Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator presents an unusual workload where the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination demonstrates that the CPU is the primary bottleneck, even at 4K resolution. The measured FPS data shows that this pairing is highly capable, but the frame rates are consistently more dependent on the processor's single-thread performance than the GPU's raw power, which is evidenced by the significant scaling between settings at every resolution tested.

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

The Intel Core i7-13700K is built on the Raptor Lake architecture and features 16 cores and 24 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. This processor sits in the 89th percentile of all CPUs based on average benchmark scores, indicating strong overall performance. For a flight simulator like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which relies heavily on single-threaded performance for game logic and physics calculations, the high boost clock is critical. The data supports this: the processor achieves a 3DMark single-thread score of 1136 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2116, while its multi-threaded scores are disproportionately higher (Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745), confirming that the chip has ample headroom for parallel tasks but its single-core strength drives the gaming experience.

The benchmark results show that this CPU is nearly identical in average performance to its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900 has an average score of 46971, which is a deltaPct of -0.2% compared to the i7-13700K's average score of 46881. Similarly, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX PRO 375 is -0.3% behind, while the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535 are both 0.5% ahead. This means the i7-13700K is positioned in a tight competitive cluster, with no single rival holding a decisive advantage in synthetic benchmarks.

In the context of Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's role is amplified by the game's simulation-heavy nature. The measured FPS at 1080p with Low settings is 229 FPS, but this drops to 142 FPS at Ultra settings. The fact that the frame rate decreases by 87 FPS when moving from Low to Ultra at the same resolution suggests that the CPU is not the sole limiting factor; the GPU is also being taxed by the increased graphical load. However, the relatively small difference between 1080p and 4K at the same settings (e.g., 149 FPS at 1080p High vs. 88 FPS at 4K High) indicates that the CPU maintains a consistent level of performance, and the GPU is the component that scales with resolution.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core i7-13700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 18th out of 2996 tested combinations in the database for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 0.6% of all tested systems, which is an exceptional result. The high ranking is attributable to the synergy between the CPU's strong single-thread performance and the GPU's massive computational resources. While the CPU is in the 89th percentile and the GPU is in the 92nd percentile of their respective categories, their combined performance in this game exceeds what either component could achieve alone.

The ranking at 18th overall demonstrates that there are only 17 other combinations that produce higher average frame rates in this simulator. The data suggests that those higher-ranked combinations likely feature even more powerful CPUs with higher boost clocks, as the RTX 5090 D is already one of the most powerful GPUs available, ranking in the 92nd percentile. The gap between this combo and the top-ranked systems is likely small, given that the i7-13700K's nearest CPU rivals are within 0.5% of its average score, but the measured FPS data shows that small CPU differences can translate into meaningful FPS changes in this game.

The combo's rank of 18 also indicates that this pairing is more than sufficient for a smooth experience. At 1080p, the average frame rates range from 142 FPS at Ultra to 229 FPS at Low, which are all well above the threshold for playable performance. The ranking confirms the balance of this system, as it avoids the bottleneck that might occur with a weaker CPU or a less capable GPU. The data shows that this combo is not just a high-end option but is among the best possible configurations for this specific title.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern in how this system scales across resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 229 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, the frame rate drops to 205 FPS, and at 4K Low, it falls to 151 FPS. This represents a 34% reduction in FPS from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. At Medium settings, the scaling is similar: 198 FPS at 1080p, 159 FPS at 1440p, and 118 FPS at 4K, a 40% reduction. At High settings, the system delivers 149 FPS at 1080p, 120 FPS at 1440p, and 88 FPS at 4K, a 41% reduction. At Ultra settings, the frame rates are 142 FPS at 1080p, 114 FPS at 1440p, and 84 FPS at 4K, a 41% reduction.

The consistent percentage drop across all settings indicates that the GPU is the primary limiting factor when moving to higher resolutions. The RTX 5090 D, with its 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, is designed to handle massive graphical loads, but the data shows that even this GPU struggles to maintain frame rates at 4K when the settings are increased. The difference between 1080p and 4K at the same setting is substantial, suggesting that the GPU is being pushed to its limits in terms of pixel throughput and shading work.

However, the CPU's influence is still visible when examining the differences between settings at the same resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low (229 FPS) and Ultra (142 FPS) is 87 FPS, which is a 38% reduction. At 4K, the difference between Low (151 FPS) and Ultra (84 FPS) is 67 FPS, a 44% reduction. This shows that the CPU is still contributing to the frame rate, but its impact diminishes as the resolution increases, confirming that the GPU becomes the dominant bottleneck at 4K. The data suggests that for this combo, the ideal balance is found at 1440p, where the frame rates are high enough to fully utilize the CPU's capabilities while still allowing the GPU to flex its muscles.

