GEX for P3Dv4

[phmcr 93]

Hi, just noticed Flight1 has a textureset offering for P3D, GEX P3DV4. Has anybody bought it and tried it?

I had all the GEX packages for FSX. Is it just a new labelling for P3D or does it have additional features? It is quite a steep price so any input would help.

Thanks!

 

[vgbaron 3,625]

It is a completely new GLOBAL product. I've had it since they released it and if you liked it in FSX, you'll love it in P3D. Coupled with UTX for vector data, it's a potent combination. Very frame rate friendly. Considering it's global, the cost is justified.

Vic

[Vineguy 26]

I  agreed with Vic. They were running it for $89 USD when I bought it.

[vadriver 247]

I am a little confused with what "GEP3D licence" to buy ..... for a professional P3D (not professional and enterprise whatever that is) 

The Flight1 site is only selling an academic GEP3D licence ?

[Boomer 1,619]

Remind me please what benefits GEX brings to P3Dv4...?

[simbol 5,819]

Hell I got confused, I must be tired, I was reading GSX instead of GEX! so I couldn't understand what you guys were talking about.

Simbol

[phmcr 93]

Thanks for your input!

 

[Nemo 1,305]

On 11/7/2017 at 9:43 PM, vgbaron said:

It is a completely new GLOBAL product. I've had it since they released it and if you liked it in FSX, you'll love it in P3D. Coupled with UTX for vector data, it's a potent combination. Very frame rate friendly. Considering it's global, the cost is justified.

Vic

How does it play with FTX Regions or FTX Global airports?

I know that GEP and FTX Global are not compatible. Is there a reliable procedure to switch between both scenery worlds (ORBX FTX Global and FTX Vector vs F1 GEP and UTX)?

And last not least, is it possible to use GEP/UTX together with FTX OLC?

Maybe too many questions, but I would like to choose the best of both product lines, if this is possible at all.

 

[vgbaron 3,625]

Switching between GEX and FTX Global is not easily done - you really have to choose one or the other.

In my GEXP3D/UTX system I have Orbx PNW, CRM, NCA and some individual airports running with no issues. I don't use FTX Vector because I use UTX. I have some of the OLC which work fine but I enable/disable different landclass depending on where I plan to fly.

But, you CAN run GEXP3D, UTX *and* Vector. Placing UTX above Vector will give you UTX coverage(my preference) where both exist and give you Vector coverage where UTX doesn't provide it.

Vic

[Bob Scott 7,721]

1 hour ago, Nemo said:

How does it play with FTX Regions or FTX Global airports?

I know that GEP and FTX Global are not compatible. Is there a reliable procedure to switch between both scenery worlds (ORBX FTX Global and FTX Vector vs F1 GEP and UTX)?

And last not least, is it possible to use GEP/UTX together with FTX OLC?

Maybe too many questions, but I would like to choose the best of both product lines, if this is possible at all.

I think one has to choose between these two.  Both replace the default P3D terrain textures, and at least in the case of FTXG the landclass lookup system is also altered, so switching between them is probably not feasible. 

I use FTXG together with UTX in P3D v3/v4...I use and like GEX in FSX, but at the time I was looking for a P3D product, the language on the GEX website suggested that it was only licensed for use with the Academic version of P3D, and FTXG was on sale for something less than a third of the price of GEX for P3D.  Later on, F1 issued a clarification that it was OK to use it with other P3D versions, but by then I already had FTXG inextricably woven into my P3D install. 

Regards

[Nemo 1,305]

54 minutes ago, vgbaron said:

Switching between GEX and FTX Global is not easily done - you really have to choose one or the other.

In my GEXP3D/UTX system I have Orbx PNW, CRM, NCA and some individual airports running with no issues. I don't use FTX Vector because I use UTX. I have some of the OLC which work fine but I enable/disable different landclass depending on where I plan to fly.

But, you CAN run GEXP3D, UTX *and* Vector. Placing UTX above Vector will give you UTX coverage(my preference) where both exist and give you Vector coverage where UTX doesn't provide it.

Vic

 

51 minutes ago, w6kd said:

I think one has to choose between these two.  Both replace the default P3D terrain textures, and at least in the case of FTXG the landclass lookup system is also altered, so switching between them is probably not feasible. 

I use FTXG together with UTX in P3D v3/v4...I use and like GEX in FSX, but at the time I was looking for a P3D product, the language on the GEX website suggested that it was only licensed for use with the Academic version of P3D, and FTXG was on sale for something less than a third of the price of GEX for P3D.  Later on, F1 issued a clarification that it was OK to use it with other P3D versions, but by then I already had FTXG inextricably woven into my P3D install. 

Regards

Vic, Bob, Thank you. That's more or less I was afraid of. Does it also mean, that if I uninstall FTXGlobal it is still problematic to install F1GEP?

I'm asking because FTX Central offers to uninstall FTXG if original scenery were backed up during install. Not sure what would happen with LCc lockup system. Any ideas? Unfortunately, questions like these are not welcome in ORBX forums.

[vgbaron 3,625]

You could uninstall FTXG, run a repair install on P3D which would restore the LC lookup and then install GEXP3D.

Altho I'm pretty sure the lookup gets restored regardless and since you will be overwriting the textures with GEX.

I'd personally do the repair install so that when you install GEX and it backs up the textures THEY are the default.

Vic

[Nemo 1,305]

17 minutes ago, vgbaron said:

You could uninstall FTXG, run a repair install on P3D which would restore the LC lookup and then install GEXP3D.

Altho I'm pretty sure the lookup gets restored regardless and since you will be overwriting the textures with GEX.

I'd personally do the repair install so that when you install GEX and it backs up the textures THEY are the default.

Vic

That's fine. So we do have the possibility to switch between those two product lines. It will be a bit cumbersome, but I won't change between them too often anyway.

Thank you!

[vgbaron 3,625]

2 hours ago, Nemo said:

It will be a bit cumbersome,

That's for sure but it CAN be done.

Vic

[Jim Young 2,356]

I have GEP3D too and got it on Day 1 of release.  Agree with the comments from Vic and Bob.  In FSX, GEX replaced the default scenery with optimized textures.  I ran some tests with the default scenery at KLAS Runway 24L.  With the default, I got over 200 fps.  After installing GEX, I ran the same test and the fps were at 300 fps, fluctuating wildly up and down around 10 points.  For FSX USA, they touted optimized textures but do not see it mentioned in GEP3D.  The manual states, in part, the following:

"Ground Environment Prepar3D World Edition (GEP3D) is a world coverage general texture and 'autogen layout' replacement package for the Lockheed Martin Flight Simulation product Prepar3D. GEP3D replaces the default urban, rural, desert, tundra, and mountain terrain textures with greatly improved and detailed texture sets which include a complete set of matching night lighting maps. It covers the ground of the entire simulation world. GEP3D does not replace water, sky, airport textures or models. "

"GEP3D provides high impact day and night textures with seasonal variations along with upgrades for autogen textures which increase autogen night lighting impact. GEP3D fully supports and adds matching upgrades for all versions of Ultimate Terrain X to further enhance the simulator world."

The developer, Nick Needham, is well-known in the Flight Simulation Community and has provided expert advice and assistance to many users throughout the years.  It is one reason why I purchased this product.  I also purchased all the the FTX Regions and many airports which work nicely with GEP3D.  Although expensive for some, it is much cheaper than other comparible products.