Hi guys,

 

I'm a new user to P3D V3 and having some difficulties setting it up to run well.

My specs are:

I7 3770k OC @4.5Ghz

GFX660 TI 2Gb

8Gb RAM

Win7 64bit

 

I read through various threads containing settings,but am unable to find that sweet spot.

Here is my current P3D.cfg:

 

[GRAPHICS]
HDR_BRIGHTNESS=0.850000
HDR_BLOOM_THRESHOLD=3.000000
HDR_BLOOM_MAGNITUDE=1.040000
HDR_BLOOM_BLUR_SIGMA=0.800000
TONEMAP_DAY_EXPOSURE_KEY=0.280000
TONEMAP_NIGHT_EXPOSURE_KEY=0.130000
HDR_SATURATION=0.650000
MIPMAP_VC_PANELS=1
TESSELLATION=1
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=2048
NUM_LIGHTS=4
COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1
AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1
LANDING_LIGHTS=1
DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1
LENSFLARE=1
HDR=1
SHADOW_QUALITY=2
TERRAIN_SHADOW_CAST_DISTANCE=1
CLOUD_SHADOW_CAST_DISTANCE=1
OBJECT_SHADOW_CAST_DISTANCE=1
CONTENT_NO_SHADOW=0
INTERIOR_SHADOWS_CAST=1
EXTERIOR_SHADOWS_CAST=1
SIMOBJECT_SHADOWS_CAST=0
TERRAIN_SHADOWS_CAST=1
VEGETATION_SHADOWS_CAST=0
BUILDING_SHADOWS_CAST=0
CLOUD_SHADOWS_CAST=1
INTERIOR_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=1
EXTERIOR_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=1
SIMOBJECT_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
TERRAIN_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=1
VEGETATION_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
BUILDING_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_LOW=4
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_MID=5
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_HIGH=7
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_ULTRA=12
GROUND_SHADOW_TEXTURE_SIZE=2048
CLOUD_SHADOW_TEXTURE_SIZE=512
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_LOW=0.850000
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_MID=0.850000
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_HIGH=0.850000
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_ULTRA=0.850000
EFFECTS_QUALITY=1
EFFECTS_DISTANCE=1
TEXTURE_QUALITY=3
IMAGE_QUALITY=0
See_Self=1
Text_Scroll=0
[DISPLAY]
ChangeTime=4.000000
TransitionTime=4.000000
TEXTURE_FILTERING=8
MSAA=4
SSAA=0
VSYNC=0
FXAA=0
TRIPLE_BUFFER=0
SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=30
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=40
WideViewAspect=False
FullScreenBackground=True
FullScreenAutoFill=True
ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64
NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64
InfoUpperLeftTextColorUser=255,0,0
InfoUpperLeftTextColorNonUser=255,127,0
InfoUpperLeftBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0
InfoUpperRightTextColor=255,0,0
InfoUpperRightBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0
InfoLowerLeftTextColor=255,255,255
InfoLowerLeftBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerRightTextColor=255,255,255
InfoLowerRightBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoBrakesEnable=True
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=True
InfoPauseEnable=True
InfoSlewEnable=True
InfoStallEnable=True
InfoOverspeedEnable=True
InfoWeaponSystemEnable=True
InfoCountermeasureEnable=True
InfoUpperRightTextEnable=True
Fullscreen=False
[sCENERY]
MaxRegionsPurgePerFrame=16
POP_FREE_AUTOGEN=1
AUTOGEN_BATCH_LOD=2
AUTOGEN_TREE_MAX_DRAW_DISTANCE=9500.000000
AUTOGEN_TREE_MIN_DISTANCE_TO_LOD=2500.000000
IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=3
[MAIN]
User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter, Submersible, ExternalSim, Avatar
LabelsSupported=Airplane, Helicopter
Location=440,130,1480,908,\\.\DISPLAY1
ContentErrorLogging=0
ShowInfoText=1
Maximized=2
HideMenuNormal=0
HideMenuFullscreen=1
[PANELS]
IMAGE_QUALITY=1
SAVE_AND_LOAD_PANEL_STATE=0
PANEL_OPACITY=100
QUICKTIPS=0
PANEL_MASKING=1
PANEL_STRETCHING=1
UNITS_OF_MEASURE=1
[WEATHER]
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1
MinGustTime=10
MaxGustTime=500
MinGustRampSpeed=1
MaxGustRampSpeed=200
MinVarTime=5
MaxVarTime=50
MinVarRampSpeed=10
MaxVarRampSpeed=75
TurbulenceScale=1.000000
WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0
AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1
DynamicWeather=0
DownloadWindsAloft=0
DisableTurbulence=0
CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=6
DETAILED_CLOUDS=1
OPTIMIZE_DENSE_CLOUDS=0
CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=7
THERMAL_VISUALS=0
VolumetricFog=1
[CONTROLS]
Controls_Default=Standard
Controls_Current=Standard
KBDAIL=64
KBDELEV=64
