Short version: X-Plane 11 is running far slower than I would have expected considering the computer I have.

Long version: I started out using X-Plane on a Mac mini from 2014. When 11 came out, I bought it, and got around 20 or 30 FPS with medium settings. For me, that was fine, and I was using X-Plane on that computer with good performance up until about a year ago. That computer had the following specifications:
 - 2.8 GHz, Dual-Core Intel Core i5
 - 8 GB RAM (1600 MHz DDR3)
 - Intel Iris (1536 MB, Dynamic)

Life was good in those days, but I've now spent $750 on a this-year laptop the command line refers to as an "HP Laptop 15-dy1xxx". I bought the computer thinking it could run X-Plane pretty well, because these are the specifications:
 - 1.0 GHz Base Frequency, up to 3.6 GHz, Quad-Core Intel Core i5 (10th Generation)
 - 16 GM RAM (not sure about the MHZ, but DDR4)
 - Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated, I believe)

But, X-Plane bounces between six and seven FPS with all settings at their absolute minimums. Is there something I can do to improve this?

A bit more information I've been able to find out about the new computer:

The RAM's maximum bandwidth is 1200 MHz.

I downloaded CPU-Z to see how fast the processor was actually running. When X-Plane has been running for a while, it seems to bounce around quite a bit, from about 700 MHz to 2800 MHz. When X-Plane first starts up, is jumps up well over 3000 MHz and stays there until the FPS levels out (at 10, in this case).

You can turn graphics settings down to achieve higher frame rates but you're never going to overcome the limitations of the integrated graphics.  Unfortunately, your graphics will not be upgradeable, since you bought a laptop.

Take this as a lesson and don't buy laptops with integrated graphics for gaming in the future.  

Point taken. I'll probably return this laptop. Can anyone recommend a laptop where I could run X-Plane 11 at around 25-35 FPS with the following settings:

Visual Effects: Medium
Texture Quality: High
Antialiasing: 2-4x
Number of World Objects: Low-Medium
Reflection Detail: Minimum-Low

Would this one work?
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-IPS-Type-R7-3750H-GeForce-TUF505DU-EB74/dp/B07QQB6DC1

It has:
 - 2.3 GHz Base Frequency, up to 4 GHz, Quad-Core AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
 - 16 GB RAM (2666 MHz DDR4 SDRAM)
 - Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti (6 GB VRAM)

The only thing I'm a little worried about is the low base frequency on the processor. That leaves it up to the laptop to dissipate the heat well so the processor can reach and maintain 3-3.5 GHz or more.

I think this one should work quite well.

On 4/25/2020 at 1:08 AM, SuradMister said:

Would this one work?
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-IPS-Type-R7-3750H-GeForce-TUF505DU-EB74/dp/B07QQB6DC1

It has:
 - 2.3 GHz Base Frequency, up to 4 GHz, Quad-Core AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
 - 16 GB RAM (2666 MHz DDR4 SDRAM)
 - Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti (6 GB VRAM)

The only thing I'm a little worried about is the low base frequency on the processor. That leaves it up to the laptop to dissipate the heat well so the processor can reach and maintain 3-3.5 GHz or more.

I think this one should work quite well.

Low base clock is the reason not to buy a laptop for flight sim.  Unless you buy a "Desktop Replacement" laptop with actual desktop-class parts, you won't be able to get away from this limitation.  These systems tend to be very expensive, and I would only recommend one if you absolutely cannot use an actual desktop.  

Here's a brand known for their DTR laptops, specifically those models that feature the 9900k:

https://www.sagernotebook.com/Intel-Core-i9-9900K/

On 4/24/2020 at 8:08 PM, SuradMister said:

Would this one work?
https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-IPS-Type-R7-3750H-GeForce-TUF505DU-EB74/dp/B07QQB6DC1

The only thing I'm a little worried about is the low base frequency on the processor. That leaves it up to the laptop to dissipate the heat well so the processor can reach and maintain 3-3.5 GHz or more.

I purchased a similar one last year (specs below). It had the same low base frequency as yours. If you can improve the CPU/GPU (while sacrificing monitor refresh rate... you won't need it in FS), it will be better.

I tried the XP11 demo (but locking FPS at 30 via RTSS). The only issues I had were alerts due to low memory. If Ryzens behave as i5/i7, the CPU will try to keep the highest clock possible, until it exceeds a temperature or power limit. Then, it throttles down to your 2.3 base GHz. In my ignorance I bought the i5 instead of the i7-8750H (which was $140 more), fearing the cooling system wouldn't be able to keep with the heat generation (that I suffered in my previous 2 laptops and had to disable TurboBoost in them).

Why all this? In this year I learned to use ThrottleStop not only for undervolting the CPU, but also underclocking it so that the power draw wouldn't exceed TDP in any FS condition. So, instead of going up to 4 GHz, I'd be going up just to 3.8 GHz, but my CPU would never need to throttle, and I'll keep some boost still.

Now, those Sager notebooks are beautiful, but a good desktop build should not be as expensive... even including monitor, keyboard, mouse, speaker, desk and chair!

Edited April 28, 20206 yr by Luis Hernandez

On 4/25/2020 at 12:08 AM, SuradMister said:

That leaves it up to the laptop to dissipate the heat well so the processor can reach and maintain 3-3.5 GHz or more.

Which rarely, if ever, happens for very long in a laptop. Thermal management is the bane of gaming on a laptop and generally means that you never get the advertised speeds when gaming for any length of time. If you must have a laptop, you'll just have to accept the fact that performance will only probably just be OK, at best (as long as you're expectations are not high).