Low FPS - Slow computer ?....I don't think

[SpookiePower]

I think my FSX is running pretty slow. I have the FPS most of the time around 5-10, and I think it is pretty low. My system is an P4 3.0GHz, 2GBram and a Asus EN8800GTS 512mbRam. I think that I should do better than 5-10 fps
Before playing FSX, I always restarte my computer and close programs like skype, msn and other stuff like that.

I have posted some flight pictures to show you the FPS and my settings. Hope that someone can help my to get a higher FPS.

[Captain America]

Back off on some of those sliders!

Try this:
Disable; Lens Flare, Advanced Animations, Acft Casts Shadows on itself, and Shadows on Ground.

Mesh Complexity=75%
Mesh Resolution=10m
Texture Resolution=60cm
Water effects= Lower to 1.x

Increase Scenery Complexity to Very Dense
Special Effects Detail to 50%
Lower Cloud Coverage Density to Minimum

Turn off Airport Vehicle Density, Ships and Ferries, and Boats.

See if these settings don't improve your FPS.

[RyanbATC]

not to sound like a jerk but your system is quite dated. It looks like you got a new video card though. The CPU is slow, that's the problem. A new video card wouldn't help you all that much

Try flying a cessna in a rural area and see if you can get it to the point where it is enjoyable

Captain is right, set detail radius to medium, texture res 2m, turn OFF acft cast shadows on itself, turn water effects either to 2.x low, or 1x high

[Ragtopjohnny]

I'd second the video Card. I have the sliders basically in the same spot and I get on unlimited FPS in the 40s, sometimes more. I have an 8800GTX OC with 768mb of RAM. That should help you out a lot.....

[kagazi]

I echo everything mentioned already, except I would set my mesh resolution to the native resolution. FSX default for USA is 38m. I believe Europe is 76m. Each region of the world has its own default setting. Unless you're using a 3rd party or freeware mesh with higher resolution set to default where you fly.

Also, I would suggest texture resolution 2m unless again you're using a 3rd party landclass with higher resolution (UTX default is 1m I believe).

If you haven't already done so read up on Phil Taylors blog regarding fsx.cfg tweaks including autogen and TBM - made a difference for me.

Good luck!

[SPOFF]

I think Captain America is on the right track with the settings he recommends. Pretty much mirrors mine. My FPS are locked at 35 and I'm usually seeing that figure while flying, and on the ground. (I fly default GA aircraft out of "local" airports.) BTW: I suspect your video card is way superior to mine.

I would Dump/Delete/Uninstall "Acceleration AND SP2". That's got to be giving your system fits.

Dis-Claimer: My FPS are NOT predictable from one day/session to another. There is no in between. One day my FPS are 8-15, and the next day at 30-35 as noted above. If the flight "opens" at 15 FPS, I don't bother to fly. If they (FPS) "open" at 30+, then I go flying and I can fly ALL day with good FPS. Sometimes a Reboot will help, but not always. I have no clue why this is.

FSX is like the "Shell Game". You never know which shell the pea is under today. SPOFF
........................................................................

DELL 8300 P4 3.0 Ghz 800 Mhz FSB/HT (2004)
Windows XP Pro (SP2)
EVGA (Nvidia) 7600 GS 256 Mb
PC Power & Cooling [Dell] Upgrade 410W PSU
Corsair 1.0 Gb x 2: PC 3200 400Mhz Dual Ch DDr SDRAM
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer, Altec Lansing 2.1
120 Gb Sata HD (55% Free)
Samsung SyncMaster 213T (TFT) 4:3 21" Digital (1024x768x32)
Microsoft Force feedback 2 Joystick
FS9.1, FSX (SP1 Only)

[Paxx]

Try this also if you like. It will help your card perform visually better in FSX and maybe increase FPS a little.

Download and install the Nvidia 175.16 drivers.

Download nHancer here


NOTE: These changes work for most but I can not say they will work best for everyone...

Install and run Nhancer. It does NOT need to boot with Windows or have a tray icon since the service runs in the background and will properly influence the settings. When it is first run select NO to have it run with Windows or have it place an icon on the tray.

