please can someone explain and possibly paste the correct entry for AffinityMask in the fsx config here as i am confused about the exact correct figures, ive found many threads on the subject but the all seem to differ in view on the best settingim using vista 64 bit fsx sp1 sp2 and a Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme Edition QX6850 "LGA775 Kentsfield" 3.00GHz , and dx10 enabledcan someone also explain how to assign cpu cores to different tasks in vista such as fsx vs windows background services. I have read that fsx does not support or utilise more than one core but then some threads here suggest that it does or u can adjust vista and the fsx confic to allow this .please explain onec and for all what the reality is and how its done thankskav

The reality / straight answer: don't bother with this: it's a waste of time. Assuming you've installed FSX from scratch (and/or rebuilt a clean FSX.CFG file), FSX will already be using all 4 of your cores. That is almost certainly the right setting for you.The only other setting I would have thought might be of any possible interest to you is the one which prevents FSX from using the first of your four cores. Some say that this improves overall performance because background tasks and other applications can run happily on the first core, leaving FSX full rein over the other three. I have not found this to be so with my 4 cores, but if you want to try it here is the setting:In your FSX.CFG file, add this section (it doesn't matter where):[JOBSCHEDULER]AffinityMask=14The 14 is the decimal of binary 1110. The far digit in the binary number represents your first core. Turning it to zero tells FSX not to use it. You get the picture. There are many, many posts on this in the various forums. For example, see about half-way down this page:http://forums.simflight.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=65581As for FSX using more than one core: FSX is not a properly multi-threaded application. So for most of its tasks it only uses a single core. However, from SP1 onwards, it uses a separate thread to load textures. This does not deliver a ground-breaking performance breakthrough. But it helps a bit and it can keep blurries down. When loading textures, in theory the more cores the better (upto something like 255). But the law of diminishing returns applies. A second core certainly makes a big difference during texture loads; but the difference between 2 and 3 cores is marginal; between 3 and 4 cores is even less; and so on.Tim

Timthanks for the info, is there any way of checking what cores are being used in vista? and also does there need to be the following heading in the config?[JOBSCHEDULER] AffinityMask=14thankskav

How odd: for some reason the heading does not seem to display on this forum. You need the word "JOBSCHEDULER" in between square brackets.You can get an impression of core usage by using the performance monitor in Vista (Ctrl + Alt + Del and follow the breadcrumbs...)Tim

>How odd: for some reason the heading does not seem to display>on this forum. You need the word "JOBSCHEDULER" in between>square brackets.-SNIP->>TimYou need to check the little box above the "Subject" heading labeled "Message Format"when replying....[MAIN][JOBSCHEDULER]etc.... Paul

Just FYIAffinity Mask is not needed any longer if your using SP2.