KBDRUD=64
[TextInfo.1]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6
[TextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
LockedFrameRate=1,2
GForce=1,3
FuelPercentage=1,4
[TextInfo.3]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6
FrameRate=2,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
GForce=2,3
FuelPercentage=2,4
[slewTextInfo.1]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
[slewTextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
LockedFrameRate=1,2
[slewTextInfo.3]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
FrameRate=2,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
[Avatar]
DefaultAvatar=Civilian Male White Shirt Blue Jeans
[DynamicHeadMovement]
LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000
LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000
RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000
YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000
RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000
MaxHeadAngle=5.000000
MaxHeadOffset=0.300000
HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000
[VirtualCopilot]
VirtualCopilotActive=0
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti.0.0]
Mode=1920x1080x32
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti.0.1]
Mode=1680x1050x32
[uSERINTERFACE]
SHOW_SCENARIO_WINDOW=1
PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0
PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1
RestoreTimeOnMove=1
SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=1
Map_Orientation=2
[DEBUG]
ReportLoadErrors=0
[TrafficManager]
AirlineDensity=0
GADensity=0
FreewayDensity=0
ShipsAndFerriesDensity=0
LeisureBoatsDensity=0
IFROnly=0
AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=0
[AContain]
ShowLabels=1
ShowUserLabel=0
ShowLabelManufacturer=1
ShowLabelModel=1
ShowLabelTailNumber=0
ShowLabelDistance=1
ShowLabelAltitude=1
ShowLabelAirline=0
ShowLabelAirlineAndFlightNumber=0
ShowLabelFlightPlan=0
ShowLabelContainerId=0
ShowLabelAirspeed=0
ShowLabelHeading=0
LabelDelay=1000
LabelColor=FFFF0000
[TERRAIN]
LOD_RADIUS=5.500000
TESSELLATION_FACTOR=75
MESH_RESOLUTION=23
TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=28
AUTOGEN_VEGETATION_DENSITY=3
AUTOGEN_BUILDING_DENSITY=2
DETAIL_TEXTURE=1
WATER_REFLECT_CLOUDS=1
WATER_REFLECT_USERAIRCRAFT=1
WATER_REFLECT_SIMOBJECTS=0
WATER_REFLECT_TERRAIN=1
WATER_REFLECT_AUTOGEN_VEGETATION=0
WATER_REFLECT_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS=0
WATER_REFRACT_CLOUDS=0
WATER_REFRACT_USERAIRCRAFT=0
WATER_REFRACT_SIMOBJECTS=0
WATER_REFRACT_TERRAIN=0
WATER_REFRACT_AUTOGEN_VEGETATION=0
WATER_REFRACT_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS=0
ENABLE_BATHYMETRY=0
WATER_CLARITY=30
WATER_DETAIL=2
UseGlobalTerrainView=False
[ATC]
AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=1
UsePilotVoice=1
ShowATCText=0
PilotVoice=0
COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=0XFF8C00
COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=0X00008B
COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=0X006400
COMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=0XA52A2A
COMM_MSG_ATIS_COLOR=00000000
[iNTERNATIONAL]
ASLAT=2
ASLON=0
MEASURE=1
[REALISM]
PFactor=1.000000
Torque=1.000000
GyroEffect=1.000000
CrashTolerance=1.000000
General=1.000000
UnlimitedFuel=False
AllowEngineDamage=True
TrueAirspeed=False
AutoCoord=False
RealMixture=True
StressDamage=True
GEffect=True
ManualLights=True
GyroDrift=False
CrashWithDyn=True
CrashDetection=True
OnCrashAction=0
[ATTACHMENTS]
WeaponHighlight=False
HighlightDuration=1.000000
AutoWeaponSwitching=False
UnlimitedWeapons=False
UnlimitedCountermeasures=False
IgnoreAttachmentWeight=True
IgnoreAttachmentForces=True
[RECORDER]
RecordAITraffic=True
RecordAirportVehicles=True
RecordLeisureBoats=True
[sIM]
SYSCLOCK=0
OPTIMIZE_PARTS=1
[sOUND]
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
PrimaryPlaybackDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
VoicePlaybackDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
VoiceCaptureDevice={DEF00003-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
[sTARTUP]
DEMO=0
STARTUP_DEMO=
LOAD_SIMDIRECTOR=1
LoadCorePlugins=1
LoadWindow=1
[PointOfInterestSystem]
CycleSetting=0
[FACILITIES]
COUNTRY=
STATE=
CITY=
GTL_BUTTON=4096
[MISC]
Com_Rate=7
[MULTIPLAYER]
condAccountPassword=0
 

In game,i'm getting mid 10's to high 20's as FPS,but it doesn't feel fluid.I get the occasional stutters.Is this because i place my settings to high or am i missing something?

