Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator presents a demanding workload that stresses both the CPU and GPU, and the paired Intel Core i7-13700K with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER demonstrates a clear performance profile across resolutions. The measured data indicates that this combination is well-balanced, but the scaling patterns reveal where the system’s limits lie. This analysis uses only the provided benchmark results to interpret the component behavior, focusing on resolution scaling, ranking, and settings optimization.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data shows a predictable decline as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the drop varies significantly by preset. At Low settings, the transition from 1920x1080 to 2560x1440 reduces average FPS from 210.5 to 167.1, a 20.6% decrease. Moving further to 3840x2160 at Low yields 122.5 FPS, which is 26.7% lower than the 1440p result. This pattern suggests that at lower graphical loads, the system is increasingly CPU-bound, as the Intel Core i7-13700K’s 16 cores and 24 threads handle the simulation logic while the RTX 4080 SUPER has ample headroom.

At Medium settings, the scaling is more moderate: 162.9 FPS at 1080p, 132.4 at 1440p, and 95.0 at 4K. The percentage drops are 18.7% from 1080p to 1440p and 28.2% from 1440p to 4K. This indicates a shift toward GPU limitation as the preset increases, but the CPU still plays a significant role, particularly at 1080p where the frame rate exceeds what the GPU alone might sustain.

High settings present a similar trend: 122.6 FPS at 1080p, 100.7 at 1440p, and 69.6 at 4K. The 1440p to 4K drop is 30.9%, the largest relative decline across all presets, suggesting that at High, the RTX 4080 SUPER begins to reach its limits. Ultra settings show the most constrained performance: 115.4 FPS at 1080p, 94.3 at 1440p, and 66.9 at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is the lowest measured, confirming that this resolution and preset combination is the most demanding.

The data reveals that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the primary limiter at 4K, especially with High and Ultra presets, where FPS falls below 70. Conversely, at 1080p with Low settings, the 210.5 FPS figure indicates that the CPU is the bottleneck, as the GPU is not being fully utilized. This combination is therefore versatile, but users targeting 4K must accept lower presets to maintain smooth gameplay, while 1080p users can max out settings without issue.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1920x1080?

A: The highest measured average FPS is 210.5, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This indicates the CPU and GPU combination can deliver very high frame rates when graphical load is minimized.

Q: How does the combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS is 66.9. This is the lowest measured result, showing that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the limiting factor at this extreme resolution and preset.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K or the RTX 4080 SUPER the bottleneck at 1440p Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 132.4. Given that the 1080p Medium result is 162.9 FPS, the drop to 1440p suggests a GPU-bound scenario, as the CPU’s performance is sufficient to handle the simulation at higher frame rates.

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

A: At 3840x2160, the High preset yields 69.6 FPS, while Ultra yields 66.9 FPS. This represents a 4.0% reduction in average FPS, indicating that Ultra provides marginal visual gains at a small performance cost.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: The combo ranks 104th out of 1795 tested combinations. This places it in the top 5.8% of all configurations, indicating strong overall performance.

Q: Can the system achieve 60 FPS at 4K with High settings?

A: Yes, the measured average FPS at 3840x2160 with High settings is 69.6, which exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. This provides a smooth experience for most users.

How This Combo Ranks

In the benchmark database, this Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination ranks 104th out of 1795 tested combos for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the 94.2nd percentile, meaning it outperforms 94.2% of all tested configurations. The rank is particularly impressive given the game’s demanding nature, which requires both strong CPU single-thread performance and GPU rasterization power.

The CPU’s benchmark scores support this ranking. The Intel Core i7-13700K achieves a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 39000 and a single-core score of 5505, indicating excellent performance in both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13700KF with an average score of 47334 (0.1% higher), the AMD EPYC 4364P with 47131 (0.3% lower), the Intel Core i9-12900F with 47081 (0.4% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 5945 with 47527 (0.5% higher). These differences are negligible, showing that the i7-13700K is competitive with top-tier alternatives.

The GPU also performs well relative to peers. The RTX 4080 SUPER has a PassMark G3D score of 34245, with nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (53489 average, 0.2% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M (53414, 0.4% higher), the AMD Radeon RX 7700S (52505, 2.1% lower), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (52086, 2.9% lower). The RTX 4080 SUPER’s score of 53610 places it near the top of this group, confirming its capability for high-resolution gaming.

The combo’s rank of 104 suggests that while it is not the absolute fastest, it offers a strong balance for Flight Simulator. The data shows that the system excels at 1080p and 1440p, with only 4K Ultra presenting a challenge. This ranking is consistent with the measured FPS, which exceed 60 FPS at 4K High and all lower presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 210.5 FPS, which is the highest measured at any resolution. Medium settings yield 162.9 FPS, High settings 122.6 FPS, and Ultra settings 115.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra is 45.2%, indicating that even at the highest preset, the system maintains a playable frame rate.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear reduction. Low settings average 167.1 FPS, Medium 132.4 FPS, High 100.7 FPS, and Ultra 94.3 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p is only 18.3% slower than the 1080p Ultra result, suggesting that the GPU is still capable of handling the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the system’s limits become apparent. Low settings average 122.5 FPS, which is still smooth, but Medium drops to 95.0 FPS. High settings produce 69.6 FPS, and Ultra falls to 66.9 FPS. The 4K Ultra result is 42.0% lower than the 1080p Ultra result, highlighting the significant GPU load at this resolution. Notably, the difference between High and Ultra at 4K is only 2.7 FPS, suggesting that the Ultra preset offers diminishing returns.

The data also shows that the CPU is not a limiting factor at any resolution. The i7-13700K’s Cinebench R20 multi-core score of 16380 and 3DMark max-thread score of 12412 indicate robust processing power, allowing the GPU to be the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions. This is consistent with the FPS scaling, where 4K results are proportionally lower than 1080p results.

Settings Recommendations

For users prioritizing maximum frame rates, the Low preset at 1080p offers the highest performance at 210.5 FPS, but this comes at the cost of visual fidelity. A more balanced choice is the Medium preset at 1440p, which delivers 132.4 FPS while maintaining reasonable graphical quality. This setting provides a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors without excessive GPU strain.

At 4K, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it achieves 69.6 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 4K only improves visuals marginally while reducing performance to 66.9 FPS, making it less desirable for competitive or immersive play. For users with 4K displays, the data suggests that High settings offer the best balance of visual quality and performance.

For 1080p users, the Ultra preset is viable, with 115.4 FPS, but the High preset at 122.6 FPS provides a better frame rate with minimal visual difference. The Medium preset at 162.9 FPS is ideal for those who prefer higher refresh rates, as it maintains smoothness without sacrificing too much detail.

Given the combo’s rank of 104th, it is clear that this system is capable of handling Flight Simulator at high settings across most resolutions. The measured data indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER is the limiting factor at 4K, so users should adjust presets accordingly. At 1440p and below, the i7-13700K provides ample headroom, allowing the GPU to perform at its full potential. The overall recommendation is to use High settings at 4K, Medium or High at 1440p, and High or Ultra at 1080p, depending on the user’s preference for frame rate versus visual fidelity.