying experience. The data suggests that users should prioritize resolution and settings that keep the average frame rate above 60 FPS, which effectively limits them to 1080p Medium or 1440p Low.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides a solid foundation for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz ensure that it can handle the game's single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads without becoming a significant bottleneck. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16518 and a single-core score of 2332, demonstrate its capability to handle the complex physics and AI calculations that the simulator requires.

While the GPU is the primary limiting factor, the CPU's performance is more than adequate for this pairing. Its percentile of 77 against all CPUs indicates it is a strong performer, and its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i7-8700K, show it is competitive with previous-generation high-end parts. The 18 MB of shared L3 cache helps with data throughput, and the support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory offers flexibility. The measured FPS data suggests that the CPU is not causing frame rate drops, as the performance scales predictably with resolution and settings, which is a hallmark of a GPU-bound scenario. In this configuration, the i5-12400F will not hold the system back.