Microsoft Flight Simulator

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT delivers a high-performance experience in Microsoft Flight Simulator, placing it in the top 17% of tested configurations. Benchmark data shows the system excels at high refresh rates on 1440p and maintains playable performance at 4K with the right settings, though the CPU's commanding lead over its rivals in synthetic tests does not translate into unlimited frame rates at lower resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the overall performance ranking of this CPU and GPU combination for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: This combo ranks 489th out of 2,996 tested combinations, placing it in the 84th percentile of all tested systems. This indicates a strong, above-average configuration for this specific title.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus compare to its closest rivals in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The processor's average benchmark score is 84,003. This is 0.2% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (83,807), 1.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 4584PX (83,090), and 1.2% higher than the AMD EPYC 9135 (82,980). It trails the AMD EPYC 7F72 (85,072) by 1.3%.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking, and how does its average score compare to the nearest rivals?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT falls in the 55th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 13,745. This score is nearly identical to its closest rivals: it is 0.5% faster than the AMD Radeon 660M and NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile, and 0.9% faster than the AMD Radeon RX 570X. It is 1.5% slower than the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT.

Q: Does the CPU bottleneck the GPU in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a limiting factor. The processor has a strong 5.80 GHz boost clock and 24 threads. At 1080p, the average FPS scales significantly with settings (177 FPS on Low vs. 99 FPS on Ultra), indicating the GPU is the primary driver of performance differences. The CPU's high PassMark multithread score of 60,860 supports its capability to feed the GPU.

Q: Can this system run Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K smoothly?

A: Yes, at 4K with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 82 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS, which is a smooth experience. However, at 4K with Ultra settings, the average drops to 59 FPS. The data shows that High settings at 4K yield 62 FPS, so for a consistent 60+ FPS experience, Medium settings are the recommended choice.

Q: What is the impact of the GPU's 20 GB of VRAM on performance?

A: The 20 GB of GDDR6 memory provides a substantial buffer for high-resolution textures and complex scenes common in flight simulation. The memory bandwidth is 800.0 GB/s, which helps maintain high throughput. The data shows that the system can handle 4K resolution with an average of 82 FPS on Medium settings, suggesting the VRAM capacity is sufficient for this workload.

GPU Role

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the central component for rendering the complex visuals of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its 20 GB of GDDR6 memory, paired with a 320-bit bus, provides a large memory pool and the 800.0 GB/s bandwidth necessary for high-resolution textures and detailed terrain. The GPU's role becomes more critical as resolution and settings increase, as evidenced by the frame rate scaling.

The graphics card's architecture, built on RDNA 3.0, includes 5,376 shading units and 192 ROPs, which directly influence its pixel-pushing capabilities. The boost clock of 2394 MHz helps drive performance in less demanding scenes. The GPU's compute capabilities, such as its 51.48 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, are relevant for the game's physics and rendering calculations.

The relationship between the CPU and GPU is clear in the benchmark results. At 1080p with Low settings, the system achieves 177 FPS, which is a high frame rate. This indicates that the CPU is not holding the GPU back. As settings increase to Ultra, the average FPS drops to 99, showing the GPU is now the primary bottleneck. This pattern repeats at 1440p and 4K, confirming that the RX 7900 XT is the determining factor for performance at higher graphical loads. The GPU's 55th percentile ranking among all GPUs, while lower than the CPU's 96th percentile, shows that this card is the limiting component in this pairing for this game.

Resolution Scaling

The benchmark data shows a clear and expected pattern of frame rate decline as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K. At 1080p with High settings, the average FPS is 104. Moving to 1440p High, the average drops to 84 FPS, a 19% reduction from 1080p. At 4K High, the average falls further to 62 FPS, which is a 40% reduction from the 1440p result.

This scaling indicates that the GPU is heavily taxed at higher resolutions. The gap between the 1440p and 4K results highlights the significant pixel count increase. For instance, at Medium settings, the system produces 138 FPS at 1080p, 111 FPS at 1440p, and 82 FPS at 4K. This consistent drop across all settings profiles points to the GPU's raw rendering power being the limiting factor at 4K.

