Hey, guys.I did some searching, but didn't really find an answer...I was running FSX (with a fair amount of money spent on add-ons), but gave it up after growing tired of my system's lack of performance and the constant tweaking I needed to do. I still had a lot of fun with it, but just a reached a point where it wasn't worth the effort to continue or upgrade my system.So, a year or so later and I have the urge to do some casual simming now and plan to put FS9 back on my system. With that said, are there still tweaks out there that are relevant and needed?My system:XPS 420Q6600 @ 2.44gb RAMNvidia GTS 450 (bought as a cheap replacement for an 8800gt that died. I'm not much of a gamer).Thanks!Shane.

There are probably several tweaks that will help your system run FS9 better, but one (very) simple thing you can try right off the bat is using "GameBooster" from iobit software. It's a very easy, non-invasive install and really seemed to be the biggest help to the performance of my FS9 install in the past year, even after years of tweaks, uninstalls and reinstalls. There are others here much more knowledgeable who can suggest the deeper tweaks, and there are several guides still available and applicabe, most notably Nick N.s guide to FS9.But GameBooster is a very simple, free beginning that doesn't require a lot of time or testing. Stick with version 1.6 though, I've heard less than complimentary things about v. 2.0.Welcome back, good luck and keep us posted.

There are probably several tweaks that will help your system run FS9 better, but one (very) simple thing you can try right off the bat is using "GameBooster" from iobit software. It's a very easy, non-invasive install and really seemed to be the biggest help to the performance of my FS9 install in the past year, even after years of tweaks, uninstalls and reinstalls. There are others here much more knowledgeable who can suggest the deeper tweaks, and there are several guides still available and applicabe, most notably Nick N.s guide to FS9.But GameBooster is a very simple, free beginning that doesn't require a lot of time or testing. Stick with version 1.6 though, I've heard less than complimentary things about v. 2.0.Welcome back, good luck and keep us posted.

Hi Chuck BI am interested in the principle of Game Booster but I find that iobit software do not seem to offer it themselves now. Other sites do but with various caveats that I`m not too sure about.Iobit do offer V2 but would you care to elaborate on what you have heard that is not too complimentary?Thanks,Dave

Hey, guys.I did some searching, but didn't really find an answer...I was running FSX (with a fair amount of money spent on add-ons), but gave it up after growing tired of my system's lack of performance and the constant tweaking I needed to do. I still had a lot of fun with it, but just a reached a point where it wasn't worth the effort to continue or upgrade my system.So, a year or so later and I have the urge to do some casual simming now and plan to put FS9 back on my system. With that said, are there still tweaks out there that are relevant and needed?My system:XPS 420Q6600 @ 2.44gb RAMNvidia GTS 450 (bought as a cheap replacement for an 8800gt that died. I'm not much of a gamer).Thanks!Shane.

My current setup is:E8400 overclocked to 3.7ghz4gb 800mhz ddr2ATI 1gb 5770The only tweak that I really use is to raise the bandwidth_multi, which defaults to 40; I used to use about 400, but recently after reading an article on the web i've been using 800 and above. I've found using 800+ really cuts down on the load time of textures, though it also means running less fps, so its a trade off. Currently i've got my fps locked at 20, again after reading an article and everything is very smooth, and frames stay at almost 20.I'm currently using the Ifly 737, PMDG747, REX, Ground Environment and Traffic 2005.Some say that a QuadCore gives you added performance when compared to a DualCore chip, but I can't say for sure. Maybe you could try overclocking your Q6600, supposedly they are good for a bit, though you would need an aftermarket cooler too.Mick

Hello,For running FS2004 at is best .. you need absolutely to use some tweaks .. certainly in the FS9.CFG and this even if you use the most powerful PC available.Regards.Gus.

Hi Chuck BIobit do offer V2 but would you care to elaborate on what you have heard that is not too complimentary?Thanks,Dave

This thread is where I first heard about GameBooster:<< http://forums.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?221388-Performance-booster&p=1518584 >>I greatly respect the opinions of some of the contributors to that thread, and am familiar with their contributions. Those recommendations and warnings are my only experience, and, in this case at least, the only experience I need.I may try out v. 2.0 just to see for myself but I've been so wrapped up in so many other CTD and Sim issues right now, I haven't really felt like opening yet another avenue of testing.

