Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a demanding title that stresses both the CPU and GPU heavily, and the combination of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX produces a specific performance profile across resolutions and settings. The measured data shows a system that is capable of high frame rates at 1080p but begins to show its limitations as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the role of each component, and how this specific pairing ranks against other tested configurations in the database.

Resolution Scaling

The performance scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a system that transitions from being potentially CPU-limited at lower resolutions to firmly GPU-limited at higher ones. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 192 FPS, which is an exceptionally high frame rate. Moving to 1440p Low drops the average to 155 FPS, a 19% decrease, and then to 4K Low, the average falls to 114 FPS, a further 26% decrease from the 1440p figure. This scaling pattern, where each step up in resolution causes a significant drop, indicates that the graphics card is becoming the primary bottleneck as pixel count increases.

The trend is consistent across all settings presets. For High settings, the average FPS drops from 112 at 1080p, to 91 at 1440p, and then to 67 at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is approximately 40%. Similarly, for Medium settings, the average goes from 149 at 1080p to 120 at 1440p and finally to 89 at 4K. The most demanding preset, Ultra, shows the same behavior: 107 FPS at 1080p, 86 FPS at 1440p, and 64 FPS at 4K. The consistent and substantial frame rate reductions with each resolution increase strongly suggest that the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the limiting component in this configuration for this game.

The data shows that the gap between 1080p and 1440p is generally smaller than the gap between 1440p and 4K. For instance, in High settings, the drop from 1080p to 1440p is 21 FPS, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is 24 FPS. This pattern is even more pronounced at Low settings, where the drops are 37 FPS and 41 FPS, respectively. This indicates that the GPU's workload scales super-linearly with resolution, particularly when moving to 4K, reinforcing the idea that the RX 7900 XTX's processing power is the key factor determining performance at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the high frame rates suggest the CPU could be a more significant factor, but the GPU is still able to keep up with the demands of the simulation.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average frame rate for this combo at 1920x1080 with Ultra settings is 107 FPS.

Q: How does the frame rate at 4K Medium compare to the frame rate at 1440p Medium?

A: At 2560x1440 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 120, while at 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the average FPS drops to 89, a difference of 31 FPS.

Q: What is the highest average frame rate recorded for this configuration?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 192 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Is the minimum FPS data available for all settings presets?

A: No, minimum and maximum FPS data is only available for the Medium settings preset across all three tested resolutions. For example, at 4K Medium, the minimum FPS is 76 and the maximum is 102.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo ranks 325th out of 2996 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the top 11% of all configurations.

Q: What is the average frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average frame rate with Low settings is 155 FPS, while with Ultra settings it is 86 FPS, representing a difference of 69 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested configurations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this specific pairing of the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX achieves a rank of 325 out of a total of 2996 combinations. This places the combo in the 89th percentile of all tested systems, indicating that it delivers performance in the top tier of configurations. The rank reflects the overall performance across all tested resolutions and settings, and the data shows that while it is not at the very top, it is a high-performing combination that outpaces the vast majority of other systems in the database.

The rank is a holistic measure, but the individual component data provides context. The CPU, the Intel Core Ultra 5 235, has a percentile ranking of 89 against all other CPUs in the database, which is a strong showing. The GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, has a percentile ranking of 64 against all other GPUs, which is notably lower than the CPU's percentile. This discrepancy suggests that the GPU may be holding the combo back from an even higher rank in this specific title. The game's performance is heavily dependent on both components, but the GPU's lower relative standing might explain why the combo doesn't rank higher despite the CPU's strong performance.

The ranking of 325 can be interpreted through the lens of the measured FPS. Since the data shows that the system is capable of exceeding 100 FPS at 1080p on most settings, and even hitting 114 FPS at 4K on Low, the overall rank reflects the raw power of the GPU. However, the significant frame rate drops at 4K Ultra, where the average dips to 64 FPS, likely prevent the combo from climbing higher in the rankings. The combination is powerful, but it is not without its compromises at the highest graphical demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across the board. With Low settings, the average FPS is 192, which is an excellent result for fast-paced action or competitive play. Medium settings yield an average of 149 FPS, with a minimum of 127 and a maximum of 172. High settings produce an average of 112 FPS, while Ultra settings bring the average down to 107 FPS. The difference between High and Ultra at 1080p is minimal, at just 5 FPS, suggesting that the CPU is likely providing a performance ceiling at this resolution.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows a clear step down. Low settings average 155 FPS, which is still very high. Medium settings average 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 and a maximum of 138. High settings drop to an average of 91 FPS, and Ultra settings further reduce the average to 86 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is more pronounced at higher settings, with High and Ultra settings seeing reductions of 21 FPS each. This indicates that the GPU is starting to feel the load of the increased pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the system's performance becomes more moderate. Low settings still manage an average of 114 FPS, which is respectable for 4K. Medium settings average 89 FPS, with a minimum of 76 and a maximum of 102. High settings average 67 FPS, and Ultra settings average 64 FPS. The data shows a clear trend: at 4K, the system is heavily GPU-bound, and the difference between High and Ultra is just 3 FPS, indicating that the GPU is saturated. The 4K Medium preset provides the most balanced experience, with a playable average and a minimum FPS that stays above 75.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the primary driver of frame rates in this configuration, especially at higher resolutions. The GPU is equipped with 24 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a substantial memory bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. This large memory pool and high bandwidth are well-suited for a game like Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is known for streaming large amounts of terrain and texture data. The data shows that the GPU is the limiting factor at 4K, where even with the powerful CPU, the frame rates drop significantly.

