Can anyone here with an Nvidia GeForce please outline the things I need to focus on to optimize FS2004 (not counting BIOS)?I put in a PNY 6600GT 256K AGP 8x out-of-the-box into a Celeron 3.2 1 GB Am-Megatrends BIOS... and using the Level-D 767 rolling on runway at a low-density airport (KMAF, Midland) my framerate only improved from 4 FPS on the integrated graphics to 8 FPS (!!) on the 6600 card. This is apalling, esp. when I have a target framerate of 40 FPS and much of the scenery is on "low". I was able to improve it to about 18 FPS by unchecking all the FS2004 > Display > Hardware boxes but still this is ####-poor considering I'm not even at KDFW or KLAX with any traffic or medium/high scenery.I have no idea what is supposed to be checked off or unchecked in FS2004 > Display > Hardware or in Display > Properties > Settings > Advanced > GeForce and my Google searches aren't turning up anything useful. In Display > Advanced > GeForce it was defaulted to antialiasing/anisotropic being Application-Controlled... is that supposed to be off? If so, what are the slider bars supposed to be set to? I tried unchecking them and maxing out the sliders, and I ended up with blank graphics in FS2004.I see the stickied thread at top ("FS2004 and WinXP Optimization Guide V2"), but a lot of the advice is very broad... I did the BIOS tricks it recommends but didn't see much improvement. The optimization guides it links to at rojackpot.com is a spam linkfarm.So what areas should I be concentrating on that are specific to FS2004 and GeForce?Thanks,Tim

>Can anyone here with an Nvidia GeForce please outline the>things I need to focus on to optimize FS2004 (not counting>BIOS)?>I'll try to help you tim. >I put in a PNY 6600GT 256K AGP 8x out-of-the-box into a>Celeron 3.2 1 GB Am-Megatrends BIOS...Ok keep in mind that your Celeron can only do so much. Don't expect wonders out of it. Having said that...you can do better than 4 or 8 fps. :) Also keep in mind the Level-D 767 is a pretty complex plane and it will cause lower frame rates. Don't expect miracles taxiing that plane around on your machine.First thing, make sure you are not having conflicting drivers. That will absolutely KILL your fps. Check your FS9.cfg file for *multiple* graphics card entries. You only need one [GeForce 6600GT] section.Also, when you uninstalled your old drivers, I hope you did this:1) switch your display to 800x6002) go to Control Panel --> Add/Remove programs --> and uninstall the driver.3) reboot, and install the new driver.I'd suggest installing an older driver, like 77.77. I would not install the newest drivers with your 6600GT. (some would debate that, but I am not interested in debating that). I have a slightly older card (7800GT) and I have gotten best results with the 77.xx series drivers.>I have no idea what is supposed to be checked off or unchecked>in FS2004 > Display > Hardware or in Display > Properties >>Settings > Advanced > GeForce and my Google searches aren't>turning up anything useful. In Display > Advanced > GeForce>it was defaulted to antialiasing/anisotropic being>Application-Controlled... is that supposed to be off? If so,>what are the slider bars supposed to be set to? I tried>unchecking them and maxing out the sliders, and I ended up>with blank graphics in FS2004.>Make sure you disable FS2004's Anti-aliasing. Go into your display driver properties to set your anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering.That is very important with FS. Also with your card, I'd suggest 4x AA, but you should experiment to see what works best for you. Maybe only 2x, I don't know.>>So what areas should I be concentrating on that are specific>to FS2004 and GeForce?>In your Display Properties, GeForce 6600GT tab, I'd try this for starters:Application controlled Antialiasing 2xAnisotropic filtering 2xImage settings: PerformanceVertical Sync: offForce Mipmaps: I use trilinear, but you might not be able toConformant Texture Clamp: OnExtension Limit: offtrilinear optimization: offaniso mip filter opt: offaniso sample opt: offGamma Correct Antialiasing: onTransparency AA: for you I'd suggest OFF with a 6600GTTriple Buffering: OnNegative LOD Bias: ClampUnder "additional Direct 3D" I would render 2 frames ahead.You can always raise your AA to 4x later, if you're getting decent frames. You can also change "Image Settings" to 'quality' if you find that 'performance' looks too bad.In FS2004, turn down your 3D cloud %. Turn down your max visibility. Turn down your AI.Check your Task Manager...right click on your task bar and choose Task Manager. Look at the running processes. If you have more than 25-30, you have too many things going on. The sticky threads at the top of this forum tell you how to disable un-needed services. That *can* help your fps in the sim! Your Celeron processor will need all the help it can get.Make sure you have DirectX 9.0c installed properly.Run 800x600x32 resolution. You can try 1024 x 768 but watch your frame rates in FS (use SHIFT-Z to view frames)Finally, in FS, unlock your framerate. Then go to KMAF and see what your average fps is. Then LOCK your frame rate a little below that.Hopefully you can get at least 10 fps with the Level-D plane.I hope I helped you a little...Rhett

Earlier this year, I spent best part of two weeks trying to work out why the performance of this PNY 6600 Gt card was so poor relative to the Radeon 9550 it replaced; like you, frame rates, even at defaults airports were barely into double figures. And with my many add-ons, it was a slide show.I followed the fine advice in the FS2004 and WinXP Optimization Guide V2, but the difference was negligible, in the main. Finally, I opened up my machine -- P3.0; 2 Gig ram -- to discover that the card's power connector was not in tight. Presumably the fan hadn't been turning, so that the subsequent overheating was strangling my frame rate. Once firmly reconnected, the machine began to fly; now everything smooth as silk, with slider bars, way to the right. So check your connections, as it's fine card for the money.David