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

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-13700K compare to its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900?

A: The i7-13700K has an average benchmark score of 46881, while the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 has an average score of 46971. This puts the i7-13700K at a deltaPct of -0.2% relative to the Ryzen 9 5900, meaning the two processors are virtually identical in overall performance, with the AMD chip having a negligible 0.2% advantage.

Q: What is the best resolution to play Microsoft Flight Simulator with this hardware?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1440p offers the best balance of performance and visual quality. At 1440p High settings, the system achieves 120 FPS, which is significantly higher than the 88 FPS at 4K High, while still providing a crisper image than 1080p. The 1440p Medium setting delivers 159 FPS, which is also an excellent option.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D a significant upgrade over its predecessor?

A: The data does not include direct comparisons with the GeForce 40 series predecessor, but the RTX 5090 D ranks in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is among the top performers. Its measured performance in this game, with a 4K Ultra average of 84 FPS, showcases its capability, but direct comparisons to the previous generation are not available in this data.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU at 4K resolution?

A: No, the data indicates the opposite. When moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings, the FPS drops by approximately 34-41%, which is a clear sign that the GPU is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's performance remains consistent across resolutions, as evidenced by the fact that the FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 4K (67 FPS) is smaller than at 1080p (87 FPS).

Q: What is the highest frame rate achievable with this combo?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 229 FPS, which is achieved at 1080p with Low settings. This demonstrates the system's ability to handle high-refresh-rate monitors at lower graphical settings, but the more realistic maximum for a playable experience is 205 FPS at 1440p Low, offering a better balance of resolution and speed.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This combination ranks 18th out of 2996 tested combinations in the database for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 0.6% of all configurations, making it an elite-level setup that outperforms the vast majority of systems tested.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship GPU based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, featuring a massive 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, which provides a bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, with 21760 shading units and 170 RT cores. This hardware configuration places the GPU in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 77712. In terms of raw compute, the RTX 5090 D delivers 104.8 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is a staggering amount of processing power for rendering complex scenes.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU's role is to render the vast and detailed environments, including terrain, weather, and aircraft models. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the primary component responsible for resolution scaling. At 4K Ultra settings, the system achieves 84 FPS, which is a playable frame rate but shows that even the RTX 5090 D is challenged by the game's demanding visuals at maximum settings. The GPU's 32 GB of VRAM ensures that there is no memory bottleneck, as even the most detailed textures and draw distances will easily fit within this capacity.

The GPU's benchmark scores further contextualize its performance. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 14326, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 376915. These scores indicate strong DirectX 12 and Vulkan performance, which are relevant for modern game engines. The GPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT, which is 1.1% behind, and the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, which is 1.6% ahead. This tight grouping suggests that the RTX 5090 D is a top-tier performer, but the data shows that its raw power in synthetic benchmarks does not always translate directly to in-game performance, as the CPU can become a limiting factor.

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

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance on which settings preset offers the best experience for this hardware. At 1080p, the High preset delivers 149 FPS, which is an excellent frame rate for competitive or high-refresh-rate play. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 142 FPS, a difference of only 7 FPS compared to High, making Ultra the better choice for visual fidelity without a meaningful performance penalty. The Medium preset at 1080p achieves 198 FPS, which is ideal for players who prioritize maximum smoothness over visual quality, but the difference between Medium and High is substantial, at 49 FPS.

At 1440p, the High preset delivers 120 FPS, which is a strong performance that balances visual quality and speed. The Ultra preset at 1440p achieves 114 FPS, which is only 6 FPS lower than High, making Ultra the recommended choice for users with 1440p monitors that support high refresh rates. The Medium preset at 1440p provides 159 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play, but the improvement in FPS over High is not as significant as at 1080p, suggesting that the GPU is becoming more of a limiting factor. The Low preset at 1440p achieves 205 FPS, but this sacrifices too much visual quality for the marginal FPS gain.

At 4K, the High preset delivers 88 FPS, which is a playable frame rate for a flight simulator where smoothness is less critical than in fast-paced action games. The Ultra preset at 4K achieves 84 FPS, which is only 4 FPS lower than High, indicating that the GPU can handle the additional graphical load at this resolution without a significant performance hit. The Medium preset at 4K provides 118 FPS, which is the best option for users who want high frame rates at 4K, but the visual difference between Medium and High is noticeable. For the best overall experience, the data suggests using the Ultra preset at 1080p or 1440p, as the FPS penalty for Ultra over High is minimal (7 FPS and 6 FPS, respectively), while the visual enhancements are worth the trade-off. At 4K, the High preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a solid 88 FPS while maintaining a high level of visual detail, and the Ultra preset's 84 FPS is acceptable for those who demand maximum quality.