FSX Questions

[reignofdeath]

So I just got my new Asus G55VW with a 660M 2GB Graphics card and 16GB of RAM and Im having pretty low FPS on medium high to high Graphics. Is this normal?

[Herr-Berbunch]

What do you call low FPS - my desktop can run 20 fps with little discernible difference between that and 40 fps.

Check the settings, you can select a preferred rate, slide it up.

Also check your Nvidia CP settings for FSX.

[reignofdeath]

What do you call low FPS - my desktop can run 20 fps with little discernible difference between that and 40 fps.

Check the settings, you can select a preferred rate, slide it up.

Also check your Nvidia CP settings for FSX.

how do I check the settings specifically for FSX?

[Skybird]

Setting up FSX is not a job of just installing, and there you are. Some things are recommended to be tweaked in the config as well, and some recommended settings are unwise to be ignored. Also, an external frame limiter should be used.

So let me ask first: how deep have you dug into FSX? Are you experienced with setting it up, or did you just install it and now are wondering?

Frames also can vary a lot based on scenery. If you use highly detailed addon airports, don'T be surprised if ypour frames when taxiing go down to 15 or even 11, while having them above 30 when flying.

I use supercomplex addon aircraft and plenty of airport sceneries at maximum detail, also weather replacmeent software and clouds maxed out. I can talk you through things you should do, but I need to know where you stand right now.

There should also be setup guides on the web. For starters, check an automatic config tweaker site run by Bojote, google for "venetubo bojote". Follow their advice. Also google for how to limit frames in FSX by an external software. It sounds paradox and counter-productive, but in fact gives you better performance. Do not limit frames from within FSX, that acchieves quite more stress on the system where yoiu wanted to avoid right that. Also, for a start set all traffic - ALL traffic - to zero. If that is good, check what you get when pushing the sliders for airliner traffic and after that general aviation to for example 20 or 30. Reduce cloud distance to 80. Traffic and clouds are known frame hogs.

And name your CPU and OS. FSX depends more on CPU than GFX.

In the nVidia driver you should make sure that you set up FSX leaving control of AA and AF to FSX internal settings, so that you can switch it within the FSX menu. Having a conflict between nVidia's setting and FSX setting can cause trouble.

[reignofdeath]

Setting up FSX is not a job of just installing, and there you are. Some things are recommended to be tweaked in the config as well, and some recommended settings are unwise to be ignored. Also, an external frame limiter should be used.

So let me ask first: how deep have you dug into FSX? Are you experienced with setting it up, or did you just install it and now are wondering?

Frames also can vary a lot based on scenery. If you use highly detailed addon airports, don'T be surprised if ypour frames when taxiing go down to 15 or even 11, while having them above 30 when flying.

I use supercomplex addon aircraft and plenty of airport sceneries at maximum detail, also weather replacmeent software and clouds maxed out. I can talk you through things you should do, but I need to know where you stand right now.

There should also be setup guides on the web. For starters, check an automatic config tweaker site run by Bojote, google for "venetubo bojote". Follow their advice. Also google for how to limit frames in FSX by an external software. It sounds paradox and counter-productive, but in fact gives you better performance. Do not limit frames from within FSX, that acchieves quite more stress on the system where yoiu wanted to avoid right that. Also, for a start set all traffic - ALL traffic - to zero. If that is good, check what you get when pushing the sliders for airliner traffic and after that general aviation to for example 20 or 30. Reduce cloud distance to 80. Traffic and clouds are known frame hogs.

And name your CPU and OS. FSX depends more on CPU than GFX.

In the nVidia driver you should make sure that you set up FSX leaving control of AA and AF to FSX internal settings, so that you can switch it within the FSX menu. Having a conflict between nVidia's setting and FSX setting can cause trouble.

Ive had FSX before, but never really tweaked settings, I had a worse computer so I kept the settings low.

Exact specs are the ASUS G55VW-ES71 with 16GB RAM, CPU is a i7 quad core 2.3 Ghz 3610QM I believe.

