Reduce Stuttering in FS2000
An easy fix, but at a price, for fluid flight...
By Peter James
The Phoenix B777-200 at the ramp at PHX! No stuttering in the outside view. How would you like to have that true looking out of the cockpit?
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have
been getting increasingly annoyed at all the frequent stutters and hesitations while flying FS2000. It has been on the increase over the last month or so and until now, I didn't know why. Then, I realized just like many of you, that I have been piloting Phoenix's Boeing 747-400 and 777-200 series. Nothing wrong with that right? Well, yes, there is, and it lies in the panel. Before upsetting anyone, I will go on record stating that the functionality and beauty of both these products is stunning and has been recognized in our reviews. I would be a fool to say they weren't cutting edge and nothing short of legendary. However, they do impede performance I found out. All the new functionality and realism brought forth comes with a fairly new technology called "vectoral graphics". These are non-default gauges that are a working program, and not just a bitmap. They feature things that FS2000 was "never" meant to do. Such things as realistic looking ADI, HSI, EICAS, speed trend monitoring, winds aloft and a whole slew of realistic glass cockpit data. That's where the problem lies. The brilliant folks behind Phoenix Simulations and other competitive groups (some I have seen but cannot tell about yet) have outsmarted flightsim. What they have created is a superior panel to any default panel, but one that is simply too complex for FS2000 to keep up with. All those graphics must seek ahead and interrogate FS2000 constantly, making everything pause, stutter and foul up your smooth flight!
Here's What I Did...
The original Phoenix 777 panel, with overhead part removed, to enhance frame rates. Frame rate is still good, but it is loaded with stutters that will start once you start moving the aircraft! |
I decided it was time to go back to the default FS2000 777 panel, and use that with my Phoenix Boeing 777. I could combine the forward default view with all the other great side, overhead and console views! Now, I'd have basically the best of both worlds, without all the stuttering and pausing I had before. And wow, had I become used to the lower frame rates of the PSS forward panel! After trying this out, I was stunned! Frame rates went up 20 to 50% using the default panel. At the same time, the stutters were reduced to what I would call very infrequent and much less obvious. In fact, basically non-existent. I had returned my FS2000 to the performance level it was, right out of the box. Even with RealScene FS mesh scenery installed!
Yes, there is something missing. The great forward view of the Phoenix 777 or even 747-400 (I hacked that one out too). But, if you're fed up with the stutters that have been affecting you lately, try this. I'm sure you'll be shocked at how smooth FS2000 really is again. See, our good is our evil. All the great add-ons are really over-taxing FS2000's capability. I am just as excited about add-ons and new panels and aircraft as the next guy. But, I have come to grips with the fact that I am not a panel watcher, nor an enthusiast of an IFR panel simulator. I want smooth flying, great frame rates and the feel of flying heavy jets, without compromise. So, I was willing to substitute the default 777 panel, and a variety of other 747-400 panels that use default gauges, into my Phoenix 777s and 747s.
Wow! See the frame rate difference. And, it's stutter free. |
What I will show you here is a method you too can use to place in a default gauge-based panel, into your favorite shareware or commercial panel that uses vectoral gauges. Remember, this is for your use only, not to be uploaded to FlightSim.Com or any other site. I am only offering an alternative method to enable the other frame rate "nazis" out there like myself a way to keep using their terrific Phoenix 777 or 747, smmmoooootttlllllllyyyyy. Because you will not find me flying the default 777! Ever! Never! Ugly, Ugly!
How-To?? Swap in a panel of your choice
Just edit your [Window00] main, forward view parameters, in place of the one you're replacing.
That's it! It's easy to do, and as you can see from my screenshots, you need to just open up the panel.cfg in the default 777 for example, [ctrl-c] the highlighted region and [ctrl-v] over the region in the panel.cfg of the panel you wish to fix. Now, for instance, my Phoenix Delta 777-200 will have all the views of the full Phoenix 777, without the forward view. This will be the default 777 view, bringing with it faster frame rates and no more nasty stutters. You'll instantly be amazed at the fluid frame rate, as good as full [w] window view! Once you start taxiing, you will see the difference too. And then you'll know, this will be a very good flight!
Simply view your panel config on the default 777.... |
The Bad News
- Obviously, the great forward panel that was created so beautifully is gone.
- Now, you may only be looking at the default panel, or some panel without the cool eye candy of vectoral gauges.
- You'll loose some functionality of the other screens in this example. On mine, my pedestal FMS and EICAS screens
don't work. Again, this is NOT for the weak hearted when it comes to giving up functionality for performance.
To me, I guess it's worth the effort. I had to make a choice. Fly the Phoenix 777s and 747-400s that I love so much, in a world of hesitations, pauses and stutters, or do something about it. I tried swapping in some default gauges in place of theirs, but that was a disaster. So, I just figured I'd best replace the whole panel. What you give up in functionality, you gain in performance. It was this, or never fly them again. I can have panel candy, without hesitations in FLY!2K. But in FS2000, we can either curse Microsoft, or fly it the way it was only built to be flown.
In our ongoing quest to stretch the limits, challenge the programming and bring new life into our FS2000, we muck things up ourselves. I've seen that especially
...and take a copy of the part labeled [window00] and all its gauge listings over to the panel.cfg of the Phoenix 777, and copy over their [window00] section, including gauges. That's all there is too it. If I can do it, so can you. You'll still have your other points of view, even with the overhead panel from before. |
with scenery, and bad flight models. Then, there are the brilliant minds behind the products we love and thank them so much for their time and effort, and will continue to do so. My plea to the designers is to add a switch to give us default gauges on demand (nav display especially seems the most processor hungry), so that our landings and takeoffs will be smooth and fluid. Then, at altitude, I can use my FMS. Also, I don't think there is one dedicated designer out there that actually has the time to fly their creations as much as us consumers do, and that alone may make any panel more performance hungry than I would like.
I hope I have helped some of you re-discover flightsimming, all the while flying your great commercial add-on airliners with fancy cockpits and systems. I don't want to upset all the panel makers out there, but I just listed an option. I don't know if it can be done or not. I am once more realizing that less is more when it comes to panels, scenery and other technology. I'm just not willing to sacrifice a smooth flying experience for the latest, and greatest instrument panel. It's all about flying, and that's all. Just my opinion. Nothing more.