Hi,First of all, please note, if you're intending to help me (which I really appreciate), please read everything!In the past I have defragged several times, and I always regretted it afterwards. My loadtimes did not increase, and lots of stutters suddenly appeared, and fps got reduced slightly. But after watching Turbine777's great tutorial on how to use Ultimate Defrag 3, I decided to give it another try. Well, what he explains in his video, is mostly how to use it, and wat everything does, but he doesn't really explain us what settings to use for FSX. I just tried to think logicly, and using the settings that I thought would be good for FSX. I'm using the same defragger as him, Ultimate Defrag 3. Which is one of the best (if not the best). So is no need to recommend me any other defraggers! Alright, these were the settings I used.Defrag mode: FOLDER/FILENAMEOptions:I checked: "Respect High Performance", "Respect Archive", and "Put directories close to MFT"I unchecked: "Complete high performance then stop" and "Complete archive then stop"Settings:At the High Performance section, I chose "Custom" and unchecked "Automatic". I clicked "Select files...", then I ticked C:/FSX and moved it over to the left using the << symbol. After this I clicked OK. Back in the High Permance section, I chose the "Strict Placement Sorted By..." option. I chose Folder/Filename, and left the setting on the right on Asc (I could choose between Asc and Desc).Right under this, was the Archive section. Right here I wasn't entirely sure what to do. But again, I unchecked "Automatic" and checked "Custom". I chose the "Strict Placement Sorted By..." option, and in the drop down menu right next to it, I didn't choose the Folder/Filename option, because I didn't want it to archive my FSX directory, so I simply left it on "Default".Last thing I did was unchecking "Respect Layout.ini".Then I defragged, and after it was finished in around 3 hours, I started up FSX. I loaded up the NGX with Aerosoft Amsterdam, clear weather, and daytime. These are the settings I always use when testing performance, same time, same weather, same airport, same airplane, and same runway. While before I was able to achieve around 22-23 fps, I was now only able to achieve 20 fps. This is no illusion, I'm not mad! When taking off, I immediately noticed there were several stutters, a little bit like those stutters when not using an FPS limiter. When flying straight on, they didn't happen too much, around every 10 seconds FSX stuttered a little bit. But when making turns, or suddenly looking around, There were a lot of stutters for a few seconds, I could also see objects being loaded, not even that far away from me. When on final approach after doing a simple traffic pattern, I could see trees suddenly being loaded up around 2 miles in front of me! I've never seen this before, and FSX has been working much better before defragging. I really don't understand what the point is of doing it. Everyone is always saying that it's very good for FSX, and increasing your performance, so why is it doing more harm than good for me?! I think (I'm almost sure) I must be doing something wrong in my defragging settings, but I just can't figure out why. I'm not sure first of all, whether to use Asc or Desc, and also I'm not sure what to do with the Archive section. I just chose Strict Placement Sorted By and left it on default. Or shouldn't I use the Archive option at all? Also, I'm not sure whether to check "Respect Layout.ini".I hope you guys can help me. It might also be my harddrive, not sure. I have a 5400 rpm WD Caviar Green, which is not bad, but certainly not the best.

What was your autogen set at just out of curiosity? Put it on normal and see if the rhythmic stutters continue. Just trying to see if its autogen related as you stated the objects were popping into view.

Arjen,I use a different defrag program .. no problems. Not selling you on another one though.You mentioned a hard drive from an Acer ..Do you have a home built PC?What is your OS?

Arjen,I use a different defrag program .. no problems. Not selling you on another one though.You mentioned a hard drive from an Acer ..Do you have a home built PC?What is your OS?

My harddrive comes from an Acer M7811 (bad value for the price). Around 3 months ago I built a custom pc, a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, case, and CPU cooler. I sold my old mobo with my old CPU, RAM and PSU. And I put the GPU and HDD from my old Acer pc in my new custom build pc. The HDD is a Western Digital Caviar Green 5400 RPM. My OS is Windows 7 x64 Home Premium. My system has been working very well since I built it. My GPU gets replaced by a GTX 580 very shortly, but I simply do not have the money (yet) for an SSD, as I do not have a stable monthly income yet.

My harddrive comes from an Acer M7811 (bad value for the price). Around 3 months ago I built a custom pc, a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, case, and CPU cooler. I sold my old mobo with my old CPU, RAM and PSU. And I put the GPU and HDD from my old Acer pc in my new custom build pc. The HDD is a Western Digital Caviar Green 5400 RPM. My OS is Windows 7 x64 Home Premium. My system has been working very well since I built it. My GPU gets replaced by a GTX 580 very shortly, but I simply do not have the money (yet) for an SSD, as I do not have a stable monthly income yet.

Ok,Is your home built PC on a home network?

Alright, I just did what Turbine777 suggested me to do, which is unchecking the whole Archive section. I did so, defragged again, and my fps increased slightly. The stutters got reduced also a little, but still remain, and before defragging I did have no stutters (only extremely small ones). What I notice, is that I see objects popping up quite closely to me, even though my LOD_RADIUS=4.5. This tells me that FSX has problems loading scenery and textures. Perhaps I should defrag my Scenery and Texture folder seperately? What settings shall I use for that?

Ok,Is your home built PC on a home network?

Yes it is sir.

Right,Is your OS the one that shipped with the old PC - Acer?

Edited January 3, 201214 yr by vonmar

Right,Is your OS the one that shipped with the old PC - Acer?

No, I first formatted my HDD at my dads pc, then put it in my PC and did a fresh install of WIndows 7 X64 Home Premium. So no, there are not traces of my old Acer pc on my new pc.EDIT: my pc has been working perfectly (at 4.5 GHz also) since the beginning, which was 3 months ago.

