TorqueWrench

I don't know the thermal specs of your CPU, but if it exceeds the TDP (Thermal Design Power), it will automatically throttle the CPU clock (in my case from 2.6GHz to 1GHz!), to prevent damage. You should find some software to monitor your temperatures while running the sim. I suggest either Intel Extreme Tuning Utility, or ThrottleStop from TechPowerUp (ThrottleStop has an option to disable TurboBoost, and lock your CPU to it's base clock, 2.6GHz in my case). Your mileage may vary.

I thought I'd share my experience with tweaking my laptop to run FS2020 with reasonable performance. I have had this laptop for 2 years now and it's handled everything really well, but FS2020 is pushing it to its limits. Initial performance was really poor, with frame rates around 15-23fps @ EGBB Birmingham, with graphics set on Medium, AI Traffic dialed down to 10%, and clear skies. CPU was thermally throttling, so frame rates were all over the place. System Spec : Asus Rog Strix Gaming Laptop, Intel Core i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.6GHz, 32Gb PC2133 Memory, NVidia Geforce GTX1060 GPU with 6Gb Dedicated RAM, Samsung 970 EVO 1Tb NVMe SSD, (OS & Flight Sims), 1Tb 7200rpm SATA (all other stuff). 100Mbps cable broadband. Just sitting at the Windows Desktop, the CPU was running around 65C, very hot. I decided it was time to check my laptop cooling, so I opened it up and vacuumed out all the dust and cruft, this was blocking the heatsink vents. I also removed the cooling fans and heat pipes etc, and re-applied Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste to the CPU, GPU, and VRM chips. I have also disabled CPU Turbo Boost to lock the CPU at 2.6GHz under load. This brought desktop temps down to 45C (20 degrees cooler!). Time to check FS2020. Now I have pushed the graphics up to High End, and turned on Scattered Clouds. Wow. what a difference. I now see frame rates at a nice steady 32-35fps, and visuals look great. This is in the Cessna 172 G1000. Panning around the cockpit is nice and smooth, and I haven't seen any more stuttering. CPU temps peak around 88 degrees. Visually, this sim is a delight, and I hope it gets better as Asobo push out patches to it. I had previously run X-Plane, but stopped due to seeing big FPS dips every 5 seconds or so (45-50 down to 17 for a few seconds). That made X-Plane unplayable. I will have to check that out now too, and see if those FPS dips were down to thermal throttling too. Anyway, if you're not getting the performance you expect from FS2020, it may be worth checking your system temperatures, and your cooling solution. Good luck!

Thanks, but an XBox controller won't cut it. I don't want a self centering thumbstick, I want a proper analog joystick. I've tried an XBox controller, and it's no good for delicate inputs.

I use a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick, and a Thrustmaster TWCS throttle for the majority of my simming, but I'm looking for a small analog joystick to use with my laptop when I'm working away from home. The smaller the better, it's mainly for takeoff and landing. 2-Axis or 3-Axis is fine, not concerned about buttons. USB connection preferred. Any suggestions?

Process Monitor will tell you which process is accessing that Regkey. What process is it? Andy Scholes.

Tickets for TopGear have to be applied for in advance, you can't just turn up.Also, they require a male / female couple - no good if you're on your own!

I think Windows is powering down this USB hub when it's not used. You can change USB hub power management under Device Manager.

A very nice product, but complete overkill for what I wanted to achieve. I have neither the deskspace or the disposable funds to buy this - all I wanted was a way to action the PMDG FMC keys from my keyboard. The video clip was very cool though, so thanks anyway.Andy Scholes.

Thanks for the reply, Geoff. I have scoured the FSUIPC forums, and I see many posts (including from Mr Dowson himself), that the FMC stubbornly refuses to interface fully with FSUIPC. It looks like the button coding for the FMC is isolated within PMDG's DLL files, and is not accesible to external interfaces. Looks like I'm stuck with using the mouse for Line Seleck Keys.Andy Scholes.

I'm running the 747-400 on FS9 and have a Logitech G15 keyboard. I want to put the G15 to maximum use by programming up the 'G' keys to operate doors, overhead panel etc. However I can't see a way of mapping the FMC keys (1LSK-6LSK and 1RSK-6RSK) to the keyboard at all. Doing this would significantly speed up route changes and data entry.Anyone know how? I have an up-to-date fully registered FSUIPC if that helps.p.s. loving this bird (especially CAT-3 landings :-)Thanks & regards,Andy Scholes.

Thanks gman, but I suggest you read the topic again. FSX is fine, the problem is FS9!!!I previously used ATI Tray Tools but still no luck with that.

Nope, I can't get anti-aliasing whether I start in full screen or windowed mode. Nor can I get it by switching between them or by then trying to force it in CCC

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+, Gigabyte Mobo, Sapphire Radeon HD3870 512Mb GPU, FS9 & FSXI'm unable to get AA working in FS9 on this system (clean install, latest Catalyst drivers). AA works in every other game, including FSX.I've tried every combination of enabling & disabling AA in game and in the Catalyst driver. I've tried Rivatuner, ATI Tray Tools, and Catalyst Control Centre. I've done that diligently.Tried Omega Drivers but no change.Tried Driver Cleaner with each driver upgrade.No difference in windowed or full screen mode.Any ideas?

The latest version of Norton has a Gaming mode, which makes it "back off" while gaming, much less intrusive etc. It got a good review on a tech website (can't recall which one).Personally I vouch for AVG free. Lean, light and seems to capture everything thrown at it. I occasionally stick McAfee on the box too to double check. AVG has never failed to detect viruses on my machine, whereas McAfee and Norton have.

I upgraded recently to a Gecube HD3870 512Mb Radeon card. Frame rates are now brilliant, but I can't get anti-aliasing to work in FS9 or FSX (or any other games). The only game that gives me AA is Crysis (DX9 on XP SP3).I am using XP on an Asus A8N-E mobo, Athlon 3700+ CPU, 2Gb RAM, Catalyst driver 8.9 (latest one). I've tried setting AA in CCC, in ATI Tray Tools and within the games. No joy.I've also tried a clean install of XP SP3, ensured all drivers are up to date etc. I've also had no luck with AA on Vista SP1 Ultimate.Since Crysis is doing AA (but within the game's options), is it possible that the card itself is not doing AA, but relying on the graphics engine rather than DirectX / hardware ?