The GPU's clock speeds are a key part of its performance. The base clock is 1929 MHz, and the boost clock is 2498 MHz, with a game clock rated at 2365 MHz. These high clocks, combined with 6144 shading units and 192 ROPs, allow the card to process the complex geometry and lighting effects present in the flight simulator. The pixel rate of 479.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 959.2 GTexel/s are indicative of its raw throughput capabilities. However, its percentile ranking of 64 against all GPUs suggests that while it is a powerful card, it is not in the absolute top tier of performance in this database.

The data shows that the GPU's performance scales logically with the settings. At 4K, the difference between Low and Ultra settings is 50 FPS (114 vs 64), which is a substantial range. This demonstrates that the GPU has the headroom to handle lower settings easily but is pushed to its limits at Ultra. The 24 GB of VRAM is a significant advantage, as it likely prevents memory-related stuttering that could occur with smaller memory pools at 4K with high-resolution textures. The GPU's role is clear: it is the component that determines the ceiling for visual fidelity at high resolutions, and its performance is the reason the combo ranks in the top 11% of tested systems.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured frame rates, the optimal settings preset depends on the user's resolution and performance priorities. At 1920x1080, all settings presets are very playable, with even Ultra settings maintaining an average of 107 FPS. The minimal difference between High and Ultra at this resolution (5 FPS) suggests that players can safely enable Ultra settings for the best visual experience without a significant performance penalty. The Medium preset, with its average of 149 FPS and a minimum of 127 FPS, is an excellent choice for those seeking very high refresh rates.

At 2560x1440, the Medium settings preset offers the best balance between performance and visual quality, with an average of 120 FPS and a minimum of 102 FPS. High settings are also viable, with an average of 91 FPS, but Ultra settings drop to 86 FPS, which may be less desirable for players who prefer a smoother experience. The data shows that the drop from Medium to High is 29 FPS, while the drop from High to Ultra is just 5 FPS, indicating that the visual gains from Ultra may not justify the performance cost at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the Medium settings preset is the clear recommendation for a playable experience, with an average of 89 FPS and a minimum of 76 FPS. Low settings offer a smoother 114 FPS average, but this comes with a significant reduction in visual fidelity. High and Ultra settings are playable, with averages of 67 and 64 FPS, respectively, but they push the system close to its limit. The data suggests that 4K Medium is the sweet spot, providing a solid frame rate with a good balance of graphical detail. For players who prioritize frame rate over visuals, the Low preset at 4K is a strong alternative.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 plays a supporting but crucial role in this configuration. It features 14 cores and 14 threads, with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz. The processor is built on a 3 nm process node and has a 24 MB shared L3 cache. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 14,769 and a single-core score of 2,085. The CPU's percentile ranking of 89 against all CPUs indicates that it is a powerful processor, and its performance is likely sufficient to avoid bottlenecking the GPU in most scenarios.

The CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the frame rates are very high, and the difference between High and Ultra settings is small, suggesting that the CPU may be providing a performance ceiling. The measured FPS at 1080p Low is 192, which is a very high number that demands a capable CPU to maintain. The Core Ultra 5 235's single-threaded performance, as evidenced by its Cinebench R20 single-core score of 875, is likely a key factor in achieving these high frame rates, as Microsoft Flight Simulator is known to be sensitive to single-core performance.

The CPU's nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, with the Core Ultra 5 235 performing within 0.1% of both in average benchmark scores. This indicates that the CPU is competitive with high-end mobile and desktop processors from a similar era. In this game, the CPU's data suggests that it is not the primary bottleneck, as the frame rates scale consistently with resolution changes. The CPU's 14 cores and 14 threads, combined with its high boost clock, provide sufficient processing power to feed the GPU with data, allowing the RX 7900 XTX to operate near its full potential across all tested settings.