Running Tess unchecked gives me a runtime error...every time. Running Tess checked, gpu usage goes up to 99%.

 

I don't really care about the wave effects, even though they look really cool. I hardly notice a difference  with the terrain as well.

 

I'm running a GTX 780Ti SC with a i7 4790k at 4.6Ghz. The reason I'd like to run with tessellation off is because I'm seeing everything through a 4K monitor (hence the GPU load). Even though the GPU load is pegged at 99% it is still mostly smooth. I just have an issue with everything getting so hot. And since I love flying around and in clouds, having the GPU at 99% doesn't help when they're around. However, I'm happy that my CPU load is only around 60%, so that leaves me with some headroom to (eventually) turn up some other settings. I'd love to just go and buy two Titan Blacks, but unfortunately, I'd probably end up with broken knees from not paying the guys back in time.

 

Is there a compromise in settings that will not stress my GPU so much without the sim looking like shinotsogood?

 

Thanks

I don't see any difference with tess on or off.  I get what it does for waves and animation type stuff but I don't see how it really affects my rig at all.

Don't mistake low CPU load at 99% GPU usage as headroom - it's  not, it means in most cases of high settings that your CPU isn't able to push anymore to the GPU or you main thread is saturated with too much traffic or autogen. The other threads are only for terrain loading and if there's no terrain to load you get a fake low CPU load. The only thing that matters in P3D and FSX is that when the main thread is at 100% everything slows down. Yes you can artificially drive up GPU usage by high AA settings but that's another story...

I can't run Tess over anything but "Low". I disabled all ground shadows, put the autogen at Dense for all 3, and kept everything else the same. Gpu usage is now 80%. I've got Vsync off, i've got no issues there. But now the smoothness has decided to take a vacation.

Have you tried adjusting the Tessalation Factor slider in the Scenery settings and seen if that made a difference on your GPU's work load?

yeah, it increases it if i go any higher than low :/