For framerate improvements, first I set up on my favorite airfield. With the aircraft parked, and framerates turned on so I can see the effect of changes as I make them.... Then, wait until the framerate goes through an entire cycle of number changes. First, I use _only_ GMAX addon aircraft. If you just do a search using GMAX you will find many aircraft. Second, I use GA-Traffic to create all GA traffic. In this program, you can even convert normal GA aircraft to AI aircraft. Instead of using frame rate hogs for AI aircraft. Then, I use only ProjectAI, for commercial aircraft. Third, keep ONLY the aircraft that I fly and AI in aircraft folder. Moving all others to C:backupaircraft This means all but what I fly are reduced in size to less than 1.5 megs after conversion, many to only .6 megs. Each person can TEST the results of various configuration in their system, and Ive found a way that is easiest for me. You may like it also. 1. Load the Flight sim. 2. Go to your favorite airfield. 3. Press Z to Turn on your current frame rates. 4. Make a change in the Options, Display and go back to aircraft to see the effect on your framerates. 5. If acceptable loss for benefit, leave it, if not change it. 6. Check again. By doing this with _each_ change, Ive found that even some maximum slides make no more than a .3 or .5 increase in rates, some there is no change. By doing this from the same viewpoint, cockpit, tower, spot, your choice, you make your decisions. What amazed me, is some slides set to maxim, actually gave me better framerates. Another thing I do which gives a framerate boost, is to click options, traffic, and turn off commercial traffic. This can give a 9-10fps increase. As I only use GA or smaller commercial fields, if you use only commercial, you could turn off GA Traffic. (Might not give you as great an increase.) It also creates a benefit with ATC, by reducing the number of aircraft they handle. Makes it easier for you to respond, hear your calls, etc..... Have found that when viewing from the cockpit, that a framerate of about 9.3 - 9.5 is acceptable on the GROUND or landing... (With 20-25 GA aircraft on the tarmac, waiting for their flights.) When you get into the air, that rate increases to 20fps or better, and is excellent for flying. In my opinion, no one can make the choices or advise you accurate as to what is best for you. For there are so many variations in systems, hardware, even the software which is onboard that can effect it. In addition, _every_ time before I fly, I run RegScrub (free program) to clean out invalid entried in the registry. Ive been using it safely for over a year now, it also speeds Internet access. Then, I also have Diskeeper, for a defrag program. This defrags my system, every time my screensave turns on. So it keeps it reasonably defragged _every_ day. For Flight Sims and many other programs, this improves the function, it also speeds up Internet access for weather.Then, use FSautostart to load the Flight Sim, it removes unnecessary stuff from Memory, defrags the memory, and loads the Flight Sim. Makes more memory available so you can enjoy flying more. Can you see anything that I have missed which helps you?

I am surprised this one has not gotten more responses.RH

Possibly because they've been posted before, in the Hints and Tricks forum?Good summary of information elswhere though.Allcott

I was just thinking that I have been reading ways to improve frame rates since FS98. If they all worked , I should have about 90 FPS by now :)

I deleted my FS9.cfg and allowed the sim to build me a new one. When I set all my settings back to how they were I noticed a HUGE increase in FPS. You'd be a surprised how a clean out of this file can help.