One of the most sought after requests, is that FSX would take more advantage of modern video card. Due to the extensive use of shaders and how the scenery objects are grouped together and optimized, KLAX is a scenery that DOES take advantage of the video card more than the typical FSX scenery would.

 

The other side of the coin is the scenery will probably perform bad on low-end video cards (regardless of the CPU used) and, on a hi-end card, you need to be careful with your video settings because, being more dependent on the video card, means also being more dependent on video settings too, and a wrong one could cause way more damage than on a more traditional scenery.

being more dependent on the video card, means also being more dependent on video settings too, and a wrong one could cause way more damage than on a more traditional scenery.

 

Would it hurt to use regular 2x Supersample? I've got a GTX580 and normally, I have no trouble maxing out AA levels.

Flying in a big area like LA with a lot of ai traffic, you might want to look for afcad files for the surrounding airports. I believe when Ai runs out of parking spots, it causes stuttering. Since there are so many big airports in the area, that could be causing an issue. KVNY, KBUR, KONT, KSNA, KSMO. make sure you have an afcad for each.

Would it hurt to use regular 2x Supersample? I've got a GTX580 and normally, I have no trouble maxing out AA levels.

 

You really need to experiment, because these things changes with drivers optimization too.

 

The maximum level of AA you can use is not always the same, it depends on what the application is doing and which materials/shaders are used and of course your overall video resolution. Not all shaders are equal or have an equal weight on the GPU.If you use vanilla FSX with a default scenery or a scenery which uses FS9 methods and materials, you can probably crank you AA to maximum levels, because the GPU in that case is under-utilized.

Ben, I just tested the KLAX for you. I have photoscenery there, FSDT KLAX, no AI as usual and NGX VC sittin on rwy 24L, fair weather, full screen 1920x1200 - 30fps, locked (when mouse hides)

 

If I pan just towards the tower, I get 19fps when mouse hidden.

 

Mouse shown/hidden difference is around 10% loss at KLAX.

 

Btw. my GPU load at KLAX is 50% when looking at the tower from 24L. And btw. yes, KLAX uses more GPU in comparison to another airport I just loaded, FT LOWW, which uses only about 30% GPU.

which uses FS9 methods and materials,

 

Why didn't you stick with using the traditional methods rather than using these shaders? Is there any improvement visually or is it easier while developing?

hy didn't you stick with using the traditional methods rather than using these shaders? Is there any improvement visually or is it easier while developing?

 

I don't believe he said they were using default FSX shaders.

 

If you use vanilla FSX with a default scenery or a scenery which uses FS9 methods and materials, you can probably crank you AA to maximum levels, because the GPU in that case is under-utilized.

You really need to experiment, because these things changes with drivers optimization too.

 

The maximum level of AA you can use is not always the same, it depends on what the application is doing and which materials/shaders are used and of course your overall video resolution. Not all shaders are equal or have an equal weight on the GPU.If you use vanilla FSX with a default scenery or a scenery which uses FS9 methods and materials, you can probably crank you AA to maximum levels, because the GPU in that case is under-utilized.

 

Is there any chance that there will ever be a config manager to lessen the complexity of the airport buildings?

 

I have carefully tested many AA levels and I have come to the conclusion that I am GPU limited in this scenario. My GPU is running @ 80-99% load while taxiing on the ground at LAX. Once I get about 5 miles away, my GPU load drops down into the twenties.

Is there any chance that there will ever be a config manager to lessen the complexity of the airport buildings?

 

Not needed, because they obviously all use LODs, so the complexity reduction is automatic. In any case, the building polygonal complexity doesn't change much, when you are GPU-limited. Your AA setting is too high with THIS configuration of used shaders, plain and simple.

 

As I've said, if a scenery use simpler FS9-looking materials, you can of course use the remaining GPU spare power to crank up your AA, but if the scenery uses a lot more advanced shaders, your GPU is already close to be maximed, so you can't afford the more expensive AA modes.

 

This is an indication of how the scenery USE your GPU, so it's a feature, not a "bug". Fact you can crank up AA in a default scenery, it's only an indication that is under-using your GPU, and it's not a good quality.

 

I have carefully tested many AA levels and I have come to the conclusion that I am GPU limited in this scenario. My GPU is running @ 80-99% load while taxiing on the ground at LAX. Once I get about 5 miles away, my GPU load drops down into the twenties.

 

That's likely because after a certain range, we switch off some of the more complex materials to create ground layers. You said yourself your fps tripled using a less-expensive AA mode, which is quite logical.

 

There's nothing to add to this, other than you need to select a less-expensive AA mode, and this is just an indication how good the scenery to use your GPU. Wasting GPU power just to crank up AA modes, it's not the best way of using a powerful GPU which was designed to do much important things like realistic materials.

So how is your performance really, compared to mine?

Why didn't you stick with using the traditional methods rather than using these shaders? Is there any improvement visually or is it easier while developing?

 

Are you saying you don't see the visual difference in KLAX compared to another scenery, and how much better the fps is, considering the size of the airport and how it looks ?

 

The issue is, this thread title (which I hope you'll correct, now that you have been explained the reasons and suggested the solution ) is very misleading: "bad fps at FSDT klax" is not really the case, the problem is the too expensive AA mode you use in *combination* with KLAX.

 

As I've already explained, your GPU power is not an infinite resource, on a bad-looking scenery, a default FSX scenery or an FSX scenery that use FS9-style methods, you might be free to crank up the AA modes, because this kind of scenery under-use your GPU, so you have plenty of power left, so you can use the more expensive AA modes because your GPU was sitting there doing almost nothing.

 

But KLAX being a scenery that USE the GPU more than any other out there, it means your GPU is used as it should be: generating more realistic materials, which also means you can't afford the more expensive AA mode. It's exactly the same if you try a next-gen game like Crysis 2: even in that case, you can't crank up AA modes to the maximum, because the superior graphic engine USE your GPU more. That's a quality of the engine, not a problem.

Again - what is your problem? You have the same GPU like I do, yet mine is *not* 90% loaded. So, what's the problem? And my FPS are on par with other airports, or better.

 

So again: running 2x SGSS, not a problem in sight.

 

And btw. Ben, load the UK2000 EGLL, some thunderstorms, and you'll be seeing even 95%+ usage!

 

which I hope you'll correct, now that you have been explained the reasons and suggested the solution

 

I believe he can't, but I did.

Same here, I am using 2xSGSS, and it is smooth as butter.

There's nothing to add to this, other than you need to select a less-expensive AA mode, and this is just an indication how good the scenery to use your GPU. Wasting GPU power just to crank up AA modes, it's not the best way of using a powerful GPU which was designed to do much important things like realistic materials.

 

With AA turned off, my FPS are much higher but still not at my desired FPS. I always lock down at 30FPS and it hovers around 25.

 

Again - what is your problem?

 

Stuttery and low FPS>

 

But KLAX being a scenery that USE the GPU more than any other out there,

 

Then why wouldn't it be possible to create some kind of config manager to lower some of the complexity settings?

I have FSDT KLAX and are running it on a mid range system that isn't OC with UT2 and I have no issues. Smooth