Hi guys,I have searched and read all of the related threads regarding shimmering, swimming and dancing textures. I have tried all of the tweaks but can only reduce and not remove this most unpleasant graphic problem.The shimmering appears on ground objects (buildings mainly) as well as anything with a straight line (roads, runways). They also appear on the terrain at a distance, but this is more of a swimming effect than a shimmer or "glitter". If I hit pause, the image is perfect. As soon as I start to move, the shimmering is back - so a screen shot won't help describe the problem.Frame rates aren't a problem.My system:Gigabyte 81EXP Mobo with Intel 845 chipset.P4 2.26 OC'd to 2.6, 1024mb RAN, GForce 4 Ti 4200 128mb (no OC).Audigy 2 ZS. Windows XP (SP1 + all other updates), DX 9.0b.1600 X 1200 X 32 @ 72hz. Mip Mapping on 4 in sim, AA off in sim (set in Nvidia properties).I have tried:- Various drivers including 43.45, 52.16 and 53.03.- Various settings such as Best Performance, Best Image Quality, Blend etc.- Various AA and AF settings. 2Q X AA and 4 X AF seem to be the best of a bad bunch.- Various mip map settings in the sim. Even at 3, the shimmering is still there. At 5 and upwards it is worse. 4 seems the best compromise.- Various FS9.cfg tweaks (the text multi thing, the terrain radius thing etc.)- various scenery settings from very low to very highIf I switch off AA and AF, the shimmering is much worse.Please somebody help me - its driving me nuts! I didn't have the problem with FS2002 at all (I didn't run any AA or AF in FS2002 as the 1600X1200 was good enough for me).Any help would be greatly appreciated.Cheers,Andy

I beleive these shimmering textures are common on NVidia Video Cards. I've got a Ti4400 in my box and I do see some shimmering textures. Indeed the mip map setting in the sim will cause more of it at higher levels. I beleive this is some sort of Level of Detail (LOD) control. Lower LOD settings (in the negative range when using tweaking programs) will produce sharper textures at the expense of shimmering. Higher LOD settings will produce blurry textures with less shimmering. You just have to find a happy medium that you can live with.EDIT: I might add I'm using "Best Image Quality" in the NVidia Mip Mapping Controls. Also, we both may be experiencing similar results, but what is quite acceptable to me may be horrible for you. You mentioned 1600 X 1200 res was fine for you in FS2002 to turn of AA. I tried that as well, but found that there were far too many "jaggies", so I lowered the res and turned AA back on. Since we're both using similar Video cards, are results were probably similar as well. I guess it all depends on the eye of the beholder.Joe Wagner

Many thanks Joe.The reason I feel that the shimmering is not acceptable to me is purely the fact that it didn't exist in FS2002. It really is quite distracting.I have also tried the negative LOD settings in a tweaker - to no avail. The quality turns to mush (blurries).What resolution are you running?Any other thoughts are much appreciated. Maybe if someone with a similar system would be kind enough to post up their settings, I can compare.Cheers,Andy

I've got FS9 running at 1280 X 960, AA disbaled from within the sim. I just realized that since I reformatted I haven't even downloaded a tweaker. Nividia Control Panel has AA and AF both at 4X and Mipmap detail at "Best Image Quality".Now that you mention I did experience shimmering in FS2002, but it was a long time ago, and may have been while I was still using a GeForce 3 card.

Update:Both FS2004 and CFS3 have the problem.Deleted FS9.cfg - problem still exists (running the "default" FS9 config).Tried lowering the resolution to 1280*960*32 - problem still there. Tried 800*600: same. Tried all kinds of monitor frequencies to no avail. Bear in mind I am also trying different AA, AF and mip mapping on *every* change to see if there is any difference.After setting a restore point and removing all reminants of NV drivers, I tried (again) 43.45 drivers. Same problem. Tried 30.82 too (I know it doesn't support DX9, but I am desperate!).So I have just restored to where I started.I am thinking:1) Some hardware is interfering (I doubt it though, as I am pretty careful with IRQ sharing, I am ACPI "aware", BIOS settings and firmware updated, chipset drivers, limitations yada)2) I am getting interference from speakers, camera, joystick, yoke etc. I have tried the obvious, moving the speakers and different joystick combos. No change. When on pause, the shimmering isn't there - hence I think it is not interference.3) Direct X. Can 'o' worms! It's the only thing I can think of that might have caused the problem. FS2002 ran fine on DX8.latest. CFS3 ran fine on DX8.latest.Surely someone has a similar problem?Any help received with great thanks!Andy

