Hi,I've heard from several users that shutting down backround programs greatly improves FSX performance. I don't have that much of a problem since I built a new system and overclocked it, unless I am near an area like San Francisco or KSFO.I know about going into the startup menu in MSCONFIG, but if I shut down as much as I can, what has to stay in order for Windows to run? I want to shut down everything I can but not what I need. Thanks, Tom

I would also like to know the answer to this.Other thanFSXActive Sky XREXWhat has to stay running?

For starters, you would shut down anything that scans for updates; itunes scanner, AV updates etc.And your AV software.Since I don't run any addons, I don't shut off anything and don't have any trouble.Bob

If you download Ken Salter's free "Alacrity" it comes with a default set of programs - presumably taken from the standard "Services" and the "Startup" components. One can add to this list and can specify "shutdown & restart" - and can also then configure the addons, such as TracIR, that you want to start prior to FSX. It's an excellent application.

I would also like to know the answer to this.Other thanFSXActive Sky XREXWhat has to stay running?

REX does not need ot run since you are using the ASE weather engine. You can quit REX after you load the textures you want, and you can do so even before starting FSX.Cheers,- jahman.

Many say REX their talking about the REX weather engine?

Yes.Cheers,- jahman.

i use the free "game booster"....shuts down lots of background programs like print spool...tablet etc. works great!

I second Game Booster. It also defrags your RAM prior to opening FSX, which gets rid of anything hogging it from previously opened programs. A similar one, which is free and open-source, is Game Fire. http://www.smartpcutilities.com/gamefire.htmlCcleaner will also help degunk your PC and has a menu where you can remove software that starts with windows. Most software doesn't need to start with windows, it does it to be convenient and mostly that is the opposite of what it is. Antivirus is one of very few pieces of software that should start with windows and if you can turn your AV off while FSX is running it may improve your performance quite a bit. Some AV software has the ability to ignore folders, in which case you should certainly have it ignore your FSX folder if you want to keep it running while you fly.

Thanks for all the help, guys. I forgot to mention above I have Windows 7 -64 if it makes any difference. Are Alacrity and Game Booster similar? Tom

I too use Game Booster. You also have a choice on service's shutdown. There is a choice to be conservative or aggressive. You can also restore the service state to what it was originally.Bob

Hi Flaps30:You may want to wait using msconfig.Check out this website:http://www.blackviper.com/Charlie Sparks has had a web presense for many years now. Lots of info there.As powerfull as today's computers are, it may be not quite as important as it once was to shut down background programs.Still, most of the information you need can probably be found there.Good Luck!

Not wanting to shut down the previous comment, but I used to use blackviper's guides until windows 7 came around and I honestly now just run plain vanilla windows 7 64-bit and allow Game Booster to do its thing. Blackviper has good information, but as the previous commenter alluded to, I don't believe we need to shut down the small background services using a couple of MB's of RAM at a time.I run complex payware aircraft, scenery and weather with all sliders right and get 20-30FPS in most places when there is a lot of clouds, 30-40FPS (locked at 40FPS) when there is a clearer view of the sky. I run 8GB DDR3 RAM, AMD 6870 1GB GFX Card, i7-2600k not overclocked, for reference.

Try Tweakhound.com,and The Elder geek website.

I'd be very, very surprised if you would see any sort of performance difference by shutting down normal, working background services. But hey, whatever floats your boat.

Tutmeister,That's the best performance I've ever seen without overclocking. I have an i7-920 2.67ghz overclocked to 4.0 ghz, a GTX -275 1792 mb card, and 12 gb DDR-3 on an ASUS P6T mb. I'm locked at 30fps and am alright in most areas but near San Francisco and especially KSFO I drop like a rock to 10-15 fps. I don't know what else to try. I'd love to get the PMDG 737 and better scenery addons, but I'm afraid I'd really kill the frames. I also only have the default weather engine. Tom