So I built a new pc and have a Skylake 6600k 3.5ghz oc'd to 4.4ghz, 8 gb ram, and a GTX 970 video card.

 

Mods I have installed are:

 

FTX Global and FTX Vector

Active Sky Next

Rex TextureDirect w/ Soft Clouds

Steve's DX10 Fixer

PMDG 777

FS2Crew PMDG 777

Pro ATC X

 

All my graphics settings are maxed except for Complexity Scenery and Autogen Scenery and those are left at defaults.  If I turn them up to full, I get VAS issues with the PMDG 777.

 

The graphics just aren't that impressive as I see in some of these videos.  Granted I don't have a mesh addon but even the cockpit doesn't really look at that crisp to me.  

 

Things I really want are:  

 

- Good textures and landclass, detailed landscapes, roads and coastlines.

- Detailed mountains

- Both exterior and interior of the planes to look good

 

I don't mind taking hits on performance if it looks good.  Currently with alot of settings maxed I'm getting 40-60 fps on the ground with the PMDG 777.

 

Anyone have any ideas on what else I can buy to make this game look better?

Get an ATPL and a 777 type rating if you want to spend money on ultradetailed graphics.

 

Or try to crank up anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering for free. Enough FSX-centric guides on how this can be achieved can be found via Google.

Get an ATPL and a 777 type rating if you want to spend money on ultradetailed graphics.

 

Or try to crank up anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering for free. Enough FSX-centric guides on how this can be achieved can be found via Google.

 

AA is at 8x already.  And I've looked at alot of guides via google which pointed to youtube videos which is why i made the thread.  They look fantastic in the videos and mine don't look no where near as good with the same settings and addons.

 

I don't, however, understand your first sentence.  What do you mean?

 

Edit: Ah, I see.  You were telling me to get a real pilot's license if i wanted "ultradetailed graphics" which is basically being absolutely non-helpful to the post.  

 

If you're going to be non-helpful at all, then why respond?

Please post your:

 

fsx.cfg

A screenshot of your NI settings

 

Regards,

 

Greg

Please post your:

 

fsx.cfg

A screenshot of your NI settings

 

Regards,

 

Greg

 

Will do as soon as I get home from work.

 

Thanks!

 

 

- Good textures and landclass, detailed landscapes, roads and coastlines.

- Detailed mountains

- Both exterior and interior of the planes to look good

 

 

 

1. maybe take a look at UTX if you are flying a lot in the usa/europe they do a marginally better job of the landclass and roads compared to FTX, in my opinion. FTX is great for having global coverage of course. they work fine together in my experience also, the excludes in UTX prevent VAS problems of having both in all the tests i've conducted.

 

also consider some of the ORBX regions which really are the best combo of all of these elements, although they can be a bit dicey on ram with the 777 and heavy airports. maybe less of an issue now with the new 777 memory reduction (and also better with fsx-se as it cleans up after itself better with ram usage)

 

2. mesh addons do wonders with mountains. the freemesh addon really can't be beat especially considering the price. pilot's ftx compatible and fsgenesis also solid.

 

3. dunno about that one but hopefully someone will find an issue with your settings that could be improved

 

cheers

-andy crosby

1. maybe take a look at UTX if you are flying a lot in the usa/europe they do a marginally better job of the landclass and roads compared to FTX, in my opinion. FTX is great for having global coverage of course. they work fine together in my experience also, the excludes in UTX prevent VAS problems of having both in all the tests i've conducted.

 

also consider some of the ORBX regions which really are the best combo of all of these elements, although they can be a bit dicey on ram with the 777 and heavy airports. maybe less of an issue now with the new 777 memory reduction (and also better with fsx-se as it cleans up after itself better with ram usage)

 

2. mesh addons do wonders with mountains. the freemesh addon really can't be beat especially considering the price. pilot's ftx compatible and fsgenesis also solid.

 

3. dunno about that one but hopefully someone will find an issue with your settings that could be improved

 

cheers

-andy crosby

 

Andy thanks for responding.  I already have FTX Global Base and Vectors so I think it may be something in my fsx.cfg and NV inspector possibly.  Going to post it when i get home.

