So, I continue to struggle with diagnosing the low frame rates I've been encountering. Repeated trial and error with re-installations, benchmarking, tweaking, malicious activity scanning, defragmenting, startup and process modification and a host of other suggestions, I accepted defeat.

 

Perhaps I had only imagined having better frame rates initially, and I only find myself expecting more than what is capable of being produced. Seems that the frame rates are all over the map, and I am unable to isolate any one particular cause. Perhaps it's the level of detail of the FeelThere ERJ, or the complexity of FlyTampa airport scenery, cavok conditions (5-15 FPS). Stock Cessna, with stock airport cavok conditions = 20-30 FPS.

 

Thanks for all your help everyone!!!

Can you do a test in full screen mode? If it still performs poorly, uninstall AVG and test. Still bad, delete your FSX.cfg and test. Make sure you're not forcing some high amount of AA that your cards can't handle also.

 

I'm posting from my phone so I can't see what GPUs you're running, what are they? 3 GPUs for 3 monitors might be a good idea in theory, but the more GPUs you have the more complex the rendering sub-system becomes. Any number of setting or changes to the system could cause poor performance. Something as simple as a driver update or a rogue Nvidia control panel or Inspector setting could be causing one of the cards to lag.

 

Whatever you do, don't disregard troubleshooting advice thinking you've done this or something similar already. The questions I've asked and tips I've given are very pointed and should be done or you may not get to the bottom of this without having to nuke and pave the system. Ex: don't think that because you've had AVG all along that it couldn't be causing your problems. That program is updated daily and one of those updates could be causing this behavior. You need to eliminate it completely for troubleshooting purposes.

 

Found luck, don't give up, I'm sure we can get to the bottom of this with persistence!

 

One last thing: bad RAM can corrupt data over time. You might just have to reload anyway by before you get there you should run a checkdisk and an SFC on your O.S. partition and just a checkdisk on any others.

Getting rid of AVG hasn't appeared to make any difference.

 

