Frame Drops - A Mystery

[BestPlane 18]

Hello guys,

 

since a long time now, I have a problem which I can’t solve: Massive frame drops! Those drops occurring when I am on some sceneries (like Fly Tampa OMDB or Skiathos from 29 Palms) and when I am turning my view. Then the frames droping down to 14 FPS and after a few seconds they are jumping back to the target of 34 FPS.

This is independent of the aircraft I use. It occurs if I select a PMDG aircraft or a standard FSX aircraft. It seems like the scenery takes its time to reload or something.

But I haven’t experienced this problem with my old sandy bridge cpu. I have a huge experience with FSX and I tried nearly EVERYTHING I found in the internet.

But I couldn’t find a reason for these drops.

It would be so nice if you could help me and give me a solution for this!

 

Here is my system:

Intel i7 4820k 4,3 GHz / Noctua NH-D14
Kingston KHX1866C9D3K2/8GX 8GB RAM DDR3 1866Mhz
Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 4GB DDR5
ASUS X79 Deluxe
bequiet! Pure Power CM L8 530W
FSX auf 240GB Kingston SSD
Windows 7 64Bit Home Premium

 

Most important software:
- FSX Standard Edition / SP 2 (running on DX10 with Steves Fixer but the problem exists also on DX9)
- REX 4
- Active Sky Next
- ORBX Global / OpenLC
- PMDG 737 / 777

 

A selection of what I tried already:

·         Complete new fsx.cfg

·         FFTF to 0 (have it now on 0.1)

·         Highmemfix (always in my cfg)

·         Disabled Intel Speed Step

·         Tons of differtent TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH settings

·         Different LOD settings

·         Buffepools

·         Deactivated antivir

·         Tried a fsx.cfg from venetubo

·         RAM, CPU and Graphic Card are working correctly (and I have only problems in FSX)

·         WideViewAspect

·         Different graphic card drivers

 

 

Every hint and every idea is much appreciated!!

 

Thank you very much

[MartinRex007 390]

How full is your SSD, I have my FSX on a SSD and when it got to about 80% full I started having really bad FPS, so I removed some stuff and got it down to about 70% full and things for me are back to normal, not sure if this is your issue.....but thought I would ask! Good luck!

[Bert Pieke 7,594]

FFTF low means less resources for loading scenery... try returning it to it's default setting of 0.33  (or try 0.2-0.3)

 

Changing your view means having to load new textures, and at detailed airports that takes time!

 

No mystery ^_^

 

You can try going to the outside view and turning around several times, until all the textures are loaded.

 

Then go back into the cockpit and things will load faster..

[frosty777 0]

"FFTF to 0 (have it now on 0.1)"

This is not good, better with 0.20 / 0.30 

 

Next: Try a new CFG, with NO tweaks, and see what happens.

 

RAM:

Do you run this profile?

XMP Profile #2: DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-27 @1.65V

If not, try it... with a command rate of 1N.

http://www.simforums.com/forums/memeory-timings-vs-speed_topic41484_post246676.html#246676

 

PSU:

"Pure Power CM L8 530W"

530W a bit weak IMO...

 

Otherwise, try setting up your rig following Nick´s advise here:

http://www.simforums.com/forums/the-fsx-computer-system-the-bible-by-nickn_topic46211_post281375.html#281375

 

- or/and the Avsim guide:

http://forum.avsim.net/page/index.html/_/pri-news/the-avsim-fsx-p3d-configuration-guide-r1791

 

Good luck

 

PS: Long list, maybe not what you needed, but try it...

[Azone 39]

Turn off the FPS counter. Problem solved.

[BestPlane 18]

Thank you all for your answers!!

