Even though MSFS is indeed multithreaded, it's also mainthread-limited most of the time, unless there's a huge mismatch between CPU and GPU. After years of tweaking, I'm still unsure how to deal with this situation. Some days I prefer lots of traffic and hence a low TLOD (50-100 near major airports). Other days, I just don't want to have a blurry runway on final approach. I'm interested in how other people deal with being mainthread-limited. 

I voted AI traffic, as that was the most important for me on my current flight (ENGM-EGLL) in the 777 🙂

I'll include a link to Seb's in-depth explanation of the mainthread concept (June dev stream): https://youtu.be/cj4e1FhDhBE?si=J-sDVmfcAcZMuJkb&t=1240

Edited June 28, 20241 yr by Cpt_Piett

Using Lossless here so TLOD, OLOD and AI are maxxed 🙂    No need to choose anymore.  I "do" still see some AI stuttering in flight but that is really the only stuttering I see in the sim.

Both, but happily, with my current hardware and the available tools, I can easily use the sim at a reasonable TLOD setting (200, suits me perfect for IFR airliner flights) with reasonable amounts of AI traffic (75% for AIG) on any airport in the world (including heavy hitters like Ini's KLAX or Aerosofts EBBR). So actually no need to decide between AI traffic and TLOD for the moment 😉 

TLOD every time. I want to see the world. A lot of the time I don't bother with AI traffic, unless I'm planning an exploration around a major airport. Usually I can get away with my standard TLOD plus AIG running full bore as I'm typically only using the drone cam in those situations.

5 minutes ago, AnkH said:

Both, but happily, with my current hardware and the available tools, I can easily use the sim at a reasonable TLOD setting (200, suits me perfect for IFR airliner flights) with reasonable amounts of AI traffic (75% for AIG) on any airport in the world (including heavy hitters like Ini's KLAX or Aerosofts EBBR). So actually no need to decide between AI traffic and TLOD for the moment 😉 

That's impressive! Do you use lossless scaling?

2 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

That's impressive! Do you use lossless scaling?

I tried several times, but the input lag is just to big for me. So back to basic FG for me and of course, AutoFPS with TLOD turned down to 50 on big hubs. 50+ FPS on KLAX with 75% AIG AI Traffic is fine. It IS a lot smoother using 36FPS limit and lossless on x2 resulting in a total of 72FPS on top of AutoFPS and FG, but the input lag is just unbearable.

44 minutes ago, AnkH said:

I tried several times, but the input lag is just to big for me.

Same. I also use AutoFPS with same settings.

Most of the time I turn traffic off. I'm hoping it will be worth turning it on again for MSFS2024 

Voted "don't care". Using TLOD 200 and PSXT with AIG models and no problems, 70 fps at Inibuilds EGLL.

AI traffic, at least some, that are believable.

If you take off in a completely empty world, I don't see the immersion in that.  Where in this world are you the only plane in the sky ever?  

AI planes were very important to me in P3D, but so far I have been quite happy without them in MSFS. I think this is partly because I am worried that the performance hit on my mediocre PC will be way too much (I do not do AI planes in half measures; it is 100% or nothing at all), and also because I am not sure whether they will move convincingly when on the ground and on departure/landing. In addition, the ATC system in MSFS makes me hesitant to take the plunge. The only time that I use ATC at the moment is when the tower (sometimes) contacts me on departure, and that brief interaction does not exactly inspire me. It sounds less realistic to me than the ATC interaction in P3D.

I guess the only way to test this is to activate the AI planes, but I am really enjoying the freedom of movement when flying in and out of the 80+ airports that I use at the moment. I do not have to worry about AI planes "getting in the way" when on final approach (although I have no problem with having to wait in line for departure), and the static aircraft option does a pretty good job of making airports look busy. I am also really enjoying looking at the scenery during my flights. It really is outstanding, even though I use full autogen mode.

AI is the the one thing that hits my performance the most.  I have tried several different things to minimize it and to be honest, I think I am happiest to have some plausible static aircraft at the airport and maybe just a few live aircraft.  I use both FSLTL and PSXT but keep the number of aircraft low.  My goal is a steady 30fps and I cannot do that if I am loaded with AI traffic everywhere.  

I don't have a 4080 or 4090. So, TLOD. Traffic would limit me to unbespoken airports. So, there's little choice for me.

Aye-Aye traffic, captain.

just as Langeveldt said:

"AI traffic, at least some, that are believable. Where in this world are you the only plane in the sky ever? "

4 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

I'm interested in how other people deal with being mainthread-limited. 

Quite frankly the visual differences between TLOD of say 60 at a complex terminal, and 100 or 150, is paltry on the ground, and not much different as you climb, at least that's my perspective and maybe its in part driven by what I'm focused on as a user of two flight scoring apps that keep one attentive to plane and crew management more than looking at scenery.  Plus, using the 4090's ability to run render scale at 160 and AMD FidelityFX at 200 makes thinks sharp enough.  So for me I'll defer to having enough AI traffic to simulate a plausible environment but not so busy that I have to regularly hold for takeoffs or go-arounds at arrival.  I think I have 12 or so IFR flights happening in FSLTL and a few VFR small GA is all, but it's enough to be as I say plausible for a non busy environment.  As you know my main complaint is that I can't tolerate visual aberrations coming from NV DLSS FG so never use it, which means I have to live with a native rate around 40-45fps, which isn't bad but means the main thread is working harder than it could.