// This file was tweaked on Aug 23, 2012 at 20:56 GMT using Bojote's automated FSX Tweaking & Tuning Service
// Your 'original' fsx.CFG file was backed up at http://www.venetubo.com/fsx/8adbdcd8c05a6d199546c9e2f7f60921/backup/fsx_backup.cfg
// This file is optimized as follows: 8 core(s), CPU speed 1, HT 0, GPU 1, PREF 2
// You can visit Bojote's FSX Tweaking & Tuning service at http://www.venetubo.com/fsx.html
[bufferPools]
RejectThreshold=131072
//Poolsize=0 //NEW
[VirtualCopilot]
VirtualCopilotActive=0
[sOUND]
AmbientUI=1
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
PrimaryDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
SOUND=1
SOUND_LOD=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
UISound=1
VoiceDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
SOUND_FADER1=0.500000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=0.000000
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01
[slewTextInfo.1]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
[AContain]
LabelColor=FFFF0000
LabelDelay=5000
ShowLabelAirline=0
ShowLabelAirlineAndFlightNumber=0
ShowLabelAirspeed=0
ShowLabelAltitude=0
ShowLabelContainerId=0
ShowLabelDistance=0
ShowLabelFlightPlan=0
ShowLabelHeading=0
ShowLabelManufacturer=0
ShowLabelModel=0
ShowLabelTailNumber=0
ShowLabels=0
ShowUserLabel=0
[ATC]
AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=0
COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=FFFF7840
COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=FF00FF00
COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=FFB6FFB6
COMM_MSG_NONE_COLOR=FFFFFFFF
COMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=FFFFD21B
PilotVoice=0
ShowATCText=0
UsePilotVoice=0
[TextInfo.1]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6
[AccelerationPack]
ControlsFirstRun=0
HomePageFirstRun=0
[iNTERNATIONAL]
ASLAT=2
ASLON=1
MEASURE=0
[CONTROLS]
Controls_Current=Standard
Controls_Default=Standard
KBDAIL=64
KBDELEV=64
KBDRUD=64
[FACILITIES]
CITY=
COUNTRY=United States
GTL_BUTTON=1729
STATE=Florida
[TextInfo.3]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
FrameRate=2,1
FuelPercentage=2,4
GForce=2,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
Longitude=1,2
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6
[PointOfInterestSystem]
CycleSetting=0
[GRAPHICS]
AC_SELF_SHADOW=0
AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1
AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1
ALLOW_SHADER_30=1
COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1
D3D10=0
EFFECTS_QUALITY=1
ForceWindowedVsync=1
GROUND_SHADOWS=0
HIGHMEMFIX=1
IMAGE_QUALITY=0
LANDING_LIGHTS=1
NUM_LIGHTS=8
See_Self=1
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=1024
TEXTURE_QUALITY=3
Text_Scroll=1
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693500672
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693500672
[TrafficManager]
AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=3
AirlineDensity=20
FreewayDensity=42
GADensity=20
IFROnly=0
LeisureBoatsDensity=56
ShipsAndFerriesDensity=34
[DynamicHeadMovement]
HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000
LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000
LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000
MaxHeadAngle=5.000000
MaxHeadOffset=0.300000
RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000
RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000
YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000
[REALISM]
AllowEngineDamage=True
AutoCoord=False
AutoTrim=False
CrashDetection=True
CrashTolerance=0.500000
CrashWithDyn=True
GEffect=False
General=0.500000
GyroDrift=False
GyroEffect=0.500000
ManualLights=False
PFactor=0.500000
RealMixture=False
StressDamage=False
Torque=0.500000
TrueAirspeed=False
UnlimitedFuel=False
[Weather]
AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1
CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=6
CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=4
DETAILED_CLOUDS=1
DisableTurbulence=0
DownloadWindsAloft=0
DynamicWeather=0
MaxGustRampSpeed=200
MaxGustTime=500
MaxVarRampSpeed=75
MaxVarTime=50
MinGustRampSpeed=1
MinGustTime=10
MinVarRampSpeed=10
MinVarTime=5
THERMAL_VISUALS=0
TurbulenceScale=1.000000
WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0
WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com
WeatherServerPort=80
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1
[Misc]
Com_Rate=7
[Main]
FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.2
HideMenuFullscreen=0
HideMenuNormal=0
Location=3,0,6029,1081,\\.\DISPLAY1
Maximized=0
SimObjectPaths.0=SimObjects\Airplanes
SimObjectPaths.1=SimObjects\Rotorcraft
SimObjectPaths.2=SimObjects\GroundVehicles
SimObjectPaths.3=SimObjects\Boats
SimObjectPaths.4=SimObjects\Animals
SimObjectPaths.5=SimObjects\Misc
User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter
ProcSpeed=7149
PerfBucket=7
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti .0]
Mode=6036x1080x32
TriLinear=1
[Trusted]
J:\AICarriers\aicarriers.exe.kwztkkaierzhohrzqbncruabowiwhawacoooowik=1
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\FeelThere\E170\EJetH.dll.bnqrhtlctnnrwhbczckwleohoiuilrrtcaiikabi=1