The data suggests that the CPU has sufficient headroom to support high frame rates. The large difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p (177 FPS vs. 99 FPS) shows that the CPU can maintain high throughput even when the GPU's workload is light. The frame rate is not capped at a low level, which would indicate a CPU limitation. Instead, the system's performance is dictated by the GPU's ability to render frames at each resolution and settings combination. The system can achieve 143 FPS at 1440p Low, which is a very high frame rate, further confirming the CPU is not a primary bottleneck.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The benchmark results provide a comprehensive look at performance across three resolutions and four settings presets.

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: The average FPS is 177, indicating the system is heavily GPU-bound and capable of very high refresh rates.
• Medium: The average FPS is 138, with a minimum of 117 and a maximum of 159. This is a smooth experience for high-refresh-rate monitors.
• High: The average FPS is 104, a significant drop from Medium but still excellent for most displays.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 99, showing that the most demanding settings at 1080p are still very playable.

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: The average FPS is 143, which is still very high and demonstrates the CPU's ability to feed frames.
• Medium: The average FPS is 111, with a minimum of 95 and a maximum of 128. This is an excellent result for 1440p gaming.
• High: The average FPS is 84, a solid result that balances visual quality and performance.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 80, indicating that the most demanding settings remain playable at this resolution.

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: The average FPS is 106, a surprisingly high result for 4K, showing the system's raw power.
• Medium: The average FPS is 82, with a minimum of 70 and a maximum of 94. This is a very playable result for a flight simulator.
• High: The average FPS is 62, which is acceptable but shows the GPU is working hard.
• Ultra: The average FPS is 59, which is just below the 60 FPS target, making it the most demanding scenario.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the system is capable of high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, but 4K requires a careful selection of settings to maintain smooth performance.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core Ultra 9 290K Plus and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT combo is ranked 489th out of 2,996 tested combinations in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This places it in the top 16.3% of all tested systems, a strong showing for a high-end pairing.

The CPU is a clear performance leader. Its average benchmark score of 84,003 places it in the 96th percentile of all CPUs. The nearest rival, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, is only 0.2% slower, making them functionally equivalent. The other rivals, the AMD EPYC 4584PX and EPYC 9135, are 1.1% and 1.2% slower, respectively. This shows the processor is at the top of its class.

The GPU's ranking is less impressive. The RX 7900 XT sits in the 55th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 13,745. Its closest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon 660M and NVIDIA RTX A2000 Mobile, are within 0.9% of its score. This indicates that while the GPU is competent, it is not a top-tier performer relative to the entire GPU market. The combination of a top-tier CPU with a mid-to-high tier GPU results in a system that is ranked highly overall, but the GPU is the component that holds it back from a higher rank. The data suggests that this combo's ranking is more attributable to the CPU's strength than the GPU's.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the user's resolution and preference for frame rate versus visual quality.

For 4K (3840x2160) displays, the Medium preset is the best choice. It delivers an average of 82 FPS with a minimum of 70 FPS, ensuring a consistently smooth experience. The High preset drops to 62 FPS, which is still playable but may have more noticeable stutters in dense areas. The Ultra preset at 59 FPS is below the 60 FPS target and is not recommended for a smooth experience.

For 1440p (2560x1440) displays, the High preset offers the best balance. It achieves an average of 84 FPS, which is excellent for a flight simulator. The Ultra preset provides 80 FPS, which is only a small drop and offers maximum visual fidelity. For users with high-refresh-rate monitors, the Medium preset at 111 FPS is an excellent option, but High provides a better visual experience at a still-very-smooth frame rate.

For 1080p (1920x1080) displays, the Ultra preset is recommended for the best visual quality. The system still achieves an average of 99 FPS at this setting, which is very smooth. The High preset at 104 FPS is nearly identical in performance, but Ultra offers the full visual experience. Users seeking the absolute highest frame rates can use the Medium preset at 138 FPS, but the visual trade-off is not necessary given the high performance at Ultra.

The data indicates that the system is well-balanced for 1440p High and 4K Medium. These settings provide the best compromise between visual fidelity and a playable, stable frame rate. The minimum FPS values for Medium settings (70 FPS at 4K, 95 FPS at 1440p, and 117 FPS at 1080p) demonstrate that the system can maintain a stable frame rate without severe dips, which is crucial for a smooth flight simulation experience.