I replaced my old laptop and have been unable to get FSX run on the new machine as well as it did on the old machine. The specs are:

 

Old Lenovo

 

Model:   W510

CPU:      i7-820 @ 1.7GHz  (2.8 turbo boost)

OS:        Windows 7 64-bit

RAM:     12GB

GPU:     nVidia FX880M 1GB video memory

 

 

New Lenovo

 

Model:    W530

CPU:      Intel i7-3920XM @ 2.9GHz (3.8GHz turbo boost)

OS:        Win 7 64-bit,

RAM:     8GB

GPU:     nVidia K2000M 2GB video memory

 

My test scenario is Orbx PNW, REX clouds, and running circuits around Orbx KHQM. I was getting FPS's in the high teens to mid 20's with an occasional stutter on the old machine but have been unable to get the new machine to perform the same. I've attached my fsx.cfg file as well as a picture of my nVidia Inspector settings. Any assistance would be appreciated to save what little hair I have left:

 

 

 

[JobScheduler]

AffinityMask=14

[bufferPools] 

BufferPools=1  

PoolSize=10485760

RejectThreshold=524288

[sOUND]

AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000

SOUND=1

SOUND_QUALITY=2

SOUND_LOD=0

UISound=1

AmbientUI=0

PrimaryDevice={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

VoiceDevice={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

SOUND_FADER1=0.500000

SOUND_FADER2=0.500000

SOUND_FADER3=0.500000

SOUND_FADER4=0.500000

AmbientUIMusic=FSX01

[Display]

ChangeTime=4.000000

TransitionTime=4.000000

ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255

ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64

NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255

NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64

InfoUpperRightTextColor=255,0,0

InfoUpperRightBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0

InfoLowerLeftTextColor=255,255,255

InfoLowerLeftBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128

InfoLowerRightTextColor=255,255,255

InfoLowerRightBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128

InfoBrakesEnable=True

InfoParkingBrakesEnable=True

InfoPauseEnable=True

InfoSlewEnable=True

InfoStallEnable=True

InfoOverspeedEnable=True

BLOOM_EFFECTS=0

SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1

TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=400

UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=30

WideViewAspect=True

[Main]

DisablePreload=1

User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter

SimObjectPaths.0=SimObjects\Airplanes

SimObjectPaths.1=SimObjects\Rotorcraft

SimObjectPaths.2=SimObjects\GroundVehicles

SimObjectPaths.3=SimObjects\Boats

SimObjectPaths.4=SimObjects\Animals

SimObjectPaths.5=SimObjects\Misc

HideMenuNormal=0

HideMenuFullscreen=1

ProcSpeed=15427

PerfBucket=7

Maximized=2

Location=440,130,1480,908,\\.\DISPLAY1

[PANELS]

IMAGE_QUALITY=1

QUICKTIPS=1

PANEL_OPACITY=100

PANEL_MASKING=1

PANEL_STRETCHING=1

UNITS_OF_MEASURE=0

DEFAULT_VIEW=1

[Weather]

WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1

MinGustTime=10

MaxGustTime=500

MinGustRampSpeed=1

MaxGustRampSpeed=200

MinVarTime=5

MaxVarTime=50

MinVarRampSpeed=10

MaxVarRampSpeed=75

TurbulenceScale=1.000000

WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com

WeatherServerPort=80

WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0

AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1

DynamicWeather=0

DownloadWindsAloft=0

DisableTurbulence=0

CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=3

DETAILED_CLOUDS=1

CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=6

THERMAL_VISUALS=0

[CONTROLS]

Controls_Default=Standard

Controls_Current=Standard

KBDAIL=64

KBDELEV=64

KBDRUD=64

[GRAPHICS]

ForceWindowedVsync=1

HIGHMEMFIX=1

SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693500672

TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=1024

NUM_LIGHTS=8

AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=0

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

See_Self=1

Text_Scroll=0

SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693500672

D3D10=1

[TextInfo.1]

Latitude=1,1

Longitude=1,2

Altitude=1,3

Heading=1,4

AirSpeed=1,5

WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6

[TextInfo.2]

FrameRate=1,1

LockedFrameRate=1,2

GForce=1,3

FuelPercentage=1,4

[TextInfo.3]

