The ideal specs for CPU base frequency is at least 3.6 Ghz. If I purchase a CPU whose base frequency is 2.4 GHz and whose turbo boost frequency is 5.3Ghz, does it mean that it fits the ideal specs?
(Assumption: GPU, RAM, Internet speed etc match the ideal specs)
Put your money on a really good GPUā¦
CPU will do more than good with an Ryzen 7
I guess itās still ābest single thread performanceā after all.
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A CPU with the most highest single core performance is the bestā¦
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Perhaps Intel/AMD need to design a new CPU for these kind of simulators, with a single core that is much faster than the others on the die. 
So much misinformation here in this threadā¦
Thereās 2 things to be aware off;
- This sim supports multithreading. Make sure you have AT LEAST 4 cores / 8 threads as a bare minimum. 6 cores / 12 threads is optimal, more cores than that is overkill for this sim (and any game to be honest).
- This sim (and almost any game at that) does benefit a lot from high single thread performance. A boost frequency of 5.3GHz sounds good for that, but if it can only hold that boost for 2 minutes, itās not really going to help you. Also, donāt only look at the clock speed (GHz number). More modern CPUās will have a higher IPC (instructions per clock), allowing them to perform more calculations for the same amount of GHz. The most recent line of Ryzen CPUās have a massive IPC lead over intel CPUās. Letās assume their IPC is 20% better, then a Ryzen 5600X at 4,6 GHz would be able to do the same workload as that intel running 5.52GHz.
Thereās no really simple answer, just some guidelines. Please check out reputable third party benchmarks to see how the CPU youāre looking at performs.
If youāre looking for a new system, then seriously consider the new Ryzen 5 5600X on a B550 motherboard. Theyāre currently about as good as it gets for a decent price.
some more detail about IPC, comparing the various Ryzen chips and the 10700K all at 4GHz, to see the effect of the IPC.
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Really appreciate your detailed reply! I have narrowed down to two laptops with these two CPUs:
- Laptop CPU i9-10980HK (8-Core, 16MB Cache, 2.4Ghz to 5.3GHz with Boost )
- Desktop CPU i9-10900K (10-Core, 20MB Cache, 3.7GHz to 5.3GHz with Boost)
Both laptops have RTX 2080 Super desktop GPU fitted in a laptop chassis. Do you think the second option will have a dramatically better performance in the sim because it uses desktop CPU as opposed to a laptop CPU?
Thanks!
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I canāt comment too much on laptops, since I havenāt really read up on those (desktop user myself).
One big disadvantage laptops generally have is heat; causing the CPU to drop its clocks to protect from overheating. A cooling pad can help Iāve heard.
Doubt itās a full spec desktop CPU in the second one though. Would probably melt the laptop and drain the battery in an hour 
Both would probably run the sim pretty well I would guess, but again, havenāt researched laptops a lot myself. Maybe someone else can chip in.
I would also check an AMD powered laptop (especially with their latest CPUās), theyāre a lot more power efficient.
ok npā¦Lets wait for somebody else to chip inā¦thanks for the reply anyways!
Itās difficult to say for sure without kmowing more about the system but I would be option 2 all day long.
Canāt imagine option 1 sustaining higher clocks for long and you have to treat flight sims as a stress test.
From few weeks I replaced my I7 3770K OC 4,4Ghz (from 2012) by an I7 10700K at stock clock for now and I donāt see the āLimited by mainframeā anymore (or very rarely) and my cpu usage still have lot of headroom before reaching 100%. Coupled with my āagedā GTX1080 Oc 10% and the sim run perfect at 1080p 60Hz with mainly Ultra settings (I limit my fps at 60 in Nvidia control panel). Before I thought I could compete with modern core with my OC at 4,4 Ghz, pffiiuuu. At similar frequency (locked for testing purpose), the 10700K atomize the 3770K.
Youāll be more than good with a Intel I9, even if I think Ryzen family is more interesting now.
Ok thanks. Yes I am not sure the CPU maintains high clock for extended period of time
Quote from article below
ā and performance is primarily dependent on the single-core speed of the CPU.ā
Read this interesting articleā¦
Your future I9-10900K will have boost function up to 5.3 on few cores and/or during a certain time and/or depending temperatures. Mainly you will have 4,8Ghz on all cores all the time at stock clock (aka without OC) and thatās clearly enough.
My I7 10700K maintain 4,7Ghz on all cores with few peak to 5.1 on some cores during flight.
You can easily OC it (tutos on YT) with a fix frequency on all cores, but I donāt encourage it right now. Iām personally wait when Iāll really need it to avoid useless overheating, power consummation, etc.
Watch this:
Edit : Ho and Iām on desktop so I have a Noctua double fans top cooler. Curious to see what is done on a laptop for such a beastā¦
Let me guess you copied and paste all that ā ā ā ā to prove what? because what you mentioned about turbo boost holding up blah blah makes no sense. Not how it works. Stop giving out one sided information!
What would your side be?
Didnāt copy-paste anything. I actually typed it myself (imagine people actually putting some effort into their posts right?).
Donāt believe I was posting āone-sidedā information at all. Just trying to explain thereās more to single thread performance than just raw GHz numbers. Processor architecture makes a big difference, as the benchmarks show. The point of benchmarks is specifically to not be one-sided, but a repeatable and verifiable measurement that ignores all the marketing BS we get shoveled by the manufacturers.
Not sure what your issue with my post is.
About the turbo boost behavior; the OP was asking about a CPU with a base frequency of 2.4GHz. No way such a CPU will stay on that 5.3GHz all the time while playing MSFS.