Microsoft Flight Simulator

The Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination produces a specific performance profile in Microsoft Flight Simulator, one that is heavily dictated by the CPU's six physical cores and the GPU's 8 GB of VRAM. The data reveals a system that can handle the simulator’s demands, but with clear bottlenecks that shift depending on resolution and graphical preset. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) to understand where the hardware excels and where it struggles.

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

The Intel Core i5-12400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, running on a 10 nm process. Its base clock of 2.50 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz are the primary drivers of its single-threaded performance, which is critical for a flight simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator that often relies on a few heavily loaded threads for game logic and physics. Benchmark results show a single-thread score of 909 in 3dmark and 2332 in Cinebench R23 single-core, indicating a solid foundation for these tasks.

The CPU’s multi-threaded capabilities are less impactful here, but still relevant for background simulation systems. The processor achieves a 3dmark max-thread score of 5912 and a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16518, placing it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K, has an average score that is only 0.1% different, showing that the 12400F competes directly with that older flagship. In contrast, it is 1.3% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7773X and 0.7% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS. For a flight sim, the high single-thread performance is more valuable than the raw multi-core output, and the data suggests the 12400F provides a capable foundation without becoming a severe hindrance at lower resolutions where the GPU is less taxed.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 2280 MHz with a boost clock of 2497 MHz. This memory configuration is a critical factor, as Microsoft Flight Simulator is known for being resource-intensive, particularly with high-resolution textures. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is likely the limiting factor at 4K resolution, where the Ultra preset’s average FPS drops to 38.6.

The RTX 5060’s compute capabilities are substantial, with 3840 shading units and an FP32 performance of 19.18 TFLOPS. Its average benchmark score of 30109 places it in the 73rd percentile of all GPUs, with its nearest rival being the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, which has a deltaPct of 0. This means the two cards are statistically tied in average performance. However, the RTX 5060 is 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile and 0.5% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla M60. The data indicates that while the GPU has ample raw processing power, its 8 GB memory pool is the primary constraint on visual fidelity at higher resolutions.

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

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the settings presets interact with this hardware. At 1080p, all presets are playable, but the differences are instructive. The Low preset averages 127.1 FPS, while Medium drops to 98.2 FPS, High to 75.4 FPS, and Ultra to 73.1 FPS. The jump from Low to Medium is a significant 28.9 FPS loss, while the jump from High to Ultra is only 2.3 FPS. This suggests that the High preset offers a strong balance, as it provides a substantial visual upgrade over Medium for a relatively modest performance cost compared to the Low-to-Medium jump.

At 1440p, the pattern shifts. The Low preset averages 103.8 FPS, which is still smooth. Medium averages 79 FPS, High averages 61.5 FPS, and Ultra drops to 58 FPS. The High preset here is still playable, but the 4K results are the most telling. At 4K, the Low preset averages 74.3 FPS, which is surprisingly good, but Medium drops to 54.5 FPS, High to 40.5 FPS, and Ultra to 38.6 FPS. Given the data, the High preset at 1080p or the Medium preset at 1440p appears to be the sweet spot for this combo, offering a balance between visual quality and framerate stability. At 4K, users should stick to Low or Medium to maintain playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

Within the benchmark database, this specific combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 ranks 854th out of 1795 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the middle of the pack, which is consistent with its component-level benchmarks. The CPU is in the 77th percentile, and the GPU is in the 73rd percentile, so a mid-pack ranking is logical.

This ranking implies that while this system is perfectly capable of running the game, there are a significant number of other hardware pairings that achieve higher average FPS. The rank suggests that the 8 GB VRAM limit of the GPU and the 6-core CPU are holding the combo back from higher tier performance. The data shows it is not a top-tier enthusiast setup, but it is also far from a low-end configuration. It sits in the middle of the distribution, indicating a balanced but not exceptional pairing for this specific title.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals the shifting bottleneck between CPU and GPU. At the Low preset, the average FPS drops from 127.1 at 1080p to 103.8 at 1440p (a 23.3 FPS drop) and then to 74.3 at 4K (a further 29.5 FPS drop). This is a relatively linear decline, suggesting the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor as resolution increases, but the CPU is still keeping up.

At the Ultra preset, the drop is more dramatic. From 1080p to 1440p, FPS falls from 73.1 to 58 (a 15.1 FPS drop), and then from 1440p to 4K, it falls to 38.6 (a 19.4 FPS drop). The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K at Ultra is 47.2%, while at Low it is 41.5%. This indicates that at higher settings, the GPU’s workload increases significantly, and the 8 GB VRAM becomes a major constraint. The data implies that at 1080p, the CPU is more of a co-limiter, but as resolution and settings increase, the GPU, specifically its memory capacity, becomes the dominant bottleneck, preventing the system from maintaining high frame rates at 4K.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve high frame rates?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset achieves an average of 127.1 FPS, and even the Ultra preset stays above 73 FPS. The data suggests that 1080p is the most comfortable resolution for this pairing, with 1440p being viable on Medium or High settings.

Q: How does the RTX 5060 compare to its nearest rival in average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 5060's average benchmark score is 30109, which is exactly 0% different from the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT. It is 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck at 4K Ultra settings?

A: The data shows that the CPU is less of a bottleneck at 4K. The FPS drop from 1440p Ultra (58 FPS) to 4K Ultra (38.6 FPS) is substantial, indicating the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and processing power are the limiting factors at this resolution, not the 6-core CPU.

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p on High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for this combo at 2560x1440 on High settings is 61.5 FPS.

Q: How does the i5-12400F's single-thread performance impact the game?

A: The CPU has a 3dmark single-thread score of 909 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2332. This strong single-thread performance helps maintain playable frame rates, especially at lower resolutions where the CPU is more heavily utilized.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank in the database for this game?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 combination ranks 854th out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the middle of the field.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the system's performance across all settings and resolutions. Here is the complete breakdown:

1920x1080

• Ultra: Average FPS of 73.1.
• High: Average FPS of 75.4.
• Medium: Average FPS of 98.2.
• Low: Average FPS of 127.1.

2560x1440

• Ultra: Average FPS of 58.
• High: Average FPS of 61.5.
• Medium: Average FPS of 79.
• Low: Average FPS of 103.8.

3840x2160

• Ultra: Average FPS of 38.6.
• High: Average FPS of 40.5.
• Medium: Average FPS of 54.5.
• Low: Average FPS of 74.3.

The data indicates that the High preset at 1080p is the most balanced point. At 1440p, the Medium preset offers a good experience. The 4K resolution is only playable on Low settings, and even then, the 74.3 FPS average is a significant drop from the 127.1 FPS seen at 1080p Low. This breakdown confirms that the system is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p, with the GPU's 8 GB memory being the primary obstacle to a satisfying 4K experience.