I'm missing something in configuring my rig

[mwcorder 0]

Big Picture theoretical question: How can P3D v4.3 frames be low when CPU and/or GPU are not running at 100% ?  Where should I look for the bottleneck?

Background: 

The LAX area is brutal on my FPS  (avg 18 in cockpit of 737BGX, 28 on exterior views).

The problem is when my FPS are low such as on final to LAX 25R, my CPU is only 60% loaded and my GPU is less than 50% loaded. I have checked disk activity including the 2TB hard drive where most of my scenery lives and disk accessing does not seem to be the issue.

Equipment; I7 4790 overclocked to 4.5, 32gb ram, RTX2080 8g, separate SSDs for Windows and P3D 4.3, PMDG 737NGX, Orbx Global, Vector, SoCal, FSDreamteam KLAX, Active Sky, etc.

I have all my settings optimized basically like MrYorkie's latest 4.4 video, plus I have adjusted and experimented with each one to get the best compromise.. My performance is excellent away from LA such as in Denver Flightbeam or KPHX Flightbeam, Even KSFO Flightbeam runs acceptably to avoid stutters although not as good as other regions.

X-Plane runs great on my rig, 35-40 FPS everywhere I go with settings close to max.

I just upgraded the graphics card from a GTX970 to a new RTX 2080 8g (NOT a 11g TI)  and while things are improved and I can run higher settings, I am still disappointed with LAX performance. I'm thinking it is my fault due to some setting or concept that I have missed. 

Again, in theory, my question is how can frames be low and stuttering when CPU & GPU are not fully utilized?

Thanks

Mike

Edited December 13, 2018 by mwcorder
clarification

[jabloomf1230 2,445]

Only one item tends to bottleneck at a time. Generally, in P3d4 it's the CPU, but looking just at the overall CPU utilization is misleading. P3d4 generally maxes out its main thread which runs on Core 0, whether you have hyperthreading either on or off. Try running a utility that shows CPU usage by core. Also, try turning down the setting for building autogen. You can also search AVSim, as to how to move add-ons like Active Sky to a higher core. You didn't say if you are using either an ATC or Ai Traffic add-on.

I used to get the same results that you stated for XP11, but now that I added a bunch of third party stuff (AI Traffic, ATC, weather and payware airports), I can't run maxed out anymore.

Edited December 13, 2018 by jabloomf1230
grr spellchecker

[Bob Scott 7,715]

46 minutes ago, mwcorder said:

Again, in theory, my question is how can frames be low and stuttering when CPU & GPU are not fully utilized?

My theory on this question is that memory bandwidth may be the most significant bottleneck where the main thread on the CPU and the GPU aren't heavily loaded, yet stuttering and frame rate drops occur.  Fast memory does seem to help.  Autogen, in particular, also seems to play a big part there...reducing those sliders also helps quite a bit. 

That said, ORBX SoCal + FSDT KLAX is a well-known black hole for performance even on cutting-edge hardware.  My compromise solution when operating jets in the western part of the SoCal area around KLAX is to disable SoCal, and run with just FTX Global and OpenLC NA active.  Also, the ORBX regional sceneries contain hundreds and hundreds of enhanced airport files (aka ADE or AFCAD files), and they are packed in tight all around the SoCal area.

Regards

[ryanbatc 12,800]

I'd say your fps are normal for your rig plus all those add-ons. Is that with clouds or clear skies?  

I have similar add-ons and with my old 2500k at 4ghz I get about 13-16 depending on clouds or not

I too use XP11 and in that area I have mister x klax as well as Gpb500's ksna plus add-on klgb and with weather I get around 25ish

 

Edited December 13, 2018 by ryanbatcund

[Rocky_53 1,566]

It's a known fact by many simmers that FSDT's KLAX is a big hitter on performance, but twinned with Orbx SOCAL it's a no go for many, including myself. 

Edited December 14, 2018 by Rockliffe

[fghdgdfdfgfgf 111]

To be brutally honest ....your system doesn’t even meet the minimum recommended p3d v4.0 hardware specs.

Short of gutting p3d v4, you have none chance if:

-on a ddr3 system

-run 4k, on any system 

[ryanbatc 12,800]

@FunknNasty I think you're in the wrong thread.  His system is more than enough.... It's just that he's got the hardest hitting add-ons in a tough area.

[fghdgdfdfgfgf 111]

1 minute ago, ryanbatcund said:

@FunknNasty I think you're in the wrong thread.  His system is more than enough.... It's just that he's got the hardest hitting add-ons in a tough area.

 

19 hours ago, mwcorder said:

I just upgraded the graphics card from a GTX970 to a new RTX 2080 8g (NOT a 11g TI)  and while things are improved and I can run higher settings, I am still disappointed with LAX performance. I'm thinking it is my fault due to some setting or concept that I have missed.  

No. I'm at the right thread ...look up the system requirements for p3D v4. 

C'mon man!  And I can't help but believe those minimums are before any addons are installed.

[ryanbatc 12,800]

Umm lol I looked them up.  He meets the recommendations easily

http://www.prepar3d.com/system-requirements/

[JoeFackel 760]

19 hours ago, mwcorder said:

my CPU is only 60% loaded

I don't know your HT / AM settings but these 60% are for sure the overall loads. If you have hyperthreading on you should try AM=245 to reserve two logical processors for P3D main threads.

Edit: i don't know your resolution settings but 18 fps at an high traffic airport like KLAX sounds pretty normal with your setup.

Edited December 14, 2018 by JoeFackel

[fghdgdfdfgfgf 111]

Look ...I've said it probably a hundred times over the past 6 months or so ....around lax you better be on a ddr4 system with memory closer to 4000Mhz than 3000Mhz  ....preferably feeding a coffee lake to have any chance.

[fghdgdfdfgfgf 111]

9 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

Umm lol I looked them up.  He meets the recommendations easily

http://www.prepar3d.com/system-requirements/

OOPS  ...I forgot to include the qualifier "recommend" minimums  ....geez, so sorry man.

I7 4790 is a ddr3 system, right?

Edited December 14, 2018 by FunknNasty

[jabloomf1230 2,445]

An i7-4790 is still an adequate CPU for flight sims.