Best FPS Add On?

[Wing Fat]

I've just installed FSX after a break in simming and I'm getting back up to speed. For a number of reasons I've decided to stick with the virtual cockpit only from here on out.

With the frame-rate issues in FSX (made worse by me sticking with the virtual cockpit) I'm looking for some recommendations for add-on aircraft that have the least impact on FPS. So far the only thing I've installed is the Flight1 172 and although it fluctuates I seem to get about a 5 FPS average hit in frame rates. I mainly like to fly IFR, so instrumentation is an issue. I prefer pistons, but turboprops or jets are not out of the question.

[wray]

Carenado`s FSX Mooney is equal to default aircraft , no frame hit at all in VC .

W.Ray

[bkeske]

All the RealAir offerings, The Eaglesoft Twin Comanche, Columbia, and newly revised Liberty, Aerosofts's Beaver and Twin Otter, Digital Avioation's Piper Cheyenne, Te MAAM DC-3 still works quite well, Iris Taxan, ShockWave's Mustang, Carenado's Mooney (mentioned above), and Piper Cherokee. Their Cessna's seem to have taken a hit in FSX, bit the 182RG, Q, and 206 are still very viable choices. And there is always the very interesting and challenging AlphaSim Rutan Long EZ.

In general, most all dedicated FSX aircraft work much better than FS9 altered/updated/patched aircraft.

[Wing Fat]

I was interested in the Eaglesoft Columbia but worried that the Avidyne setup would cause a big hit in frame rates. I know the default FSX aircraft with the G1000 causes a hit in frame rates for me.

[mavrocket]

All the RealAir offerings, The Eaglesoft Twin Comanche...

I highly agree with bkeske, the Real Air aircraft are outstanding, and the Eaglesoft Twin Comanche (well, any of the Eaglesoft Aircraft for that manner) is phenomenal.

Question: Are you running a really low-spec computer? You seem to be very concerned about the aircraft dropping frames, but have you considered sacrificing something in order for the chance to fly other aircraft? If you are flying IFR you don't really need nice ground graphics, especially since the FSX ATC will have you constantly climbing or changing course (atleast it seems that way!). If you switch between IFR and VFR and are too lazy to switch the graphics options (you can save and load pretty easily from the settings window), there is a program called TweakFPS from TweakFS that will tweak FSX graphics for what situation you are flying in by choosing from a list of options. These options include: IFR Best Performance, IFR AI Traffic, VFR Screenshot, VFR Normal, etc. It will even bring up the FSX.cfg file for you to edit if you want to. Head on over to TweakFS's website and download it. It has a free 30-day trial I believe.

Hope some of this helps! Happy simming.

[Kaloha]

I highly agree with bkeske, the Real Air aircraft are outstanding, and the Eaglesoft Twin Comanche

+ 1 here

[bkeske]

I was interested in the Eaglesoft Columbia but worried that the Avidyne setup would cause a big hit in frame rates. I know the default FSX aircraft with the G1000 causes a hit in frame rates for me.

The Columbia has been re-worked, and performs quite well considering the complexities. Is it as 'fast' as the RealAir offerings, no, but very flyable. I am quite pleased with it.

Keep in mind, that more important to frame rates is the smoothness of the aircraft within the sim. As the Eaglesoft Twin Comanche, even when the FR's dip a bit because of weather, etc, the aircraft remains very very smooth to fly. To me that is more important than whether I'm seeing 15 frames, or 45.

As someone mentioned above, it may be wise to post your computer/video specs to give you a ball park on what you can expect.

[jwenting]

the best addon for optimum fps to get is a brain embolism.
If you have a decent system (and I mean decent, not stellar) there are no "framerate problems" unless you think you can run it with every slider maxed out.

[Wing Fat]

Question: Are you running a really low-spec computer?

I have a 2.33 GHz Core2 Duo CPU with 2 GB RAM and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT video card running a monitor at 1680x1050. I think that's a pretty decent setup. I'm running Windows XP and keep my system reasonably clean (I defrag regularly and run msconfig to kill unnecessary startup programs).

If you are flying IFR you don't really need nice ground graphics...

True but I do want nice weather graphics and the clouds seem to kill the frame rates worse than the ground graphics. I have my FPS locked at 30 and am shooting for the 20-30 range (this is in the virtual cockpit). In complex weather I sometimes dip below 10 FPS. I have most of my display sliders at medium low (including the weather). I can live with things as they are but I don't want it to deteriorate any further, hence my original question about add-ons that don't cause a frame rate hit.

Hope some of this helps! Happy simming.

Very much so, I will look into TweakFPS.

the best addon for optimum fps to get is a brain embolism.
If you have a decent system (and I mean decent, not stellar) there are no "framerate problems" unless you think you can run it with every slider maxed out.

Not funny or helpful. Maybe you find 8 FPS acceptable and that's why you think there aren't frame rate issues, but I don't.

[bkeske]

If you want to be happier with your experiance, I would look for a at least a 2.6 MGz Core 2 Duo, which you may find pretty cheap these days (I bought a pulled one on eBay for a pretty good deal). I assume you are topped out with a 1066 FSB Mother board. If you have a MB with a 1333 FSB,, then you have better options, and could go with one of the newer '50' series CPU's (6750 vs 6700, as I have). Or better yet, the 6850 which is 3.0 MHz and is being sold right now for about $210 on newegg. Quads are claimed to be best for FSX, but more expensive.

Your video card may also be a 'short coming'. After many years of running ATI cards, I switched top an inVidia 8800 GT last December, and am very pleased with it, although the drivers are a bit fussy compared to ATI's.

With your surrent set-up, I would stick with dedicated FSX aircraft, again RealAir is hard to beat in regards to FR's, and as mentioned already, the Carenado Mooney is great, as is the ES Twin Comanche and the Aerosoft offering I mentioned.