With any driver above 163.xx Nhancer can no longer delete the profiles as it did in the past, instead the way you OVERRIDE the FSX and FS9 profiles is do the following:


a.
Scroll down the profile list until you find the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 (or) Microsoft Flight Simulator X profile. Click on it once to highlight it. Once it is highlighted, click the DUPLICATE button. You will get a message, select YES to complete the duplication. Then go to the original FSX profile and delete the executable (fsx.exe) from the list below, ie. leave it blank. What that will do is DEACTIVATE the Nvidia profile and ACTIVATE your new duplicate.

b.
With the new profile in the list, make sure there is a bullet in PROFILE on the right. Go down the list on the right and select the following:

AA:
For FSX select SUPERSAMPLING and 8xS

NOTE: Slower cards and systems in FSX, set to MUTISAMPLING and 4X or SUPERSAMPLING and 4xS

Under the next box, check GAMMA CORRECTION

DO NOT ENABLE THE SECOND SUPERSAMPLE FEATURE IN THIS AREA

UNCHECK "ENHANCED AA" if it is checkedby default

AF: CHECKED

Bullet in: 16X

VERTICAL SYNC: CHECKED, Bullet in: FORCE ON

OPTIMIZATIONS Tab:

Texture Filtering CHECKED Bullet in - High Quality
Trilinear Opt CHECKED, Bullet in - Off
Aniso. sample opt. CHECKED, Bullet in - Off
Negative LOD BIAS, CHECKED, Bullet in - Clamp

Check the next three items but do not change their values

COMPATABILITY TAB:

Place a CHECK in all header values but only change the following if needed:

Force Mip-Maps = NONE
Conformant Texture Clamp = ON
Hi Dynamic Range HDR (Enabled)

All others should be at their default values.

Under the CPU Multicore Support, REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF CPU YOU USE:

FOR WINDOWSXP SET CPU TO SINGLE
FOR WINDOWS VISTA SET CPU TO MULTICORE

Repeat the above for any other game profile as you may need it.

c.
In the main Nhancer Window, set the bullet to GLOBAL

Set the SAME settings on GLOBAL as you did above.

Close Nhancer and reboot.

d.
Open the Nivida Control panel (right click desktop, select Nvidia Control Panel) Show the ADVANCED settings. Under Managed 3D, make sure the Multi Display Mixed GPU is set to SINGLE DISPLAY MODE if you are ONLY using one video card and monitor. If you use more than one, leave the setting on default

Confirm Vertical Sync is indeed set to FORCE ON

Click APPLY.

FOR LCD: Under “ DISPLAY” and “Change Flat Panel Scaling” make sure it is set to: “Use my Displays built in scaling”

Next, under ADJUST DESKTOP COLOR SETTINGS:

NOTE: FOR LCD and CRT. Under the “Adjust Desktop Color Settings” you may want to play with the CONTRAST, BRIGHTNESS and GAMMA. Every monitor is different. Your mileage may vary. 8800 cards WILL NOT have any Image Sharpening control by design. 7xxxx series cards can boost the image sharpness by about 25% or to taste.

Sometimes BOOSTING Contrast UP a tad (raise it 5) is better in MSFS. You have to play with this to get it set to your taste. It is strictly based on your monitor and card. If you do not feel comfortable playing in this area, leave them alone as they are not required for performance enhancement.

Click APPLY and close the Nvidia driver control panel

In FSX

UNCHECK AA and set filtering to TRILLINEAR

Try diffrent frame locks. 22-30, or, unlimited sometimes works best especially for TFT monitors.

These instructions courtesy of NickN located here, post #11. With an addition by me that covers the current version of nHancer.

[SpookiePower]

Thanks to all of you. I'll go through you help later today, and I'll probably have some more questions then

[SpookiePower]

I would Dump/Delete/Uninstall "Acceleration AND SP2". That's got to be giving your system fits.

I only have the Acceleration pack installed, not SP2. But does Acceleration really slow down FSX ?

[phillroath]

I only have the Acceleration pack installed, not SP2. But does Acceleration really slow down FSX ?

Acceleration problems vary by person. I have acceleration and got a good increase in performance and would not think about removing it at all.

Oh and acceleration contains SP2 so you do have it.

Phill