i7-990X and GTX580 low FPS on FSX?!

**EmadIV** · 06-22-2011, 06:32 PM

I am really looking for some help right now. I had an old i5-620 CPU with a GTX465 and it ran FSX JFK, all sliders maxed out, @ 5 FPS. Now to the bad part. I just "wasted" $3000 on a new system (i7-990X 3.46GHz w/ GTX580 and 6GB of RAM, Intel DX58SO motherboard). As it looks like, this system is supposed to run FSX like a dream. But for some reason that's not the case. I loaded up JFK with maxed out settings and got 13 FPS!? I never expected that. I mean someone on YouTube posted a video of the same place (JFK), maxed out, on an i7-980X with at least 39 FPS. I don't get this! Besides, I added an affinity mask (63 and 144, tried them both with no use)... I really need some advice as I'm about to throw this thing outta the window!

I really appreciate anyone helping me here. This really bothers me only because I spent a whole $3500 getting this system, only to find that there is no improvement.
Thank you,
EmadIV

EDIT: Just discovered something, @JFK, I reduced traffic to 0% and the autogen to NONE and got exactly the same framerate... really weird! Is FSX screwed???

**noell** · 06-22-2011, 07:09 PM

Not surprising at all, IMO.

Point 1 - FSX is not highly multi-threaded and doesn't use multiple processor cores very efficiently.
In other words, four cores are plenty for FSX and it even runs quite well on a fast dual core.

Point 2 - FSX is what is often called "CPU bound". That means it benefits from a fast processor more than from a super-fast high-end video card.
In other words, unless you are running multiple monitors at high screen resolution along with high AA settings, you can run FSX quite well on anything from a GTS250 and up.

Point 2 - As mentioned, FSX likes a fast CPU.
In other words, for best performance be prepared to over-clock your CPU. The generally agreed to "sweet spot" is 4GHz.

Point 4 - Forget "maxed" settings. For the reasons stated above FSX will bog down in some situations (like high AI levels, complex aircraft add-on, dense clouds, when flying near a major airport, for example) regardless how much you've paid for your hardware.
In other words, back off the sliders and then spend time tuning FSX for smoothness at a level of detail that matches your hardware's capability.

Point 4 - FSX needs plenty of tweaking to run well.
In other words, set it up using this guide, use Nvidia Inspector as detailed in this guide, and optimize your fsg.cfg file using this utility.

**EmadIV** · 06-22-2011, 09:53 PM

Actually, I just overclocked it to 4.16 GHz (the CPU). I got absolutely no increase in FPS, and I discovered something else. It is the scenery complexity that causes trouble in the FPS. If I set the scenery complexity to 0% I get 60 FPS, with all other sliders maxed out. Increasing the scenery complexity and reducing everything else gives me a low framerate. Thanks for your recommendations, I will try them in a while.
EDIT: I used the utility you recommended and my framerate boosted at least 70%! I really appreciate the help you gave me! Thank you very much (I mean it, felt like I wasted my money!)

**jordan750** · 06-23-2011, 12:20 AM

I have the i7-980X , 12GB mem., GTX480, Intel ssd hard drive and win7 64. I had the same problem initially. I then followed the same recommendation by Noell plus I overclocked my sys to 4. Now, all sliders to the right plus all kind of weather and AI traffic...etc. It�s running like dream. Very smooth everywhere. But sometimes I do get little bogged down in major airports and big cities. So, What Noell said is the way to go...Good Luck

**cianpars** · 06-23-2011, 05:24 AM

Disable hyperthreading and use affinity mask 14.

Have you installed SP1? Ther are a few performance fixes in this. SP2 is optional, but most seem to use it.

I suspect the performance issue could lie within your graphics card settings. How much AA and AF are you trying to run?

Do you have the correct (and up to date) driver software installed?

IAN

**EmadIV** · 06-23-2011, 08:27 AM

Thank you all for the recommendations. I followed Noell and I am getting 30 FPS on ORBX YMML (Melbourne) with ALL sliders to the right! Thank you all for your recommendations! I really appreciate it.
@cianpars the performance issue was actually due to a bad configuration of the FSX.cfg file. Now I use nVida Inspector and I am using 32x AA and 16x AF with no performance loss! BTW just one question, I am looking to buy Flight1's Ultimate Traffic 2, as here the traffic (default) seems to a framerate hog in large American Airports. Any insight on the FPS loss when using UT2?

**noell** · 06-23-2011, 08:38 AM

Very happy to hear you are now pleased with FSX on your new rig.

As for UT2, I ditched it about a year ago mainly because I just could not get it to run consistently (sometimes I'd get traffic but most of the time I'd get none).
Also, during the time I was using it, there was not one schedule update. I subsequently, switched to MyTrafficX and have found it excellent in all respects.

**lefu** · 06-23-2011, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by noell

Not surprising at all, IMO.

Point 1 - FSX is not highly multi-threaded and doesn't use multiple processor cores very efficiently.
In other words, four cores is plenty for FSX and it even runs quite well on a fast dual core.

Point 2 - FSX is what is often called "CPU bound". That means it benefits from a fast processor more than from a super-fast high-end video card.
In other words, unless you are running multiple monitors at high screen resolution along with high AA settings, you can run FSX quite well on anything from a GTS250 and up.

Point 2 - As mentioned, FSX likes a fast CPU.
In other words, for best performance be prepared to over-clock your CPU. The generally agreed to "sweet spot" is 4GHz.

Point 4 - Forget "maxed" settings. For the reasons stated above FSX will bog down in some situations (like high AI levels, complex aircraft add-on, dense clouds when near a major airport, for example) regardless how much you've paid for your hardware.
In other words, back off the sliders and then spend time tuning FSX for smoothness at a level of detail that matches your hardware's capability.

Point 4 - FSX needs plenty of tweaking to run well.
In other words, set it up using this guide, use Nvidia Inspector as detailed in this guide, and optimize your fsg.cfg file using this utility.

Correct me if i am wrong.
I am not very experienced on all this processor and GC stuff, but FSX was released in 2006; what was the highest CPU power at the time? dual ? quad ? I mean, i've tried to run old games on my dualcore and it doesnt run well as in the old PCs i had. So
I think that i9 is starting to be to much for FSX, too much is like not enough, what do you think ?

***fxsttcb*** · 06-23-2011, 10:03 AM

...too much is like not enough, what do you think ?

I think that 30FPS with all sliders full right at a detailed add-on airport says it all...Don

**EmadIV** · 06-23-2011, 12:27 PM

@fxsttcb I cannot believe it myself, but that's that. Really amazing CPU.
@Noell I discovered this freeware AI package called World of AI, and it seems to be very good indeed. I will check out MyTrafficX too, as FSX AI is really bad on the FPS (on ORBX YMML I get rock-solid 75 FPS with no AI and VSYNC enabled on 75 Hz Refresh Rate!). Tried out WoAI and it seems to be smoother on the FPS when compared to the dreadful default AI. I can't thank you guys for helping me get the most out of my system.