Prepar3d v2.2 Was Worth The Wait

[cabby44 2]

Except for some minor irritations that need work my overall review of P3D is : Stunning!  

 

I was pretty well satisfied with my much-modified FSX except that it was always prone to the occasional crash.  After patiently waiting for P3D to get some time and updates behind it I finally made the leap and am I ever glad I did.  First, a hardware and software list:

 

Prepar3d v2.2 with "Hot-fix"

Win7 64 / Intel i7 2700k @ 4.4 ghz / 16GB DDR3 / Nvidia GTX580 3GB DDR5 / Intel SSD + 2 WD SATA3  Raptor HDDs /  Creative XFI Soundcard / Single 30" HP LCD Monitor @ 2560x1600 @ 60hz

ORBX Global 1.20 / ORBX Regions PNW,NRM,CRM,NCA / REX 4 TD SP2

My Traffic 2013 / Shockwave 3D Lights / Accu-Feel v2 / installed via Estonia Migration Tool

Carenado FSX Piper Arrow IV / Carenado FSX M20J Mooney / Just Flight FSX  DC6-B installed via Estonia Migration Tool

Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog / Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals

TrackiR 5

 

Lockheed-Martin Installation Size  with all Add-ons:   57 GB.

 

P3Dcfg tweaks:

Affinity Mask @ 254

Texture Bandwidth Multi @ 80

Shader Cache Version @ 1

 

I use 33 FPS Fixed, HDR Enabled, Bloom Disabled, Triple Buffering is off,  and I use App Controlled  settings for AA and Anisotropic in NV Inspector.   Autogen @ Dense and Tesselation @ High everything else all the way right in Scenery.  Shadows have been reduced, these settings have major effects on performance and each PC is different. I still have shadows enabled for clouds and trees.

 

Once in the sim the visuals are stunning, the flight smooth and stutter free(more later), the radio chatter and air traffic very realistic(am very impressed with My Traffic 2013 - a Must Have IMO), the REX 4 night sky is awesome, the lights beautiful,  the runway markings and signage excellent, the sounds crisp and clear, and so far no software crashes!!  All my add-ons and hardware function as advertised.

 

The Negatives:

 

For whatever reason High Altitude Cirrus clouds are rendered with a sort of "Japanese Rising Sun Ensign" pattern which is annoying at sunrise and sunset.  This MUST be fixed.  That's pretty much it!

 

The other "negatives" are directly related to my hardware.   My aging GTX 580 chugs a bit at busy airports like SFO and LAX but even then it's still flyable @ 12-15 FPS  and MUCH better than it ever was in FSX where sometimes flight was impossible at similar frame rates.   A new video card is in order.  I guess a multi-monitor set up would be the ultimate but I am quite content with the 30" monitor.  The only other purchases I need to make besides the video card will be a high-fidelity P3D specific Boeing jetliner of some type whenever they are available and maybe a few more Carenado GA aircraft.  Also a  Weather Engine, either REX when it is ready or perhaps Active Sky.

 

Conclusion:

 

If you have been hesitant about taking the Prepar3d plunge don't wait any longer!  My P3D installation is so significantly superior to my FSX(Orbx, Rex, etc.)installation that I deleted FSX forever.  I only hope that LM continues to develop P3D for many years to come.

 

C.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MikeT707 1,181]

Great to hear more positive experiences.  The more users on P3D, the more DX11-specific content that will be produced by third party developers.  It is a very good platform and v2.3 will be even better.

[jlebesis1 9]

Great to hear more positive experiences.  The more users on P3D, the more DX11-specific content that will be produced by third party developers.  It is a very good platform and v2.3 will be even better.

Exciting times! 

 

Great to see the sim back in development and good hands  

Great to hear more positive experiences.  The more users on P3D, the more DX11-specific content that will be produced by third party developers.  It is a very good platform and v2.3 will be even better.

Exciting times! 

 

Great to see the sim back in development and good hands  

[niyoko 7]

I really want to upgrade to P3D this year. I'm still holding out because of money, but glad to hear that jumping in from v2.2 onward is A-Ok.

[twojastara 85]

I totally agree.

Yesterday I have made giant leap towards P3dv2.2. I was worried about some FSX addons, especially GEX, UTX and Ultimate Traffic 2. But when I have installed a2a c172, REX4, ASN and ORBX scenery for New Zealand, I had such an IMMERSIVE feeling of actual flying I just couldn't belive it! I had flown in some "building storms" conditions and my heart started to bit faster as I was flying low between hills. It is AMAZING!

In FSX I had 10-15 fps normal. In p3d 20-25 with everything on "high" settings. No crashes, no weird artifacts. Nothing.

 

And since then I don't even care about the addons that I can't install. I have made one of the most difficult "pay click" in my life when I bought FTX Global + Vector just for p3d.... but it pays off!!!