hi guys,I got a problem with FSX these days, and i have a feeling that it is driver related, but i was wandering if people could give me advice!Right, i am using an I7 930 with speed step at 3.8ghz.I am also using a GTX480 1.5GB with the BETA drivers installed and using NickN Nvidia settings..If i window and reduce alot, the sim becomes more stable, at contant fps..I use REX and IVAO/IVAP..Basically say in the jetstream just now, i get fps from 10fps - 60fps in the VC, and even worse in spot, its like looking at a slideshow.. I have heard of this fps limiter, but the problem is, if i limit the FSX fps, i get like 8fps in the VC...I am hoping and praying this is a driver issue, but i am asking ANYONE on here, if they experience something similar...as a PS, i am using FSDT addons, and it comes with the addon utility, check out these, and see if you come up with anythingAll the bestAlexhere is my fsx config[AContain]LabelColor=FFFF0000LabelDelay=1000ShowLabelAirline=0ShowLabelAirlineAndFlightNumber=0ShowLabelAirspeed=0ShowLabelAltitude=1ShowLabelContainerId=0ShowLabelDistance=1ShowLabelFlightPlan=0ShowLabelHeading=0ShowLabelManufacturer=1ShowLabelModel=1ShowLabels=1ShowLabelTailNumber=0ShowUserLabel=0[ATC]AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=0COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=FFFF7840COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=FF00FF00COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=FFB6FFB6COMM_MSG_NONE_COLOR=FFFFFFFFCOMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=FFFFD21BPilotVoice=0ShowATCText=0UsePilotVoice=1[CONTROLS]Controls_Current=StandardControls_Default=StandardKBDAIL=64KBDELEV=64KBDRUD=64[Display]ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255BLOOM_EFFECTS=0ChangeTime=4.000000InfoBrakesEnable=TrueInfoLowerLeftBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128InfoLowerLeftTextColor=255,255,255InfoLowerRightBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128InfoLowerRightTextColor=255,255,255InfoOverspeedEnable=TrueInfoParkingBrakesEnable=TrueInfoPauseEnable=TrueInfoSlewEnable=TrueInfoStallEnable=TrueInfoUpperRightBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0InfoUpperRightTextColor=255,0,0NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1TextureMaxLoad=9TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=100TransitionTime=4.000000UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=41WideViewAspect=False[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480.0]AntiAlias=1Mode=1680x1050x32TriLinear=1[DynamicHeadMovement]HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000MaxHeadAngle=5.000000MaxHeadOffset=0.300000RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000[FACILITIES]CITY=DublinCOUNTRY=IrelandGTL_BUTTON=1286STATE=[GRAPHICS]AC_SELF_SHADOW=0AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1D3D10=0EFFECTS_QUALITY=2GROUND_SHADOWS=0HIGHMEMFIX=1IMAGE_QUALITY=0LANDING_LIGHTS=1NUM_LIGHTS=8See_Self=1SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693458432SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693458432STALE_BUFFER_THRESHOLD=2147483647TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=2048TEXTURE_QUALITY=3Text_Scroll=1ForceFullScreenVSync=1[iNTERNATIONAL]ASLAT=2ASLON=1MEASURE=1[Main]HideMenuFullscreen=1HideMenuNormal=0Location=525,137,1449,939,\\.