Getting back into FS2004 again. I wonder if anyone's ever come up with a list of the top settings that most impact frame rates? Do you guys have any insight - perhaps we can do a quick hit list, or point me in the general direction of a topic/web site where this has been previously discussed? What really are the top 5-10 settings that most impact frame rates? For example: Autogen density, AI Traffic, etc. Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. Regards, Steve

Clouds IMHO

regardsEd

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Clouds, yea, that's a good one. That's why I have Flight Environment, and actually use the reduced resolution/DXT3 options. I think honestly, the clouds still look fantastic.But specifically, which variable(s) then???MAX_UNLIMITED_VISCLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE3D_CLOUD_PERCENTDETAILED_CLOUDSCLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITYRegards, Steve

AI has a big impact. Try a flight into a crowded airport, then try it again without AI.Lee

especially PAI - amazing difference with fsp, aia cdai etc.regards,Markhttp://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpgXPHomeSP2/FS9.1/3.2HT/1024mb/X700pro256

setting the default "Fair Weather" theme in fs9 gives me a lot worse performance than the ASv6 512x512 texture set with same amount of clouds. i agree that clouds can be the main influence on the performance but you although have the power to optimize it a lot. so that gives lots of control to the user. with AI traffic that can be diffrent, same amount of traffic with diffrent tools can vary the performance a lot.regards, tom.

A METAR report with heavy cloud is the worst thing IMO, if you use real weather. Even if you have your weather settings in FS set fairly low, such as cloud draw distance, sight distance, once you get some heavy cloud layers in the METAR report, frames will suffer no matter what, regardless of you having lowest res clouds (unless you limit it to just one cloud layer perhaps, which is totally unrealistic). Having cloud density set anything less than 100 percent is simply too unrealistic and not an option IMO, nor are the FS2002-style simple 2D clouds.

I'm with you Nick, the weatherscapes supplied by AS6's real weather are quite simply too beautiful to miss (plus I would never fly w/o real weather).I do not have a problem with 100% AI even at my busiest airports but when those heavy clouds come in boy can I hear my system squealing! :-lol

regardsEd

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/edetroit100/holy.gifAMD Athlon 64 3500+, 1024Mb PC3200 DDR, 300Gb HD 128Mb DDR Nvidia 6600GT PCI Express, Audigy 2 ZSCH Products Yoke, Pedals and Throttle Quadrant

3D Clouds Definately!!!I fly IMC conditions most of the time so I just use the 2d clouds for the most part.I've tried all the cloud enhancements (FE,DX textures, 64X64bit, ect) with no luck.So I just dump the visibility and use clouds to generate perciptiation.I personally prefered the weather engine of FS2002 since I could get very realistic overcasts and fog using the cloud enhancments for that version.I could get some very realistic cloud formations with MSFS2002 that had little to no impact on performance.That just has not been the case with FS2004.ScottATP/CFII/DA20 Type Rated - Instructor Pilot - USAFA (KAFF), Colorado Springs, CO & at KCOSAOPA #00956593, since 1987Background in Corporate, Airline, and General AviationB.S. Degree in MISGamming System Specs: (Built this one myself)AMD Athlon-64 3000+ (Overclocked to 2.35ghz)Gigabyte K8NS nForce3-250 Chipset 8x AGP Main Board2GB DDR400 PC3200 Memory (400mhz)160GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive 16x DVD-ROM Audigy 2ZS Gammer Sound Card (Set at FULL acceleration)5.1 Channel Surround Sound Speakers256MB GeForce-5700 8X AGP Video (Overclocked: Core 260mhz RAM: 430mhz)Cotytech Gaming CaseCH Products Yoke, Rudder Pedals, Throttle QuadrantSaitek Cyborg Gold Joystic for Helo's & Stick equipped aircrafteDimensional Force Feedback HeadsetsSaitek Eclipse KeyboardWindows XP Pro SP2Home Network for using the Instructor StationFS9 Sliders maxed with other settings at their best quality positions. (No 3D clouds)Antalasing: 2XAnistropic Filtering: 4XResolution: 1280 X 1024 32bitTexture load speed: 200Average FPS: 25 (Locked)

I dearly loved FS2002 ...but after seeing the weatherscapes in FS9 I could never go back. :)

regardsEd

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/edetroit100/holy.gifAMD Athlon 64 3500+, 1024Mb PC3200 DDR, 300Gb HD 128Mb DDR Nvidia 6600GT PCI Express, Audigy 2 ZSCH Products Yoke, Pedals and Throttle Quadrant

Complex 3d cloudscapesDense AIautogen

As much as I love them, Reality XP gauges that use the 16 bit NTVDM subsystem are a frame killer. I can use the same aircraft, in the same weather conditions, with and without the RXP Garmins, and I will see a 10-20 fps drop when I enable the RXP gauges, with a corresponding spike in CPU that can reach 100%. Dual RXP Garmins will spawn two instances of NTVDM, each with a CPU load around 40%, and my FPS drop into the toilet. Remove the RXP gauges, and my FPS return to 30 where I have them locked.

I have a RXP Pro setup and have never had a problem regarding fps. :-hmmm

regardsEd

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I think it is highly system specific, but if you look at the RXP forum, you'll find many issues with anything from hyperthreading to using certain add ons can cause the 16 bit subsystem to spike CPU. I suspect you may not have that certain combination of hardware and software that cause the bad performance.I run sliders to the right at 1600x1200x32, with TrackIR, Active Sky, and Radar Contact. I can turn the poor FPS on like a light switch by enabling a panel with the RXP Garmins. The NTVDM loads, the CPU spikes, and my frames go south. It's a real shame, because they are very good in every other respect.

1. Detailed Clouds2. Very detailed complex user aircraft in the VC3. Highest quality cockpit settings for the user aircraft4. Very detailed complex user aircraft in the 2D panel5. Detailed older scenery (almost anything released before July 2005)6. Insufficent AI parking at area airports - outside the 10nm visual range but in the 108nm active AI range7. Flyable aircraft as AI8. Max/custom scenery sliders settings - Pre-defined settings give me about 20% better FPS than any manual setting. Do not MAX any slider - you gain almost nothing for the heavy performance hit.9. Non-optimized AI - slowly, but steadily replace the heavier polygon, low LOD models with those with a lower FPS impact. Use ACM (the demo version) to check polygon counts and LOD before changing an aircraft. Watchout because some FSP aircraft are worse than the PAI version of the same aircraft.10. Did I mention Detailed Clouds