I have just purchased a Radeon 9800XT graphic board, so I looked closely how to optimize the frame rate to take advantage of my new hardware.I optimized many parameters to get around 40 FPS almost all the time, but I noticed that a heavy AI traffic impacts the frame rate, even if no AI aircraft is visible. I am using MyTraffic2004, which installs a big traffic database, and the FPS drops to 25-30 FPS when I set traffic to 60 or 80%, even if no other aircraft is around. I have 40 FPS when I set it back to 0%.Have you ever noticed the same?Do you know any good solution to avoid this?(except uninstalling MyTraffic and return to the original traffic database...)I'd like to have your opinion about this.Eric

What in the world is wrong with 25-30? A lot of people here would give a lot to be able to get that.Don

25-35 is what I get!Don't worry......be happy!gwillmot

Eric, I'ld say: Oui, totalement! I have my slider set at 62%. Not necessarily because of performance loss, but a higher setting renders many an airport less functional IMHO. Specially those, where arriving ac need to cross other runways. Another observation with MT is the heavy load Jumbos cause. I.e. compare Frankfurt with lots of 747s with KMIA with hardly any. Another fr-buster is the Galaxy (which I always deleted on my 'old' FlyTendo). There's a third, small ac which also weighs heavy, but I don't know which one. Maybe we can find out? For the Jumbos, the MT-author has an improvement pending AFAIK. What I like about the newest MT-version (v.2 incl. HD-upgrade here), even when the slider is set @ 54%, the airports get nicely filled. Another solution to ease your FlyTendo, besides having the shadows off, is to de-activate one or two of the six MT-bgls. Catching up on the other thread of yours, Eric, perhaps check whether one of Intel's 'application accelerators' (IAA or IAAR) are functional on your system. They are tremendous performance boosters. http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/If your board doesn't support them (AFAIK, non-ICH5-R boards aren't supported), I would warmly recommend getting either the same board you have in 'C' or i.e. an Abit w/ an i875P. I dumped an i865PE/non-ICH5-R board for exactly that reason. Though some i865PE boards do have the ICH5-R... Maybe yours does? Cheers, good luck and kind regards Jaap

I am not complaining of having 25-30 FPS, I'm happy with this. I just think that with such a (expensive) graphic card, when you know you can get 40 FPS or more, you would like to keep them in all conditions, except when MANY objects are to be rendered on the screen. Anyway, I can easily understand the traffic impact on frame rate, I just have to take this into account.Regarding the application accelerator, I know them, I have downloaded them, but I was scared to use them. I have an Asus P4P800 Deluxe motherboard, with a Intel 865PE chipset. How can I know if it supports IAAA or not? How can I know if it is ICH5-R or not?Thanks for your help !!Eric

Hi Eric,What FS users forget is that AI traffic also uses CPU cycles. There are many calculations being performed on a regular basis. When the planes are out of sight, it doesn't matter how complex they are. It still takes the same amount of CPU cycles to keep track of them. So using AI friendly planes helps when planes are in view. Turning down traffic % means less planes to keep track of.Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/as2004proudsupporter.jpg

Eric, I guess the easiest way to find out about ICH5-Rs, is to consult your manual or visit Asus' homepage. In the software download section, if supported, either the IAA v.2.3 or IAAR v.4.5 should be available. Case your chipset isn't compatible and you apply the trial and error method, it will simply not install and abort. If you're an XP-user and aren't sure, maybe use the system restore function beforehand? All I can say is, it's like Adrenalin for your system and specially for data transfers. Many folks have complained about stutters and IMHO, not having the IDE-interfaces properly enabled, is one of the common reasons for them. I'm confident, you won't regret any efforts in this direction. The motherboard is the mother of delightful simulation, so to say. Adding to the MT/AI-topic: The Jumbo matter only makes (made) me stay away from places like JFK, Heathrow, Frankfurt, O'Hare and Tokyo. The rest of the globe is perfectly 'flyable' with a simular system as yours (a P4-3GHz/ 9800pro/ 1GB-RAM here). 'Perectly flyable' translates to the 18+ fps area. I also have an AMD64 which chews through anything thrown at it. Even 'sub-optimal' AI Jumbos! Hehe. With this CPU, places NY and Frankfurt became totally useable again. My conclusion therefore is: FS is CPU-hungry above all and the 9800 is good at providing the nice image @1280x. Have you already experimented and i.e. removed the Galaxy? It might be time to knock on the devlopers door and ask, when he intends to release the 'Jumbo update?' If my memory isn't failing, his mention dates to approx. 6-8 weeks ago. Beaucoup de good luck for now and kind regards Jaap