Latitude=1,1

Longitude=1,2

Altitude=1,3

Heading=1,4

AirSpeed=1,5

WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6

FrameRate=2,1

LockedFrameRate=2,2

GForce=2,3

FuelPercentage=2,4

[slewTextInfo.1]

Latitude=1,1

Longitude=1,2

Altitude=1,3

Heading=1,4

AirSpeed=1,5

[slewTextInfo.2]

FrameRate=1,1

LockedFrameRate=1,2

[slewTextInfo.3]

Latitude=1,1

Longitude=1,2

Altitude=1,3

Heading=1,4

AirSpeed=1,5

FrameRate=2,1

LockedFrameRate=2,2

[DynamicHeadMovement]

LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000

LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000

RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000

YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000

RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000

MaxHeadAngle=5.000000

MaxHeadOffset=0.300000

HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000

[VirtualCopilot]

VirtualCopilotActive=1

[uSERINTERFACE]

PageID=1

OpenATCOnCreate=0

SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0

PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0

PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1

Map_Orientation=2

ShowAllACPaintSchemes=1

SelectAircraftManufacturer=All

SelectAircraftPublisher=All

SelectAircraftType=All

[ATC]

ShowATCText=1

COMM_MSG_NONE_COLOR=FFFFFFFF

COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=FFB6FFB6

COMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=FFFFD21B

COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=FF00FF00

COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=FFFF7840

AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=1

UsePilotVoice=1

PilotVoice=0

[PointOfInterestSystem]

CycleSetting=0

[sCENERY]

LENSFLARE=0

DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1

IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=4

[TrafficManager]

AirlineDensity=0

GADensity=0

FreewayDensity=0

ShipsAndFerriesDensity=14

LeisureBoatsDensity=3

IFROnly=0

AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=0

[TERRAIN]

LOD_RADIUS=6.500000

MESH_COMPLEXITY=70

MESH_RESOLUTION=23

TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=27

AUTOGEN_DENSITY=4

DETAIL_TEXTURE=1

WATER_EFFECTS=4

[AContain]

ShowLabels=1

ShowUserLabel=0

ShowLabelManufacturer=1

ShowLabelModel=1

ShowLabelTailNumber=0

ShowLabelDistance=1

ShowLabelAltitude=1

ShowLabelAirline=0

ShowLabelAirlineAndFlightNumber=0

ShowLabelFlightPlan=0

ShowLabelContainerId=0

ShowLabelAirspeed=0

ShowLabelHeading=0

LabelDelay=1000

LabelColor=FFFF0000

[iNTERNATIONAL]

ASLAT=2

ASLON=1

MEASURE=0

[REALISM]

PFactor=0.000000

Torque=0.000000

GyroEffect=0.000000

CrashTolerance=0.000000

General=0.000000

UnlimitedFuel=True

TrueAirspeed=False

AutoCoord=False

RealMixture=False

StressDamage=False

GEffect=False

ManualLights=False

GyroDrift=False

CrashWithDyn=False

CrashDetection=False

AutoTrim=False

AllowEngineDamage=False

[sIM]

SYSCLOCK=1

[sTARTUP]

DEMO=0

SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1

STARTUP_DEMO=

LoadWindow=1

[FACILITIES]

COUNTRY=

STATE=

CITY=

GTL_BUTTON=1232

[Misc]

Com_Rate=7

[AccelerationPack]

ControlsFirstRun=0

HomePageFirstRun=0

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA Quadro K2000M.0.0]

Mode=1600x900x32

TriLinear=1

AntiAlias=1

[RWW_WEATHER_MAP]

SHOW_AIRPORTS=0

SHOW_VORS=0

SHOW_NDBS=0

SHOW_APPROACHES=0

SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0

SHOW_VICTOR=0

SHOW_JET=0

SHOW_AIRSPACE=0

SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1

SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1

SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1

SHOW_DATATAGS=1

SHOW_TERRAIN=1

[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

[MULTIPLAYER]

condAccoutPassword=0

 

 

FWIW - TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=400 setting is too high.  Here's what NickN states about this setting in his Setting up FSX and Tuning It guide:

 

"NOTE: I have never set up a system that I did not use either 70 or 80 for TBM. This setting is always changed before I tune the system however I may drop or raise it while tuning to find which one works better (70 or 80)"

"IMPORTANT: This setting IS NOT THE SAME AS FS9! The amount of data being tasked is MASSIVE compared to FS9.

