Add-ons have killed my MSFS

[highflyer2020 607]

Curious to know what scenery addons you're using? 

[ANCRM114 35]

3 hours ago, andy1252 said:

An sort of scenery using Google earth type PG models is deadly in terms of load times - some of these addons have over a million files. (and anyway, most look like rubbish IMO)

I don't use any Google imported scenery because of this.

[RandallR 416]

Interesting startup times for some.  I only use the AddonsLinker to set up for each flight.  My average Addons "load" would include:

• Aircraft mod
• Nav mod
• Several liveries
• Multi-Seasons
• Navigraph

I only have a few custom airports, so I won't include them in the average load.  However, when I have added one I haven't noticed any additional time on the startup.

I have all of FS on a HDD - my average startup is 6 min.  This has not changed since the initial install last year.

[chickster25 153]

I have gone a bit mad with addon sceneries for the UK south east but it was more of a test to see what they look like and how the sim reacts. I have about 7 each for Kent, Essex and London.

 

I also have Welovevfr, a few liveries and fs2crew pushback. 

They have doubled the load time of MSFS and killed my frame rate from 20 to around 5.

[sidfadc 1,315]

I have a load of addons and the worst is when you experience random CTD.  Is it my sim, my PC, my addons or all 3?  Good luck trying to find the culprit!  

[fppilot 4,256]

 This must be based somewhat on internet connection speed as well as community folder contents.  I use the Addons Linker, have a 1 TB SSD, a 100 mbps connection.  I live in a semi-rural area in eastern Maryland, USA. My system specs are below in my footer.  I just rebooted my system.  Started MSFS, starting a timer at the second I double-clicked the MSFS windows shortcut icon.  I was displaying the first splash screen at 0:40 (seconds).  Checking for Updates started at 1:15.  I was at the Welcome screen ready to make selections at 2:45 (minutes:seconds).  I selected an airport and proceeded and it took another 1:10 from that point to reach Ready to Fly.  That with a fresh timer.  So I was in the cockpit ready to go in well under 4 minutes. 

My community folder had the DA62 performance mod, the WT1000 mod, soem DA62 liveries, my departure airport and destination airports (both addon general aviation), and some sightseeing scenery along my route (some additional addon airports and a an addon stadium).

Edited July 12, 2021 by fppilot

[cobalt 774]

1 hour ago, RandallR said:

Interesting startup times for some.  I only use the AddonsLinker to set up for each flight.  My average Addons "load" would include:

• Aircraft mod
• Nav mod
• Several liveries
• Multi-Seasons
• Navigraph

I only have a few custom airports, so I won't include them in the average load.  However, when I have added one I haven't noticed any additional time on the startup.

I have all of FS on a HDD - my average startup is 6 min.  This has not changed since the initial install last year.

Just to follow up, I also use Addons Linker, with a list similar to yours except for Navigraph, and load only the scenery addons I need for a particular flying session. My typical load time is 3-4 minutes. As most here are aware, Addons Linker places no actual files in Community -- only links to files, and the files themselves can be stored anywhere. This way, my Community folder never contains anything other than the links. This is a huge advantage in so many ways, including keeping load times to a minimum as well as avoiding problems with the functioning of MSFS. Why everybody doesn't use this fantastic free add-on, I can't imagine.

 

[somiller 694]

5 hours ago, fppilot said:

You should quickly consider the excellent freeware Addons Linker app for MSFS.  It allows you to organize your library of MSFS addons away from your MSFS community folder.  From there you use the Addons Linker to position only those addons you will be actually utilizing during an MSFS session. That greatly minimizes system loading and system load when flying. 

When you select addons to use via Addons Linker the app then writes into the MSFS Community folder Windows shortcuts or links to those addons you have currently selected.  For me it is a no-brainer must-have app.

OP mentioned he already uses Linker

[fppilot 4,256]

3 minutes ago, somiller said:

OP mentioned he already uses Linker

??????????

My response was to his initial post and was immediately after it.  I do not see anything in his first post that mentioned the linker.  HIs mention of the linker came well after that.

Edited July 12, 2021 by fppilot

[Tierborn 158]

5 hours ago, chickster25 said:

I purchased MSFS last week and have set about adding some of the fantastic free addon scenery areas. Only to find that my sim is not virtually unplayable as it takes 20 minutes to even load. Admittedly, I do have the scenery stored on a HDD, as I do plan to change PC at some point and use M.2 nvme drives, but even so, I I thought FS9 was slow but this is ridiculous!

Luckily I added them using the linker system so I have been able to deselect area, but every time I make a change, it then seems to take just as long to load - perhaps the game is indexing the sceneries each time.

What is frustrating it that I cannot tell if it is certain addons that are causing the delay or the combined total, as there is no information.

I could try manual tests, by selecting an area at a time, but as it seems to take just as long to load after each change of scenery, I am never going to get around to playing the game at this rate!

How is it unplayable?  Are you just using hyperbole?

[chickster25 153]

24 minutes ago, Tierborn said:

How is it unplayable?  Are you just using hyperbole?

20+ minutes to load a flight, then between 2 -5 FPS is pretty much unplayable.

The result is mainly due to addons but there’s no easy way to work out which ones cause the biggest impact 

[fppilot 4,256]

9 minutes ago, chickster25 said:

20+ minutes to load a flight, then between 2 -5 FPS is pretty much unplayable.

I'd rather not read back through this entire topic again.  I do not recall seeing your systems specs and internet connection speed.  If you posted those please point back to it.  Otherwise I believe that would be helpful here.

[Hamilton_ 44]

6 hours ago, andy1252 said:

If you're using the Addons Linker there is an option ("options", "Disable File Stats" checkbox)

EDIT: Disregard.

Sorry Andy, I was using an old version of MSFS_Addon Linker and it didn´t have that option.

Edited July 12, 2021 by Hamilton_
Found the problem

[Bert Pieke 7,414]

1 hour ago, chickster25 said:

The result is mainly due to addons but there’s no easy way to work out which ones cause the biggest impact 

I would suggest following the advice that was given at the beginning of this topic... disable them all (using the Linker) and make sure that you are happy with performance at that level.

If that is all good, add a few addons, specific to the flight you are planning.

It will not take long to find out what kind of addons play nice with your system.

Adding them all in and then selectively removing some is going be an ordeal... would not suggest it.. 🙂

If I may offer an analogy.. it would be like adding all the spices in your cupboard to the dish you are preparing, and then figuring out which ones are making the dish taste bad..

Edited July 12, 2021 by Bert Pieke

[zalox 54]

I hope Direct Storage in Windows 11 makes some changes to this loading times in the near future.