Yesterday I did a flight from ESSA-EKCH during daytime and the performance was really good but on the return leg the day turned into dusk en route and I clearly noticed how the performance (smoothness) dropped so I figured I should do a proper test and this is what I found sitting in a cold and dark NGX @ Aerosoft ESSA with ASN running depicting mostly clear weather at the time.

 

Dawn: 45 FPS

Day: 52 FPS

Dusk: 40 FPS

Night: 42 FPS

 

So no wonder why I clearly noticed the performance drop when the day turned into dusk loosing approx 12 FPS. I'm thinking of what might cause this because I can't remember ever seeing this in FSX.

 

Could it be because of the more advanced lighting system in P3D with HDR, shadows etc?

 

Or could it be due to some third-party stuff such as Orbx lights? But if that was the case then I think I would have seen the issue also in FSX using the same products...?

 

TIA for any tips!

mmm,  I don't see a difference unless it's right during the "lights on" or "lights off" period, however I don't use HDR.

It's an issue with the dawn-dusk smoothing effect that has been around since FSX. Not specific to P3D but I imagine the specialized lighting in P3D doesn't help.

 

Vic

Just switched my computer off but will do more tests tomorrow with HDR off for example.

Hi Richard! Heard you online yesterday  :wink:

 

Are you using any night environment enhancements such as Aerosoft NE? These take a noticeable FPS hit, at least on my rig. 

Hi Richard! Heard you online yesterday  :wink:

 

Are you using any night environment enhancements such as Aerosoft NE? These take a noticeable FPS hit, at least on my rig. 

 

Hi there Brynjar,that's cool you were also flying on VATSIM yesterday :smile:

 

Nope, not using any special night environment addons but maybe I could gain some extra FPS by unchecking some stuff in the Orbx Global Vector Config thinking about all those Orbx lights down on the ground.

I remember FTX Night Lights took a considerable FPS hit though...

 

But as previously mentioned, I also think the lighting during dusk/dawn takes it toll on FPS.

Yep, I have now removed both some lights (traffic lights) as well as some other stuff that really don't add much when you're doing all your flying in the NGX mostly at FL300+

 

Will be interesting to see if it will make any difference.

 

Noticed another interesting thing yesterday, I actually got a smoother ride and gained a couple of FPS by increasing some of the sliders such as the shadow distance sliders and also the Thessalation factor slider. Not all the way to the right though because that caused a rather severe hit but one or two notches back from max.

On my rig, I can up the Thessalation factor slider all the way, but shadows really kill my performance. But I'll try play with the shadow distance slider again, thanks!

Sorry, you're right about the Thessalation slider. I have that one too all the way to the right. Guess I mix things up in my head after too much tweaking and testing the last couple of days

 

Came to think of one other thing I changed that I forgot about. I replaced the 512x512 DXT3 HDEv2 cumulus clouds with their 32bit counter part. This to me would normally (logically) result in less performance just like moving sliders to the right but fact is the smooth performance I see now with the sliders discussed moved a couple of notches to the right and the 32bit cumulus clouds I haven't seen before.

 

 

FTX Night Lights took a considerable FPS hit though...

Does it? I remember that the its biggest selling point was that its night lighting perform much better than UTX's.

Forgot to add that moving the shadow quality slider speaking of shadow sliders did cause a very noticeable FPS hit.

Does it? I remember that the its biggest selling point was that its night lighting perform much better than UTX's.

 

I don't know how they perform against each other, but I think Aerosoft NE is the best. However, I think UTX night lighting looks the best though.