Hey guys! Love my new system:P4P800 Deluxe2.8G P4/8001G DDR4009800 ProAntec 431WLighter WalletCH YokeIt was a bear to build (worst problems I've seen yet - I'll post details in the hardware forum) but it's now working fabulous. Very stabile at 3.22G.FS9 runs fine in full-screen mode, but not in window mode. My station is setup up with dual monitors recessed into the desk for panels. When I switch to window mode and undock the main panel it works just fine. I have most sliders maxed and see around 20-25 on the ground in 16x12x32. In window mode only I get these 1-2 second hangs every 20 seconds or so. No stuttering between frames, just these big slugs every so often. Any ideas on where I should try first. I search the forums, but I didn't find anything that was window-mode specific. Thanks!

In window mode you can turn on task manager and watch the processes. Typically FS9 is the #1, but during the hangs there is a reorder of the process list, sometimes just below FS9, sometimes inserting one process above FS9. I've tried putting FS9 priority as high as real-time and have tried with the affinity as both a single and as an HT with no difference.I've thought about loading on my Win 2k partition to see if that makes any difference, but I would think that XP and 2k are similar enough that there wouldn't be a difference.Anyone have an idea of how to cure this?

I am hoping someone has a tip/fix for this also. I flew 2002 in windows mode--great frame rates and fluidity. 2004 has a steady frame rate in windows mode--but the stutters make it non-flyable.Full screen in 2004 is fluid-no stutters, but the frame rate hit is enormous. Don't understand this. M$ claimed 2004 "enabled hardware acceleration on multiple monitors". B.S. I am running three monitors on three graphics cards, all with 3D accel. I have to turn off radios, inst panel, GPS etc.on 2nd & 3rd monitors to get reasonable FR's.If someone-anyone has an explanation for this--it would be greatly appreciated. (Doubt if M$ will.)Sorry no help-I have been looking too.BaronP.S. Dennis-can you discern what "tasks" are jumping in ahead of FS?Something running in the background?

I do get a FR hit in window mode, but it's not dramatic and I could live with it. The thing that kills me is the huge stutter. I'm running a 9800 Pro for monitors #1 and #2 and a PCI Rage 128 for #3.I don't remember which tasks were jumping around. I killed the two most common offenders but no help. There's plenty running in the background, I need to work on which are safe to kill.What o/s are you running. I'm going to load it on my Win2k partition to see if that runs any better.I think there is something systemic in the way Windows allocates screen priorities when in Windows mode vs. Full Screen.

Dennis;I am running XP Home, SP1 and all updates.AMD 2000+1MB RAM3 Monitors on:--GEF4Ti4600-128MB--GEF2MX200=32MB--RIVATNT2/64-32MBAll on 52.16 WHQL drivers.I ran FS2002 for two years on this same identical system in window mode, locked at 30 FPS. Very smooth--almost NO dips below 30FPS. (A few less in NY or London.)All sliders pretty much maxed out.FS2004 has bad stutters under same settings. Given that I am using the same hardware, and O/S as with 2002--think it has to be fs9-or, as you said, it's interaction with the O/S, OR it's all the new features that tax the system in general.I now use full screen and cap the FR's at 24, and use Gary Willis's (sp?)cloud fix (great-FSW.com). Even then, with all the "tweaks" (about 20) applied, FR's around heavy clouds will drop into the 9-12 region. Still smooth though, I must say. (Using 100% 3D clouds--60 mile draw and visibility.)There is something deeper than we understand here, and it has, I believe, more to do with FS than the O/S. As noted above-every version of FS is software ahead of the current hardware--this is historic. My wife moans every time I get a new version--she knows it will be weeks-months of cussing and agony before I announce--:well, it seems to be working OK now".All in all tho-after a lot of tweaks-fs9 has the most realistic graphics,-- scenery and sky/clouds, that I have have experienced. a real treat for a simmer since 1984. Really!-it is almost "as real as it gets". (until 2006)Baron

Yep. It's no coincidence that my upgrade cycle matches the FS cycle. I'm now with a P4 2.8G o/c (and stabile/cool) at 3.3G, with 1G DDR 400, the 9800 Pro and a Rage 128 on a P4P800 Deluxe with XP pro. As an interesting aside, I'm overclocked by more cycles than my PC at work runs at!I'd buy more into the theory that the window-mode stutters are deeper than FS, except that I ran FS2002 on XP in winodow-mode without this same problem. In fact if memory serves me, didn't 2002 run better sometimes in window-mode? I have a bunch of tweaking to do, so perhaps I'll find the cure. Tweak, test, tweak, test. Does your Ti4600 not support dual monitors? I'm ignorant about nVidia cards.Did you use WidevieW in FS 2002? It looks like there is a FS9 version pending release in the next month or so.