 

 

The graphics just aren't that impressive as I see in some of these videos.

 

Can you give us a clue as to which video(s) you're referring to?  Just need a point of reference for comparison.  Some videos out there are post-processed and are not accurate as to what you can actually get from FSX.  

 

Thanks.

 

Ilya

Can you give us a clue as to which video(s) you're referring to?  Just need a point of reference for comparison.  Some videos out there are post-processed and are not accurate as to what you can actually get from FSX.  

 

Thanks.

 

Ilya

 

 

Sorry I wasn't sure if I'd get the mods mad if i posted links to videos in here but here goes:

 

 (my graphics dont even come close to this)

 

 

 

Just a few examples.

AA is at 8x already.  And I've looked at alot of guides via google which pointed to youtube videos which is why i made the thread.  They look fantastic in the videos and mine don't look no where near as good with the same settings and addons.

 

I don't, however, understand your first sentence.  What do you mean?

 

Edit: Ah, I see.  You were telling me to get a real pilot's license if i wanted "ultradetailed graphics" which is basically being absolutely non-helpful to the post.  

 

If you're going to be non-helpful at all, then why respond?

It's called "a sense of humor"... Maybe you should look into that add-on (or tweak it.)

Please post your:

 

fsx.cfg

A screenshot of your NI settings

 

Regards,

 

Greg

 

 

[JOBSCHEDULER]

AffinityMask=14

 

[bufferpools]

Poolsize=200000000

RejectThreshold=102400

UsePools=0

 

[GRAPHICS]

SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693751040

SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693751040

TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=4096

NUM_LIGHTS=8

AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=0

AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1

COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1

LANDING_LIGHTS=1

AC_SELF_SHADOW=0

EFFECTS_QUALITY=2

GROUND_SHADOWS=0

TEXTURE_QUALITY=3

IMAGE_QUALITY=0

See_Self=1

Text_Scroll=1

D3D10=1

MultiSamplesPerPixel=8

MultiSampleQuality=8

ForceFullScreenVSync=1

ForceWindowedVSync=1

HIGHMEMFIX=1

 

[sOUND]

AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000

PrimaryDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}

VoiceDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}

SOUND=1

SOUND_QUALITY=2

SOUND_LOD=1

UISound=1

AmbientUI=0

SOUND_FADER1=0.320000

SOUND_FADER2=0.310000

SOUND_FADER3=0.330000

SOUND_FADER4=0.400000

AmbientUIMusic=FSX01

 

[Display]

ChangeTime=4.000000

TransitionTime=4.000000

ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255

ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64

NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255

NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64

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

BLOOM_EFFECTS=0

SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1

TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=80

UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=0

WideViewAspect=True

TextureMaxLoad=12

 

[Main]

User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter

SimObjectPaths.0=SimObjects\Airplanes

SimObjectPaths.1=SimObjects\Rotorcraft

SimObjectPaths.2=SimObjects\GroundVehicles

SimObjectPaths.3=SimObjects\Boats

SimObjectPaths.4=SimObjects\Animals

SimObjectPaths.5=SimObjects\Misc

ProcSpeed=7881

PerfBucket=7

HideMenuNormal=0

HideMenuFullscreen=0

Maximized=2

Location=440,0,1480,1160,\\.\DISPLAY2

FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.26

 

[PANELS]

IMAGE_QUALITY=1

QUICKTIPS=0

PANEL_OPACITY=100

PANEL_MASKING=1

PANEL_STRETCHING=1

UNITS_OF_MEASURE=0

DEFAULT_VIEW=0

 

[Weather]

WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1

MinGustTime=10

MaxGustTime=500

MinGustRampSpeed=1

MaxGustRampSpeed=200

MinVarTime=5

MaxVarTime=50

MinVarRampSpeed=10

MaxVarRampSpeed=75

TurbulenceScale=1.000000

WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com

WeatherServerPort=80

WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0

AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1

DynamicWeather=0

DownloadWindsAloft=0

DisableTurbulence=0

CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=6

DETAILED_CLOUDS=1

CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=5

THERMAL_VISUALS=0

 