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\FeelThere\Erj\E145XH.dll.elzeuclaobrokeltzecowtbzulaaurwluonzntok=1
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\XGauge.DLL.quuucnnzhzctrkrklrotwainctaicenibtlituoh=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Modules\FSCopilot.dll.qqiwziobhhtnzrotlchnululquikqteqatrtrbok=1
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Modules\FSUIPC4.dll.qnaiiueotikihqcwikatiwiuowowthawkhchawqb=1
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\PMDG\DLLs\PMDG_HUD_interface.dll.aroiulcehuaacakbbzebztebwikunezkuaiinwic=1
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\VistaMare\ViMaCoreX.dll.abzknbncotucoqrnztwotkwzizobtztlchtkrzzn=1
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\feelThere PIC E175\panel\EJet.GAU.ekhizcwczawbnleqqrcninrkbnzqzlhbuhcrloab=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\FSWXR2100.GAU.wclelwakhaztebbtrcaetownieznbrbewrzzqhkc=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\EFinfo_emb.GAU.rtnoozwtzutcowckwrneiaeoholotwoorratzklc=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\feelThere CRJ 700\panel\CRJ700.DLL.nwbliwkrocnknakteowbzalwhutqzerqikltwkoz=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PA28ARCHER2.GAU.wtknilzuhwuctilhqqilqaraiitnilotukeitnre=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PA28ARCHER3.GAU.iitkerclkwqlrqztnutnqqzqlkianaaezlqzkhqn=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PA28ARCHER4.GAU.awllebtktiuieehiiiqqolwwhckrnucctqihuolc=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Cessna.DLL.hnibwuonnkiucczeaulkbazeizqlehciuibaknlw=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Cessna172.DLL.heawhbnuqwbrlehewelokqnchenoqrzoknwnwrzr=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Cessna182s.DLL.baqewzrbzkzootqthtcntwkkqabwiwutkwnoatnz=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\CessnaWAlpha.DLL.lzauquiqahqqiawkkknqhelwkzhkkkhwnrtikotr=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Bendix_King_Radio.DLL.whalabcbinuokwihtkqlwrcoetwqackzqznoahzq=2
J:\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Bell_206B.DLL.hcanwnhkweaiauhqzatqeqtbulrqzbtrekcnltlh=2
[TextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
FuelPercentage=1,4
GForce=1,3
LockedFrameRate=1,2
[uSERINTERFACE]
Map_Orientation=2
OpenATCOnCreate=0
PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0
PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1
PageID=1
SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0
SITUATION=c:\users\rob\documents\flight simulator x files\Cessna Cold-Dark.FLT
ShowAllACPaintSchemes=1
SelectAircraftManufacturer=Embraer - feelThere
SelectAircraftPublisher=All
SelectAircraftType=All
DisplayFuelAsWeight=1
[sIM]
SYSCLOCK=1
[Display]
ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64
ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
BLOOM_EFFECTS=0
ChangeTime=4.000000
InfoBrakesEnable=True
InfoLowerLeftBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerLeftTextColor=255,255,255
InfoLowerRightBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerRightTextColor=255,255,255
InfoOverspeedEnable=True
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=True
InfoPauseEnable=True
InfoSlewEnable=True
InfoStallEnable=True
InfoUpperRightBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0
InfoUpperRightTextColor=255,0,0
NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64
NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=40
TextureMaxLoad=30
TransitionTime=4.000000
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=0
WideViewAspect=True
[JOBSCHEDULER]
//AffinityMask=224
AffinityMask=14
[slewTextInfo.3]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
FrameRate=2,1
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
Longitude=1,2
[PANELS]
DEFAULT_VIEW=0
IMAGE_QUALITY=1
PANEL_MASKING=1
PANEL_OPACITY=100
PANEL_STRETCHING=1
QUICKTIPS=0
UNITS_OF_MEASURE=0
[sTARTUP]
DEMO=0
LoadWindow=1
SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1
STARTUP_DEMO=0
[slewTextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
LockedFrameRate=1,2
[TERRAIN]
AUTOGEN_DENSITY=3
DETAIL_TEXTURE=1
LOD_RADIUS=3.500000
MESH_COMPLEXITY=50
MESH_RESOLUTION=23
SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=2
TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=25
WATER_EFFECTS=6
[sCENERY]
DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1
IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=3
LENSFLARE=1
MAX_ASYNC_BATCHING_JOBS=3
SmallPartRejectRadius=4.0
[FlightPlanMap]
LineWidth=2
SHOW_AIRPORTS=1
SHOW_VORS=1
SHOW_NDBS=1
SHOW_APPROACHES=1
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=1
SHOW_VICTOR=0
SHOW_JET=0
SHOW_AIRSPACE=1
SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1
SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1
SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1
SHOW_DATATAGS=1
SHOW_TERRAIN=1
show_waypoints=1
show_airways=1
show_markers=1
show_volume_boundaries=1
show_ac_twr=1
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT.1]
Mode=1024x768x32
[MULTIPLAYER]
condAccoutPassword=0
VoiceVolume=0.000000