Hi Dennis,I just red your post. I have the same problem you wrote about.When undocking panels in window mode on 2 or 3 additional monitors,I get a regular video and sound stutters every few seconds. I tried every video, sound and system settings, but nothing helps. What I discoverd is, that putting a window on the second monitor ofmy GF 2 MX400 doesn't produce any stutters. Putting the Windowon a monitor of my 2 additional TNT2-PCI-cards produces the stuttersagain. When putting the panels in window mode on the 3 monitors andthen switching to full screen mode, the stutters are gone. Here my specs:P4, 1,5 GHZ, socket 423768 MB RDRAM ASUS P4T mainboardGainward GF 2 MX400 VIVO GS2 x NVIDIA TNT 2 32 MB PCISB Live player 5.140 MB IBM HDIn FS2002 the system works with all 4 monitors with no problems. Soit seems to bee a problem of FS 2004 with the PCI video cards andmaybe it depends on your hardware configuration. Baron58 and you have additional PCI-video-cards just like me. This seems to be the problem.Because the same configuration works fine with FS2002, there must be a bug in FS 2004!Because I would like to fly my 767 PIC with panels on all monitors in FS 2004 in window mode (PIC doesn't work in full screen mode withFS2004), I'm seachring for a solution.CheersTony767

I have been able to run windowed mode with no difference from full screen--they both run great, and very smooth almost always. I only have to watch for cloud % density when in very taxing areas. Otherwise it is super smooth, and windowed vs full screen seems to make no difference. I notice moving from 2x to 4x AA will increase the perf hit from clouds. I run clouds at full distance, full 3d, but change between medium and high density. I like the appearance of windowed mode a bit better. I think the colors look better.My chief complaint is only the visibilitiy handling, which is usually fantastic, but sometimes weird, and also the water reflections issue. I tried Lyon's water and liked it overall, but the rotating patches are just too weird. I hope MS fixes this in 2006, or with a patch (hahaha).Noel

How many monitors / cards are you running? I can run fine with one, but not when I go to 2 or 3.

Tony,I went to the MS FS9 site last night and read where they talk about extending accelerated 3d to multiple monitors. Among other things, they suggest that you:- Have all monitors on the same res- Go into window mode, undock and move panels, then switch back to full screen. It says that the panels will stay where you put them.I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds like a good theory. RTFM.http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimul...ltimonitor.aspc

Tony:Yeah-well they lie!Many previous threads on moving panels to other monitors, and making them "stick" after saving the flight. Forgot his name (sorry-I lost it Think it was Adamson-or close.), but he found a way and posted in this forum. In windows mode, undock and move panels wherever you want them on scondary monitors. Save the flight. Go to full screen--move panels around on each of the monitors to suit you, then go back into windows mode. SAVE AGAIN! Then ALWAYS EXIT FS IN WINDOWS MODE-recall the saved flight and fly. This will ensure the next time you call up that saved flight, it will start in windows mode with all panels stuck on second/third etc. monitor. Pain in the A--, but only way it works. I posted earlier that you can move panels in full screen by dragging a panel (say the GPS) by calling it up (SHIFT+3). Then drag it until at least 1/2 of the panel is off the primary monitor. (Drag toward the 2nd monitor)Hit SHIFT+3 again twice. The panel will appear 1/2 hidden on the 2nd monitor. Drag it to where ever you want it. Repeat with other panels, or on to other monitors. BUT-, these will not "stick" on the extra monitors when you save the flight.It appears that many of us are having the "stutter" problem in window mode, while some are not. Seems not to be system, or video card dependent. Hope one of the experts out there can come up with a fix, or at least an explanation.In the meantime-fly on!Baron

From the other posts, it doesn't sound like this is any breaking news, but I tried the MS technique of undocking panels in window mode, then going back to full screen and it works. Stuttering is gone and FR remains high (~25-30 on departure from KSEA with most sliders 80%-max).The only trouble is that my two lower monitors are on separate cards (left on a PCI Rage 128, and right on the secondary 9800 Pro). This configuration does not allow me to span my panel across the two lower monitors - anyone know how to do this? I've tried the saving technique, but without success. At least it's flyable now, however I may need to break the main panel into two sub panels, one for each monitor.Fix this and get WidevieW 2004 released and I'll be back in business!