I will turn down traffic and Clouds a bit first, Im not noticing tooo horribly on the FPS but I do have textures up and the planes still look nasty. Is it possible that the Clouds and traffic (Which were at 100/50 respectively) are causing that problem?

I will tweak and peak and be back to let you know.

EDIT: Im currently unable to open up FSX because I am installing another game atm, however I did check the nVidia control panel and AA and AF ARE application controlled, what would I want to set them to in FSX? AA smooths edges right? and AF does what?

[Herr-Berbunch]

To display info such as in-game FPS press Shift+A twice.

Also displays things like mag heading and airspeed - handy for external views.

[reignofdeath]

To display info such as in-game FPS press Shift+A twice.

Also displays things like mag heading and airspeed - handy for external views.

This refuses to work for me lol
]

[Skybird]

I assume your Windows is 64 Bit, else you cannot make use of all your RAM and would be limited to some 3.7 GB.

Okay, here is what I recommend to do.

Start with a clean install.

Run the Venetubo config tweaker (LINK) (http://www.venetubo.com/fsx.html). It lets you download a tweaked config once you entered the data, you repalce the default config with this one. The config is hidden at C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\(Your Windows User Name)\Microsoft\FSX. Or type in fsx.cfg in the searchg box. You need to set show hidden folders to on.

You install an external frame limiter and fix frames to 30. You starts FSX from here only. Important: you then must set FSX internal frame limiter to "unlimited".

You check that nVidia driver is set to have FSX controll the settings of Anti-Alias and Ansitropic Filtering.

You hardware is faster than mine, and so you should be able tpo achieve better results than I do. And I can acchieve vry good results already with more complex software setups than just a default FSX.

Then try to work with the settings below. These are what I am using. I fly the PNDG737NGX, use Aerosoft airport sceneries, use ASE and REX2, TrackIR, pedals, Throttle and Stick.

Traffic is a major frame hog. Especially the generic ground traffic costs much, but makes no difference for you if you fly airliners. Start with having all traffic at zero. (I have airport traffic at zero, too, only because I exclusively fly from addon airports whose own traffic could conflict with the default generic airport traffic by FSX. If you do not have addon airports, you can use airport traffic, and can also experiment with reducing the ground scenery settings if needed - but you should not need to do that with your rig).



Oh, before I forget: cancel DX10, if you have activated it. FSX never was optimized for that, it slows down many systems, and produces graphical artifacts. Sorry, that'S how it is. FSX is no DX10 prorgram.

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9440/31408950.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/31408950.png/)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7457/86420589.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/86420589.png/)

[Skybird]

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/9774/49645885.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/49645885.png/)

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/3397/48472814.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/48472814.png/)

[Skybird]

http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/9707/13557009.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/803/13557009.png/)

[Skybird]

This refuses to work for me lol
]

That is either Shi-Z or CTRL-Z for me by default, if I am not mistaken. Since Y and Z are exchanged on German and American Keyboards, try the same with the Y letter if Z does not work.

Else check FSX internal table with keyboard commands, to be found under options/settings somewhere. Every command should be listed there.

[reignofdeath]

Okay im going to copy your settings exactly. Ill update in a second

[Skybird]

I must leave for now and will be unavailable for the rest of the afternoon. But I check back later in the evening or night. Good luck. :up:

P.S. Make sure you do not have some exotic software running that in any way hinders texture swapping or could decrease that process in speed. Having the HD in good condition could help, too (properly defragmentized).

Oh, and they recommend to not install FSX in the default place. Try another partition, at least a different folder on C. than the default program or program(x86) folder. I for example use E:\FlightSim\and-then-more. - This advise is often given with installing any software in general under W7. I forgot the specific technical reason, but it was something serious.

P.S. I have 8 GB. But even at maximum performance my installation hardly ever uses more than one half of that - with all my addon stuff and 737NGX. I assume you do video editing? It's the only reason I could imagine why one wants to have 16 GB.

[reignofdeath]

[QUOTE=Skybird;1976514]I must leave for now and will be unavailable for the rest of the afternoon. But I check back later in the evening or night. Good luck. :up:

P.S. Make sure you do not have some exotic software running that in any way hinders texture swapping or could decrease that process in speed. Having the HD in good condition could help, too (properly defragmentized).

Oh, and they recommend to not install FSX in the default place. Try another partition, at least a different folder on C. than the default program or program(x86) folder. I for example use E:\FlightSim\and-then-more. - This advise is often given with installing any software in general under W7. I forgot the specific technical reason, but it was something serious.

P.S. I have 8 GB. But even at maximum performance my installation hardly ever uses more than one half of that - with all my addon stuff and 737NGX. I assume you do video editing? It's the only reason I could imagine why one wants to have 16 GB.[QUOTE/]

Actually, I already have a partition, my D drive and it is on there.

As far as the 16GB I got the extra 8GB because it was cheap (30$ at the time for corsair ddr3 1600mhz) and I was hoping it would help with Auto CAD (which I need for my job). I will tweak my settings and let you know how it turns out!

[reignofdeath]

Ok so just set it up and got my FPS, sitting still at IND airport I got 25-30fps, when I started moving I was in constantly the 15-17 range

EDIT:

Tried it at LAX, had some major FPS drops, I lowered AI Aircraft and the level of generated trees and buildings. as well.

Next up is learning to actually fly lol :) Anyone care to tutor me over multiplayer? I have a mic.

[Herr-Berbunch]

My bad, it is Shft+Z, I'm blaming my phone's autocorrect. :/\\!!

[Skybird]

Ok so just set it up and got my FPS, sitting still at IND airport I got 25-30fps, when I started moving I was in constantly the 15-17 range

EDIT:

Tried it at LAX, had some major FPS drops, I lowered AI Aircraft and the level of generated trees and buildings. as well.

Next up is learning to actually fly lol :) Anyone care to tutor me over multiplayer? I have a mic.

IND? Independence? There are 8 airports at city of that name. Or KIND? Indianapolis? Anyhow. Som eof the major default airports like San Fran cisco are known to be frame hogs, in what way that compares to addon scnery airports I cannot say, I never use default airports.

But I do Addon airports like Frankfurt, Heathrow, Paris CDG - killer applications, and I do that with the 737NGX, pretty much maxed out graphics, traffic (airliners, GA), clouds and weather. When docked, frames are 25-30, when taxiing they are around 25-12, when flying, they are around 30 again.

Have you just reset the in-.game settings, or also tweaked the config and installed an external frame limiter? Also, what frames do you have during flight? With your specs you should not have any frame issues at all during flight.

[reignofdeath]

rIND? Independence? There are 8 airports at city of that name. Or KIND? Indianapolis? Anyhow. Som eof the major default airports like San Fran cisco are known to be frame hogs, in what way that compares to addon scnery airports I cannot say, I never use default airports.

But I do Addon airports like Frankfurt, Heathrow, Paris CDG - killer applications, and I do that with the 737NGX, pretty much maxed out graphics, traffic (airliners, GA), clouds and weather. When docked, frames are 25-30, when taxiing they are around 25-12, when flying, they are around 30 again.

Have you just reset the in-.game settings, or also tweaked the config and installed an external frame limiter? Also, what frames do you have during flight? With your specs you should not have any frame issues at all during flight.


I reset the in game settings to what you used,even less a bit, tweaked the config (however I couldnt pick how many threads I was running and the other drop down next to it, the only 2 where you can select I dont know. And I installed the external frame limiter as well. I think I may just uninstall and re install again.

As far as frames, Im getting like 15-20 stopped at the gate / taxing, then it likes to go down looking at all the scenery nearby (LAX) and then lifts to about 30 when Im in the air as long as Im not looking at all the houses and such... Im not sure whats wrong

[Skybird]

I just tested it and set up a default 747 at gate 105 in KLAX, at sunset and with cloudy weather. I had 30 frames in all views, inside, outside: outside it even spiked to beyond 40, bypassing the frame limiter. I relocated to the runway, and then some taxiways: 30 fps, never less. My system is inferior to yours: i5 2500, 8 GB, GT460 SE (1MB).

