The majority seems to be comfortable with locking FPS @30 although there are (few?) people prefer unlock it as it gives smoother performances and higher frame rate. Is there anyone here who has it unleashed and happy with it (without spike, stutters, etc)? I'm also interested in knowing if someone has it locked and unlocked depends on the area.

Unlocked i get about 10-15% more fps.

Unlocked in game, but locked externally in display driver. In this configuration I get better FPS when my PC is unable to reach the FPS limit (40fps), while I'm not getting stutters and FPS jumps that I would get without any FPS limit.

Unlocked i get about 10-15% more fps.

I also have better and smoother results by unlocking FPS from external limiter. There are few hiccups and stutter related clouds rendering and when viewing from outside for the first time, but that's very minor even over orbx area the stutter is hardly noticed. My system is i5 2500K default clock speed with 4GB RAM and 9800GT. 5 mi mesh, very dense autogen density, low 2x water, 55% GA traffic and 25% airliner and the rest is fully right.

 

 

Unlocked in game, but locked externally in display driver. In this configuration I get better FPS when my PC is unable to reach the FPS limit (40fps), while I'm not getting stutters and FPS jumps that I would get without any FPS limit.

I have tried 40 and it did well with non heavies, it easily reached 40 over orbx areas. 30 FPS is definitely burden although it has been applied by most of people. Or perhaps 30 does good only for flying heavies? I'm only flying P 40 and Retracted Gear 182Q. Perhaps for those with more sophisticated system who fly mostly GA's would like to try to unlock and see if it does better?

Previously I used unlocked because I got better frames that way and it loaded my photographic scenery better. Lately howver for some reason when my frames are unlocked it won't load any scenery as I fly along, so the further I get from my initial 'spawn' point, the more barren the landscape becomes until it's just blurry textures and no autogen. I have fixed this by locking to 20-25 FPS, so the scenery now loads and 20-25 FPS seems more than enough to get FSX flying smoothly, but 30 seems to be the order of the day :-S

Previously I used unlocked because I got better frames that way and it loaded my photographic scenery better. Lately howver for some reason when my frames are unlocked it won't load any scenery as I fly along, so the further I get from my initial 'spawn' point, the more barren the landscape becomes until it's just blurry textures and no autogen. I have fixed this by locking to 20-25 FPS, so the scenery now loads and 20-25 FPS seems more than enough to get FSX flying smoothly, but 30 seems to be the order of the day :-S

Having encountered that 'no autogen loaded' blurry, but it is not often and it usually lasts in seconds, or if I really really need to look at the ground below, which is very rare, I pause the sim and it loads the autogen instantly. I'm using Bojote's tweak, and a bit of Word Not Allowed's. ORBX manual states that setting unlimited may work for some, definitely works for me. High speed also causes blurry in my case and I cant do anything about it and that's ok since Im flying mostly 182 and warhawk

I have my FPS locked at 30 for a simple reason: It gives me constant frames - give or take a few. I get higher average FPS with frames unlocked, but then frames fluctuate between less than 10 and more than 60 in a very short period, which can be very annoying. When locked I can rely on steady FPS, not too much difference, although I don't reach that value most of the time, but 20 is sitll nice.

I have set the refresh rate to 1/2 with nVidia Inspector and have FSX locked to 30 ingame. This gives me the best results. A good average performance (no too big sudden peaks and dips), smoothest performance and less blurries then with other settings (like with external limiters or not using 1/2 refresh rate). 

If they have an overclocked i7 and 580ti and set the fps @30 for stability then it'll be an overkill, well I can have the same stability by locking @30 with lower system. Why 30 not 40 and set the refresh rate to 85hz?

If I recall correctly, it's fsx related, you'll lose 5-10 fps using fsx limiter. Your NI will do just fine. However, it is said that NI fps limiter causes stutter and blurrt, despite its flaw, fsx fps limiter is somewhat more stable. si, anyone here consistently sets fps to unlimited?

I use unlimited in FSX and external limiter locked at 30. I get 6 more fps at LGA with max sliders, except 80% traffic. Unlimited, I get autogen spikes and stutters. Locked in NI sounds like the best way to go with Nvida cards.

 

Dave

I like unlimited as recommended for Orbx/FTX products but generally keep my fps limited to 45 and that works best for me.  I also try to follow the guidelines of Orbx/FTX in regards to Autogen density as this slider is one that can really mess up a fsx configuration.  They have several recommendations mainly based on the power of your computer system.  I tried to limit my frames at 30 and less but had varying issues and decided to let FSX breathe a little with a setting at 45.  It stays at 45 at altitude but falls dramatically when taking off and landing.

 

Best regards,

Jim

I've read various tweaks like Kostas that recommend setting it in game, but because of the way locking works in FSX I can't hit a solid 30fps or more at places like KSEA with the ORBX scenery and instead end up down around 20-22 (and no it's not smooth either). So I've had to settle for unlocked in sim and locked at 30 & 1/2 refresh rate vsync in NI. Maybe when I build my new system later this year with an Ivy Bridge E or Haswell I can get away with locked in sim at 30. Yeah I could reduce my settings now to get there, but I'd rather not. I think I've heard one way the sim locks to an fps is to try and reduce things like autogen density and detail on the fly as well, which seems kinda weird to me since I don't really want to lose detail.

 

Previous to using NI and its AA features I was locking frame with EVGA Precision X. I was using 35 there because I didn't know better, but also had a lot of tearing. I put up with it, but am happier with 30 + vsync.

On my older rig I use unlocked in FSX and no external limiter when flying complex planes like the NGX, 747, MD-11, etc. Using unlocked I get FPS usually in the mid 20's or higher in complex hubs using that setup and its smooth with no freezes or stutters, although FPS do go into the 40's or higher once away from the airport/AI, its still smooth even thought the FPS jump around. However if I lock to 28 - 30 and try the same scenario I get much lower FPS and stutters when approaching the airport.

 

The only time I lock to ~30 is when flying less complex a/c where FPS are already 50+ FPS in the same environment and it causes stutters.

 

So for me, airliners=unlimited FPS, g/a=locked at 30 with the FSX frame rate lock.

 

 

So for me, airliners=unlimited FPS, g/a=locked at 30 with the FSX frame rate lock.

 

I too have an older machine, and with my complex airliners it's full screen unlimited, and with g/a it's windowed mode unlimited.  I had given up flying g/a because of stutters, but windowed mode saved the day.