Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a demanding flight simulation title that stresses both the processor and the graphics card. The data for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 shows a configuration that delivers very high frame rates, though the balance of load shifts significantly depending on the resolution and settings selected. The measured results provide a clear picture of how this specific mobile CPU and flagship desktop GPU interact in this simulation.

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

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a 16-core, 22-thread processor based on the Meteor Lake architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz, with a 24 MB shared L3 cache. This mobile processor is designed for high multi-threaded throughput, which is relevant for a simulation like Microsoft Flight Simulator that must manage complex flight models, weather systems, and terrain streaming simultaneously. The CPU's 16 cores and 22 threads provide a substantial foundation for these background simulation tasks, ensuring that the game logic does not become a bottleneck at lower resolutions.

In the measured data, the CPU's capability is evident at 1080p, where the demand on the GPU is lower. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate reaches 166 FPS. This high result indicates that the processor is capable of feeding the RTX 4090 enough data to maintain a very high frame rate, even when the visual detail is reduced. The processor's single-thread performance, reflected in its Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1743, is also critical, as flight simulators often have a significant single-threaded component for the main game loop. The boost clock of 4.80 GHz helps in this regard, and the data confirms that the CPU can keep up with the GPU at lower graphical loads.

However, the relationship changes as the resolution and settings increase. The CPU's role becomes less about pushing maximum frames and more about maintaining a stable minimum. At 4K Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 55 FPS. While the GPU is certainly working hard at this resolution, the 22 threads of the Ultra 7 155H are also being utilized to process the increased simulation data that comes with higher detail levels. The processor's 83rd percentile ranking against all CPUs indicates it is a strong performer, though not the absolute top-tier. In this specific combo, it provides ample headroom for the RTX 4090 at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the frame rate is more indicative of the combined load on both components.

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

The measured data provides clear guidance on which preset offers the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 1920x1080, the High preset delivers an average of 97 FPS, while the Ultra preset delivers 92 FPS. This small 5 FPS difference between High and Ultra suggests that the Ultra preset is entirely viable at this resolution, offering improved visual fidelity without a significant performance penalty. The Low preset at 166 FPS is excessively high for most displays and does not take advantage of the available visual features, making it a less practical choice for this configuration.

At 2560x1440, the High preset averages 78 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 74 FPS. This 4 FPS gap is again minimal, making the Ultra preset the recommended choice for a 1440p display. The Medium preset at 104 FPS provides a smoother experience, but the drop from High to Medium is a 26 FPS reduction, which is more noticeable than the incremental cost of going from High to Ultra. The data suggests that the RTX 4090 has enough headroom to handle the Ultra preset at 1440p without compromising the playable frame rate.

The situation changes at 3840x2160, where the Ultra preset drops to 55 FPS. While this is still playable, it is the first setting where the frame rate dips below the 60 FPS threshold. The High preset at 4K averages 58 FPS, which is only 3 FPS higher than Ultra. This indicates that at 4K, the Ultra preset is not significantly more demanding than High, but both are pushing the limits of the system. The Medium preset at 77 FPS provides a much more comfortable margin, suggesting that for a consistent 60+ FPS experience at 4K, Medium is the safer choice, while High or Ultra are for those prioritizing maximum detail over a strict frame rate target. The best experience per the measured rows would be Ultra at 1080p and 1440p, and Medium or High at 4K depending on preference for smoothness over detail.

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

The frame rate scaling across resolutions reveals a classic shift in system bottleneck. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 166 FPS at 1080p, to 133 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 98 FPS at 4K. This is a reduction of 33 FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p, and a further 35 FPS when moving to 4K. This sharp decline at Low settings is a direct indication that the GPU is becoming the limiting factor, as the CPU has more than enough headroom to maintain high frame rates when the visual load is minimal.

The trend is similar but less severe at Medium settings. The average frame rate falls from 129 FPS at 1080p, to 104 FPS at 1440p, and down to 77 FPS at 4K. The 25 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p and the 27 FPS drop from 1440p to 4K show that the GPU is still the primary constraint. However, the percentage drop is smaller than at Low settings, which is expected as the workload becomes more balanced between the CPU and GPU. At High settings, the frame rates are 97 FPS at 1080p, 78 FPS at 1440p, and 58 FPS at 4K, showing a consistent 19-20 FPS drop per resolution step.

The data indicates that while the CPU is strong enough to provide high frame rates at low resolutions, the RTX 4090 is the component that determines the final output as resolution increases. At 4K, even with a top-tier GPU, the average frame rate at Ultra settings is only 55 FPS. This suggests that Microsoft Flight Simulator is an extremely demanding title at high resolutions, and the GPU is the limiting component in this configuration for 4K gaming. The scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a consistent pattern where the GPU's rendering load increases proportionally with pixel count, confirming its role as the primary bottleneck at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 ranks 614th out of 2996 tested combos in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 20.5% of all configurations tested for this game. While this is a strong ranking, it is not in the top tier, which suggests that there are other pairings that yield higher frame rates, likely involving more powerful desktop processors that can better sustain the simulation's single-threaded demands at high frame rates.

