Hi, It appears that when I set lots of clouds (and overcast) in the settings, my framerate is higher. This is probably because of the lower visibility.However, the game is "skipping". It's odd since in the VC (I'm flying mostly the PMDG 747) I get higher frame rates that usual (about 25-30 now!) but it keeps just skipping...Is there any fix for this? Im using high detailed clouds with REX but it was happening before. If I set the simple clouds, it doesn't skip but it's ugly.

Hi,By "skipping" I think you mean stuttering. So some suggestions:Lower the Cloud Draw Distance in FSLock the Frame Rates in FS. Start with 30 and pull back and find a sweet spot.Post your computer specs. Performance type posts always need those.Thanks,

Hi,By "skipping" I think you mean stuttering. So some suggestions:Lower the Cloud Draw Distance in FSLock the Frame Rates in FS. Start with 30 and pull back and find a sweet spot.Post your computer specs. Performance type posts always need those.Thanks,

HiI forgot to mention that lowering the settings does help, and yes I mean stuttering. I was just finding odd to have to lower my settings like that, I get good frame rates usually. It's really stuttering.. the FPS counter is still pretty high.I don't have a super machine though. I've spent hours and hours tuning it for FS9 within the past weeks.. Im 'transferring' from X-Plane.P4 2.8 GHz.3GB of RAM.nVidia 7600GS AGP 256 mb of VRAMFS9.1Mostly the PMDG 747-400.SpeakersA screen, although probably doesn't make a big difference.Anyway that's about it.

That is a pretty weak system, esp with running the pmdg 747 with HD clouds. If you just installed those clouds, I'd say try to defrag with a good program if you have one, if not, I believe O&O Defrag has a trial period. Just Complete/Name, and run it a couple of times. See if that helps the stuttering. If not, convert clouds to DXT3 textures in REX, it'll help performance a lot and won't look too much worse then they do now.

That is a pretty weak system, esp with running the pmdg 747 with HD clouds. If you just installed those clouds, I'd say try to defrag with a good program if you have one, if not, I believe O&O Defrag has a trial period. Just Complete/Name, and run it a couple of times. See if that helps the stuttering. If not, convert clouds to DXT3 textures in REX, it'll help performance a lot and won't look too much worse then they do now.

Sure, ok. The settings in REX I just picked from the menu and chose "Low end system".So The HD is off, but I will try with the DXT3 thing. I use diskeeper and the disk is completely defragged. It's just strange the FPS is pretty high but it's not smooth.Thanks!

Phil,Don't equate smoothness with a high FPS value. Smoothness comes from a system/software where the FPS count stays in a narrow range. The count can be low/medium/high but if the values are jumping all over the place that is when stuttering becomes visible.Use the Lock FPS slider to lower your FPS a bit and that will allow your system to keep up with FS and your add-ons.Thanks,

Phil,Don't equate smoothness with a high FPS value. Smoothness comes from a system/software where the FPS count stays in a narrow range. The count can be low/medium/high but if the values are jumping all over the place that is when stuttering becomes visible.Use the Lock FPS slider to lower your FPS a bit and that will allow your system to keep up with FS and your add-ons.Thanks,

Hi,thanks for the clarification. Next time I have a chance to play with FS, I'll lower my locked FPS setting. Right now it's set to 40 FPS I think, but it actually never goes that high. I'll try 27-30 fsp.Thanks

Phil, do you have vsync enabled? Reason I ask is on my system, I do have vsync enabled along with a 60Hz LCD monitor. If I lock fps to anything other then 30 or 60, I get stuttering, no matter what graphics settings it is. It's a bit strange but very true for my system, as i've tested it on multiple reformats. So try 30 or 60 locked, see if it helps at all...worth a shot.

Phil, do you have vsync enabled? Reason I ask is on my system, I do have vsync enabled along with a 60Hz LCD monitor. If I lock fps to anything other then 30 or 60, I get stuttering, no matter what graphics settings it is. It's a bit strange but very true for my system, as i've tested it on multiple reformats. So try 30 or 60 locked, see if it helps at all...worth a shot.

I'll try that, because I haven't fixed the issue yet. I have Vsync on in nHancer, and force triple buffer on too. I have 2 monitors though... the one I use for FS is at it's highest (60 hz) but the one I use for charts is at it's highest too, which is 76 hz. I'll try. Thanks

Hi, It appears that when I set lots of clouds (and overcast) in the settings, my framerate is higher. This is probably because of the lower visibility.However, the game is "skipping". It's odd since in the VC (I'm flying mostly the PMDG 747) I get higher frame rates that usual (about 25-30 now!) but it keeps just skipping...Is there any fix for this? Im using high detailed clouds with REX but it was happening before. If I set the simple clouds, it doesn't skip but it's ugly.

It is unlikely to be the visibility (that usually improves frame rates!), it is more likely the sheer quantity of clouds being generated - they are a complex feature to deliver. Rather than messing around with your frame rates (not that above 25 is likely to be detectable to the eye), try reducing your cloud coverage density setting and not committing yourself to everything as three dimensional clouds.Flight Simulator 2004 is a juggling act with settings for smooth operation, when it first came out there wasn't a hope of running full cloud settings alongside other fancy features. Computer technology has come a long way since then and much more can be achieved, but it is unlikely you can run with high settings on everything.John

It is unlikely to be the visibility (that usually improves frame rates!), it is more likely the sheer quantity of clouds being generated - they are a complex feature to deliver. Rather than messing around with your frame rates (not that above 25 is likely to be detectable to the eye), try reducing your cloud coverage density setting and not committing yourself to everything as three dimensional clouds.Flight Simulator 2004 is a juggling act with settings for smooth operation, when it first came out there wasn't a hope of running full cloud settings alongside other fancy features. Computer technology has come a long way since then and much more can be achieved, but it is unlikely you can run with high settings on everything.John

Thanks for your answer. I found out yes that reducing the 3D-ness of the clouds helps quite a lot and the stuttering stops, but I was just trying to find a way to stop it without doing that, since my framerate was pretty high (although it was mentioned somewhere in the thread that the stuttering isn't directly linked to a low frame rate, but more to a fluctuating one)Anyway I will try to play with the vsync settings and see if that changes anything, just incase. Anyhow I know that my machine isn't a beast but transferring from X-Plane I am quite happy with the performance - graphic detail ratio.Thanks

Ok it seems that turning off vsync helped a little, or it's my imagination. I don't think I need it because it locks the frame rate to my refresh rate.. my frame rate in FS9 never gets that high anyway.

I am guessing your processor is a 2.8C Northwood?You might want to try turning off "Hyperthreading" in your bios and seeing if that helps.

Read the tips in the tips forum!!Eleminate background processes, virus scanners, indexers etc.. then you can tune FS.

I am guessing your processor is a 2.8C Northwood?You might want to try turning off "Hyperthreading" in your bios and seeing if that helps.

I thought that would have helped performance actually, that's what I read.

Read the tips in the tips forum!!Eleminate background processes, virus scanners, indexers etc.. then you can tune FS.

I did that years ago! I've been on X-Plane for 7 or years.. I've spent hours over the past weeks tuning FS.