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970.0]

Mode=1920x1080x32

TriLinear=0

Anisotropic=1

AntiAlias=1

 

[AccelerationPack]

ControlsFirstRun=0

HomePageFirstRun=0

 

[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

 

[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

 

[uSERINTERFACE]

PageID=1

SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0

PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0

PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1

SITUATION=FLIGHTS\OTHER\FLTSIM

Map_Orientation=2

ShowAllACPaintSchemes=1

SelectAircraftManufacturer=All

SelectAircraftPublisher=PMDG

SelectAircraftType=All

OpenATCOnCreate=0

DisplayFuelAsWeight=0

 

[ATC]

ShowATCText=0

COMM_MSG_NONE_COLOR=FFFFFFFF

COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=FFB6FFB6

COMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=FFFFD21B

COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=FF00FF00

COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=FFFF7840

AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=0

UsePilotVoice=1

PilotVoice=0

 

[PointOfInterestSystem]

CycleSetting=0

 

[sCENERY]

LENSFLARE=0

DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1

IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=4

MAX_ASYNC_BATCHING_JOBS=3

SmallPartRejectRadius=4.0

 

[TrafficManager]

AirlineDensity=100

GADensity=75

FreewayDensity=10

ShipsAndFerriesDensity=5

LeisureBoatsDensity=5

IFROnly=0

AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=1

 

[TERRAIN]

LOD_RADIUS=4.500000

MESH_COMPLEXITY=100

MESH_RESOLUTION=25

TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=29

AUTOGEN_DENSITY=3

DETAIL_TEXTURE=1

WATER_EFFECTS=6

SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=2

TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_TREES_PER_CELL=6000

TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS_PER_CELL=6000

 

[AContain]

ShowLabels=0

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

 

[iNTERNATIONAL]

ASLAT=2

ASLON=1

MEASURE=0

 

[REALISM]

PFactor=0.500000

Torque=0.500000

GyroEffect=0.500000

CrashTolerance=0.500000

General=0.500000

UnlimitedFuel=False

AllowEngineDamage=True

TrueAirspeed=False

AutoCoord=True

RealMixture=False

StressDamage=False

GEffect=False

ManualLights=True

GyroDrift=False

CrashWithDyn=False

CrashDetection=False

AutoTrim=False

 

[sIM]

SYSCLOCK=1

 

[sTARTUP]

DEMO=0

SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1

STARTUP_DEMO=

LoadWindow=1

 

[FACILITIES]

COUNTRY=

STATE=

CITY=

GTL_BUTTON=1826

 

[Misc]

Com_Rate=7

 

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970.1]

Mode=1024x768x32

 

[Trusted]

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\Cessna.dll.bzwabazctuwzbueqnubkwllwztuubllozhtzczla=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\Cessna172.dll.hbwtnutbtwiknohcqeboobaklaoboekzocwttruk=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\Cessna182s.dll.wbqhuuohknhhitinlrzbctocuekuoeiuoekeklue=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\CessnaWAlpha.dll.eiwhkboiictnrreuuhituqoezroilnelkbelbtza=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\Bendix_king_radio.dll.ireezhoubaeboqthobhbabzulbuloobtuhllzoqz=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\Bell_206B.dll.auqruroabakwbouawnbtzzncrertownuwlckwkcr=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\KingAir.dll.iinalktwqtlqccciiazqczuhwakutlwuozcnnnke=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\KingAir_radio.dll.wkchunleooqwqokntquawuleeaeluuzbezrlettn=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\Magnetic_Compass.dll.wwnollnroioclnihchrrnnubboknchwrkciahhno=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\EH101.dll.tablkwuatatiqiaorikrluwltanzlrietorwrnnr=2

