I noticed some differences between the SimTweak FSX NI profile settings and those recommended by NickN in his FSX setup guide  - scroll to section 2 (his guide is based on older Nvidia drivers, I am running v347.25). NI profile differences - SimTweak in blue, NickN in red:

 

Antialiasing

Antialiasing - Setting

= 4x [4x MS] = 8xS [Combined: 1x2 SS + 4x MS]

Antialiasing - Transparency Supersampling

= 4x SGSS = 2x SGSS / Off (NickN doesn't seem to be a fan of SGSS!)

NVIDIA Predefined FXAA Usage

= Disallowed = Allowed

Filtering

Texture filtering - Driver Controlled LOD Bias

= Off = ?

Texture filtering - LOD Bias

= -1.5000 = 0.000

Texture filtering - Negative LOD Bias

= Allow = Clamp

Common

Vertical Sync

= Use the 3D application setting = 1/2 Refresh Rate

 

Q1) I do not fully understand what all these graphics driver settings actually do! However I had always assumed that for FSX (and FS9) the recommended antialiasing setting would be either 8xS or 8xSQ and that negative LOD bias should always be set to clamp when using anisotropic filtering because the textures are already being sharpened?

Q2) How was the value of LOD Bias [DX] = -1.5000 determined?

Hi DjangO!  

 

NickN is well known as a FSX - DX9 guy, and his recommendations/NI settings refer especially to DX9 users. DX10 needs (as I'm using with success and the DX10 Fixer; would never return to DX9) other settings...look here: http://www.nzfsim.org/index.php?dsp=downloads&f_sort=fixer.

 

So if you use DX10 it needs for better graphics the 4 SGSS setting in NI and  (MINUS!!!) - 1.000 to - 1.500 (depending on shimmering experience in sim and your AA Setting ) LOD Bias. The higher the AA Setting, the higher LOD bias should be (e.g. 8xAA needs -1.5000).

 

Best regards from Alex, Germany