 

@ MartinRex007

Yes SSD is pretty heavy loaded at the moment 

28GB free space. But I have this problem since I made a complete new installation :(

 

@ Bert Pieke / frosty777

 

- tried FFTF on 0,2/ 0,3 and standard value 0.33 -> no success

 

The textures don`t stay loaded, and if I am going to an another viewpoint and "coming back" it drops again  

 

- tryed XMP Profile number 2 (my standard is number 1) -> no success

- mhhh I will see if I can get a better mains adapter to check that point

- also tried  a complete fresh fsx.cfg -> no success

 

@DoubleJ

well...you cant really ignore such a massive drop on 14 fps, even if you turn off the fps counter  -_-

 

 

Here is my fsx.cfg, maybe it helps a bit

[AContain]
LabelColor=FFFF0000
LabelDelay=1000
ShowLabelAirline=0
ShowLabelAirlineAndFlightNumber=0
ShowLabelAirspeed=0
ShowLabelAltitude=1
ShowLabelContainerId=0
ShowLabelDistance=1
ShowLabelFlightPlan=0
ShowLabelHeading=0
ShowLabelManufacturer=1
ShowLabelModel=1
ShowLabels=1
ShowLabelTailNumber=0
ShowUserLabel=0

[ATC]
AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=1
COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=FFFF7840
COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=FF00FF00
COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=FFB6FFB6
COMM_MSG_NONE_COLOR=FFFFFFFF
COMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=FFFFD21B
PilotVoice=0
ShowATCText=1
UsePilotVoice=1

[CONTROLS]
Controls_Current=Standard
Controls_Default=Standard
KBDAIL=64
KBDELEV=64
KBDRUD=64

[Display]
ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64
ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
BLOOM_EFFECTS=0
ChangeTime=4.000000
InfoBrakesEnable=False
InfoLowerLeftBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerLeftTextColor=255,255,255
InfoLowerRightBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerRightTextColor=255,255,255
InfoOverspeedEnable=False
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=False
InfoPauseEnable=True
InfoSlewEnable=False
InfoStallEnable=False
InfoUpperRightBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0
InfoUpperRightTextColor=255,0,0
NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64
NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=70
TransitionTime=4.000000
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=34
WideViewAspect=False

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770.0.0]
Anisotropic=1
Mode=1920x1080x32
AntiAlias=1

[DynamicHeadMovement]
HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000
LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000
LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000
MaxHeadAngle=5.000000
MaxHeadOffset=0.300000
RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000
RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000
YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000

[FACILITIES]
CITY=
COUNTRY=
GTL_BUTTON=1244
STATE=

[GRAPHICS]
AC_SELF_SHADOW=0
AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1
AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1
COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1
D3D10=1
EFFECTS_QUALITY=0
GROUND_SHADOWS=0
HIGHMEMFIX=1
IMAGE_QUALITY=0
LANDING_LIGHTS=1
MultiSampleQuality=24
MultiSamplesPerPixel=8
NUM_LIGHTS=8
See_Self=1
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693458432
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693458432
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=1024
TEXTURE_QUALITY=3
Text_Scroll=1

[INTERNATIONAL]
ASLAT=2
ASLON=0
MEASURE=0

[Main]
FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.2
HideMenuFullscreen=1
HideMenuNormal=0
Location=711,183,1751,961,\\.\DISPLAY1
Maximized=2
PerfBucket=7
ProcSpeed=19187
SimObjectPaths.0=SimObjects\Airplanes
SimObjectPaths.1=SimObjects\Rotorcraft
SimObjectPaths.2=SimObjects\GroundVehicles
SimObjectPaths.3=SimObjects\Boats
SimObjectPaths.4=SimObjects\Animals
SimObjectPaths.5=SimObjects\Misc
SimObjectPaths.6=SimObjects\IVAO_MTL
User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter

[Misc]
Com_Rate=7


[PANELS]
DEFAULT_VIEW=0
IMAGE_QUALITY=1
PANEL_MASKING=1
PANEL_OPACITY=100
PANEL_STRETCHING=1
QUICKTIPS=0
UNITS_OF_MEASURE=0

[PointOfInterestSystem]
CycleSetting=0

[REALISM]
AutoCoord=False
AutoTrim=False
CrashDetection=False
CrashTolerance=0.000000
CrashWithDyn=False
GEffect=False
General=0.000000
GyroDrift=False
GyroEffect=0.000000
ManualLights=False
PFactor=0.000000
RealMixture=False
StressDamage=False
Torque=0.000000
TrueAirspeed=False
UnlimitedFuel=True

[SCENERY]
DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1
IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=5
LENSFLARE=0

[SIM]
SYSCLOCK=1

[SlewTextInfo.1]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2

[SlewTextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
LockedFrameRate=1,2

