Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is an exceptionally demanding title, and the benchmark data for the Intel Core i7-13700K paired with the Intel Arc B390 confirms this. The combination ranks 2665th out of 2996 tested combos in this game, placing it in the bottom 11 percent of all configurations. This is a pairing where the integrated-class GPU is the clear bottleneck, struggling to maintain playable frame rates even at lower resolutions and settings. The following analysis breaks down the measured performance data to show exactly where the limits are.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent, revealing a system almost entirely bound by the graphics processor. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 56 FPS at 1920x1080 to 45 FPS at 2560x1440, and then plummets to 33 FPS at 3840x2160. That represents a 21% reduction in performance when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 27% reduction when stepping up to 4K. The scaling is similarly harsh on Medium settings, where averages decline from 43 FPS at 1080p to 35 FPS at 1440p and finally to 26 FPS at 4K.

The data indicates that the limiting component is unequivocally the GPU. A CPU-bound scenario would show far less variation between resolutions, as the processor's workload remains relatively constant regardless of pixel count. Instead, the frame rate drops in near-lockstep with the increasing pixel throughput, which is the classic signature of a graphics card that has reached its fill-rate ceiling. At High settings, the 4K average is just 19 FPS, which is identical to the Ultra preset result. This suggests that at 4K, the GPU is so saturated that the additional workload of Ultra settings over High settings is negligible; it is already maxed out.

For a flight simulator where smooth camera panning and instrument readability are crucial, the 4K results are essentially unusable. The 19 to 33 FPS range across all settings at 3840x2160 is below the threshold for a comfortable experience. Even at 2560x1440, the results are marginal. The best 1440p figure is 45 FPS on Low, but that still involves a significant visual compromise. The scaling pattern makes it clear that users should treat 1080p as the primary target for this GPU, and even then, only with specific settings adjustments.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics processor based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its performance class is made plain by its benchmark scores. It posts a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which places it at the 9th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in synthetic testing are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (scoring 1463, a 1.3% difference) and the NVIDIA GeForce 800M (scoring 1460, a 1.5% difference). These are legacy entry-level mobile parts, which puts the Arc B390's raw compute capability into stark perspective.

The GPU's clock speeds are listed with a base of 300 MHz and a boost of 2500 MHz. It features 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation pipelines. The memory configuration is unique in that it uses "System Shared" memory, with bandwidth that is "System Dependent". This means the GPU relies on the system's main memory instead of dedicated VRAM, which can introduce latency and bandwidth contention in a demanding game like Microsoft Flight Simulator. The FP32 performance is rated at 7.680 TFLOPS.

These specifications translate directly into the measured frame rates. The shared memory architecture is likely a contributing factor to the severe frame rate drops when increasing resolution and settings, as the demand for memory bandwidth grows exponentially. The GPU's pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are simply insufficient for the rendering load of this simulation at high resolutions. In essence, the Arc B390 has the raw throughput of an entry-level discrete GPU from over a decade ago, and the benchmark data confirms that it cannot handle the modern graphical demands of Flight Simulator beyond the lowest tiers of quality.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K?

A: Technically, yes, it can run the game, but the experience is poor. The measured average frame rates at 3840x2160 range from 19 FPS on both High and Ultra settings to 26 FPS on Medium and 33 FPS on Low. These figures are far below what is generally considered playable for a smooth simulation experience.

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combination?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system achieves a playable average frame rate. At 1080p, the averages are 56 FPS on Low, 43 FPS on Medium, 33 FPS on High, and 31 FPS on Ultra. The 2560x1440 results are borderline, with a best-case average of 45 FPS on Low.

Q: How does the Arc B390 compare to its closest GPU rivals?

A: In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark, the Arc B390 scored 1482. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463 (1.3% slower), the NVIDIA GeForce 800M with 1460 (1.5% slower), and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM with 1446 (2.5% slower). It performs slightly better than these, but they are all in the same low-performance tier.

Q: Is the CPU or the GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The GPU is the clear limiting factor. This is evident from the resolution scaling, where frame rates drop dramatically as resolution increases. If the CPU were the bottleneck, performance would remain relatively flat across different resolutions. The CPU's high benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745, indicate it has ample processing power for this title.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080, the average frame rate on Low settings is 56 FPS. On Ultra settings, the average drops to 31 FPS. This is a 44.6% reduction in average frame rate when moving from the lowest to the highest quality preset.