Thanks for the responses, guys.I'll have a look for Nick's guide (I thought he had done one for FS9), but if someone has a link handy, it would save me searching.Mick: Unfortunately, this is a Dell system so the bios is locked. Only option for overclocking is software (which I've tried, but didn't feel comfortable with long-term) and a much written about chip mod (which I may try as it's pretty easy).I'll need to hunt around for all my old addons as well....FLight1 will be getting a lot of key requests methinks..lol.Shane.EDIT: Found Nick's guide. Thanks :)

Shane - I have the same system you do, although I upgraded it to an E8500 and GTX260. This combo plays FS9 very well, albeit with many tweaks to FS9.cfg and using Process Explorer to shut down unneeded processes. I had overclocked the original Q6700 proc using the pin mod, which worked but ran very hot; Dell's cooling solution wasn't quite up to the task in many games and on hot days. Welcome back to FS9!

These are Nick N's tweeks from the Simforum web which I use on my system, which is older than yours and works well.THis was posted by Nick, ages ago... FS9 CONFIGURATION FILE REBUILDSave a copy of your current FS9.cfg file in a safe place. Then DELETE the FS9.cfg file being used by the sim.Start Flight Simulator. You will be starting clean with a new FS9.cfg file Let the sim boot and go to the SETTINGS area. Make the following changes:DISPLAY BUTTON: Scenery Tab: All sliders to 100% and ALL check boxes checked (water FX on 100%) Aircraft Tab: Drop down box, select HIGH, which should enable everything Weather Tab: 60 -40 – 100 with Detailed Clouds and 100% maximum density Hardware Tab: Frame Lock @ 24 XXXXxXXXXx32, NOTE: SET THIS TO YOUR MONITORS NATIVE RESOLUTION - X32 Check in: Render to Texture, Transform and Lighting, UNCHECK AA, Trillinear Filtering, Mip Quality 4 FOR ATI, 8 FOR NVIDIA (note: some Nv cards may cause shimmer at 8.. set to 4 in this case)Hardware Lights 8, Global Texture Slider 100% CLICK OKSOUND BUTTON: Sound to MEDIUM, you can put the sliders wherever you wish, click OK You can set this back to HIGH after tests are completed and your sim is smooth.TRAFFIC BUTTON: Traffic to 90%, click OK REALISM BUTTON Drop down Box; set to HARD, UNCHECK allow collisions with other aircraft. AUTO RUDDER should be enabled if you fly keyboard and do not use pedals. Click OK WEATHER BUTTON: Check only Download Winds Aloft with real world weather, click OK Close the sim Once you close the sim a new FS9.cfg file will be written with the settings you just made. Open the new FS9.cfg file in notepad. Scroll down and VERIFY - ADD - EDIT - CHANGE the following items in the list: [CONTROLS]PAN_RATE=700 <--- will always be 700[DISPLAY]RUNWAY_LIGHTS_SURFACE_SCALAR=1.2RUNWAY_LIGHTS_VASI_SCALAR=1.0RUNWAY_LIGHTS_APPROACH_SCALAR=1.0RUNWAY_LIGHTS_STROBE_SCALAR=1.5UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=24 to 28 // note.. if the processor/card is a bit slower, this may need to be 22TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=240 //NOTE: some systems work better @ 400 which is the MAX[TERRAIN]TERRAIN_ERROR_FACTOR=100.000000TERRAIN_MIN_DEM_AREA=10.000000TERRAIN_MAX_DEM_AREA=100.000000TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21TERRAIN_TEXTURE_SIZE_EXP=8TERRAIN_AUTOGEN_DENSITY=5TERRAIN_USE_GRADIENT_MAP=1TERRAIN_EXTENDED_TEXTURES=1TERRAIN_DEFAULT_RADIUS=9.5 // Also try 9.0TERRAIN_EXTENDED_RADIUS=9.0 // Also try 4.5 (with 9.0 above)TERRAIN_EXTENDED_LEVELS=4 < --- If you use FSGenesis mesh, make it 4. If not experiment with 1. This setting is either 1 or 4, nothing else[sCENERY]IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=5DYNAMIC_SCENERY=1DYN_SCN_DENSITY=5DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1SUNGLARE=1LENSFLARE=1Close and save the FS9.cfg file. I have also just started to use Game booster but version V1.6This keeps asking me to upgrade which i dont. Ive read there are problems with the newer version? I dont know steve

John: Interesting. Everything I've read suggests the temps are fine on stock cooling (for the Q6600). Was the Q6700 different enough, perhaps?Steve: Thanks!In a perfect world, I'd prefer to run FSX on a new (and proper) system, but that just doesn't make sense right now. I'm just looking for something casual that will work with little effort. FS9 should be smooth on my system and, with all my old addons, it should look pretty good as well. Thanks guys.Shane.

