shakeystick

Look for the forum topic that is sticky/pinned here. It's the hardware and software guide. It covers DX9 setup and then the extra steps needed to run in the shader file fix/improved DX10 preview mode. I believe that all of your questions are answered in the guide.

Yes, thank you. I appreciate the shared knowledge and the time taken to convey it. The more I read here the more I learn about how this stuff really works. For some reason I seem to have read something into and beyond what was actually written in the DX10 guide then. I'm still sorting things out in my mind and trying to understand the actual differences between FSX in DX9 & DX10 modes. And the differences, if any, that exist in the rendering, load times, CPU & GPU workloads, etc, etc, etc. I'm certain there is (or should be) a set list of things that ,if already tuned properly, should remain exactly the same between both modes because the change from DX9 to DX10 and back again has no effect on the performance of those items. Knowing the items on that list would help me, and many others I'm sure, as we attempt to continue to make informed decisions about the settings on our systems while operating in both modes. My system is older, all air cooled, and only running at 3ghz with rather low end twin GTX 460s in SLI. But I do have eight processor cores holding a pretty even load from what I have seen. Something tells me that some of the advice that I see you guys trading on here with the newer Intel processors at much higher speed may not translate well onto my system but I'm kind of clueless as to what those subtle differences might be. This is one of my biggest reasons for asking about the items above. Regards, GP

Yes that one got me puzzled at first too. That is until I learned that there are separate display entries for DX10 & DX9. If you look closely you will see that the DX10 entries have an extra period and zero when compared to the DX9 ones. You apparently switched back and the DX9 entries were not there so the program made a new one for you. I have seen it do this by adding a default resolution value too like 1024 X 768 or some such when my display is really 1400X1050. If I remember correctly the program added the correct resoltion as yet another extra display entry after I restarted FSX. I then deleted the incorrect resolution entry and left the one that was correct. FSX will most definitely re-create certain config entries on it's own if it does not see one there already.

Because I think going back to DX9, regardless as to whether we are talking night or day, means that I am giving up some of that DX10 inherent smoothness. For me that smooth feeling to the way the plane responds so well to control surface input really enhances the realism of the way the aircraft flies. I don't want to give that up. Yes you can untick the DX10 preview to return to DX9 but aren't there other changes within the fsx.cfg file that prevent you having both DX9 & DX10 running in an optimal way by simply changing back forth by ticking/unticking the DX10 preview box? As for the look to DX10 at night, yes it seems darker at (especially at altitude) and also not as visually appealing as DX9 but dusk and dawn are still pretty fun times to fly around.

Hello Skylon, It wonders me also. I am watching for any new information that might help with this "multi-display/multi-view" way of running FSX in DX10 mode in the same way we both apparently did in DX9. Or at least watching for the possibility thereof anyway. I do not have any Vsync/tearing issues at all. I have run the last half dozen or so versions of the Nvidia drivers in FSX with no problems. I also update Nvidia drivers without hesitation. Never ran into a problem at all. But I have also always used identical monitors. So in that respect, at least, your particular Vsync problem has not happened on my system. The only time I even take FSX out of fullscreen mode and into windowed mode is when I want to look at something (task manager for instance) while trying to determine how good (or bad) the program is running. I have to say again that the DX10 shader fix that I found here on Avsim has really improved my FSX experience by leaps and bounds.

Once again someone is barking up my tree. I have very similar issues and have settled for a single view spanned across three monitors using NVIDIA surround mode for DX10. Before converting to DX10 I was running in DX9 with separate views on each of four 1400x1050 resolution monitors. But I have been unable to get DX10 to do this. http://forum.avsim.net/topic/400342-dx10-full-screen-issue/#entry2604296 http://forum.avsim.net/topic/395876-dx-10-and-multiple-monitors/ Please let us know if you find the magic bullet for this.

Typically the file and folder structure of an add-on aircraft, after unzipping the package, will reflect the actual FSX root folder structure. Many can be unzipped to the root "FSX" folder and then if you just allow it to merge folders and overwrite files then it will install correctly. You should back up any folders to be altered first so that you can "restore" your FSX installation to it's OEM state if need be. It is important to remember that there is more than one "texture" folder within FSX. One lives inside the main FSX folder and many more texture files are scattered throughout the program. Each aircraft has it's own texture file within the aircraft folder under FSX>Sim Objects>Airplanes>your airplane. See link below. It's not that hard to get a pretty good handle on basic FSX files and how to work with them. There are great resources all over but the link below lays out the basics and should help you understand how to install an aircraft yourself. Always read any and all read me files with a given package of course. The aircraft .cfg file lives inside the aircraft folder itself. And as long as you are not adding textures/liveries to an existing aircraft but rather installing a new plane package for the first time then it should be good to go with no changes. Use windows explorer to click around and compare your own FSX files while looking at the link. Also make sure you have gone into your computer settings to allow "hidden" folders to be visible. You can google how to do this if need be. Cheers and Good Luck. http://www.flyingscool.com/FSX_Directories.htm#Aircraft

I really don't enjoy computer games very much at all. But then again I don't consider FSX to be a computer game. I consider it to be a simulator. With that said I will answer your question. Spoiled? Most definitely not! As all of you know this is not a program that you can simply drop the disc in, install and away we go. No, no, no. Rather it takes real effort and dedication (not to mention the ability to search, read and comprehend) to really get FSX "working". Spoiled no. Better for the experience? Absolutely!

