Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most demanding titles in the benchmark database, and the pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti produces a dataset that clearly illustrates the balance between a modern high-core-count CPU and an older, high-bandwidth GPU. The measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings reveal a system that is consistently capable of playable performance, though the margins between presets are steep. The data shows a clear trend: the combination scales predictably with resolution, and the CPU provides enough headroom that the graphics card becomes the primary limiter at higher settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo achieves at 1920x1080?

A: The highest recorded average FPS for this pairing is 110.5, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset. This is significantly higher than the Ultra preset at the same resolution, which averages 61.8 FPS.

Q: How does the average FPS change when moving from Medium to High at 2560x1440?

A: At 2560x1440, the Medium preset delivers an average of 74.1 FPS, while the High preset drops to 53.8 FPS. This represents a reduction of approximately 20 FPS for the increased visual fidelity.

Q: At 3840x2160, which preset is the only one to exceed 60 FPS on average?

A: The Low preset is the only option at 3840x2160 that breaks the 60 FPS barrier, with an average of 65.8 FPS. The Medium preset falls to 51.1 FPS, and High drops further to 38.8 FPS.

Q: What is the performance delta between the Intel Core i7-14700F and its closest rival, the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700F has an average benchmark score of 54097, which is 0.6% lower than the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X's score of 54450. The difference is negligible in synthetic workloads.

Q: How does the GTX 1080 Ti compare to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA TITAN Xp, in average benchmark scores?

A: The GTX 1080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 19402, which is 1.1% higher than the NVIDIA TITAN Xp's score of 19184. This places the GTX 1080 Ti slightly ahead of that particular rival.

Q: What is the rank of this specific CPU-GPU combination among all tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: This combination is ranked 1079 out of 1795 tested combos. This places it in the lower half of the database, though it still achieves playable frame rates at most settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-14700F is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake architecture, with a base clock of 2.10 GHz and a boost clock of 5.40 GHz. The data indicates that this processor is a strong performer in synthetic benchmarks, scoring 35443 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5003 in single-core. Its percentile ranking of 94 versus all CPUs confirms that it sits at the high end of the performance spectrum for general processing tasks.

In the context of Microsoft Flight Simulator, the CPU's role is to handle the complex simulation logic, including flight dynamics, weather systems, and the streaming of terrain data. The high core count and boost clock suggest that the processor is well-equipped to manage these tasks without becoming a bottleneck. The benchmark results support this interpretation: at 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the average FPS of 110.5 indicates that the CPU is capable of driving high frame rates when the GPU is not heavily taxed.

However, the CPU's influence becomes less apparent as resolution and settings increase. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 34.8, which is a clear sign that the GPU is struggling to keep pace with the CPU's output. The processor's performance relative to its nearest rivals is tight—it is 0.6% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X, 1.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D, but 1.2% ahead of the Intel Xeon Phi 7290 and 1.7% ahead of the AMD EPYC 7313P. These small deltas indicate that the CPU is not a differentiating factor in this game's performance; it provides ample headroom for the GPU to be the limiting component.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is an end-of-life product, but its specifications remain substantial for its age. It features 11 GB of GDDR5X memory on a 352-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 484.4 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1481 MHz with a boost clock of 1582 MHz, and its Pascal architecture delivers 11.34 TFLOPS of FP32 performance. In the benchmark database, the GTX 1080 Ti holds a percentile ranking of 61 among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19402.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU is responsible for rendering the high-detail scenery, including photogrammetry, complex lighting, and volumetric clouds. The measured FPS data shows that the GPU is the primary constraint in this pairing. At 1920x1080, the average FPS ranges from 110.5 on Low to 61.8 on Ultra, demonstrating a significant performance cost for higher visual fidelity. At 2560x1440, the Ultra preset averages 49 FPS, while at 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages only 34.8 FPS.

The GPU's performance relative to its rivals is interesting. The GTX 1080 Ti is statistically tied with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (0% delta) and the AMD Radeon Pro 560X (0.1% ahead), but it is 1.1% ahead of the NVIDIA TITAN Xp. This suggests that the GTX 1080 Ti is a mature product whose performance is well understood, and its 11 GB of VRAM is likely sufficient for the textures used in this game at the tested settings. The data indicates that the GPU's memory bandwidth is a key asset, as it allows the card to maintain playable frame rates even at higher resolutions, albeit with reduced settings.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows provide a clear picture of which presets offer the best experience for this combination. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers an average of 87.1 FPS, which is a strong balance between visual quality and smoothness. The High preset averages 66.8 FPS, still playable, but the Medium preset offers a 20 FPS advantage that is likely more noticeable in a flight simulator where smooth camera panning is important. The Ultra preset at 61.8 FPS is borderline, but the data suggests that Medium is the sweet spot for this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 74.1 FPS, which is the best option for maintaining a high refresh rate experience. The High preset drops to 53.8 FPS, which is still acceptable for a simulation, but the Medium preset provides a 20 FPS improvement that makes a tangible difference. The Low preset at 88.6 FPS is available for users who prioritize frame rate above all else, but the visual compromise is likely too steep for a game that relies heavily on scenery detail.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The Low preset averages 65.8 FPS, which is the only 4K option that exceeds 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 51.1 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced maneuvers. The High preset at 38.8 FPS and Ultra at 34.8 FPS are below the threshold for smooth gameplay and should be avoided. The data indicates that for a 4K display, the Low preset is the recommended choice, as it provides a playable frame rate without sacrificing the core simulation experience.

How This Combo Ranks

In the overall database of tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ranks 1079 out of 1795 combos. This places it in the 60th percentile of tested systems, meaning that roughly 40% of all tested combinations perform better. The rank is a reflection of the GPU's age, as the CPU is a top-tier component that is not limiting performance.

The CPU's high percentile ranking of 94 versus all CPUs contrasts sharply with the GPU's 61st percentile ranking. This imbalance is the primary reason for the combo's mid-tier placement. The data suggests that the CPU is capable of supporting a much more powerful GPU, and the GTX 1080 Ti is holding back the system's potential in this specific title. The measured FPS at 1920x1080 Low (110.5) versus 3840x2160 Ultra (34.8) illustrates the GPU bottleneck, as the CPU's performance headroom is not fully utilized at higher settings.

The combo's rank of 1079 is a summary statistic that blends the CPU and GPU capabilities, but the data clearly shows that the GPU is the limiting factor. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU is within 1.7% of its nearest rivals, while the GPU is within 1.1% of its own nearest rivals. However, the GPU's absolute performance level is significantly lower than what the CPU can support, which is why this combination does not rank higher. For users with this hardware, the data suggests that lowering settings or resolution is the most effective way to improve frame rates, as the CPU will not be the bottleneck in either case.