Microsoft Flight Simulator

FAQ

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

A: This combo ranks 177th out of 1795 tested combinations, placing it comfortably in the top 10% of all tested systems for this title.

Q: How does the Intel Core i5-12600KF compare to its closest CPU rivals?

A: The i5-12600KF scores 27,827 in average benchmark score, essentially matching the Intel Core i9-10900K at 27,829 (0% delta). It trails the Intel Core i5-12600K by 0.1% and the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H by 0.2%, while leading the Intel Core i7-13700H by 0.4%.

Q: What is the GPU's memory configuration and how does it affect performance?

A: The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 672.3 GB/s of bandwidth. This large frame buffer is particularly relevant for a flight simulator, which often loads extensive terrain and scenery data.

Q: What are the CPU's core and thread counts?

A: The i5-12600KF has 10 cores and 16 threads, based on Intel's Alder Lake architecture. It operates with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.90 GHz.

Q: How does the GPU rank against other tested graphics cards?

A: The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER achieves an average benchmark score of 48,704 and ranks in the 86th percentile among all GPUs. It sits between the NVIDIA CMP 50HX (0.7% faster) and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 (1.6% slower) in the nearest rival comparison.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest measured average is 195.5 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The lowest is 61.4 FPS at 3840x2160 with Ultra settings.

How This Combo Ranks

The data shows this combination of an Intel Core i5-12600KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER achieves a rank of 177 out of 1,795 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the 90th percentile of all tested systems, a strong result for a demanding flight simulation title. The ranking reflects a balanced pairing where neither component becomes a severe bottleneck at typical gaming resolutions.

The CPU's average benchmark score of 27,827 puts it in the 84th percentile among all processors, while the GPU's 48,704 average score places it in the 86th percentile among all graphics cards. These complementary percentiles suggest the combo is well-matched. The i5-12600KF's nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-10900K, scores nearly identically at 27,829, indicating the CPU's performance is consistent with older high-end parts. The GPU's closest competitor, the NVIDIA CMP 50HX, is only 0.7% faster, showing the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER sits at a competitive performance tier.

Given the game's release date of August 2020, this modern hardware combination delivers frame rates that should satisfy most users. The rank of 177 out of 1,795 means roughly 1,600 other tested combos fall below this one, with only 176 performing better. This is a top-tier result for a simulator known for heavy CPU and GPU demands.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process from TSMC. Its 16 GB of GDDR6X memory provides ample capacity for Microsoft Flight Simulator's large textures and complex scenery. The memory runs at 1313 MHz with 21 Gbps effective speed, delivering 672.3 GB/s of bandwidth across a 256-bit bus. This memory subsystem is crucial for streaming terrain data smoothly during flight.

The GPU's boost clock reaches 2610 MHz, with a base clock of 2340 MHz. These high clocks, combined with 8,448 shading units, 264 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, allow the card to handle the game's geometry and lighting calculations efficiently. The 66 ray tracing cores and 264 tensor cores provide additional capabilities that modern flight simulators can leverage for enhanced visuals.

Benchmark results show the GPU achieves a PassMark G3D score of 31,811 and a Geekbench OpenCL score of 223,091. Its 86th percentile ranking among all GPUs confirms strong overall performance. In this specific game, the GPU's role becomes more pronounced at higher resolutions and settings, where the 4K Ultra result of 61.4 FPS indicates the card is working near its limits.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce 195.5 FPS average, Medium hits 150.2 FPS, High reaches 113.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 107.3 FPS. The gap from Low to Ultra is 88.2 FPS, showing significant scaling with settings at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the numbers remain robust. Low settings yield 154 FPS, Medium achieves 123.8 FPS, High manages 88.4 FPS, and Ultra produces 87.6 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra is minimal here, suggesting diminishing returns beyond High settings at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the GPU faces its toughest challenge. Low settings still deliver a playable 114.2 FPS, Medium reaches 88.2 FPS, High drops to 69 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 61.4 FPS. All 4K results remain above 60 FPS, which is respectable for a flight simulator with dense scenery.

The data reveals a clear pattern: at 1080p, the CPU likely limits performance since even Ultra settings exceed 100 FPS. At 4K, the GPU becomes the primary constraint, as the FPS drops more sharply with increasing settings.

Settings Recommendations

For users with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset at 113.2 FPS offers an excellent balance of visual quality and smoothness. Ultra costs only 5.9 FPS more, dropping to 107.3 FPS, so users with high-refresh monitors may prefer Ultra for maximum fidelity without sacrificing playability.

At 2560x1440, High settings at 88.4 FPS provide the best experience per the measured data. Ultra at 87.6 FPS is nearly identical, so the choice between these two comes down to personal preference. Medium at 123.8 FPS is the option for users prioritizing higher frame rates, though the visual compromise may not be worth the 35.4 FPS gain.

For 3840x2160, High settings at 69 FPS represent the sweet spot. Ultra at 61.4 FPS remains above 60, but the 7.6 FPS drop may not justify the additional visual load. Medium at 88.2 FPS is a strong alternative for users who want smoother motion over maximum detail. Low at 114.2 FPS is available for competitive or fast-paced flying, but the visual degradation is substantial.

The data indicates that High settings offer the most consistent experience across all three resolutions, maintaining 69 FPS or higher in every case.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12600KF features 10 cores and 16 threads from the Alder Lake architecture. Its 3.70 GHz base clock and 4.90 GHz boost clock provide strong single-threaded performance, which is critical for flight simulators that often rely heavily on one primary simulation thread. The CPU has 20 MB of shared L3 cache and 1.25 MB of L2 cache per core.

Benchmark results show the CPU scores 3,309 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 23,444 in multi-core. Its PassMark single-thread score of 3,925 and multi-thread score of 27,575 reinforce its capability. The 84th percentile ranking among all CPUs confirms this processor holds its own in modern gaming workloads.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions. The 1080p Ultra result of 107.3 FPS suggests the processor can feed the GPU adequately even at high settings. At 1080p Low, the 195.5 FPS result indicates the CPU remains capable of high frame rates when the GPU is less taxed. The CPU's 125 W TDP and unlocked multiplier allow for overclocking potential, though stock performance is already strong.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the limiting component at each resolution. At Low settings, the drop from 195.5 FPS at 1080p to 114.2 FPS at 4K represents a 41.6% reduction. This smaller percentage drop suggests the CPU is the primary limiter at 1080p Low, as the GPU has headroom to render more pixels.

At High settings, the scaling is steeper: 113.2 FPS at 1080p falls to 88.4 FPS at 1440p and then to 69 FPS at 4K. The 39.1% drop from 1080p to 4K indicates the GPU is becoming more influential, but the CPU still contributes. At Ultra settings, the results are 107.3, 87.6, and 61.4 FPS across the three resolutions. The 42.8% drop from 1080p to 4K shows the GPU's workload increases substantially at maximum settings.

The data indicates a balanced system where the CPU and GPU share the load. At 1080p, the CPU can push high frame rates, but the GPU still manages to render well over 100 FPS at most settings. At 4K, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, but the CPU's strong single-threaded performance ensures it does not drag down results further. The 61.4 FPS minimum at 4K Ultra demonstrates that this combo can handle the most demanding configuration in this game without dropping below 60 FPS.