Microsoft Flight Simulator

Intel Core i7-14700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a pairing that pits a top-tier 14th Gen desktop processor against a last-generation, end-of-life graphics card. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the benchmark results show the RTX 2060 as the primary constraint on frame rates, with the i7-14700KF's strong multi-core and single-core performance providing the necessary headroom for the simulator's heavy CPU simulation load. This combination ranks in the 1453rd position out of 1795 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower half of the database, but the data reveals specific settings and resolutions where the experience remains viable.

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

The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a 20-core, 28-thread processor based on the Raptor Lake-R architecture, running on the Intel Socket 1700 platform. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.60 GHz, which is significant for Microsoft Flight Simulator, a title known for its heavy reliance on single-threaded performance for flight physics and AI calculations. The CPU's 33 MB of shared L3 cache and 2 MB per-core L2 cache help maintain high IPC in complex scenes, while its 125W TDP indicates a power-hungry part that needs adequate cooling, though the data shows it is not the limiting factor here.

Benchmark results for the i7-14700KF show it sits in the 96th percentile among all CPUs tested, with an average benchmark score of 70104. In multi-core workloads, it scores 44557 in Cinebench R23, while its single-core score of 6290 in the same test demonstrates the per-core strength that Flight Simulator can exploit. Compared to its closest rivals, the i7-14700KF is effectively level with the Intel Core i7-14700K (0% delta), slightly behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X by 0.4%, and ahead of the Intel Xeon Platinum 8270 by 1.3%. This places the CPU in elite territory, but the measured FPS in this game are bounded by the GPU, not the processor.

The CPU's role is to feed the RTX 2060 with enough draw calls and simulation data, especially at lower resolutions where the GPU is less stressed. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 91 FPS, which is the highest measured figure in the entire set. This indicates the CPU is capable of driving frame rates well above 60 FPS when the GPU workload is light, confirming that the i7-14700KF is not a bottleneck in this pairing for most settings. The processor's high thread count also helps with background tasks and streaming scenery data, which is common in flight simulators.

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

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU-GPU combo in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: The data shows 1920x1080 as the only resolution where the average FPS stays above 49 across all settings, with Low hitting 91 FPS, Medium 70.5 FPS, and High 56.2 FPS. At 2560x1440, only Low (73.7 FPS) and Medium (57.4 FPS) remain playable, while 3840x2160 drops below 56 FPS even on Low.

Q: How does the RTX 2060's performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 16074, putting it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs. It is 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600S, 1.7% behind both the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and AMD Radeon Pro 5700, and 1.8% ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500. These are minor differences, meaning the 2060 is competitive with its direct peers.

Q: Is the i7-14700KF powerful enough for this game?

A: Yes. The CPU scores 44557 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 6290 in single-core, ranking in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the i7-14700K, has a 0% delta in average score, and it is only 0.4% behind the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, indicating the processor is more than capable for Flight Simulator's demands.

Q: What causes the FPS drop between 1080p and 4K settings?

A: The FPS drop is almost entirely due to the GPU's rendering load. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 91 FPS, but at 4K Low it falls to 55.4 FPS. This 35.6 FPS decrease at the same settings shows the RTX 2060's 6 GB GDDR6 memory and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are overwhelmed by higher pixel counts, while the CPU has no issue keeping up.

Q: Which settings preset gives the highest average FPS at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset yields the highest average FPS at 73.7, followed by Medium at 57.4, High at 43.9, and Ultra at 41.2. The data shows that dropping from Low to Medium costs about 16.3 FPS, while the jump to Ultra costs another 16.2 FPS.

Q: How does this combo rank overall in the database for this game?

A: The combo ranks 1453rd out of 1795 tested combinations, placing it in the 19th percentile of all combos. This suggests that while the CPU is top-tier, the GPU's lower-tier status drags the overall ranking down significantly 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 of GPU-bound scaling. At 1080p Low, the combo produces 91 FPS, but at 1440p Low, it drops to 73.7 FPS (a 19% decrease), and at 4K Low, it falls to 55.4 FPS (a 39% decrease from 1080p). This scaling is typical of a GPU-limited scenario, where the CPU has ample headroom to process the simulation, but the RTX 2060's 1920 shading units and 48 ROPs struggle with the increasing pixel fill rate.

