Microsoft Flight Simulator

FAQ

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

A: The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2770 out of 2996 tested combos in this game. This places the combo in the bottom percentile of all systems tested, reflecting a performance level that is well below the majority of configurations.

Q: How does the GPU's synthetic benchmark score compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Arc B370’s 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1184. This is essentially tied with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which scores 1186 (a deltaPct of -0.2%). It trails the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190) by 0.5% and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192) by 0.7%, while leading the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168) by 1.4%. These deltas are all within a 2% band, indicating performance parity with this group.

Q: What is the best average FPS recorded for this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate observed is 50 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low settings preset. This is the only configuration in the entire dataset that reaches or exceeds 50 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU appear to be the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The processor is a 10-core, 16-thread Raptor Lake part with a boost clock of 4.70 GHz, which is powerful for gaming. However, the Arc B370 is an integrated GPU (IGP) with a 5th percentile ranking among all GPUs. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases, which is a classic symptom of a GPU-limited scenario.

Q: Are there any Ultra settings results that are playable at 4K?

A: No. At 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset, the average frame rate is 17 FPS. Even at the High preset, the average is only 18 FPS, and the Medium preset yields 23 FPS. None of these are within a playable range for a flight simulator.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 41 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 23 FPS. This represents a drop of 18 FPS, or roughly 44% fewer frames per second when moving from the lowest to the highest quality settings.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive component in this system's performance profile. Its role is defined by its integrated nature and its benchmark placement. The GPU is an IGP based on the Panther Lake chip with the Xe3-LPG architecture. It operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The memory configuration is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the host system's RAM for both capacity and bandwidth, which is system-dependent.

The synthetic data places this GPU in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184 from the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals are all older or lower-tier discrete and mobile parts, including the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770. The deltas here are negligible, all under 1.5%. This indicates that the Arc B370's raw compute capability is on par with these legacy components, which is a very low bar for modern gaming.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU's limitations are stark. The game is known for its heavy graphical load, and this GPU simply lacks the throughput to maintain high frame rates. The measured FPS data shows a clear ceiling. At 1080p with Low settings, the system manages 50 FPS. This is the only instance where the average exceeds 40 FPS. Moving to Medium settings at 1080p drops the average to 39 FPS, and High settings bring it down to 30 FPS. The GPU's pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s are insufficient for the demands of higher resolutions and quality presets in this simulator.

The GPU's memory architecture is also a factor. Since the memory is system-shared, the bandwidth is "System Dependent." This can create a performance bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions where memory pressure increases. The fact that the GPU has 1280 shading units and 10 ray tracing cores is irrelevant when the memory subsystem and raw fill rates are this constrained. The 3DMark score of 1184, which is only 1.4% higher than the AMD FirePro M2000's score of 1168, underscores that this is not a gaming-oriented part.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14400F provides a stark contrast to the GPU in terms of capability. This is a desktop processor from the Core 14th Gen series, built on Raptor Lake architecture. It features 10 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The CPU has a substantial 20 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory.

The processor's benchmark scores are strong. In Cinebench R23, it scores 21645 in multi-core and 3055 in single-core. Its Geekbench scores are 11268 (multi-core) and 2058 (single-core). The Passmark multithread score is 25470, and the single-thread score is 3701. These numbers place the CPU in the 83rd percentile of all processors, indicating that it is a high-performing part relative to the broader market.

Its nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U (32233, +0.1% delta), Intel Core i9-11900 (32226, +0.2%), AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS (32354, -0.2%), and Intel Core i7-12800H (32121, +0.5%). The i5-14400F's average benchmark score is 32279, which is in the same ballpark as these laptop and older desktop parts, but it does not have a significant edge over any of them.

In the context of this game, the CPU is more than adequate. Flight simulators can be CPU-intensive, particularly for physics and AI calculations. However, the benchmark results indicate that the i5-14400F is not the bottleneck in this system. The CPU's high boost clock and multi-threading capabilities are sufficient to feed the GPU. The limiting factor is the GPU's inability to render frames quickly enough to utilize the CPU's full potential. The processor's 65W TDP and active production status confirm it is a modern, efficient part, but its performance is largely wasted in this pairing due to the GPU's constraints.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14400F and Intel Arc B370 combination ranks 2770 out of 2996 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This ranking is a direct reflection of the GPU's poor performance relative to the field. A rank of 2770 out of 2996 means that this combo performs better than only about 7.5% of all tested configurations.