Andy,One thing that I have read in other forums, which you don't seem to have mentioned, is related to the "Render To Texture" checkbox in the Hardware tab under Display settings. Apparantly if this is ticked on it can cause undue flickering of taxi lines etc. If you have this ticked on then I would suggest trying it unchecked. Also helps in texture definition on aircraft if unchecked.Just a thought, don't know if it will help.Regards,Stuart Hyett

Thanks Stuart.Gave it a try - no difference.Thanks again,Andy

I have to disagree with you regarding no "shimmering" in FS2002. I have experienced it with both FS2002 , FS 2004 and I was first introduced to it way back when FS Train Simulator first came out.It was THE very first thing I noticed when I first ran Train Sim -- then when FS2002 came out it was there and now the same with FS2004 . I have changed computers -- but they both had/have Nvidia cards. I have tried all kinds of settings and tweaks and drivers -- all to no avail.I personally suspect that it has some thing to do with DIRECT3D -- I have never seen anything like it in any other game other than these three DIRECT3D games. I agree that it is , by far, the MOST annoying problem with Fsim.Barry

hi Barry,i too have this awful shimmering in fs2004 and have to agree with Andy for the most part here. (my experience) the shimmering in fs2002 was nowhere near as bad as it is in fs2004 with the Mip-Map slider "maxxed". also, i have the Mip-Map slider maxxed in fs2002 as well. having used a ti4600 & a 9700pro in both 2002 & 2004 and, considering that fs2004 is using the same "core" engine as 2002 there is no reason (IMO) for the shimmering to be much worse in fs2004. also, given the fact that the bad shimmering in fs2004 has been reported by users of both Nvidia and ATI cards i don't believe that this is a video card/video driver issue either. IMHO, this is another one of many bugs in fs2004 that needs to be fixed via a patch from MS. if this issue among others are not addressed via a patch there will be no FS2006 for me. happy flyin, fm

I have a GeF4200 TI, and have largely eliminated the shimmering. I hope these tips help:~I have my LOD set to -.5~I'm using AF at 2x~I use both FS2004's and FS2002's default AA--I don't force AA via third party tools~My FS9.cfg is untweaked~FS2004's Mipmap level is set to the default of 4....I use the 30.82 driver set with the Rivatuner LOD patch applied.If AA is disabled or not working, these same settings can cause shimmering. I find the key is to have both AA and AF enabled, but as said above I enable it via the sim vs. the third party tweakers like Rivatuner-John

Many thanks John.I will give those settings a try tonight and see how I go.Cheers,Andy

hi John,i do use (via the video drivers control panel)... 4xAA and 8xAF with the Radeon 9700. used 4xAA and 4xAF with the old ti4600. these combo. AA & AF settings nor any other settings affected the shimmering at all with either card. also, no 3rd party tweakers were used with any of the cards. tweaking the FS2004 config. file didn't help either. IMHO, none of this "tweaking" whether it be with video drivers or the FS2004 config. file should be necessary to get rid of this shimmering. point being, you should be able to "maxx" the Mip-Map slider with no shimmering at all regardless of what video card your're using. happy flyin, fm

No joy with those settings. The shimmering is worse, plus I get blurries.I think I have spent enough time on this issue (50+ hours).I'm gonna relax, have a beer or ten, and decide whether to:A) Ditch FS2004 and go back to FS2002. This would be a shame.:( Fork out $600 AUD for a new card (and maybe ATI will get my money this time)Thanks again for everyone's help.Andy

I also have battled the shimmies to no avail.Just changed from Nvidea to ATI 98 Pro and it's much better, although it's still there.One thing to note however. I only get shimmering when I fly offline. The minute I hook up to Squawkbox it all disappears.I can't tell why that is. I don't know what happens to the system that is different when flying online, but something must be loaded that fixes the problem. Something to look into for you Guru freaks.RonCVA1701

Ron, That is an interesting observation of no shimmering while on-line. Could this be a "Secret" Microsoft setting to allow for "Normal" on-line operations while at the same time hurting "Stand-Alone" flight? It is not the first time that fixing one problem has created more of them in other places when writing computer code. I have noticed it is less pronounced when flying a "Slower" aircraft which in turn usually means a less complicated panel. I still believe that Microsoft expects everyone to fly the slower aircraft and thus have built the performance standards around them. It definitely ruins the realism in the simulation and negates all of the nice scenery that has been added to this version.Terry