Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator presents an unusually demanding workload for the Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Arc B370 combination. The measured frame rates across all resolutions and settings presets place this pairing in the lower segment of the database, with a combo rank of 2770 out of 2996 tested combinations. The data indicates a system that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor, as the CPU’s substantial multi-threading capabilities are not able to translate into playable performance at higher visual fidelity. The following analysis breaks down the measured results to explain the role of each component and what the numbers mean for gameplay.

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

The Intel Core i7-12700K is a 12-core, 20-thread processor based on the Alder Lake architecture, built on Intel's 10 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with a 125 W TDP. This processor includes 25 MB of shared L3 cache and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its benchmark scores show strong multi-threaded performance, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19784 and a Geekbench multi-core score of 15790. The single-thread performance is also respectable, with a Geekbench single-core score of 2308 and a Passmark single-thread score of 4013.

In the context of Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU’s role is to handle the complex simulation logic, physics, and the vast amount of world data streaming. The processor’s 12 cores and 20 threads are well-suited for this task, as the game is known to be multi-threaded. The data suggests that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck in this configuration. For instance, at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 50 FPS, which is the highest average FPS recorded in the entire dataset. This indicates that when the graphical load is reduced, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU enough data to reach a more reasonable frame rate. However, as the resolution and settings increase, the frame rate drops significantly, which points to the GPU being the limiting factor.

The processor's percentile ranking of 84 versus all CPUs further confirms its strong standing in the broader market. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-13600T and Intel Core i7-12700KF, have average benchmark scores that are within a fraction of a percent, showing that the i7-12700K is a top-tier performer in its class. None of these CPU-side strengths can overcome the GPU's limitations in this specific game, as the measured FPS data demonstrates that the graphics card's performance ceiling is reached well before the CPU's potential is exhausted.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average frame rate achieved by this CPU and GPU combination in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 50 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with the Low settings preset.

Q: At which resolution and settings does the combo achieve its lowest average frame rate?

A: The lowest average frame rate is 17 FPS, which is measured at 3840x2160 resolution with the Ultra settings preset.

Q: How does the frame rate change from 1080p to 4K at the Medium settings preset?

A: The average frame rate at 1920x1080 Medium is 39 FPS. This drops to 32 FPS at 2560x1440 Medium and further down to 23 FPS at 3840x2160 Medium. This represents a 41% decrease from 1080p to 4K at this settings level.

Q: What is the performance difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields an average of 41 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields an average of 23 FPS. This is a reduction of 18 FPS, or approximately 44%, when moving from Low to Ultra.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B370’s benchmark score competitive with other GPUs?

A: No, the Intel Arc B370 has a percentile ranking of 5 versus all GPUs. Its average benchmark score of 1184 is nearly identical to that of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which has a score of 1186 and a deltaPct of -0.2.

Q: Based on the measured data, is this system more likely to be limited by the CPU or the GPU?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor. When settings are lowered, which reduces the GPU load, the frame rate increases substantially. For example, at 1080p, the average FPS increases from 28 at Ultra to 50 at Low.

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

The resolution scaling data clearly demonstrates a system that is severely GPU-bound. As the resolution increases, the frame rate drops proportionally, which is the classic signature of a graphics card operating at its maximum capacity. At the Low settings preset, the average frame rate goes from 50 FPS at 1920x1080, to 41 FPS at 2560x1440, and finally to 30 FPS at 3840x2160. This is a 40% reduction from 1080p to 4K, showing that even at the lowest graphical fidelity, the GPU struggles to maintain performance at higher pixel counts.

The trend is even more pronounced at higher settings. For the High preset, the average FPS is 30 at 1080p, 24 at 1440p, and 18 at 4K. This represents a 40% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a further 25% drop from 1440p to 4K. The scaling pattern is consistent across all presets, confirming that the rendering workload is overwhelming the GPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see similar frame rates across different resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not scale with pixel count. However, the data shows a clear and consistent decline in performance as resolution increases, which is a definitive indicator that the Intel Arc B370 is the limiting component in this configuration.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The performance of the Intel Core i7-12700K and Intel Arc B370 combination is ranked 2770 out of 2996 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems, which is a stark contrast to the CPU's individual performance percentile of 84. This discrepancy highlights the significant drag that the GPU has on the overall system performance. The combo rank is a holistic measure that reflects the actual gaming experience, and in this case, it is very poor.

The rank of 2770 indicates that the vast majority of other tested combinations, even those with much weaker CPUs, are able to achieve higher frame rates in this game. This is because the game’s performance is so heavily dependent on the graphics card. The data suggests that the i7-12700K’s raw processing power is being effectively wasted in this pairing. The CPU is capable of much more, but it is held back by the GPU's inability to render frames quickly enough. This is a clear example of a system imbalance where the CPU's potential is not realized due to a severe GPU bottleneck.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on Intel's 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The GPU has 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 ROPs. Its memory is "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory, and its bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent." This is a critical detail, as the GPU does not have its own dedicated VRAM.

The GPU's performance is extremely low. Its benchmark score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 is 1184, which places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are ancient parts like the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M, which have similar scores. This context explains the measured FPS data perfectly. The GPU simply does not have the computational power to handle Microsoft Flight Simulator's demanding rendering requirements. The lack of dedicated VRAM and reliance on shared system memory further exacerbates the bottleneck, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The data shows that this GPU is a major limiting factor, preventing the system from achieving playable frame rates at most settings.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the results are as follows: Low settings yield an average of 50 FPS, Medium settings yield an average of 39 FPS with a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 45, High settings yield an average of 30 FPS, and Ultra settings yield an average of 28 FPS. This shows a clear progression where performance degrades as the preset quality increases.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates are 41 FPS for Low, 32 FPS for Medium (with a min of 27 and max of 36), 24 FPS for High, and 23 FPS for Ultra. The gap between High and Ultra narrows at this resolution, but both are below 25 FPS. At 3840x2160, the performance drops further. The Low preset averages 30 FPS, Medium averages 23 FPS (with a min of 20 and max of 27), High averages 18 FPS, and Ultra averages 17 FPS. The data shows that at 4K, even the Low preset is barely playable, and the higher presets result in a slideshow-like experience. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings show that the system can experience stutters, dropping to 20 FPS at 4K and 27 FPS at 1440p.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the only configuration that offers a consistently playable experience is the Low preset at 1920x1080, which averages 50 FPS. This is the only combination of resolution and settings that achieves an average frame rate above 45 FPS, which is often considered the threshold for smooth gameplay in a simulator. The Low preset at 1440p, with an average of 41 FPS, is also a possibility, but it may not be as fluid.

For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the Medium preset at 1080p, with an average of 39 FPS, is the highest quality setting that maintains an average above 30 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 32 FPS, which is borderline. The data strongly suggests that users should avoid the High and Ultra presets entirely, as they all result in average frame rates below 30 FPS, even at 1080p. The Ultra preset at 4K, with an average of 17 FPS, is effectively unplayable. The system is best suited for 1080p gaming with Low or Medium settings, as this is where the CPU and GPU are best balanced. The data indicates that the GPU's limitations make any higher resolution or settings preset a poor choice for this title.