I may be a very long way behind everyone else seeing as I've not yet invested in REX for FS2004.

 

I was wondering whether I could expect to see much of a performance impact if I were to purchase it?

 

I'm currently using Activesky v6.5 with 256x256 clouds

 

My system is as follows

E8500 @3.16GHz

4GB RAM

512MB 8800GT

Windows XP

 

When at Heathrow with full AI in a complicated aircraft, full weather from Activesky v6.5 I get frames of around 25-30.

 

With these in mind, would REX offer much more visually to FS2004? Would it conflict with Activesky? And would it have much of a performance impact?

 

Thanks for your help guys, don't want to buy it and then discover my FPS is less than 22/23.

Anthony:

 

I have (had) REX9 for FS9, and I say "had" because I don't use FS9 any longer. Switched to FSX. That said, your system is very close to mine. AMD Athlon Dual Core 5600 2.8ghz, 4 GB RAM, ATI 4670 1 GB, XP. I found Rex9 to work quite well with my system along with ASv6. I did not use the Rex weather engine. Just ASv6. I can't give you a frame measure because FS9 is no longer installed, but the clouds from Rex9 were beautiful and presented very minimal stutters if any at all. Overall, it ran very well. I don't know what effect your 512 ghz card vs my 1GB card would have, but the more power the better.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Chris

When you choose the 1024p 32-bit HD clouds and fly in a heavy weather, there WILL be a noticalble FPS drop, but all good looking addons take some frames.

However the GUI offers a lot of options once you are not satisfied with the performance.

You can choose between 1024, 512 and 256 resolution clouds and, first of all, you can also choose the much reduced DXT3 option.

 

So, all in all, you can find a good compromise between appearance and performance.

Hmm...didn't realize REX had a 256x256 option for clouds... thought that was just for water. I've never tried the DXT3 option before. Does checking the DXT3 box convert all the cloud options (512x512 and HD) to compressed textures? Or does it add additional choices that let you select compressed textures in addition to the uncompressed textures? My system runs the full-blown textures great so I always ignored that check box... but now I'm curious.

Thank you so much for your replies guys.

 

I wish REX had a trial version so that I could give it a go! Does having DXT3 clouds show a huge difference in visual quality? I am not sure which component of my PC I would need to upgrade first to ensure that I'm still getting great performance (as I do 90% of the time at the moment with my current rig). I'm not sure whether it's the processor, RAM or graphics card that would be restricting FS2004 from really shining with REX on 1024p clouds at UK2000 EGLL with full AI and a complex aircraft. Its locked at 32FPS most of the time and drops to around 25 when really pushed.

 

Hmmm, wish I had a better understanding of computers at times

didn't realize REX had a 256x256 option for clouds... thought that was just for water.

 

Well, it may be my mistake. I don't have REX installed at the moment, so I was writing from my memory.

 

Does having DXT3 clouds show a huge difference in visual quality?

 

A bit, not so much. But the performance difference is quite significant. Have a look at a screenshot with the DXT3 clouds:

 

Theyre nice looking clouds! I think theyre an improvement on my current Activesky clouds. Not bad for DXT3 textures! Nice overcast effect too, I find Activesky and default FS9 cannot simulate overcast conditions, theres always blue sky around!

 

Any hardware geeks able to answer this one?

I'm not sure whether it's the processor, RAM or graphics card that would be restricting FS2004 from really shining with REX on 1024p clouds at UK2000 EGLL with full AI and a complex aircraft. Its locked at 32FPS most of the time and drops to around 25 when really pushed.

I think as long as you use the lower resolution clouds, you won't see much if any FPS hit. And if the term 'lower resolution' sounds negative, let me say that the REX low resolution clouds are still fantastic. I still found myself muttering "wow" to myself on a fairly regular basis as I pass between layers of incredibly life-like clouds - and on my current system I do use the lower resolution ones...

 

I would say that REX, along with FSUIPC registered, was by far the most significant upgrade I have ever done to FS9 and has kept my fascination with FS9 very much alive for far longer than would otherwise have been possible. A lot of us on this forum joke about a FS9.5 version - but with REX and a few other enhancements, it really is a huge leap forward over the stock sim. Go for it - I am absolutely confident you will not regret it

 

Cheers

Ian

ps. If you get the registered version of FSUIPC, you will be able to tweak weather settings (among many other things) and get rid of most of the problems associated with the way clouds, horizons, visibility etc iare rendered in FS9. With Active Sky, REX and FSUIPC you will have a brand new sim

Well I've yet to read anything bad about REX, in the morning I think I will bite the bullet and just buy it, hopefully itll live up to the hype, transform my FS2004 experience and won't rape my FPS!

default FS9 cannot simulate overcast conditions

 

Depends on how you see it. If you limit the maximum visibility (will also be more realistic) and do good settings in your fs9.cfg*, you will get a good overcast and realistic horizons.

*

MAX_UNLIMITED_VIS=96560

CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=8

3D_CLOUD_PERCENT=100

DETAILED_CLOUDS=1

CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=8

CloudsImpostorRingRadius=128000.000000

 

 

won't rape my FPS!

 

No, if you find the right balance between your hardware abilities, your visual taste, your FS/AS/FSUIPC weather/visibility settings and the REX cloud textures resolution and format.

REX, especially with the freeware OverDrive addition ( http://www.realenvir...erdrivefs9.html ), has a huge choice of cloud, sky and water themes. You just need to experiment a bit.

Everything in life always comes for a price. Fortunately most of us have learned to make good compromises.

 

 

If, however, you are undecided whether to spend your money on REX, you can try the awesome and freeware cloud and sky texture pack from Pablo Diaz, called HDEv2:

http://library.avsim...ftp&DLID=146315

I actually found the REX clouds easier on frames than the AS ones, and better looking to boot.

Use AS for your weather though, Rex's weather engine is a bit agricultural.

Well I've decided to download it- I'm going for it now! Wish me luck, hope it performs well on my system!

Well I've decided to download it- I'm going for it now! Wish me luck, hope it performs well on my system!

We probably won't see you online for a while - REX is going to give you some serious FS9 addiction issues! Enjoy!!!

:lol:

Well I downloaded it, and was about to install and play with it and then work called me to go to LAX! So didnt get a chance to have a go! Will do this weekend

We will be confidently waiting for you to tell us how much you love it! :lol: