This past weekend I spent another $60 for the FSLabs A319 to my hanger. That’s what I consider a sim upgrade, not something done to the platforms that wrecks everything.

38 minutes ago, Luis Hernandez said:

That's the main reason I've just returned to v4.5. I fully understand your reasons for either 4.5, 5.3 or 5.4.

I used to enjoy 5.4 and it's higher performance. However, the default airports aren't that good. Converting any FSX scenery or AFCAD to v5 ended up being a chore. I tried using the default v4 airports in v5 (more details here and here) but somehow it didn't feel right (for example, some runways ended up buried). Now I'm back to v4.5 and it feels great. Let's see how long can I stay in 4.5 before wanting to go back to 5.4 and its improvements 😂

When you get the urge to move away from 4.5 again, please check on Rogen's 4.5 version first (do a search for pictures of his 4.5 here). Simply beautiful pictures!

2 hours ago, Luis Hernandez said:

That's the main reason I've just returned to v4.5. I fully understand your reasons for either 4.5, 5.3 or 5.4.

I used to enjoy 5.4 and it's higher performance. However, the default airports aren't that good. Converting any FSX scenery or AFCAD to v5 ended up being a chore. I tried using the default v4 airports in v5 (more details here and here) but somehow it didn't feel right (for example, some runways ended up buried). Now I'm back to v4.5 and it feels great. Let's see how long can I stay in 4.5 before wanting to go back to 5.4 and its improvements 😂

Hi Luis, I’m just wondering if you missed the enhanced atmospherics when going back to V4? That to me is the main plus to version 5. The way things look out the window but there are many addon related advantages to V4. Also the default vector in version five makes unnecessary the cumbersome ORBX vector with its elevation adjustments needed with addon airports in version 4. 

4.5 still my go to here.

I have been playing with 5.3 in relation to this thread where we've been modifying shaders and cloud configs.

Coding and testing shader changes has gotten me further into v5.3 than I ever have previously and I've found it's just a dogs breakfast with so many things needing adjusting to function. I can see what LM were trying to do but really even FlightSim World had better implementations.

• It's far too hazy all the time compared to RL.
• It's too dark (too much exposure / contrast).
• The AA 's messed up.
• Pre-existing Effects are messed up.
• Airport issues, like I landed at one yesterday and disappeared under the ground, this was one of those landing strips only.
• Airport building issues.
• There's no shoreline waves and Orbx's really good looking ones are hit with effects problems.
• The truesky cloulds are not the best, even with Alexandre's mods
• The thread order for affinity is somewhat critical and can cause instablity issues, plus P3D will occasionaly automatically set an affinity mask itself that causes the appearance of a hang (it's just running too slow due to the barfed affinity mask).
• The Milviz radars don't work.
• The Orbx Vector implementation is still needed, but that too needs the use of a members resolution to function properly.
• The default wave textures are huge and look quite poor from height.

There is a PRO, the half vsync option of NCP does function for 5.3 (doesn't in 4.5), meaning it's super easy to get that smooth 30 hz vsync on a 60 hz monitor with 5.3. Give it a go, set a 60 Hz screen mode, turn off vsync in sim and set half vsync in NCP - I've found it works pretty good.

And a PRO is anything that has actually been properly designed and compiled for 5.3 is typically pretty good (not everything though) and the dynamic lighting is certainly improved.

Yeah 5.3 does have somewhat better 3D rendering perfomance, as in it can handle a bit more before it chokes, but is still nothing to write home about.

Also unfortunately 5.4 has it's own introduced issues that LM are clearly not ever going to resolve, leaving v6 which comes with it's own trade marked issues, at least v4.5 can be used which has PBR, dynamic lighting and where pretty much everything just works.

Anyway, for 5.3 I've managed to get exposure / contrast improved with out too many killer side fx and I think I'm done with trying to improve 5.3 further.

Cheers

 

 

 

Thanks @Rogen Your input is always knowledgeable and interesting.

@Rogen,

Thank you too. Wishing you can do a definitive write-up on how to make P3D 4.5 shine. 

Edited April 9, 20242 yr by Ray Proudfoot
Long quoted post removed

Gents, those of you who have reverted from v5 to v4. How do you find the coastlines in various places around the world? They’ve been completely updated in v5 so in countries like South Korea they’re as accurate as Europe and NA.

LM never pushed that as a major update. As a consequence I had no need to keep UTX for various regions of the world.

Yes, the reduction in parking positions is a nuisance but for me the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

5 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

Gents, those of you who have reverted from v5 to v4. How do you find the coastlines in various places around the world?

I can't reply, Ray: I always used Orbx Vector+LC in v4. Furthermore, during my last v5 days, I also used Vector (despite the consensus here that it was no longer needed). I used it because the roads fitted better to the landclass. In all cases (v4+Vector, v5 default and v5+Vector), coastlines were good enough for me, except at SABE (freeware by Orbx): a corner of the main terminal was on the water. In real life, there's a 6-lane avenue between the terminal and the River Plate.

Maybe others can confirm regarding v4 default.

18 hours ago, Patco Lch said:

Also the default vector in version five makes unnecessary the cumbersome ORBX vector with its elevation adjustments

I understand v5 Vector does not have the elevation adjustment corrections. Now that I think about it, that's why using default v4 airports in v5 failed, even after importing terminals too. Too bad, since I only use default airports or AFCADs for P3D and FSX.

 

6 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

the benefits outweigh the drawbacks

 

18 hours ago, Patco Lch said:

if you missed the enhanced atmospherics when going back to V4? That to me is the main plus to version 5. The way things look out the window

Guys, you all are all convincing me of reinstalling v5, after having just uninstalled it for the 4th time 😂. My main reason for v4 is the default airports and terminals.

49 minutes ago, Luis Hernandez said:

Guys, you all are all convincing me of reinstalling v5, after having just uninstalled it for the 4th time 😂. My main reason for v4 is the default airports and terminals.

What does v5 have that v4.5 WITH the right add-on doesn't have?

Performance. I don't want to turn this into a 4 vs 5 thread, so I'll stop here.

Edited April 9, 20242 yr by Luis Hernandez

28 minutes ago, bofhlusr said:

What does v5 have that v4.5 WITH the right add-on doesn't have?

Enhanced atmospherics but then again that’s more of an eye of the beholder thing. If you’re technically sophisticated enough Rogan has 4.5 looking very good with his tweets and suggestions. I’m not so technical or maybe too lazy might be a more introspectively honest statement.

2 hours ago, Luis Hernandez said:

I can't reply, Ray: I always used Orbx Vector+LC in v4. Furthermore, during my last v5 days, I also used Vector (despite the consensus here that it was no longer needed). I used it because the roads fitted better to the landclass. In all cases (v4+Vector, v5 default and v5+Vector), coastlines were good enough for me

I don’t have Vector but I got the impression from posts here it was a frame rate eater. If appearance is more important to you than fps then stay with v4 & Vector.

2 hours ago, Luis Hernandez said:

Guys, you all are all convincing me of reinstalling v5, after having just uninstalled it for the 4th time 😂. My main reason for v4 is the default airports and terminals.

Why not reinstall and use both? Many airport addons can be used on both I would think.

I have to take my hat off to you for having the willpower to do that. 👍 The extra parking spaces in v4 are useful but the Enhanced Atmospherics in v5 have finally won me over after trying them on my old computer and the 1080Ti unable to deliver.

I'm preferring v4.5

I'm finding that, with the same settings, v5's greenery, trees, grass are more brighter than v4.5.

Almost cartoonish in a way, when compared with the same scenery & settings in both.

I'm still on the fence if I should dump it & keep to v4.5.

I've never had any problems with 5.4 that have made me to want to revert to 4.5. I think it looks and runs fine. I haven't had any serious freeze or stutter problems either.

1 hour ago, Wobbie said:

I'm finding that, with the same settings, v5's greenery, trees, grass are more brighter than v4.5. Almost cartoonish in a way, when compared with the same scenery & settings in both.

Agreed. I’ve turned that setting down but it doesn’t alter the rather lurid colour. Can any of the ENV products change the colour? I have PLUS and SHADE.