\DISPLAY1Maximized=1PerfBucket=7ProcSpeed=13421SimObjectPaths.0=SimObjects\AirplanesSimObjectPaths.1=SimObjects\RotorcraftSimObjectPaths.2=SimObjects\GroundVehiclesSimObjectPaths.3=SimObjects\BoatsSimObjectPaths.4=SimObjects\AnimalsSimObjectPaths.5=SimObjects\MiscSimObjectPaths.6=SimObjects\IVAO_MTLUser Objects=Airplane, HelicopterFIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.33[Misc]Com_Rate=7[PANELS]DEFAULT_VIEW=0IMAGE_QUALITY=1PANEL_MASKING=1PANEL_OPACITY=100PANEL_STRETCHING=1QUICKTIPS=1UNITS_OF_MEASURE=1[PointOfInterestSystem]CycleSetting=0[REALISM]AutoCoord=FalseAutoTrim=FalseCrashDetection=TrueCrashTolerance=1.000000CrashWithDyn=FalseGEffect=TrueGeneral=1.000000GyroDrift=FalseGyroEffect=1.000000ManualLights=TruePFactor=1.000000RealMixture=TrueStressDamage=FalseTorque=1.000000TrueAirspeed=FalseUnlimitedFuel=False[RWW_WEATHER_MAP]SHOW_AIRPORTS=0SHOW_AIRSPACE=0SHOW_APPROACHES=0SHOW_DATATAGS=1SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0SHOW_JET=0SHOW_NDBS=0SHOW_TERRAIN=1SHOW_VICTOR=0SHOW_VORS=0SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1[sCENERY]DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=5LENSFLARE=1SmallPartRejectRadius=1[sIM]SYSCLOCK=1[slewTextInfo.1]AirSpeed=1,5Altitude=1,3Heading=1,4Latitude=1,1Longitude=1,2[slewTextInfo.2]FrameRate=1,1LockedFrameRate=1,2[slewTextInfo.3]AirSpeed=1,5Altitude=1,3FrameRate=2,1Heading=1,4Latitude=1,1LockedFrameRate=2,2Longitude=1,2[sOUND]AmbientUI=0AmbientUIMusic=FSX01AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000PrimaryDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}SOUND=1SOUND_FADER1=0.500000SOUND_FADER2=0.500000SOUND_FADER3=0.500000SOUND_FADER4=0.500000SOUND_LOD=0SOUND_QUALITY=2UISound=1VoiceDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}[sTARTUP]DEMO=0LoadWindow=1SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1STARTUP_DEMO=[TERRAIN]AUTOGEN_DENSITY=0DETAIL_TEXTURE=1LOD_RADIUS=4.500000MESH_COMPLEXITY=100MESH_RESOLUTION=22TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=27WATER_EFFECTS=4TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_TREES_PER_CELL=4500TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS_PER_CELL=3000SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=10[TextInfo.1]AirSpeed=1,5Altitude=1,3Heading=1,4Latitude=1,1Longitude=1,2WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6[TextInfo.2]FrameRate=1,1FuelPercentage=1,4GForce=1,3LockedFrameRate=1,2[TextInfo.3]AirSpeed=1,5Altitude=1,3FrameRate=2,1FuelPercentage=2,4GForce=2,3Heading=1,4Latitude=1,1LockedFrameRate=2,2Longitude=1,2WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6[TrafficManager]AirlineDensity=0AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=0FreewayDensity=12GADensity=0IFROnly=0LeisureBoatsDensity=0ShipsAndFerriesDensity=0[uSERINTERFACE]DisplayFuelAsWeight=1Map_Orientation=2OpenATCOnCreate=0PageID=1PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1SelectAircraftManufacturer=AllSelectAircraftPublisher=PMDGSelectAircraftType=AllShowAllACPaintSchemes=1SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0SITUATION=FLIGHTS\OTHER\FLTSIM[VirtualCopilot]VirtualCopilotActive=0[Weather]AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=7CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=4DETAILED_CLOUDS=1DisableTurbulence=0DownloadWindsAloft=1DynamicWeather=0MaxGustRampSpeed=200MaxGustTime=500MaxVarRampSpeed=75MaxVarTime=50MinGustRampSpeed=1MinGustTime=10MinVarRampSpeed=10MinVarTime=5THERMAL_VISUALS=0TurbulenceScale=1.000000WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.comWeatherServerPort=80WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1[MAPVIEW_MAP]SHOW_AIRPORTS=1SHOW_VORS=1SHOW_NDBS=1SHOW_APPROACHES=1SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0SHOW_VICTOR=0SHOW_JET=0SHOW_AIRSPACE=1SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1SHOW_DATATAGS=1SHOW_TERRAIN=1show_flight_history=1[bUFFERPOOLS]UsePools=1PoolSize=5000000[JOBSCHEDULER]AffinityMask=15[FSDREAMTEAM]AntiPopUp=13AltitudeCull=1[MULTIPLAYER]condAccoutPassword=0