Edited January 3, 201214 yr by arjenfsx

No, I first formatted my HDD at my dads pc, then put it in my PC and did a fresh install of WIndows 7 X64 Home Premium. So no, there are not traces of my old Acer pc on my new pc.EDIT: my pc has been working perfectly (at 4.5 GHz also) since the beginning, which was 3 months ago.

Not the best thing(s) to do ...IMO.Are you overclocking the video card or new motherboard?

Edited January 3, 201214 yr by vonmar

Alright, I just did what Turbine777 suggested me to do...

Arjen, all of your questions are answered in the video. Your initial choices in defragging were not the best choices. As I already said, you can expect to see a little sluggishness after a defrag, especially when you don't do as I mentioned. I'm sorry I didn't quote you and rarely do that since most people I reply to are on here a lot. I should make it a habit though but hate to spam peoples inbox also. Hopefully someone here can help if you rather not listen to me. I am correct, I know this 100%, but also have no time to bounce back and forth to help someone that has the same questions all over the place. It's exactly what you did to your files in your choices of defragging that I already also explained. Good luck but most advice given to you in this thread is wrong only because they don't know the whole story which is another reason you shouldn't have multiple topics on an issue. It's easy to forget what you said somewhere else and may automatically expect the others reading the other topic to just know that which is unfair to those trying to help you.

Not the best thing(s) to do ...IMO.Are you overclocking the video card or new motherboard?

No, I'm overclocking my CPU only, ran all 3 tests in Prime95 for 12 hours with no errors. It's surely very stable, never any system freezes or BSOD's. Why is formatting my HDD not the best thing to do? I can't put my HDD with Windows 7 edited by Acer in my new custom build pc. I first have to delete the Acer Windows 7, after this I did an install of a regular version (so not a disk from Acer or something) of Windows 7 X64 Home Premium. This has been working flawlessly for 3 months now. Also, if you have that many questions to me, I'd recommend put it one post, because otherwise this topic might get a little long.

Arjen, all of your questions are answered in the video. Your initial choices in defragging were not the best choices. As I already said, you can expect to see a little sluggishness after a defrag, especially when you don't do as I mentioned. I'm sorry I didn't quote you and rarely do that since most people I reply to are on here a lot. I should make it a habit though but hate to spam peoples inbox also. Hopefully someone here can help if you rather not listen to me. I am correct, I know this 100%, but also have no time to bounce back and forth to help someone that has the same questions all over the place. It's exactly what you did to your files in your choices of defragging that I already also explained. Good luck but most advice given to you in this thread is wrong only because they don't know the whole story which is another reason you shouldn't have multiple topics on an issue. It's easy to forget what you said somewhere else and may automatically expect the others reading the other topic to just know that which is unfair to those trying to help you.

I'm sorry, but what are you moaning about? YOU are the one that I'm listening to rather than all the others. As I saw your tutorial, I could see that you know what you're talking about, and you clearly know what you're doing. And I'm taking all your advice. And I'm really sorry if I sometimes do not understand you in the correct way, perhaps I still don't understand some things? And as I said, English is not my mothertongue. I am 16 and come from The Netherlands, so I'm sorry if I sometimes miss some things you said... I really appreciate that you're helping me, so no moaning needed imo.About the sluggishness you say that could happen after defragging, does this only happen right after defragging and stop later, or does it continue to happen? If so, what is the point of defragging when all those stutters happen?

Moaning about? Haha, this is why I ask myself every day why bother. I make videos to explain things very detailed, just to help others and have to deal with crap like that. You'll find I answered your question for the last time in the 1st place you asked it. It has nothing to do with your language to know that you're being insulting and I am done trying to help people that can't read or are to impatient to wait for a reply in the 1st topic they asked the question. I've now wasted hours of today just trying to help you, just to have you say I'm moaning. Okie dokes.BUT, in respect of others time... When you lack patience and feel the need to open new threads in forums that they don't even belong in (this is not NGX related at all). At least respect others time that are going to try and help you by linking the other place you asked for help just hours before. When these people try to help you, a good deal of them are actually doing their best to understand everything they can, and having the other information can help them, help you. Otherwise, you only waste their time and their good intentions.

Moaning about? Haha, this is why I ask myself every day why bother. I make videos to explain things very detailed, just to help others and have to deal with crap like that. You'll find I answered your question for the last time in the 1st place you asked it. It has nothing to do with your language to know that you're being insulting and I am done trying to help people that can't read or are to impatient to wait for a reply in the 1st topic they asked the question. I've now wasted hours of today just trying to help you, just to have you say I'm moaning. Okie dokes.BUT, in respect of others time... When you lack patience and feel the need to open new threads in forums that they don't even belong in (this is not NGX related at all). At least respect others time that are going to try and help you by linking the other place you asked for help just hours before. When these people try to help you, a good deal of them are actually doing their best to understand everything they can, and having the other information can help them, help you. Otherwise, you only waste their time and their good intentions.

Wow, what is your problem? How many more times you want me to thank you, and to tell you how much I appreciate your help, and how helpful I found your video? And now I get this back for it? And perhaps "moaning" is the wrong word, but I don't know any other words for it, but you just seemed to be annoyed because I didn't understood everything you said upon the first time. Well I'm sorry for that! But let me tell you this, I did read EVERY single letter of your posts, and listened to everything you said, and watched your entire video. "Wasted" all your time? It seems you also not read my posts properly. This is now the 3rd time I say how helpful I found your video, made me understand A LOT about UD3, but you can't expect me to understand everything upon the first time. I made one mistake in the Archive section, corrected it, defragged again and it's working better already. I got better fps then before I defragged, but I got lots more stutters. But as you say, that's because the Layout.ini has to be rewritten. And again: THANK YOU for the help you gave me, you did definately not waste your time, so don't say that just because I did not understand everything upon the first time.