For stutters - usually a problem of bus speeds due to congestion to graphics card. What memory and clock speed is the bus/memory ?

Nice journal here. FSX still seems to be a heavy task for some of us. I think your system is and must be capable of running it more than acceptable.Apart from tweaking in the first place, best approach will be to get the FSX settings right and then go for optional improvements via tweaks. So before following the various and surely appreciated tips on tweaking this and that (including the advise to overclock, which came quite often and seemed to ignore that we are talking to somebody who doesn't want - and have - to) I think you are doing it absolutely right and stabilize the basics first.Defrag seems to be your friend too, good choice :)Keep it up!

For stutters - usually a problem of bus speeds due to congestion to graphics card. What memory and clock speed is the bus/memory ?

Sorry to hijack this thread but I would like to ask what is a bus speed or bus memory and how does it cause congestion?Hope this can be useful to others out thereRegardsAlex

For stutters - usually a problem of bus speeds due to congestion to graphics card. What memory and clock speed is the bus/memory ?

Where can I find that info?

Nice journal here. FSX still seems to be a heavy task for some of us. I think your system is and must be capable of running it more than acceptable.Apart from tweaking in the first place, best approach will be to get the FSX settings right and then go for optional improvements via tweaks. So before following the various and surely appreciated tips on tweaking this and that (including the advise to overclock, which came quite often and seemed to ignore that we are talking to somebody who doesn't want - and have - to) I think you are doing it absolutely right and stabilize the basics first.Defrag seems to be your friend too, good choice :)Keep it up!

Thanks very much for the support, I appreciate it. I'm glad to be getting some feedback, otherwise I may have just stopped posting a while ago.10 July 10:FSX...(Since I do not have Acceleration)-Reinstalled SP1, loaded default flight, rebooted.-Reinstalled SP2, loaded default flight, rebooted.-Installed latest DirectX update per NickN's thread.-Installed latest C++ library update per NickN's thread.-Started FSX, adjusted sliders per *******' personal settings (setting resolution to my monitor's natural resolution). Noticing a problem I had in FSX previously...running FSX in windowed automatically disables the "see-through" portion of the aero theme, even though I don't have disable visual themes or desktop composition checked. With this, I only get 9 FPS on the default flight, even before changing any sliders. However, using a fix I read about in another thread here, fix_aero.bat, to "force enable" the default aero theme completely eliminates this issue and I'm able to run the default C172 at 100 FPS (WITHOUT clouds present). Full-screen mode also eliminates this issue. However, I would very much like to have my end results in FSX be in windowed-mode.-Exited FSX, rebooted.-Installed CS727-100, launched FSX, loaded 721. Noticed the (annoying) sound issue, and I'm a bit disappointed the flap sounds are curiously identical to the default C172.-Rebooted.-Installed CS727-200, launched FSX, loaded 722. Able to get about 30-40 FPS in windowed mode with fix_aero.bat and no weather. If I can keep that up, I would be very happy. However, I'm very worried about clouds and autogen scenery (which is currently off per *******' settings). Same sound issue on the CS722, I suppose good thing I spent only $25 on it instead of $80+ - but I suppose I haven't actually flown it yet, just was a bit miffed at cockpit sound bugs.-Defragged entire system overnight, shut down.

Nice info on the "fix_aero.bat" - didn't know that. Where can that fix be found?

Nice info on the "fix_aero.bat" - didn't know that. Where can that fix be found?

I don't recall the thread I read it in but if you create a new .bat file with the following and run it, it should force the aero theme back to default. You should be able to just do this in notepad.

net stop uxsmsnet start uxsmsexit

Will try, thanks.UpdateFound your threadhttp://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtop...48&hl=uxsmsOk, no gain for me but it looks way better now (didn't like that light blue from the basic theme).

Will try, thanks.UpdateFound your threadhttp://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtop...48&hl=uxsmsOk, no gain for me but it looks way better now (didn't like that light blue from the basic theme).

Strangely enough, in a clear-weather situation, it's about a 20-25 FPS increase for me.

11 July 10:FSX...-Reinstalled PMDG JS41, loaded FSX, rebooted.-Reinstalled PMDG JS41 SP1, loaded FSX, rebooted.-Reinstalled FSDT KJFK, loaded FSX, rebooted.(Currently getting about 18 FPS in the VC of the JS41 at JFK with clear weather, about 8 with detailed clouds, about 13 with simple clouds).At this point I'm browsing between NickN's and *******' FSX.cfg tweaks. I'm a bit more inclined to start off with *******', or does anyone know otherwise?

Maybe you should add which stuff you'd like to go for exactly. E. g. the BP=0 from ******* or Nicks NHancer settings and so on.I wouldn't try every tweak mentioned and try to avoid combinations too. If you personally don't see and feel any difference, you shouldn't care about what is written and if it's a "must have" or not.You'll surely come across various tips, tricks and cheats. I personally tried to keep the fsx.cfg as clean as can be to minimize any side effects most tweaks have. BP=0 is a good one but may cause instability for example.All that "sharper textures, no more blurries" stuff depends on personal preference and in my eyes is useless and filled with side effects.The only safe and absolutely helpful tweak is the "highmemfix" - todays addons are quite demanding on memory usage and this one helps to get rid of the "out of memory" error. Combined with a 64bits OS, really worth a try.

14 July 10:-installed Win7 updates-Ran RegCure, fixed any registry errors.-Installed Travis AFB 2004 for FS9

Very interesting topic that again outlines that it is very hit or miss when it comes to FSX performance. I am now at a level, almost 4 years(!) after the release of FSX, where I can use FSX for some great VFR flying with Orbx Pacfic NW and a ton of other addons with an average of 30 fps, but as soon as I load a heavy my FPS turns into a slideshow, especially with any traffic add-on. I have spent thousands of Dollars over the years tweaking my setup and came to the conclusion that no matter what you throw at FSX, that it will possibly never catch up to even the most modern hardware. I have read reports of people spending $600 on a new GPU with only marginal or reverse improvement and other throwing a $900 state-of-the-art CPU.I followed all of the advice in the forums, including NickN guide, but came to the conclusion that a setup with little to no tweaking (no nHancer) provides me the most fluid fps - at least for my setup. Defragging, in my opinion, is highly overrated and will only help very little with performance issues. Yes, eventually you do need to defrag, but not every day. The best "tweak" that I have done so far, is no tweak and I believe someone from Orbx once said that his setup is completely non-tweaked with only o/c his CPU and using "Defraggler" once in a while.I read that ATI cards have problems in general with AA, which supposed to kill FPS in clouds, but I also read that newer ATI cards are not supposed to have this issue anymore. Since your CPU cannot possibly be a bottleneck, I would take a look at your GPU.Good luck!-Pat

Thanks for the post. I, too, fear my GPU may be suspect. I went with ATI based on reviews for other programs. But since clouds are heavy hitters on FS9 and FSX, maybe it is my GPU. I run FS9 with 50% 3D clouds and fall from about 65 to 15 FPS in CB. However, its a much bigger hit in FSX, down to about 7 or 8.Maybe I need to find a lower res replacement for default clouds.

Thanks for the post. I, too, fear my GPU may be suspect. I went with ATI based on reviews for other programs. But since clouds are heavy hitters on FS9 and FSX, maybe it is my GPU. I run FS9 with 50% 3D clouds and fall from about 65 to 15 FPS in CB. However, its a much bigger hit in FSX, down to about 7 or 8.Maybe I need to find a lower res replacement for default clouds.

I think you should invest in either a 5xxx series ati card or go the nvidia route... The 5850 isn't probably as powerful as your 4870 in other games but in FSX it should perform better.