 

Any glaring errors or ommissions, or any questionable entries in my FSX.cfg?

 

I was working on some benchmarking of CPU memory and FPS between different sceanrios using the default cessna and th embraer ERJ170, but quicly became confused. May start over if anyone is curious of these stats at various points in a flight, in various conditions,using various addons.

Your cfg looks ok,

 

Try my post above to see where your memory is.

 

Dave

OK ... I've conducted an afternoon of benchmark testing with my FSX installation using different parameters which may be suspect to causing my performace concerns.

 

During these tests, my hardware system did not change in any manner and is described in my profile information.

My FSX.cfg file did not change and is noted in my post above (#33)

 

These are base parameters for my testing:

Application: FSX

Acceleration: Yes

Airport: Default KDFW (Dallas-Fort Worth)

Active Runway: 13L

Aircraft 1: Default Cessna C172SP Skyhawk (Blue, Gold)

Aircraft 2: Wilco/FeelThere ERJ (Embraer) 175

Cockpit Zoom: 0.70

Addons: FSCopilot (not used)

VistaMare (not used)

Running with Nvidia Inspector tweaks (http://forum.avsim.n...f-all-settings/)

 

Internal FSX Settings are as follows:

 

Graphics

Screen Resolution: 6036x1080x32

Filtering: Trilinear

Anti-Aliasing: Off

Global Texture Resolution: Very High

Lens Flare: Checked

Advanced Animations: Checked

 

Cockpit

3D Virtual Cockpit: Checked

High Resolution 3D Virtual Cockpit: Checked

Aircraft casts shadows on the ground: Checked

Aircraft landing lights illuminate ground: checked

 

Scenery

Level of detail radius: Medium

Mesh Complexity: 50

Mesh Resolution: 5m

Texture Resolution: 1m

Water Effects: High 2x

Land Detail Textures: Checked

Scenery Complexity: Dense

Autogen Density: Dense

Special Effects Detail: Medium

 

Weather

Cloud draw distance: 70 mi./112 km

Thermal visualization: none

Detailed Clouds

Cloud coverage density: medium

 

Traffic

Airline traffic density: 20% (usually 0% when flying online)

General aviation traffic density: 20% (usually 0% when flying online)

Airport vehicle density: Medium

Road vehicles: 42%

Ships and ferries: 34%

Leisure boats: 56%

 

The test results can be viewed in the attached PDF document. I have test data screenshots if anyone is interested in viewing them.

 

Frame rates seem OK, but I am finding the lags and stuttering to be distracting. As I underwent the tests, it was these jitters that were more annoying than the frame rates. Even with lower frame rates, as long as they remained consistent, it was at least fluid. But it was the drastic jumps in frame rates that appeared to cause studders. Me wonders if this is harddrive related.

Getting rid of AVG hasn't appeared to make any difference.

 

Sorry that didn't fix it, let's keep searching though, still several things to check and we just have to try them until we find the solution.

 

Any glaring errors or ommissions, or any questionable entries in my FSX.cfg?

 

With FSX.cfg issues the general recommendation is to just delete it and let FSX rebuild it for you, then check the results. You could of course just rename the file rather than delete it, that way you can restore should the default FSX.cfg not address the issue.

Rkillins,

 

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti .0]Mode=6036x1080x32

 

- Your processor speed of 3.20 Hhz is not really fast for FSX, especially with that resolution.

I think FSX only comes to live from 4.20 on.

 

- Also with 3 screens i think you would be better of with a new GTX 660

 

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT.1]Mode=1024x768x32

 

What's this line doing at the bottom of your FSX.cfg ???

 

[bufferPools]

RejectThreshold=131072// Poolsize=0 //NEW

 

Try Word Not Allowed's advice:

 

[bUFFERPOOLS]

Usepools=0

 

(without RejectTreshold )

 

Off topic, but we are looking in the fsx.cfg anyway:

 

[TERRAIN]

LOD_RADIUS=6.500000 // FSX default = 4.500000

 

FSX sets this back to 4.500000 every time you change something in Options\Settings\Display

So remember to adjust manually: it extends the sharp texture radius around the aircraft (Word Not Allowed's advice)

 

In [DISPLAY]

 

I don't find your RUNWAY_LIGHTS section ?