Try GameBooster, free-ware, shuts down unneeded background ops.

Get rid of the STALE_BUFFER_THRESHOLD=2147483647 line in your Graphics section - that command does not do what ******* originally thought it did and it should not be there. Unlikely that's causing your issue, but it can reduce performance. I would actually say delete and rebuild your FSX.cfg, and leave it without any tweaks until you have the situation under control. Then start adding things back in one by one until you see something change.Are you monitoring the heat on your card? There was a report that automatic fan control is broken in those recent beta drivers. If your card is overheating, you'll see chop. It happened to me when the infamous 196.75 driver was released - fan speed doesn't ramp up with temperature automatically and the card would start to overheat. I manually control the fan speed now with EVGA Precision and lock it to 70% when playing games - not sure what the ideal value's gonna be for the 480, but 70% seemed about right to me when stress testing my 260 with MSI Kombuster.

Hi ryanill delete that now,secondly, by taking off speed stepping that seems to have done wonders.I am confused on voltage though.i have my overclock i7 930 @ 1.175volts and its survived prime95 for hours in the past, nick is telling me to put it to 1.22+.. and use OCCTwhy?

Alex,There are no "plug and play" settings for overclocking if that's what Nick is saying - you use the least possible stable voltage at your target speed, always. Extra voltage results in extra heat and shortens the life of the chip. Small manufacturing differences in your specific chip vs. others will usually mean that a different maximum speed at a different voltage is possible vs. what others see. My i7 860 required 1.35v to be stable at 3.8 for instance. If you're stable in Prime95 for many hours at 1.175 then you're probably good. Instability with an OC probably isn't going to manifest as choppiness in the sim anyway, it'll be BSODs, Windows failing to boot - crashes basically, not slowdowns in the sim.SpeedStep and all of that Intel power saving stuff absolutely should be OFF in the BIOS for OCing. (Tell me which mobo you have exactly and I'll tell you what to turn off) The chip should run at the speed you're setting all the time, not dropping down to a lower multiplier. You should also mess around with turning Hyperthreading off - FSX doesn't benefit from it and it drastically reduces heat, allowing you to hit a higher overall OC.

Ryan, speaking of that, where can you turn off hyperthreading? I've poked around the BIOS and never found anything that seemed to be the right option. I've got a Gigabyte UD2 for a mobo.

I'd get rid of those BETA drivers, and use WHQL certified ones instead.

Ryan, speaking of that, where can you turn off hyperthreading? I've poked around the BIOS and never found anything that seemed to be the right option. I've got a Gigabyte UD2 for a mobo.

It's in the BIOS somewhere, has to be. What's the full model number on the mobo? There's a lot of them with -UD2 on the end.

I'd get rid of those BETA drivers, and use WHQL certified ones instead.

Not necessarily true - WHQL just means Microsoft has passed them in a series of basic Windows OS stability tests, that's it. Often the WHQL version is literally the same thing as the beta that preceded it. It's a fast way for them to release fixes for new games and stuff to users without making us all wait for the driver to go through the certification process first. WHQL doesn't have anything at all to do with performance and it really doesn't mean much for anything else honestly - the driver that fried a bunch of cards due to the fan-speed bug was a WHQL driver after all...

I've tried that beta 257.15 driver and it works flawlessly. However I couldn't see the performance boost others have, not sure why some do and others don't and really would love to know, but it's definitely worth a try

I've tried that beta 257.15 driver and it works flawlessly. However I couldn't see the performance boost others have, not sure why some do and others don't and really would love to know, but it's definitely worth a try

I don't see it either - it's HIGHLY unlikely Nvidia would just randomly go and decide to do driver optimizations for a 4 year old CPU-limited game like FSX.

The thing is guys,,in spot i am getting still the slideshow image,i have deleted my FS config, and everything,in spot, its like watching a slideshow, with fps hitting 130fps...would frame rate limiter sort it out?Alex

Alex,I don't run Unlimted on the FPS slider myself, I run it at 40 - what you're seeing might actually be Vsync frame-skip related - I've seen FSX do that at really high framerates that are beyond what the monitor's refresh rate is. Try setting the in-game slider to 40 and see what happens.

Hi tabs,the problem is, as soon as u limit the fps in FSX, the performance drops by a long wayIf there was only a way to limit fps, without the perf loss....

Try the external FPS limiter then, yeah - I don't have any issues limiting to 40 with the slider however. (I'm using a RejectThreshold line though in my Bufferpools section) I certainly don't see 8FPS in the J41 VC.

Don't limit it then ;) Most people use unlimited fps, because of better performance.