The ranking, when considered alongside the measured FPS, indicates that the RTX 4090 is the dominant contributor to this combo's performance. The processor's nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-14600T, show a negligible performance delta of 0%, confirming that the Ultra 7 155H is performing exactly as expected for its class. The CPU's 83rd percentile ranking against all CPUs is respectable, but the combo's 614th rank out of 2996 suggests that the CPU is not holding back the GPU significantly, yet it is also not pushing the system into the top 10% of results.

The data implies that for this game, the combination of a high-end mobile CPU and a flagship desktop GPU is effective, but not optimal. The 614th rank out of 2996 combos means there are 2,382 other configurations that perform better. This is likely due to the fact that desktop processors with higher clock speeds and more cache can provide a slight edge in this CPU-heavy simulation. The combo's position in the rankings confirms the raw power of the RTX 4090, but it also highlights that the Ultra 7 155H, while capable, is not the absolute best partner for this GPU in this specific title.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a 60+ FPS average?

A: The data shows that at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 74 FPS. At 3840x2160 with High settings, the average is 58 FPS, and at Ultra it is 55 FPS. Therefore, 1440p is the highest resolution that consistently maintains an average above 60 FPS.

Q: How much faster is the combo at 1080p compared to 4K on Ultra settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate is 92 FPS. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average is 55 FPS. The 1080p result is 37 FPS higher, or approximately 67% faster.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a significant advantage over High at 1440p?

A: No, the difference is minimal. The Ultra preset averages 74 FPS, while High averages 78 FPS. This 4 FPS difference is negligible, making the Ultra preset the better choice for improved visuals without a notable performance cost.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at 4K. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops to 98 FPS, which is still high, but the sharp drop from 133 FPS at 1440p shows the GPU is struggling with the pixel count. At Ultra settings, the 55 FPS average is a clear sign of GPU-bound performance.

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

A: This combo ranks 614th out of 2996 tested combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 20.5% of all tested configurations.

Q: What is the frame time variance like at Medium settings?

A: The data provides minimum and maximum frames only for Medium settings. At 1080p, the range is 109 to 148 FPS, at 1440p it is 88 to 119 FPS, and at 4K it is 65 to 88 FPS. This shows a stable frame delivery with no major stutters indicated.

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

The measured frame rate data provides a complete picture of performance across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are 166 FPS for Low, 129 FPS for Medium, 97 FPS for High, and 92 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting has a specified range of 109 to 148 FPS. This shows a clear progression of decreasing performance as settings increase, with a significant 37 FPS drop from Low to Medium.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates are 133 FPS for Low, 104 FPS for Medium, 78 FPS for High, and 74 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting has a specified range of 88 to 119 FPS. The pattern continues, with a 29 FPS drop from Low to Medium and a 26 FPS drop from Medium to High. The gap between High and Ultra narrows to just 4 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are 98 FPS for Low, 77 FPS for Medium, 58 FPS for High, and 55 FPS for Ultra. The Medium setting has a specified range of 65 to 88 FPS. The performance drops are more uniform here, with a 21 FPS drop from Low to Medium and another 19 FPS drop from Medium to High. The difference between High and Ultra is only 3 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset offers no meaningful performance penalty at 4K but also no benefit in terms of frame rate.

The complete dataset shows that the largest performance gap between settings is at 1080p, where the difference between Low and Ultra is 74 FPS. At 1440p, this gap narrows to 59 FPS, and at 4K, it narrows further to 43 FPS. This trend confirms that the GPU becomes more of a limiting factor at higher resolutions, reducing the relative impact of the CPU-driven settings changes.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a flagship desktop GPU based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing 1.01 TB/s of memory bandwidth. The GPU has a base clock of 2235 MHz and a boost clock of 2520 MHz, with 16,384 shading units and 128 RT cores. This massive hardware allocation is designed for extreme 4K gaming and compute workloads.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GPU's role is to render the vast landscapes, detailed aircraft models, and complex lighting effects. The 24 GB of VRAM is particularly relevant, as flight simulators can use large amounts of memory for high-resolution textures and terrain data. The measured data shows that the GPU is the primary bottleneck at 4K resolution, where the average frame rate at Ultra settings is only 55 FPS. This is not a limitation of VRAM capacity but rather the sheer pixel rendering load.

The GPU's performance, as measured by its 88th percentile ranking against all GPUs, is exceptional. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Arc Pro A60, show a delta of 0%, though these are likely different market segments. The RTX 4090's raw compute power is evident in the high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, where it can easily exceed 90 FPS on Ultra settings. However, the data suggests that even this top-tier GPU is challenged by the Ultra preset at 4K, achieving only 55 FPS. This indicates that Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most demanding games for GPU performance, requiring compromises at the highest resolution to maintain smooth playability.