This is a significant mismatch. The CPU is a solid mid-range desktop part, ranking in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. However, the GPU is an integrated solution that ranks in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. The combo's overall ranking is dragged down entirely by the GPU. The data shows that the CPU is capable of much higher performance, but it is hamstrung by the graphics solution.

The rank of 2770 is not an indictment of the CPU's ability, but rather a measure of the system's overall gaming performance. The i5-14400F could easily be paired with a more powerful discrete GPU to achieve a much higher ranking. As it stands, this combo sits at the bottom of the pile for this game, alongside systems with much older or weaker processors. The gap between the CPU's 83rd percentile and the combo's 2770th rank (out of 2996) highlights the severe imbalance in this configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of how this combo performs across different resolutions and settings. All data points are averages unless otherwise specified.

1080p (1920x1080):

• Low: 50 FPS average. This is the best result in the entire dataset.
• Medium: 39 FPS average, with a minimum of 33 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS.
• High: 30 FPS average.
• Ultra: 28 FPS average.

1440p (2560x1440):

• Low: 41 FPS average.
• Medium: 32 FPS average, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 36 FPS.
• High: 24 FPS average.
• Ultra: 23 FPS average.

4K (3840x2160):

• Low: 30 FPS average.
• Medium: 23 FPS average, with a minimum of 20 FPS and a maximum of 27 FPS.
• High: 18 FPS average.
• Ultra: 17 FPS average.

Interpreting these numbers shows a clear pattern. The system is playable at 1080p Low, where it achieves 50 FPS. This is the only setting where the average FPS is above the 40s. At 1080p Medium, the average drops to 39 FPS, which is still marginal for a smooth experience. The High and Ultra presets at 1080p are below 30 FPS, making them difficult to play.

At 1440p, the performance degrades further. Even the Low preset only manages 41 FPS. The Medium preset is at 32 FPS, and High and Ultra are in the low 20s. At 4K, the system is largely unplayable, with the Low preset being the only one to hit 30 FPS, and all other presets being below 24 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combo is achieved at 1080p with the Low preset. This is the only configuration that yields an average frame rate of 50 FPS, which is the most fluid result recorded. While 50 FPS is not a high refresh rate, it is the best playable option for this hardware.

If a user insists on higher quality settings, the 1080p Medium preset is the next viable step, offering 39 FPS average. However, this comes with a significant dip in smoothness. The 1080p High preset at 30 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 28 FPS is not recommended for a game that requires constant visual feedback.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only reasonable choice, providing 41 FPS. The Medium preset at 32 FPS is the absolute minimum for playability, but it is not ideal. The High and Ultra presets at this resolution are too slow for a good experience.

The data clearly indicates that this system is not suited for high or ultra settings at any resolution above 1080p. For a flight simulator, where precision and smooth visuals are important, the 1080p Low preset is the only setting that provides a consistent and responsive experience. The 4K resolution should be avoided entirely, as even the Low preset only achieves 30 FPS.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals the nature of the bottleneck in this system. Looking at the Low preset, the average FPS goes from 50 at 1080p, to 41 at 1440p, and finally to 30 at 4K. This is a drop of 18% from 1080p to 1440p, and a further drop of 27% from 1440p to 4K. The overall decline from 1080p to 4K is 40%.

For the Medium preset, the averages are 39 FPS at 1080p, 32 FPS at 1440p, and 23 FPS at 4K. This represents a 41% drop from 1080p to 1440p, and a 28% drop from 1440p to 4K. The High preset shows a similar trend: 30 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K, a total drop of 40%.

This scaling behavior is a classic indicator of a GPU-limited system. As the resolution increases, the number of pixels the GPU must render increases exponentially. The fact that the FPS drops proportionally with the pixel count suggests that the GPU is saturated and cannot keep up with the increased workload. The CPU is not the limiting factor here; if it were, the FPS would remain relatively stable across resolutions, as the CPU workload does not change significantly with resolution.

The data shows that this combo is severely GPU-bound. The Arc B370's limited pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints. The i5-14400F has ample headroom to provide more frames, but the GPU simply cannot output them. This makes the system unsuitable for high-resolution gaming, and even at 1080p, it is only viable on the lowest settings. The performance cliff from 1080p to 4K reinforces that this is a low-end graphics solution paired with a mid-range processor.