John: Interesting. Everything I've read suggests the temps are fine on stock cooling (for the Q6600). Was the Q6700 different enough, perhaps?

The temps never got above the published maximums for the CPU, but they got close in certain flight sims like FS9 and Rise of Flight, which tend to be more CPU intensive than shooters. I had a real problem with BSOD's with the latter sim, especially in the summer, as it beat all four cores like a rented mule. So the temps stayed with spec with the stock cooling, but system stability was a problem. Much happier with the E8500 at stock speeds.

These are Nick N's tweeks from the Simforum web which I use on my system, which is older than yours and works well.THis was posted by Nick, ages ago... FS9 CONFIGURATION FILE REBUILDSave a copy of your current FS9.cfg file in a safe place. Then DELETE the FS9.cfg file being used by the sim.Start Flight Simulator. You will be starting clean with a new FS9.cfg file Let the sim boot and go to the SETTINGS area. Make the following changes:DISPLAY BUTTON: Scenery Tab: All sliders to 100% and ALL check boxes checked (water FX on 100%) Aircraft Tab: Drop down box, select HIGH, which should enable everything Weather Tab: 60 -40 – 100 with Detailed Clouds and 100% maximum density Hardware Tab: Frame Lock @ 24 XXXXxXXXXx32, NOTE: SET THIS TO YOUR MONITORS NATIVE RESOLUTION - X32 Check in: Render to Texture, Transform and Lighting, UNCHECK AA, Trillinear Filtering, Mip Quality 4 FOR ATI, 8 FOR NVIDIA (note: some Nv cards may cause shimmer at 8.. set to 4 in this case)Hardware Lights 8, Global Texture Slider 100% CLICK OKSOUND BUTTON: Sound to MEDIUM, you can put the sliders wherever you wish, click OK You can set this back to HIGH after tests are completed and your sim is smooth.TRAFFIC BUTTON: Traffic to 90%, click OK REALISM BUTTON Drop down Box; set to HARD, UNCHECK allow collisions with other aircraft. AUTO RUDDER should be enabled if you fly keyboard and do not use pedals. Click OK WEATHER BUTTON: Check only Download Winds Aloft with real world weather, click OK Close the sim Once you close the sim a new FS9.cfg file will be written with the settings you just made. Open the new FS9.cfg file in notepad. Scroll down and VERIFY - ADD - EDIT - CHANGE the following items in the list:[CONTROLS]PAN_RATE=700 <--- will always be 700[DISPLAY]RUNWAY_LIGHTS_SURFACE_SCALAR=1.2RUNWAY_LIGHTS_VASI_SCALAR=1.0RUNWAY_LIGHTS_APPROACH_SCALAR=1.0RUNWAY_LIGHTS_STROBE_SCALAR=1.5UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=24 to 28 // note.. if the processor/card is a bit slower, this may need to be 22TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=240 //NOTE: some systems work better @ 400 which is the MAX[TERRAIN]TERRAIN_ERROR_FACTOR=100.000000TERRAIN_MIN_DEM_AREA=10.000000TERRAIN_MAX_DEM_AREA=100.000000TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21TERRAIN_TEXTURE_SIZE_EXP=8TERRAIN_AUTOGEN_DENSITY=5TERRAIN_USE_GRADIENT_MAP=1TERRAIN_EXTENDED_TEXTURES=1TERRAIN_DEFAULT_RADIUS=9.5 // Also try 9.0TERRAIN_EXTENDED_RADIUS=9.0 // Also try 4.5 (with 9.0 above)TERRAIN_EXTENDED_LEVELS=4 < --- If you use FSGenesis mesh, make it 4. If not experiment with 1. This setting is either 1 or 4, nothing else[sCENERY]IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=5DYNAMIC_SCENERY=1DYN_SCN_DENSITY=5DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1SUNGLARE=1LENSFLARE=1Close and save the FS9.cfg file.I have also just started to use Game booster but version V1.6This keeps asking me to upgrade which i dont. Ive read there are problems with the newer version? I dont know steve

A question on the "Runway lights" entries under display. I don't have any of those in my fs9.cfg file. Do I need to add those myself to the cfg file. Thanks

I cant remember if I added the entry myself or it was there. Such along time ago.Ive just checked and the entry is there steve

A question on the "Runway lights" entries under display. I don't have any of those in my fs9.cfg file. Do I need to add those myself to the cfg file. Thanks

If I remember correctly, Nick did that for his own personal preference. They aren't required and have nothing to do with performance.