I have got my low spec XP rig running pretty good after a year of constant experimenting w/ hardware, tweaks, and graphics settings. I am running Razer Gamebooster to hopefully kill non-essential backgrough programs. I can run a fairly consistent 18-24fps with my non-tubeliner aircraft.

 

One thing still bothers me... I get occasional 1-2 second freezes. Is this what is referred to as "stutters" in the FSX world?

 

Sometimes they seem to be related to an aircraft action such as adding flaps or changing the throttle setting but often they appear without any action on my part.

 

Is this "stutter" most likely related to the Mobo or the graphics card or what?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice on this problem. Every day is a learning experience for me.

 

Obie

I first need to know your exact PC specs. But knowing the fact you have a low spec XP pc, this might be the culprit. Usually the graphics card shouldn't be the cause of stutters this long. In this case it's mostly likely a fragmented HDD, or simply a too slow CPU or memory. During the stutter, take a look at your HDD indicator LED, if it's continuously illuminated, this means your HDD is "busy" or searching for several particular files. This usually points to a fragmented hard drive. If this is the case, defragment your hard drive using for example Ultimate Defrag or OO Defrag. Make sure you find the correct settings somewhere, I can't exactly help you with that, but you wanna have FSX on the outer space of your hard drive if I'm not mistaken. In this way the files can be found faster and stutters should be reduced.

If this doesn't solve anything, it's probably your CPU, memory or maybe even your motherboard. This might be a likely cause considering you said it usually happens when doing certain tasks like putting the flaps down. This isn't really related to your HDD.

Good luck!

Check and disable antivirus/spyware stuff whilst running the sim.

I first need to know your exact PC specs. But knowing the fact you have a low spec XP pc, this might be the culprit. Usually the graphics card shouldn't be the cause of stutters this long. In this case it's mostly likely a fragmented HDD, or simply a too slow CPU or memory. During the stutter, take a look at your HDD indicator LED, if it's continuously illuminated, this means your HDD is "busy" or searching for several particular files. This usually points to a fragmented hard drive. If this is the case, defragment your hard drive using for example Ultimate Defrag or OO Defrag.

 

Thanks Arjen for your reply.

 

My PC specs are quoted left adjacent to my post. I will watch the HDD indicator. CPU runs close to 100% most of the time. I am scrupulous about keeping the root drive defragged. I do not defrag the addon scenery on the SSD.

 

Slim

 

Check and disable antivirus/spyware stuff whilst running the sim.

 

Don't know if Gamebooster is doing this. I will try disabling manually the A/V software.

 

Thanks Luke.

Tried a test run in my usual mountainous photoscenery rural area. (Los Padres National Forest) No large nearby airports.

 

Did it two ways; one w/ hyperthreading engaged and one without. Antivirus disabled. Gamebooster enabled.

 

Frames were pretty consistent at 20-24 fps locked in FSX. Scenery loading fairly smooth @ 90kias.

 

Still had stutters both times. Hard to say if one way was better than the other. It felt like it might have been fewer stutters w/ hyperthreading.

 

Performance results:

Hyperthreading

CPU usage: 95-100%

pagefile: 1.2-1.25gb

 

No hyperthreading

CPU usage: consistent 100%

pagefile: consistent 1.02gb

 

What's the probable conclusion? Not enough CPU??

 

Slim