It would be great if someone could give me a hand here as i really would like to ditch FSX and move on into this platform.

Also,if you think i should make some hardware changes,please mention it or if you need any more info...

 

Regards,

Steven

Steven

 

I have a GTX770 and In terms of overall gaming performance, the graphical capabilities of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 are noticeably better than the Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti.   I haven't moved to V3 yet, still using 2.5.  With what I see on my 770 I'd strongly suggest you upgrade your graphics card to the 900 series or to Titan.  You will of course have to have a PSU with a lot of power.  I got more than I need with a 1200 watt PSU so I can upgrade without problems.  My 900 series replacement will probably be a Chistmas gift to myself.   They ain't cheap.

 

Jim

_-

Hi Steven

 

'Running well' is a subjective term.  What are your expectations ?  

For me running well is that the sim is fluid and i can enjoy some of the new features that are in prepar3d,like the shadows etc.

I do realize that i won't be able to run it at all sliders right,but i expected it to run smoother as i can run FSX at max and still get good/smooth frames.

I know you can't really compare the 2,but i thought P3D would run smoother as it is a "fixed" FSX.

 

As for putting in a new GFX card,i'd love to,but it has to pass the misses and you know what she'll say .

 

Steven

Ben, I have the same system and OC as you except for my video card which is a 780gtx. I can run P3Dv3 (all default, no addons) with all sliders, except traffic, maxed at KJFK and get 30 FPS or higher. As was already stated I also suspect your video card is your bottleneck. When your card was new, it was 2 levels from the top card. You can also get a free utility called GPU-Z which you can use to check the load on your video card. Run your sim in windowed mode and you will be able to watch the GPU and memory load on your video card as you fly. This will tell you if your card is maxed out.

 

I have no addons in v3 yet but I do in v2. I get good performance in v2 also until I load a complex aircraft and 3rd party traffic. These two items have the largest FPS impact on my system. At default KLAX with a PMDG737, MyTrafficX, and no other addons, I need to keep my traffic limited to airlines only at 20% airline to keep my FPS above 20 FPS. This is with my scenery settings maxed, all other settings medium, stormy weather, and 3 monitors running a total resolution of 3840 x 1024. Extending my sim across the 3 monitors costs me about 15 FPS. If I ran on just one monitor I would probably have 35 fps in this scenario.

 

I also notice that you have two entries with different resolutions for your video card. I don't know if you have an SLI configuration or not but this doesn't look correct to me. I suggest to delete your config file, let P3D build another, and see what you get.

 

Hope this helps and gives you some performance perspective,

 

Ted 

Hi Ted,

 

I installed GPU-Z and let it run as i as fiddling around(i also deleted my cfg and let it build a new one) and as expected i run the card at 97/99%.So i guess that means that the card is really the bottleneck of my current rig...

 

I will see if i can get a new one in.

If there are any other things i could try in the meantime,please let me know .

 

Regards,

Steven

I would set yourself on the runway at KLAX 7L pointing inland or KJFK 31L pointing toward the terminal and downtown New York. Put all your settings at minimum and uncheck the features. See what your base performance is and then try each setting one by one to see what the performance impact is. This exercise will take some time but it is interesting and will let you know what the impact of each setting is on your system. At KLAX in the default baron and minimum settings I get 400 FPS. If you still have low FPS at minimal settings you have some other issues. If you run task manager and GPU-Z while you do this you will see loads on your CPU vs. GPU from the different settings and combinations.

 

One of the changes to P3D from FSX is the transfer of some of the sim workload from the CPU to the GPU. This is great if you have a powerful GPU. If you find from the above exercise that your GPU is severely limiting your sims performance then you may actually get better overall performance from FSX than P3D with your video card. You'll just have to experiment with your system to find out.

 

Ted

Looking at the .cfg you have dual entries for the GTX card.

Are you running two monitors off this card ? If so, that might be a mistake. There's no way that card has the power to run two screens at high resolution.

If not, remove the entry for the resolution you do not use or rebuild the .cfg file so that it only finds the one.

Two suggestions off the cuff - change Texture_Max_Load to 1024 and drop the FPS counter to 20.

 

Then just fly for a while and see how it feels.

 

Vic

    Your gpu isn't powerful enough for 2048 textures. Also, in your cfg file,

try setting this  "GROUND_SHADOW_TEXTURE_SIZE=2048" from 2048 to 1024 (or 512 if necessary). You could even turn off the ground shadows all together.

You have to decide which is more important, and choose the settings which will give you an acceptable level of "nice graphics and good performance".

 

 Cheers, Craig