At High settings, the drop is even steeper: 56.2 FPS at 1080p, 43.9 FPS at 1440p, and 29.7 FPS at 4K. The 4K High result is below 30 FPS, which is generally considered unplayable for a flight simulator that requires smooth camera pans. The delta between 1080p and 4K at High is 26.5 FPS, confirming that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the FPS would remain relatively flat across resolutions, but the data shows a strong negative correlation with pixel count.

The RTX 2060's memory configuration—6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus with 336.0 GB/s bandwidth—is particularly strained at 4K, where texture data exceeds its capacity, leading to potential stutter. The data does not include min or max FPS, but the average FPS pattern is enough to conclude that this combo is best suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, with 4K only viable on Low settings (55.4 FPS). This scaling analysis underscores that the i7-14700KF is not the limiting component; rather, the GPU's mid-range capabilities cap the experience.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

With a rank of 1453 out of 1795 combos, this pairing sits in the bottom 19% of all tested configurations for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This is a surprisingly low position given the CPU's 96th percentile standing, but it reflects the GPU's 58th percentile performance. The rank indicates that most other combos in the database achieve higher average FPS, likely because they pair the i7-14700KF with a more powerful GPU, or use a balanced mid-range CPU with a higher-tier GPU.

The combo's rank is not a measure of absolute failure—it can still run the game—but it shows that the RTX 2060 is a significant drag on the CPU's potential. For context, the i7-14700KF's nearest CPU rivals (i7-14700K, Ryzen 9 9950X) would likely rank better when paired with stronger GPUs, but the data here is specific to this combo. The 19th percentile ranking suggests that users with this setup are in the minority of tested hardware, and it highlights the imbalance between the high-end CPU and mid-range GPU.

This ranking also implies that for a user who already owns an i7-14700KF, upgrading the GPU would yield a dramatic improvement in Flight Simulator, moving the combo into a higher percentile. Conversely, the CPU's performance is so strong that it will not need an upgrade for years, but the GPU will likely be the first component to be replaced.

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

The measured FPS rows provide a clear guide for the best experience at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers 70.5 FPS, which is smooth for a flight simulator, while High drops to 56.2 FPS and Ultra to 49.1 FPS. The data suggests that Medium is the sweet spot at 1080p, balancing visual fidelity with a comfortable frame rate. Low at 91 FPS is only necessary if the user prioritizes maximum smoothness over visuals, but the 19.5 FPS gain from Medium to Low is not worth the graphical sacrifice.

At 2560x1440, Medium at 57.4 FPS is the recommended setting, as it stays above the 50 FPS threshold for acceptable playability. High drops to 43.9 FPS, which may cause noticeable judder during turns, and Ultra at 41.2 FPS is borderline. Low at 73.7 FPS is viable for competitive or high-refresh monitors, but Medium offers a better balance. For 3840x2160, only Low (55.4 FPS) is playable; Medium drops to 44.2 FPS, High to 29.7 FPS, and Ultra to 32.5 FPS. The 4K Low result is the only one that avoids sub-30 FPS territory, making it the only sensible choice for 4K displays.

The data indicates that the GPU's 6 GB memory is a limiting factor at higher settings, so users should avoid Ultra at any resolution if they want stable frame rates. Medium at 1080p or 1440p offers the best combination of frame rate and visual quality, while 4K users must accept Low settings.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers the following average FPS across settings: Low at 91.0, Medium at 70.5, High at 56.2, and Ultra at 49.1. The spread from Low to Ultra is 41.9 FPS, showing a significant performance cost for higher presets. This resolution is the only one where all settings remain above 49 FPS, making it the most flexible for the RTX 2060.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS figures are: Low at 73.7, Medium at 57.4, High at 43.9, and Ultra at 41.2. The drop from Low to Ultra is 32.5 FPS, and the High and Ultra results fall below the 50 FPS mark, indicating that users should stick to Low or Medium for smooth gameplay. The delta between 1080p and 1440p at Low is 17.3 FPS, and at Medium it is 13.1 FPS, showing a moderate resolution penalty.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS figures are: Low at 55.4, Medium at 44.2, High at 29.7, and Ultra at 32.5. Notably, Ultra (32.5 FPS) is slightly higher than High (29.7 FPS), which could be due to specific rendering paths, but both are below playable thresholds. The 4K Low result is 35.6 FPS lower than 1080p Low, emphasizing the GPU's struggle at this resolution. The data shows no min or max FPS, but the averages are sufficient to guide settings choices.