[SlewTextInfo.3]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
FrameRate=2,1
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
Longitude=1,2

[SOUND]
AmbientUI=0
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
PrimaryDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
SOUND=1
SOUND_FADER1=0.500000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=0.500000
SOUND_LOD=0
SOUND_QUALITY=2
UISound=0
VoiceDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}

[STARTUP]
DEMO=0
LoadWindow=1
SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1
STARTUP_DEMO=

[TERRAIN]
AUTOGEN_DENSITY=2
DETAIL_TEXTURE=1
LOD_RADIUS=4.500000
MESH_COMPLEXITY=49
MESH_RESOLUTION=21
TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=27
WATER_EFFECTS=4

[TextInfo.1]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6

[TextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
FuelPercentage=1,4
GForce=1,3
LockedFrameRate=1,2

[TextInfo.3]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
FrameRate=2,1
FuelPercentage=2,4
GForce=2,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
Longitude=1,2
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6

[TrafficManager]
AirlineDensity=0
AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=0
FreewayDensity=0
GADensity=0
IFROnly=0
LeisureBoatsDensity=0
ShipsAndFerriesDensity=0

[Trusted]
C:\Program Files (x86)\EZCA\EZCA.exe.ttoaakknnzqqzqetornleokbqnicnqocukqbhwra=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\IVAO\IvAp v2\ivap_fsx_bootstrap.dll.qrathnlnnenhiolreqqnzbiilzezwlhqereziora=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\as_srv\as_btstrp.dll.aclehtbzeboeeooziniauoebrcliuhbqezzkuczw=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PMDG_737NGX.DLL.iehohlblhcebznbrazllrkrtkhqlkuklkerqrlot=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PMDG_737NGX_3.DLL.wuuzinioukunnnzikzuuhrcuqwuwkkatrikwzbbr=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PMDG_777X.DLL.cbwtllabqrluzoeqorttiuoawrwkcthwoltocwwc=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PMDG_777X.DLL.oruwaccizhzlwbhnezunzwahcnlzicnkbbnehuut=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PMDG_777X_3.DLL.ouialniankkaralcalzazwqkktuaetatlerqrlec=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Modules\FSUIPC4.dll.tnqohqokbbahabuckerwqqkeuihborbrknzotlru=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\ORBX\FTX_AU\FTXAA_ORBXLIBS\Scenery\ObjectFlow.dll.aticizzunolzwttbuknbtoaateukrznllzoakkru=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\PMDG\DLLs\PMDG_HUD_interface.dll.batrolaciiuwakrqawtwloneeoiukqbcrqktthia=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\PMDG\DLLs\PMDG_Interface.dll.kbhzkahhbbthiwnaitlzawawohkroheuiehtqlqq=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\RAASPRO\RAASPRO.dll.ibwqzenukqecelcnribhbahzerkwktneiwuwiclr=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\VistaMare\ViMaCoreX.dll.ookllqqiaurhbtrreiheobribkcqatqheubazonb=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\KingAir.DLL.borcualhiqowqokbrbcqlcarikoiuzeuonkehtwn=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Cessna172.DLL.qnlkklolnzhitbunnkeuqunhiraetqchhwihaziw=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\KingAir_Radio.DLL.blnuqutluhuttihnqqoiuaizqlqutttiknrzckeu=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Magnetic_Compass.DLL.oeztcnktwknuwaccbnbobraczitocibtoqoqiehh=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\PMDG\DLLs\PMDG_Interface.dll.eitnuocrnzznualcetewttzqqllllacizconwccc=1
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\PMDG_777X.DLL.iqizlniaehuzwbqnuzceibabcrqzkccioeklkhur=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Bendix_King_Radio.DLL.icarlialkqbwcelirniquhczqzlahekczcttqulh=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\Mooney_Bravo.DLL.zqorbblqhubhborhbtbnaoibqqoiioebrcoaoawt=2
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\GAUGES\737-400.DLL.kqchnuoekterriootanbqrzrzkcokbtezboutqri=2

