Hi all, my first post on here so be kind!I've just installed FS 2004 (and FSX but I'm mostly using FS 2004 as FSX is a bit demanding for my poor puter)I have a display problem when lining up on runways and taxing. It appears as triangles all over the screen rapidly flashing. I have a few addons, Just Flights VFR scenery and British Airports volume 1 and 2. I get the same effect on any (i.e. also the stock) tarmac runways, particularly when taxing over the runway numbers. Grass runways do not cause the problem to appear.Is this a known fault in FS 2004 and is there a known fix? If not where would you start with trying to cure it?I've run dxdiag, there doesn't appear to be any problem highlighted in the log (though I'm not sure I would know if there was or wasn't as I'm new to all this)Graphics card is Radeon 1300 series and FS 2004 is a recent purchase V9.1Thanks for any help.Gemma

I did a search on the AVSIM Forums for "texture flashing" and came up with several hits for this problem. You might want to review as everyone had different solutions. Most increased their AA settings from 4 to 16 and that stopped the problem. Others went back to earlier video card drivers and that fixed their problem. Your solution is probably messing around with the AA/AF settings of your video card display settings to see if that fixes the problem. Also check the MIP Map Display setting under your FS9 display/hardware tabs. This is set to 4 on my system and anything higher than that may cause some flashing. Hope this helps and welcome to the AVSIM forums.Best regards,Jim

Just thought of another graphics tip that may help you in resolving your problem. You can start up FS9 and goto the place where your flashing is occurring and then Alt/Tab to get back onto your desktop, open your video card display settings, make a change, and then Alt/Tab back to FS9 to see if the change fixed your problem. That way you won't have to continually restart FS9 everytime you make a change. You can also make a change in the FS9 Display settings while you are at your problem airport, make a settings change and go back into FS9 to see if that fixed your problem. That was how I was able to get the optimum mipmap settings for my system.Best regards,Jim

Thanks for that Jim. I've found mipmap of 4 the only setting that really works well for me, so that was already set.I tried a search for texture flashing as you suggested, first one I read the guy said he cured the same problem (flashing on the runways)by unchecking "transform and lighting." As this was already unchecked in my settings I thought it couldn't hurt to check it and see what happened. Cured! So I'm very happy now.Whilst here, I've noticed a few people referring to changing AA settings for their cards. I haven't a clue how to get a dialogue up for my Radeon card where I can alter this, any pointers?Thanks again,Gemma

"I've noticed a few people referring to changing AA settings for their cards. I haven't a clue how to get a dialogue up for my Radeon card where I can alter this, any pointers?"Hi Gemma,Good to hear you were able to fix your runway "flashing" problem. It is strange how some fixes work for some and not for others. I have "transform and lighting" checked on my system.I guess your question above is how do you change the AA settings on your video card? You change it through the ATI Catalyst Center (doubleclick the ATI icon in your menu tray). Goto Graphic Settings, 3D, Anti-Aliasing and move the slider to your desires. By default, it is set to "Application Controlled" so you will have to uncheck the application controlled checkbox before you can make any adjustments. I have mine set at 4X's for AA and 16x's for Anisotropic Filtering (AF) for FS9. For FSX, I have it set to "Application Controlled" as I think that works better for FSX. If for some reason you don't have the ATI Catalyst Center installed, you can also adjust your settings my right clicking your desktop, selecting Properties, then the Settings tab, then Advanced. Hope this is what you meant when you stated you wanted to "get a dialogue up for my Radeon card".Best regards,Jim

Hi again Jim,That was what I ment, I don't seem to have the ATI Catalyst Center installed neither does the Properties window seem to provide anything for AA or AF, only DPI. I'll have to ask my computer supplier if they can shed any light. Thanks againGemma

Hi Gemma,When you right click with your mouse on your desktop, there should be a dropdown menu with "Properties" on the bottom. Scroll down and click on it. Then you will see the Settings tab.Another way to get to your Display settings is through the Control Panel. Click on Start, then Control Panel and then click on Display. It gets you to the same window as I talked about above.Best regards,Jim

Hi Jim,On both my XP comps one with a Radeon card the other with an Nvidia, I can't find anything in the Settings tab that provides control over AA. If I click Settings/Advanced I get various tabs to choose from but none with an AA option. Will I need third party software to tweek my cards? Under Resources/Adaptor there is a tick box for change settings, this is shaded out and ticked for automatic settings, is this where I would change the card settings (if it wasn't shaded out!)?Sorry for being dumb, I've used computers for years but it is only since getting myself addicted to FS that I've needed to look a bit deeper at settings and optimization. i must say that the advice on this forum for tweeking is fab and I'm getting better FPS on both FS9 and FSX each day. Seems to me that setting the AA on the card should be easier to do than some of the things I've already tweeked, but it has got me completed stuck.Thanks again,Gemma

It sounds as if you're into the Adaptor Properties page which has a Resourses Tab. No you won't be able to change your AA settings on this page. It looks like you do not have the latest drivers for your video card installed. You can go on the ATI website (http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.html) and download the latest drivers for your Radeon card or to NVIDIA (http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp) for the latest NVIDIA video card drivers. Do you know the name of your ATI Radeon video card? Mine is a Radeon X800XT PCIe card. Hope this helps.Best regards,Jim

Hi again Jim,I tried to get back before you had to explain that to me, as the mists have cleared and I found the download for the latest version of Catalyst for my card from AMD. Many thanks for the help, it got me going on the right lines at last as I couldn't figure out why the software was not already on my computer, I guess when it was set up the shop didn't install Catalyst, just a driver.I've got texture flashing back again now in FS9 on some hardstands, seems this was an issue for the Radeon 1300 series card I have, hopefully a driver update will solve it finally.I'm having so much fun trying to tweak my computer to get a few more FPS out of FS9 and FSX, it is really great that people like you are here on Avsim and can help out.All the best,Gemma

Hi Gemma,You stated "I guess when it was set up the shop didn't install Catalyst, just a driver." Most people don't like the Catalyst Center as some say it drains resources on computer systems. I suspect it does, but what doesn't?! I mean, do a search on AVSIM for Catalyst and you'll read really hateful things about the Catalyst Center. I think you have to have the Catalyst Center installed now to make adjustments to any ATI/Radeon card. Before it was just an option with older drivers. I really like it but I'm afraid my peers will only jeer me as many computer experts in the computer world just absolutely hate the Catalyst Center (it's even worse, in their eyes, than FSX and Vista!!!!). My God! I think it's taking up most of my system resources! It's that nasty!!! LOLI think most people have fun "trying" to tweak their computers like you. Everyone wants to have the top performing system. I enjoy it too! I do disagree with you on FPS concerns in FS9/FSX. Don't be! (and I really don't think you are). I have had absolutely terrific experiences with FSX even though the FPS are below 10 and sometimes below 5. I simply shut off the FPS program within FSX as I have had completely enjoyable experiences playing the various missions with little or no visual difficulties or mission accomplishment. The free flights have been completely fluid too and very enjoyable. I occasionally experience stutters but they are extremely rare and usually while taxiing out to the runway or returning to the gate. Turning on the FPS counter only makes my [feeble] mind think I'm not having a very good experience. My philosophy -- enjoy the experience and forget about the frames! Why Microsoft put that counter in the game is way beyond me!!! (Oh I forgot, they want to be talked about and noticed....)The Microsoft ACES team is getting ready to release an upgrade (AKA: patch) which will possibly increase "FSX performance" (read: FPS) and, many people like me will be very happy no matter what, and many others will be very unhappy because it just didn't meet their expectations and no patch (no matter how great) ever will. I cringe at the thought of its release as I know the naysayers are already loading up their verbal ammunition to tear it apart. I guess it's only because they know more than we know (or at least what I know) or Microsoft should surely have known better because they are so filthy rich. I have to admit I'm not a computer programmer like many others but, if I were, I would make sure the FPS were higher than 60 before I ever released a game! Most computer "experts" are like that.... Heck! I saw a movie once where these two guys (pilot/FO) were flying an airliner in a real million dollar flight simulator and it was extremely realistic. Buildings and everything and that panel was awesome! How come this $70 simulator can't do the same? That's the way I would think....Sorry for the long dissertation but be very careful with your video card settings. Too high of an AA/AF setting and that will drastically affect your FPS and game enjoyment. You have to look for that "holy grail" even if you have the most powerful system on Planet Earth and no matter what computer game you play. Realize it is only the year 2007 and not 2050 (darn it!!).... Best regards,Jim

Hi Jim,Well I

Hi Gemma,Just a note to say I appreciate your kind comments and I'm happy to hear you have been successful with some of your tweaking. Since you are into tweaking, both with your system and your flight simulator programs (and who isn't), I wanted to mention the best site I have found to help you:http://www.tweakguides.com/ (The Main Site)http://www.tweakguides.com/ATICAT_1.html (The ATI Catalyst Tweaking Guide)http://www.tweakguides.com/Graphics_1.html (The Gamer's Graphics and Settings Guide)He also has a guide for the NVIDIA video cards.They will all give you some good tips on getting the most from your system and games. Plus his guides are written in laymen terms and easy to understand even for some of us who have little or no computer experience/knowledge. Good luck!Best regards,Jim

I have the SAME problem, no driver has helped - tried almost every pack for my X800XL that has come out in the past year. I also went from catalyst to tray tools, and back again. No combination, no update, no patch - no AA, AF, or driver/game setting has worked. I have devoted literally weeks of my life trying to find a solutuion - but im over it, and will try no more. Im convinced there is only a small portion of ATI users having this problem. Let me guess...they are triangles, and sharp edges of white that come out of NOWHERE on your decent to final?? right?? Not on takeoff, not in flight, and ONLY runway and taxiway textures aka. PAVED TEXTURES??? I have posted this many times, and have yet to fix it. If you do..PLEASE let me know.Danon O.

Danon OChecking "transform and lighting" has helped for me, I still get the triangles on some textures but not when over the runway numbers where it was really annoying. I'm in the process of updating to the latest driver, more involved with that than I thought! I will post if it cures the problem totally.JimMany thanks for the links, I've spent a couple of hours on the site already, fantastic help, the more I've got into this the more questions I've had and it is all addressed in a way I can grasp!I thought I would have the drivers updated by now, nope I have a fair bit to do first, I would have made a hash of it without those links!All the best,Gemma