Something tells me you must be using mutilple displays, if I am correct then I would like you to reconfigure for single display across more than one monitor via Nvidia surround. If DX10 then works you must be experiencing the exact same thing that I have in the past. Sincerly, Shakeystick (continual FSX DX10 nvidia surround mode simmer)

Yes, but I was forced to cut back to a three monitor Nvidia surround mode display arrangement. Two gtx 460s in SLI and three monitors with a single display spanned across all three (with bezel correction too). Ths means my DX10 .cfg file shows only one triple wide display resolution at 4420 x 1050 for the three 1400 x 1050 montiors. I have been completely unable to get DX10 to run in any other manner than a single display entry in the config. Where I had been in DX9 I was running four independant displays with four different 1400 x 1050 displays shown in my config. (0,1,2&3). So in DX9 I could keep flying on the main montior and switch to overhead view on one monitor, tower view on another and fly by on another for example. I am unable to get DX10 to do this. It is a single display and if I click a new view it will, of course, change the one view spanned across all three monitors. I posted a while back asking for help on this in hopes of being able to use DX10 in exactly the same way that I do DX9 but alas, no joy. But DX10 was so much of an improvement in overall frame rates, and most importantly, smoothness that I have not looked back despite having lost some display quantity, flexibility and functionality. I, for one, will be watching closely for any clues that might lead me to being able to do all that I did with DX9 in DX10. So the answer to your question is yes I have three displays hooked up to two cards but it only works (for me at least) when I span the displays and make FSX treat all three as a single display.

Hello mobsky. I watched the video. I'm new at this but I think what I was seeing as far as image degradation with the pixelated patches showing up at times was the CPU overloading the GPU? Just a guess please don't laugh if I'm way off with this. (Anyone's feedback appreciated on this) The other thing I see is the size & brightness of the vehicle/street lights below. I think they are too big & bright. I don't run any payware night lighting but the look of yours reminds me of the airport night-lighting problem that I did experience after first changing over to DX10. A replacement halo.bmp file & adding/adjusting the scalar settings in the .cfg file has pretty much fixed the night airfield lighting issue for me in DX10. I wonder if there might be a similar way to fix your night scenery lights. Point may become moot in the near future with a new release. At least I hope it does.

I read one report that said it came down in a lake. What are the odds of that? It sure was eye opening news this morning. Shocking to see so many injuries. I truly hope everyone makes a good recovery! I started thinking about the timing with the flyby of the known one later today. I then thought that it's possible to have a cluster arrive together and that the known one could be part of a larger group of unknown ones. There are those who say we may have had close calls in the not so distant past. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Bonilla_Observation

It is a hobby, and as such is........you know the rest.

I sometimes tune my Grundig Satellit 750 receiver to KDFW approach and listen to real world pilots get clearance for final. That's pretty fun when simming. Sometimes I hear something really interesting. When there is heavy weather in the area the whole tone and tempo really changes. Pilots reporting conditons real frequently and reassuring each other (and the controllers of course) that the ride down was smooth and not as bad as it might look, stuff like that. If you don't have a radio just google for Live ATC dot net and find your favorite airport. Or look at national weather conditons and select one that is having heavy weather. I have listened to ground controllers flip the active rwy at DFW due to a 180 deg surface wind shift while weather was passing through. Planes in the sky changed approach direction of course and dozens of planes were parked on the taxiway and elsewhere while the runways were closed for the worst of it. When the controllers opened the runway again it was real interesting listening to them get everybody ready including some engine retstarts. Then get everybody turned around and taxied down to the new active rwy for takeoff. In other words nothing like FSX aircraft radio, ha ha!

Looking forward to the nightime patch also. As of right now I still fly at night in DX10 because the flying itself is so much better both day and night. But virtual cockpit outside night scenery in DX9 looks much better to me so far. I hope the result is close to or even better than the way DX9 looks at night. Thank you in advance for that one. I have been flying the former payware Alhpa PBY Catalina in DX10. The wingtip lights sometimes flash at night also. At least the landing lights work to light the ground. Although with the airplane viewed in fly by or tower view you won't actually see the landing lamps themselves lit up on the wings until the plane is actually above the threshold. Must be something in the airport file itself or something similar making them visible only after they are at the airfield. Like I said they always light up the ground below regardless of location. But the virtual cockpit outside night scenery is what I look at the most. The plane looks awesome in DX10 btw. What are the best looking aircraft in DX10? I seem to get the idea here that the PMDG 737 NGX is the plane to have. How much better does it look in DX10? How much better than the PMDG 747-400X QOTS? I actually have that one.