And i hink this settings below (in stead of the much to bright FSX defaults) add a lot to the realism of the runway lights:

 

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_APPROACH_SCALAR=0.7 // default 1.2

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_STROBE_SCALAR=0.5 // default 1.0

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_SURFACE_SCALAR=0.8 // default 1.2

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_VASI_SCALAR=0.4 // default 1.0

And, Nick Needham:

 

"In case anyone is interested, this is what I use for a 6 core 980x @ 4.4Ghz and a 580 video card on a single 1920x1200 IPS LCD monitor @ 60Hz"

 

[Display]

ChangeTime=4.000000

TransitionTime=4.000000

BLOOM_EFFECTS=0

SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1

TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=120

UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=30

WideViewAspect=True

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_SURFACE_SCALAR=1.2

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_VASI_SCALAR=1.2

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_APPROACH_SCALAR=1.2

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_STROBE_SCALAR=1.0 - I use my own custom halo.bmp file

//ForceFullScreenVSync=True

ForceVSync=True

 

 

 

[Main]

HideInfoText=1

DisablePreload=1

FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.12

 

 

[PANELS]

IMAGE_QUALITY=1

QUICKTIPS=0

 

 

 

[Weather]

DynamicWeather=2

DownloadWindsAloft=1

DisableTurbulence=0

CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=3

DETAILED_CLOUDS=1

CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=8

THERMAL_VISUALS=1

 

 

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580.0]

Mode=1920x1200x32

TriLinear=1

 

 

[GRAPHICS]

HIGHMEMFIX=1

TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=1024

NUM_LIGHTS=8

AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1

AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1

COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1

LANDING_LIGHTS=1

AC_SELF_SHADOW=0

EFFECTS_QUALITY=2

GROUND_SHADOWS=0

TEXTURE_QUALITY=3

IMAGE_QUALITY=0

 

 

D3D10=0

 

 

[sCENERY]

LENSFLARE=1

DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1

IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=5

 

 

[TrafficManager]

AirlineDensity=100

GADensity=100 - NOTE I USE ULTIMATE TRAFFIC 80AL/80GA WHICH CONTROLS THESE OTHERWISE THEY WOULD BE SET TO:

 

 

AirlineDensity=60

GADensity=50

 

FreewayDensity=7 - NOTE - I USE UTX AND TURN OFF CARS IN THE UTX TOOL

ShipsAndFerriesDensity=25

LeisureBoatsDensity=25

AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=2

 

 

[TERRAIN]

LOD_RADIUS=6.500000

MESH_COMPLEXITY=100

MESH_RESOLUTION=22

TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=29

AUTOGEN_DENSITY=5 - this is sometimes reduced to 4 over exceptionally large autogen scenery but no lower

DETAIL_TEXTURE=1

WATER_EFFECTS=4

 

 

[bUFFERPOOLS]

UsePools=1

Poolsize=8388608

RejectThreshold=262144

 

 

Source:

http://www.simforums.com/forums/different-scenarios-different-settings-thats-how_topic41798_page3.html

Thanks folks for your ongoing support. Much appreciated of course.

 

- Your processor speed of 3.20 Hhz is not really fast for FSX, especially with that resolution.

I think FSX only comes to live from 4.20 on.

 

- Also with 3 screens i think you would be better of with a new GTX 660

 

No doubts there. I suspect that this is much like trying to barter for everything with nothing, and combined with a lower end card is a bottleneck for sure. But, until the funds start rolling in to upgrade significantly, I'll have to do with what I have. If an average 15FPS is all I can get, I'll have to learn to blink faster. Maybe things will smooth out that way.

 

I've made the changes you've suggested, including the addition of the runway lights. I had been meaning to include those, but lost the post where it had been revealed.

 

The GeForce 8500 powers a fourth support monitor exclusively.

You are running awful high traffic--airline, highway, water. Drop those down.

GPU temps, GPU1 74C, GPU2 88C and GPU3 68C

 

My Intel Core i7 960 temps ...