If you made the cfg-tweak correctly, set up the frame limiter correctly, copied the settings as posted and have not messed up your nVidia driver settings, then I am running out of advice. Something maybe bottlenecking your system somehow?

I would head to Avsim forums now and ask for advice there.

Good luck!

P.S. Recheck your nVidia driver'S settings, make sure you have no utopic settings running from there with FSX. If your driver gives you issues bog or small with other game, use an earlier vrsion. I for example find 275.33 to be the last one that gave me no issues with all games I use - all later versions I tried (until the latest) gave me issues here and there.

[reignofdeath]

I just tested it and set up a default 747 at gate 105 in KLAX, at sunset and with cloudy weather. I had 30 frames in all views, inside, outside: outside it even spiked to beyond 40, bypassing the frame limiter. I relocated to the runway, and then some taxiways: 30 fps, never less. My system is inferior to yours: i5 2500, 8 GB, GT460 SE (1MB).

If you made the cfg-tweak correctly, set up the frame limiter correctly, copied the settings as posted and have not messed up your nVidia driver settings, then I am running out of advice. Something maybe bottlenecking your system somehow?

I would head to Avsim forums now and ask for advice there.

Good luck!

P.S. Recheck your nVidia driver'S settings, make sure you have no utopic settings running from there with FSX. If your driver gives you issues bog or small with other game, use an earlier vrsion. I for example find 275.33 to be the last one that gave me no issues with all games I use - all later versions I tried (until the latest) gave me issues here and there.

Are the drivers universal to all of the cards?

And on Bojotes tweak page, the first question is "how many threads are you running in task manager?" Where do I find that info, and then the next is "is hyperthreading active?" where would I find that information too? I couldnt figure out where it was so I put No clue

[Skybird]

CTRL+ALT+DEL, then choose task manager, then processes.

The hyperthreading thing must be answered by somebody else.

Ehm - just asking because I know from several examples that not all people get it right the first time: you realised that you had to manually move the tweaked cfg into the FSX folder, yes? The tweak page does not do that for you, it just lets you download it. Just saying, because I know people who failed there.

Beyond that, ask in the avsim forums, really. Many competent people there. Probably already many helpful threads, too. They can help you better to analyse whether there is something misconfigured in your system, maybe. While the frames you reported are playable, they really have me wondering why I get better frames with more complicated airplanes and sceneries.

[reignofdeath]

CTRL+ALT+DEL, then choose task manager, then processes.

The hyperthreading thing must be answered by somebody else.

Ehm - just asking because I know from several examples that not all people get it right the first time: you realised that you had to manually move the tweaked cfg into the FSX folder, yes? The tweak page does not do that for you, it just lets you download it. Just saying, because I know people who failed there.

Beyond that, ask in the avsim forums, really. Many competent people there. Probably already many helpful threads, too. They can help you better to analyse whether there is something misconfigured in your system, maybe. While the frames you reported are playable, they really have me wondering why I get better frames with more complicated airplanes and sceneries.

Im not sure, and yes I did move the file to the appropriate directory.
I will check there, just a quick check one more time can you start with an 737 at KLAX and let me know your frames on ground still, taking off (Mine always go down in cockpit) and then up in the air and high up?? Mine seem to be lowest when taking off/landing or coming in for it, which honestly, is kind of when you need max FPS :down: Im really not sure what is the problem, I figured out my quad core is double threaded so its running at the power of 8.. Wait, I think the computer is on "Battery Saver" mode instead of entertainment mode, could that cause the crappy frames?

[Skybird]

Default scenery KLAX: 25-30 and higher during final approach or takeoff.

One should have max frames (=30+) when in midair and not in reach of complex scenery airports or landscape sceneries with many buildings (=Vienna scenery was famous for bringing down frames for example). When approaching an airport with high complexity in buildings, there can be occasional drops in frames, but it shouldn't be anything dramatic, and everything still fluid. During taxiing, when the buildings get shown with high detail and much happens around you in terms of ground traffic, frames likely will drop significantly and reach their minimums of the session - but they still should be in the two digit range, always. Foir me, they are, even at Heathrow, Frankfurt and Paris, which I all use in addons with maximum detail.

However, I recall to have rea dover the years that KLAX is one of the most prominent examples of trappoing frames in the default FSX world. Frisco also was such a trap I believe to recall.

Two things. You could try with what you get when buying a single addon for a megahub.Often such addons are equal in frames, sometimes even superior, than default scenery, but do not read too much into the latter part of my sentence! That is that addon designers spend more time for optimizing.

Second, you can spend a minute on thinking whether or not your frames are playable or not. Taxiing at 1-13 frames is totally playable and okay, I often have that at busy airports of large size. Sitting still at the gate should have your frames in the high 20s, which also is perfect. In midair I assume you are already okay anyway. This is no superfast dogfight simulation you do not need angles flying by in superspeed and fluid frames when turning sharply. An airliner with 22 frames in midair I have flown for long time in FS2002, and it was absolutely okay and fluid. So consider whether the issues you have are really that much of an issue indeed and are worth to spend more time for trying to solve them. Either what you have in frames allows you to enjoy the sim, or not. But when it does, don't miss the time to leave experimenting behind and start enjoying the game.

If you love airliner flying and really want to make the jump from the game that FSX by default is to a real indepth simulation , consider the PMDG737NGX, I mean xmas and all that... I fly nothing anymore beside this, its all just toys out there beside this beast. It's almost the real thing you fly and man age.

[Herr-Berbunch]

. . . consider the PMDG737NGX, I mean xmas and all that... I fly nothing anymore beside this. . .

Really, Sky, you should have mentioned before! :O:

[Skybird]

I know, but before I felt I mentioned it just one time too rarely. :D

[Herr-Berbunch]

I know, but before I felt I mentioned it just one time too rarely. :D

The occasional screenshots would be good, I know you have in the past, but it's been a while.

Sorry USNSR, you can have your thread back now. :03:

[reignofdeath]

Did i mention that my frames drop significantly while in cockpit mode instead of spot?

[reignofdeath]

Wow guys, I feel like an idiot. Ive had this computer for about a month now and wondered why games like KSP, FSX, and SH5 had SLIGHT trouble running at max settings. Now I know why, I had it on battery saver mode. I was right, switched it to entertainment mode, and now even with the external FPS limiter, Im pulling 40 Frames at LAX steady, when taking off it goes to about 25-30 and in air above LA Im at about 45-50 fps. Woohoo!! Man I feel like a douche.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Glad you've got it sorted, and following Sky's advice isn't going to hurt either. :up:

[Skybird]

The occasional screenshots would be good, I know you have in the past, but it's been a while.

Sorry USNSR, you can have your thread back now. :03:
Videos! Many at youtube, plus the two introductory films that I posted long time ago: they say more than a thousand pics.

---

Casey, also check in your nVidia driver that the power consummation of your gfx card is set to allow maximum performance. Here is again a trap where you can slow down gfx performance if setting it to something like "adaptive" or "economic" when the software is very demanding.

Some things just need a 'lil brute force, so give it all powerjuice you got! :D

[reignofdeath]

Videos! Many at youtube, plus the two introductory films that I posted long time ago: they say more than a thousand pics.

---

Casey, also check in your nVidia driver that the power consummation of your gfx card is set to allow maximum performance. Here is again a trap where you can slow down gfx performance if setting it to something like "adaptive" or "economic" when the software is very demanding.

Some things just need a 'lil brute force, so give it all powerjuice you got! :D

Well I will check it, Im curious to see how well I can max out my settings and get a constant 30-40 FPS, I was getting in the above 60s in the sky with a rain storm going on flying down the Pacific coast. It was quite relaxing.

----------------
Off topic now that I have that sorted, I like the tutorials and all, but would possibly (When I get back to California) anyone be up for flying in multiplayer with me tandem and showing me the ins and outs of flying?? I know basics, trim, flaps etc. But nothing about how to request for takeoff, or landing, how to use the flight planner, etc. Right now, Im flying a single prop and a double prop. Jetliners are a bit heavier and more complicated.