[USERINTERFACE]
Map_Orientation=2
OpenATCOnCreate=0
PageID=1
PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0
PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1
SelectAircraftManufacturer=Alle
SelectAircraftPublisher=Alle
SelectAircraftType=Alle
ShowAllACPaintSchemes=1
SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0
SITUATION=FLIGHTS\OTHER\FLTSIM

[VirtualCopilot]
VirtualCopilotActive=0

[Weather]
AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1
CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=7
CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=6
DETAILED_CLOUDS=1
DisableTurbulence=0
DownloadWindsAloft=0
DynamicWeather=0
MaxGustRampSpeed=200
MaxGustTime=500
MaxVarRampSpeed=75
MaxVarTime=50
MinGustRampSpeed=1
MinGustTime=10
MinVarRampSpeed=10
MinVarTime=5
THERMAL_VISUALS=0
TurbulenceScale=1.000000
WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0
WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com
WeatherServerPort=80
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1
[MAPVIEW_MAP]
SHOW_AIRPORTS=1
SHOW_VORS=1
SHOW_NDBS=1
SHOW_APPROACHES=1
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0
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_flight_history=1
[MULTIPLAYER]
condAccoutPassword=0

[frosty777 0]

Delete that cfg, and let FSX build a new one, and then set-up your rig as per the guides I listed, try it.

 

Again, this one is not good:

 

FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.1

 

- and turn down the water to lowx2

 

I will say it again: USE THE GUIDES!!!

 

:excl:

[VeryBumpy 272]

Lower your settings. Frame rate drops due to view change in FSX is normal when stressing any part of ones system.

[Bert Pieke 7,594]

Lower your settings. Frame rate drops due to view change in FSX is normal when stressing any part of ones system.

 

+1

[coa1117 53]

Again, this one is not good:

 

 

FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.1

 

 

I've always followed the advice of Phil Taylor and Adam Szofran regarding FFTF on multi-core systems. They make two key points: (1) this setting only controls the fiber jobs on the main core and, (2) with most fibers moved to other cores from the main core after SP1, the default value 0.33 is probably way more than needed to handle the fiber jobs still assigned to the main core. On my system (4-core i7-2600K OC @ 4.7 with HT off) I lower the value from the default to 0.1 so as to not allocate unnecessary resources on the main core to fiber jobs, and this works very well for me. But, as with most tweaks, this bears testing on your individual system.

[frosty777 0]

@coa1117: Interesting read you link to, but it´s from 2007!

 

Let´s move on to 2014, and see what actually works. Your 2600K is already old now, and what RAM do you have, GPU, etc. etc.?

 

I think the OP really haven´t set up his rig to the max. he could do, i.e. using THE GUIDES!

 

Very simple, but it takes some reading, and sadly many users don´t care about that part.

[wanabflyer 53]

Your system and mine are fairly close, in fact you are a CPU generation up on me and I get very respectable performance with PMDG, FSDT, Flightbeam, etc, etc.

 

Below is what I used as a guide and stuck fairly close to. I don't know if you are using NI or not but for me on a Nvidia based GPU, it is is a must. You may find you want to deviate here and there from Word Not Allowed's settings (everybody's rig is different), but give it a try and se what results you get. Not saying it's the magic bullet, but nothing ventured...........

 

One thing is for sure, using the 1/2 refresh rate setting in NI and locking my frames at 30 in FSX gave me the smoothness I was looking.

 

http://#####.wordpress.com/fsx-software-and-hardware-guide/

[BillCusick 75]

This is independent of the aircraft I use. It occurs if I select a PMDG aircraft or a standard FSX aircraft. It seems like the scenery takes its time to reload or something.

 

 

Try this - try the same turns at a few different locations around one of your major airports. If the FR drops whilst pointing away from that airport behind you, then consider a check of your ai settings.

 

I have found that FSX loads some scenery or ai aircraft even when it should really be out of sight - and the pauses when in one particular direction confirms it.

 

I have even discovered that the pauses can be caused by a rogue ai file when you have ai set to zero.

 

FSX has also been known to load some 'unwanted' distant scenery on occasions.

 

I have found a considerable improvement, not on every occasion, where a temporary removal of a BGL which includes ai has been found to be the culprit. This occurs mostly with a system which is quite not up to scratch. It really doesn't appear to affect a powerful system as much.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Bill