Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a demanding flight simulation title that stresses both the CPU and GPU heavily. The Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER combination produces a wide range of frame rates depending on the resolution and quality settings, with the data revealing a clear performance hierarchy. The benchmark results indicate that this pairing is capable of delivering smooth gameplay across most configurations, though the highest visual fidelity at 4K resolution requires some compromises.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER achieves a combo rank of 399 out of 1795 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places the pairing in the top 22% of all tested combos, a strong showing that reflects the substantial graphics horsepower of the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER. The CPU, while not a top-tier performer, holds its own in the broader context; the Core i5-9400 sits at the 50th percentile against all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 2305. Its nearest rivals are extremely close: the Intel Core i3-10305 scores 2300 (a 0.2% delta), the Intel Core i3-1125G4 scores 2299 (a 0.2% delta), and the Intel Xeon E-2134 scores 2295 (a 0.4% delta). The only competitor that edges it out is the Intel Core i7-8809G with a score of 2319, a -0.6% delta.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is a dominant force, ranking at the 86th percentile against all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 48704. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA CMP 50HX (score 49071, delta -0.7%), the NVIDIA RTX A2000 (score 47915, delta 1.6%), the NVIDIA RTX A1000 Mobile (score 47743, delta 2%), and the Intel Arc A550M (score 49737, delta -2.1%). The GPU’s performance is clearly the driving factor in this combo’s solid rank, as the CPU’s mid-pack standing is more than compensated for by the graphics card’s high-end capabilities. In the context of Flight Simulator, which is known for being graphically intensive, this combination leverages the GPU’s strengths effectively, resulting in a rank that is significantly better than what the CPU alone would suggest.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER is the centerpiece of this configuration, and its specifications directly explain the measured frame rates. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 672.3 GB/s. This large memory pool is particularly beneficial for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which loads extensive scenery and terrain data. The memory clock runs at 1313 MHz, with an effective data rate of 21 Gbps, ensuring that the large textures and draw distances in the game are handled without becoming a bottleneck.

The GPU’s core clocks are also substantial: a base clock of 2340 MHz and a boost clock of 2610 MHz. These high clocks, combined with 8448 shading units and 264 texture mapping units, allow the card to process the complex geometry and lighting of the flight simulator efficiently. The 96 raster output units (ROPs) and 66 ray tracing cores further enhance its ability to render detailed scenes. The pixel rate of 250.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 689.0 GTexel/s are indicative of the raw throughput available. In the measured results, the GPU’s role is evident when comparing the 4K Ultra score of 62.5 FPS to the 1080p Low score of 128.6 FPS. The performance scaling is not linear, suggesting that at lower resolutions and settings, the CPU begins to limit the frame rate, while at higher resolutions and settings, the GPU is fully utilized. The GPU's 44.10 TFLOPS of FP32 performance ensures that even the most complex flight scenarios with dense cloud coverage and detailed airports are rendered with sufficient headroom.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired smoothness. For a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the best choice, delivering an average of 63.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at 4K drops to 62.5 FPS, which is still playable but leaves less margin for dips in complex scenes. The Medium preset at 4K offers a comfortable 90.3 FPS, making it a strong option for players who prioritize frame rate over absolute visual fidelity. For 1440p displays, the High preset achieves 89 FPS, while the Medium preset climbs to 109.7 FPS, both of which are excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Low preset at 1440p reaches 120.7 FPS, providing the smoothest experience if needed. At 1080p, all presets are well above 100 FPS, with the Low preset hitting 128.6 FPS and the Medium preset at 119.7 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p still manages 104.6 FPS, making it viable for those who want maximum quality without sacrificing playability.

Given these numbers, the data suggests that players should select the High preset for 4K to balance visual quality and performance, while the Medium or High presets at 1440p offer the best experience for most users. At 1080p, the Ultra preset is recommended, as it provides the highest fidelity while still maintaining a frame rate above 100 FPS. The jump from Medium to High at 1440p is only a 19 FPS reduction (from 109.7 to 89), which is a reasonable trade-off for improved visuals. However, the jump from High to Ultra at 4K is a smaller 0.9 FPS reduction (from 63.4 to 62.5), suggesting that the Ultra preset is not significantly more demanding in this specific configuration.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo performs across different settings and resolutions. At 3840x2160 (4K), the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings yield 106.8 FPS, Medium settings yield 90.3 FPS, High settings yield 63.4 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 62.5 FPS. This represents a performance drop of 41.5% from Low to Ultra, with the most significant single drop occurring between Medium and High (a 26.9 FPS reduction). At 2560x1440 (1440p), the results show Low at 120.7 FPS, Medium at 109.7 FPS, High at 89 FPS, and Ultra at 88.6 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at this resolution is minimal (only 0.4 FPS), indicating that the Ultra preset is not a major additional burden. At 1920x1080 (1080p), the scores are: Low at 128.6 FPS, Medium at 119.7 FPS, High at 105.3 FPS, and Ultra at 104.6 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is significant; for example, the High preset drops from 105.3 FPS at 1080p to 63.4 FPS at 4K, a reduction of 39.8%. Similarly, the Low preset drops from 128.6 FPS at 1080p to 106.8 FPS at 4K, a 17% reduction.

The data reveals that the CPU becomes more of a limiting factor as resolution decreases. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is only 24 FPS (128.6 vs. 104.6), while at 4K, the difference is 44.3 FPS (106.8 vs. 62.5). This suggests that at lower resolutions, the frame rate is capped by the CPU's ability to feed the GPU, whereas at higher resolutions, the GPU's rendering load is the primary constraint. The Core i5-9400, with its 6 cores and 6 threads, is sufficient for this task but does not provide the headroom to push beyond 128.6 FPS at 1080p even on Low settings. The GPU, on the other hand, scales more predictably with resolution, as evidenced by the consistent performance at 4K across different presets.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for this hardware to achieve the highest frame rate?

A: According to the measured data, the highest average frame rate is achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings, reaching 128.6 FPS. For a balance of quality and speed, the Medium preset at 1440p offers 109.7 FPS.

Q: How does the Core i5-9400 compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The Core i5-9400 has an average benchmark score of 2305. It is 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core i3-10305 (score 2300) and the Intel Core i3-1125G4 (score 2299), and 0.4% ahead of the Intel Xeon E-2134 (score 2295). The Intel Core i7-8809G is 0.6% faster with a score of 2319.

Q: Is the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER's 16 GB of VRAM sufficient for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: The measured FPS data does not indicate any VRAM-related stutters or failures, and the 16 GB GDDR6X memory with 672.3 GB/s bandwidth is more than adequate for the tested presets. The GPU ranks at the 86th percentile, indicating strong performance capabilities.

Q: What is the performance difference between the High and Ultra presets at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the High preset averages 63.4 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 62.5 FPS. The difference is a mere 0.9 FPS, suggesting that the Ultra preset offers minimal visual improvements for a negligible performance cost in this configuration.

Q: How does the combo rank compare to other tested systems?

A: This specific combination of the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER ranks 399th out of 1795 tested combos, placing it in the top 22% of all configurations tested for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Q: Does the GPU's synthetic benchmark score align with its in-game performance?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 48704, ranking at the 86th percentile. In-game, it delivers playable frame rates at 4K High (63.4 FPS) and excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p, which is consistent with its high-end positioning. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA CMP 50HX, scores 49071, a -0.7% delta, indicating they are very closely matched in raw compute.