I think one problem is your:

 

TriLinear=1

 

I'm using:

 

[sCENERY]

ObjectsToBatchPerFrame=50

MAX_ASYNC_BATCHING_JOBS=4

SmallPartRejectRadius=0

LENSFLARE=1

DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1

IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=5

 

[TERRAIN]

SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=2

IMAGE_PIXELS_FOR_AUTOGEN_POLYGONS=2048

BATCH_AUTOGEN2=1

LOD_RADIUS=9.500000

MESH_COMPLEXITY=100

MESH_RESOLUTION=25

TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=29

AUTOGEN_DENSITY=5

DETAIL_TEXTURE=1

WATER_EFFECTS=4

 

[GRAPHICS]

MultiSampleQuality=4

MultiSamplesPerPixel=16

NIGHT_THRESHOLD=4096

DAY_THRESHOLD=32768

SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693500672

STALE_BUFFER_THRESHOLD=2147483647

HIGHMEMFIX=1

ForceWindowedVSync=0

ForceFullScreenVSync=1

SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693500672

TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=4096

NUM_LIGHTS=8

AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1

AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1

COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1

LANDING_LIGHTS=1

AC_SELF_SHADOW=1

EFFECTS_QUALITY=2

GROUND_SHADOWS=0

TEXTURE_QUALITY=3

IMAGE_QUALITY=0

See_Self=1

Text_Scroll=1

D3D10=1

 

for my GTX 680 4MB

 

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680.0]

MipBias=10

Mode=2560x1600x32

Anisotropic=1

AntiAlias=1

 

My Inspector settings are here:

http://www.robainscough.com/images/056a6299317d9f42bc6d2ff0dd06e115.jpg

 

Thanks Robains, I'll have lookse at your settings when I finish this flight. I have always used ansitropic filtering, thought I'd give Tri-linear a try per NickN's guide, but so far cant honestly tell a difference in looks or performance. Luckily I have a small group of ground crew here to make sure my aging eyes aren't lying to me lol. Will see what else you got cookin under the hood. Again liking the coloring I'm seeing in Nor Cal V2.

Ahh ok looks like you're using DX10. Ok so I can confirm on my rig trillenear and ansitropic yield no visible difference, so what should I try next  (assuming I am using DX9)

so what should I try next (assuming I am using DX9)

 

DX10

 

I honestly have no input for DX9 but if you are NOT seeing a difference between TriLinear and Anisotropic then something is not right elsewhere, most likely in your driver settings and/or Inspector settings.

 

Here is what you should be seeing between the two: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotropic_filtering

 

EDIT: for what it's worth, I actually prefer your second image (the V2) as it blends better, the first V1 has no shadows anywhere and seems have a little too much contrast.

EDIT: for what it's worth, I actually prefer your second image (the V2) as it blends better, the first V1 has no shadows anywhere and seems have a little too much contrast.

 

That is subjective I guess. I actually forgot to remove the sharpening layers before I up'd the pics, so its sharpening halos that's jacking up the 'contrast' But the V1 shadows, or lack of em' are more accurate to the time and weather conditions (12:00pm/overcast) than V2. The V2 shadows are more what you see in morning/partly cloudy/sunny conditions. (I have many hours traversing the Colorado Rockies as a teen with my folks in their Beech, and in those weather conditions its like flying in a giant light box) So kinda tit for tat there. I'm more focused on the sharpness right now. I new that DX10 comment was coming lol.