DO NOT SET THIS TO 400! SETTING THIS TO 400 IS A MYTH IN FSX!"

"Even the best quads and cards should only run between 70 and 90"

"However I HAVE seen a few older systems use 100 with good results.. I would not run 100 or higher on modern systems which are pushing higher autogen and scenery".

 

Hopefully you have had a chance to read PaulJ's Software and Hardware Guide for FSX which provides detailed guidance on FSX.cfg tweaks and NI settings.  Your DX9 fsx.cfg should work great in DX10.  Just turn on DX10 Preview and go fly.  If you like what you see in DX9, you'll like it even better in DX10 as you'll have better shading, water, skies, and shadows in the VC's.  Otherwise, everything else is the same as DX9.  DX10 just happens to have better tech in the video card display drivers and can make things look a bit better.

 

Best regards,

Jim

FWIW - TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=400 setting is too high.  Here's what NickN states about this setting in his Setting up FSX and Tuning It guide:

 

"NOTE: I have never set up a system that I did not use either 70 or 80 for TBM. This setting is always changed before I tune the system however I may drop or raise it while tuning to find which one works better (70 or 80)"

"IMPORTANT: This setting IS NOT THE SAME AS FS9! The amount of data being tasked is MASSIVE compared to FS9.

DO NOT SET THIS TO 400! SETTING THIS TO 400 IS A MYTH IN FSX!"

"Even the best quads and cards should only run between 70 and 90"

 

"However I HAVE seen a few older systems use 100 with good results.. I would not run 100 or higher on modern systems which are pushing higher autogen and scenery".

 

Hopefully you have had a chance to read PaulJ's Software and Hardware Guide for FSX which provides detailed guidance on FSX.cfg tweaks and NI settings.  Your DX9 fsx.cfg should work great in DX10.  Just turn on DX10 Preview and go fly.  If you like what you see in DX9, you'll like it even better in DX10 as you'll have better shading, water, skies, and shadows in the VC's.  Otherwise, everything else is the same as DX9.  DX10 just happens to have better tech in the video card display drivers and can make things look a bit better.

 

Best regards,

Jim

 

 

Jim,

 

Thanks for your response. I have only been using DX10 Preview (haven't used DX9 in months B) )and I did use Paul's guide to setup my system. My current TBM is actually set at 80. The value of 400 in the cfg I posted was one of the many things I tried to see if it would help. No dice.

I see you have 8X Sparse Grid Supersampling. Do you need that? Maybe it is different in DX10, but that is a gigantic resource drain for me (I use DX9)

Not sure if this will help anyone else but I found that turning on hyperthreading helped me get improved smoothness and a bit more FPS. I find this strange as on my old laptop, hyperthreading made things worse.

 

As usual with FSX, YMMV.

 

turning on hyperthreading helped me get improved smoothness and a bit more FPS

 

In the AVSIM Software and Hardware Guide put together by PaulJ, page 7 states it should be turned off.

 

Best regards,

Jim

In the AVSIM Software and Hardware Guide put together by PaulJ, page 7 states it should be turned off.

 

Best regards,

Jim

Jim,

 

I know what it says and that is how I had it with my old machine. However, I spent all of Saturday and Sunday testing it and HT did give me an noticeably improvement than without. 

 

Wish I could say why...

Sure - blame me!  :lol:

 

Seriously - the reason for turning off HT is partially inherited from the first generation of Intel retail market quad processors.

We've had Symetric Multi-core Processing (SMP) in the sever world for many years now, but the first Intel retail market quad core procs were basically two Core2Duo's put together, and this resulted in a slower yield than was expected, due to the excessive amount of core management that had to be run. Once this was fixed, and into the i7 series, a whole new world opened up, giving us what we have now.

The reason for turning off the virtual cores is simple: it creates more heat to run those extra cores, and it often will reduce the stability at the higher clock speeds. 

 

In Chris's case, one would need to know what OS is running, what the system is comprised of, and how it's all configured, plus all the FSX paraphernalia that might be involved - way to many variables for any rational opinion. Like the man says - "YMMV"  :biggrin:

 

All the Best,