Core 1 176F avg a load of less than 7%

Core 2 174F avg a load of 45%

Core 3 185F avg a load of 100%

Core 4 185F avg a load of 100%

4.8 GB of the 12GB RAM is being used

 

I dunno.....Is it my or are those temps kinda hot? 180F CPU's and an almost 90F GPU? Wow--I had similar problems once--with my laptop--sudden unknown frame rate drops. Tried everything and I was about to toss the whole thing out the window when I noticed that one of my vents was blocked. I am a religious computer cleaner but I took apart the laptop and found the fans were gunked up and the airflow was not efficient. Turns out that sometime just blowing canned air in the vents will cause material to jam up near the fan.

 

Long story short-cleaning the fan vents, and replacing a wonky fan fixed everything.

 

Are you sure your cooling is adequate?

Hi Jim ... you know what? I have become soooo frustrated with this, it's causing me sleepless nights. The framerates from one day to the next are so unpredictable. On Monday I stripped my system of every running process that didn't crash my system, and couldn't get above 10 FPS. I did a flight without ActiveSky and my FPS jumped to 20-30. Augh! I like ActiveSky. :-( On Tuesday, I made the jump to DX10 and framerates jumped to a respectable 30+ FPS, with nice crisp clear graphics. But with Orbx and FlyTampa airports, although framerates indication was high, performance basically came to a halt. (See my post in the DX forum). I chalked it up to the high density airport scenery and lack of system power. It was flawless with default stock airport scenery. Very nice. Yesterday, I fire it up to do more testing with the exact same conditions to see if I can work again with AS. ActiveSky not even started, default airport, clear sunny day ... wow ... maxed out at 5FPS! Couldn't even get off the ground. I gave up even thinking of enabling AS. So much for AS finger pointing.

 

So, my thoughts all night? Time to nuke it all and start over. This is a new problem that has manifested itself within the last few weeks. My system at some point in time digested something that just made it lazy. Yeah, maybe my system isn't the fastest, but I do know I had no issues with my installation up to a few weeks ago. If I did, I would have expressed great disappointment long before now. I would not have tolerated an FSX installation that ran consistently at 15FPS or below. I never know what's going on behind the scenes with software invisible updating or whatever... task and resource manager don't reveal anything out of the ordinary. I keep thinking AVG is doing something in the background, but there is no way to tell. (Ran the system w/o AVG in my testing to determine it's impact with no noticeable revelations). I tried using process monitor, but it was logging entries in the millions even before flying started. And it turned out that was a good night when frame rates seemed ok. Can't imagine the frustration of looking through reams of data for the proverbial needle in a haystack. And thats assuming I know what the needle looks like!

 

Certainly I had thought about overheating as a factor, and posted my findings waiting for someone to say "Wow! Cool it down buddy!!" I'm not savvy enough to know what is acceptable temperatures. So ... here's my sign. I will do a cleaning tonight (I have periodically cleaned with canned air ... who would have thought it could make things worse?) and check the operation of the 3 fans. I had been trying to talk myself in getting a water cooling system for the CPU so I could pursue OCing, but since I'm nervous to delve into that, I've stayed away from the purchase. Now I have justification.

You don't have a laptop but you may have some dirt in there or serious amounts of dust buildup causing airflow problems. Excessive heat would certainly cause these mysterious issues you are having. I would definitely try to clean it up. Better to start with the simple fix first before more drastic measures.

 

My big breakthrough was when I suspected the heat issue-I put the laptop on the floor on top of the AC vent. My temps went way down and my frames went way up! That's when I knew for sure it was a temp issue. Of course now for the laptop I carry auxiliary fans (since I really can't change the cooling system). I play on a laptop because I work for long stretches of time overseas and can't have a desktop where I go.

 

Just because of your computer specs and FSX I would seriously consider a water cooling system anyway at least for the CPU's. Good water coolers can be had pretty cheaply and even if this issue is caused by something else, significant heat to your CPU's and GPU's will shorten their lifespan significantly.

 

I am getting ready to build a FS desktop and I will definitely put some heavy duty water cooling on it just because I think it is far more reliable than air cooling which is prone to dirt, dust and everything else causing problems with the proper airflow. Heck, even positioning the box can cause airflow issues which in turn causes heat issues.

 

Good luck and let us know how it goes.