Q: What are the frame rate consistency figures at Medium settings?

A: The data for Medium settings includes minimum and maximum frame rates. At 1080p, the average is 43 FPS with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. At 1440p, the average is 35 FPS with a minimum of 30 FPS and a maximum of 40 FPS. At 4K, the average is 26 FPS with a minimum of 22 FPS and a maximum of 30 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

The benchmark data points to a single viable strategy for this hardware combination: prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, and use 1080p as the target resolution. The Low preset at 1920x1080 is the only configuration that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, with an average of 56 FPS. This is the only setting that provides a truly smooth experience for a flight simulator, where quick camera movements and dense scenery require consistent frame pacing.

If a user cannot tolerate the visual simplicity of the Low preset, the Medium preset at 1080p is the next best option. It delivers an average of 43 FPS, with a minimum of 37 FPS and a maximum of 50 FPS. This is a playable, albeit not perfectly smooth, experience. The frame time consistency is decent, as indicated by the relatively narrow range between minimum and maximum. This is likely the best "quality-to-playability" trade-off available on this system.

The High and Ultra presets should be avoided at all resolutions. At 1080p, they yield averages of 33 FPS and 31 FPS, respectively, which are too low for a satisfying experience. At 1440p, High and Ultra drop to 26 FPS and 25 FPS, and at 4K, they both hit an unplayable 19 FPS. There is no scenario in the measured data where these higher presets provide an acceptable frame rate. It is better to use the Medium preset at 1080p than to use the High preset at 1440p, as the frame rate is significantly higher and the visual difference is less impactful than the stutter and lag of a low frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured frame rate data is as follows:

1920x1080

• Low: Average 56 FPS
• Medium: Average 43 FPS, Minimum 37 FPS, Maximum 50 FPS
• High: Average 33 FPS
• Ultra: Average 31 FPS

2560x1440

• Low: Average 45 FPS
• Medium: Average 35 FPS, Minimum 30 FPS, Maximum 40 FPS
• High: Average 26 FPS
• Ultra: Average 25 FPS

3840x2160

• Low: Average 33 FPS
• Medium: Average 26 FPS, Minimum 22 FPS, Maximum 30 FPS
• High: Average 19 FPS
• Ultra: Average 19 FPS

This breakdown shows a clear hierarchy. The Low preset is the only one that produces an average above 50 FPS, and only at 1080p. The Medium preset is the only other viable option, providing playable averages at 1080p and a marginal 35 FPS at 1440p. The High and Ultra presets are effectively non-functional for serious play, as they consistently produce averages below 35 FPS at any resolution. The data also shows that the gap between Low and Ultra widens as resolution increases, from a 25 FPS difference at 1080p to a 14 FPS difference at 4K, further confirming the GPU's diminishing capability at higher pixel counts.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K is a high-end desktop processor with 16 cores and 24 threads, based on the Raptor Lake architecture. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. Its benchmark scores are robust; it scores 30745 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2116 in single-core, and it achieves a Geekbench multi-core score of 19429. It ranks in the 89th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881. Its nearest CPU rivals include the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 (scoring 46971, a -0.2% difference) and the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 (scoring 47022, a -0.3% difference), showing that it is essentially on par with those parts in general compute.

In the context of Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's role is to handle the simulation's complex physics, flight models, and world data streaming. The i7-13700K's high multi-threaded performance, evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745 and PassMark multi-thread score of 45887, is more than sufficient for this task. The game is known to scale well with multiple cores, and this processor's 16 cores and 24 threads provide ample headroom.

The bottleneck is not the CPU. The data shows that even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would be most likely to be a limiting factor, the GPU is still the primary constraint. The i7-13700K's single-thread performance, measured at 2116 in Cinebench R23, is also strong, which is important for the main game thread. This processor is not holding back the system; it is the Intel Arc B390's integrated graphics that are preventing this combination from achieving higher frame rates. The CPU is a high-performer waiting for a more capable graphics solution.