PMDG\DLLs\PMDG_Interface.dll.harruhbuhqnlqoztuttqlcahnbwblqukcwrrzooz=1

RAASPRO\RAASPRO.dll.aqnbciwkqilwbebwurtlaqqzwkculblzouhonwoo=1

fsdreamteam\couatl\couatl.exe.buhzrccqzaalkkoukhbktnhcabnuknllbcnitnar=1

as_srv\as_btstrp_config_manager.exe.nucnawhzaiuieebctnqlcratlkiitlaukzchekqk=1

bglmanx.dll.auwnrunwkwaekawktlruarkqkbtkrwuweznuluhc=1

as_srv\as_btstrp.dll.kuectbikhtqeeoehcrerbbqnkwoueizalzwtatuz=1

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\PMDG_777X.dll.ruwkutiwcarqqcokorlrkokoarwzwtnkcbwnlkwi=2

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\FS2Crew2010\Versions\PMDG777\Gauges\FS2Crew777.gau.tobitrtthwwrltekbqurliwowllcateektqoncoi=2

FSCaptain\bin\FSCaptain.dll.ntcqwunwlweqkkalintnwecuzokzboalekoialun=1

D:\Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\gauges\FCDU.gau.nwiqowzzbzeolrznzelntbnhlcqqkcuhqtabrkhe=2

Modules\FSUIPC4.dll.binkaanurzeabcenzrbozzziuoulrceurzrkzzan=1

Modules\FSUIPC4.dll.wibzblnlwnaelulrqkkklbozzoktbzereekikqrr=1

Modules\FSUIPC4.dll.oolcntarklaokklhwklcleubwtrbeeoutwqkitzr=1

 

[FlightPlanMap]

LineWidth=2

SHOW_AIRPORTS=1

SHOW_VORS=1

SHOW_NDBS=1

SHOW_APPROACHES=1

SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=1

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_waypoints=1

show_airways=1

show_markers=1

show_volume_boundaries=1

show_ac_twr=1

 

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970.0.0]

AntiAlias=1

Mode=1920x1080x32

TriLinear=0

Anisotropic=1

[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970.0.1]

Mode=1280x720x32

[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

 

 

 

 

And here's a screenshot of NV:

 

http://prntscr.com/9pc3k2

In both those videos they're using some kind of HDR filter like ENB or SweetFX. It will make the colours look significantly different, sometimes darker or more 'glowy' for want of a better word, depending on the filter settings. Also look into Shade.

 

I know ENB isn't compatible with DX10 though. Not sure about SweetFX. Shade is fine.

 

You could also switch on Bloom. In DX10, this doesn't come at anywhere near the performance penalty as with DX9.

 

You also need to add ForceVCShadowMap=1 into the Display section of your cfg file, this will enable the DX10 cockpit shadows which are enhanced by the Fixer. You can also turn on Aircraft self shadow.

 

The manually specified Pool size you've set in the Bufferpools section can be removed as this is cancelled out by the usepools=0.

 

In terms of scenery I'd consider either some Orbx regions or some good photo scenery if you want it to look really accurate. Global is great for what it does but at the end of the day it's just a texture enhancement really, it's still not going to give you 100% accurate scenery, and it would be unfair to expect that from a product that gives worldwide coverage.

What Tom said.   :smile:   ...especially in regards to Orbx regions.  

 

Also be realistic - this is a piece of software approaching a decade old.  With every tweak you are robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Just fly and enjoy.

 

Ilya

I don't, however, understand your first sentence.  What do you mean?

 

Edit: Ah, I see.  You were telling me to get a real pilot's license if i wanted "ultradetailed graphics" which is basically being absolutely non-helpful to the post.  

 

If you're going to be non-helpful at all, then why respond?

 

Because I don't understand your priorities. See below.

 

Sorry I wasn't sure if I'd get the mods mad if i posted links to videos in here but here goes:

 

...

 

Just a few examples.

 

Video #2 uses NL2000, which is satellite imagery with autogen and is heavily post-processed to resemble those cockpit/passenger videos you have all over Youtube.

#1 looks like FTX ground textures and uses a low sun angle to enhance contrast, ORBX/FTX sceneries with 3D grass and all the details for GA airfields and ENB or SweetFX or video editing post processing to make the sky colors more intense.

 

You're basically looking at advertisements, not a simulator.

And your bufferpools section is redundant. You have set bufferpools but usepools=0