Flickering and Freezing

[dave3cu]

Latency config tool-http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=951 I've also used this tool changing the latency to 64. It solved some flickering/stuttering problems.

..I've been looking, trying to find the 'detect optimal freq.' setting, can't find it, where should it be?

The XFX (nvidia setup) cd that came with my card included a Freeware\Overclock Utility installer. It places a new item in your 'Nvidia Settings' utility named 'Clock Frequencies'. In the 'Clock Frequencies' window you are presented with the overclocking options.

I see, looking into the description of your card, that it comes overclocked from the factory, so overclocking should not be an issue.

Dave

[wealthysoup]

what kind of flickering are you talking about
Flickering whilst the aircraft is moving, monitor flickering etc?

If its flickering whilst the aircraft is moving try turning down your mip map quality in fs

[NicksFXHouse]

[quote]Just finished Un-installing my complete FS2004, Re-installed again,

[wealthysoup]

never set the MIP detail higher than 4 to get rid of flickers

It can be set higher than 4 quite easily with no flickers, go into ati control settings after turning off anti ailiasing in flight sim, and in the catalyst control panel set both anti ailiasing and anistropic filtering to 4x then mip map can be set to 7 easily enough. (if you put these settings higher and are willing to play around with them you should be able to get mip map of 8 with no flickers but because aa and af are so high you will have reduced frame rates (those settings i listed arent to bad an impact and i find it far better than a mip map of 4 and a few more fps)

[NicksFXHouse]

It can be set higher than 4 quite easily with no flickers, go into ati control settings after turning off anti ailiasing in flight sim, and in the catalyst control panel set both anti ailiasing and anistropic filtering to 4x then mip map can be set to 7 easily enough. (if you put these settings higher and are willing to play around with them you should be able to get mip map of 8 with no flickers but because aa and af are so high you will have reduced frame rates (those settings i listed arent to bad an impact and i find it far better than a mip map of 4 and a few more fps)

I just tested this suggestion... 4AA - 4AF with mip @ 7: the quality of the image dropped dramatically and while flying the trees and city buildings had an annoying flicker to them until I dropped mip detail level back to 4, even with AF set to 4x. The image quality returned after I set it back to 16xAF

With an expensive video card I much prefer razor sharp image quality over a few FPS.

16xAF on ATI cards brings out the quality of the image in FS9, especially if the following is edited into the FS9.cfg file:

Under the [PANELS] heading:

VIRTUAL_COCKPIT_TEXTURES_SCALE=2.0

Under the [DISPLAY.Device.XXX] heading:

TriLinear=1
RenderToTexture=0

and under the [DISPLAY] heading:

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_SURFACE_SCALAR=.7
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_VASI_SCALAR=.7
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_APPROACH_SCALAR=.7
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_STROBE_SCALAR=.7
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=28 // or what works best on your system
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=200

Under the [TERRAIN] heading:

TERRAIN_ERROR_FACTOR=100.000000
TERRAIN_MIN_DEM_AREA=10.000000
TERRAIN_MAX_DEM_AREA=100.000000
TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21

[John_HR]

Good evening again to all you good friends that have suggested so many things to get my problem solved.

To answer "wealthysoup's" question: The kind of flickering I'm talking about is, for example, when I sit at an airport, any airport, in the cockpit or spot plane view, the runways and taxiways lights flicker constantly, they light up very bright just fo a split second at a time, and often freeze my screen, also just for a few seconds at a time, and it also flickers all around, even where there are no lights at all, tiny little, all kinds of color, spots that constantly flicker,  grrrrrrrrrr, very frustrating.
And thank you very much to Nick, for all the help, he has provided in so much detail, but I'm afraid he's talking and explaining settings and adjustments on an ATI card, which must be totally different then my Nvidia card.  ATI is RADEON card, right? Thats what I had in my previous PC, (never had a problem) that is why I'm seriously considering spending $600.00 or $700.00 to switch back to ATI card.
As far as Nicks setting display in FS9, I have set mine now exactly like Nick suggeted, has not made one iota of a difference in my system.

Regarding your (Nick)  latest explanation on what to do
I will have to get my friend, a computer guru, in my house, and have him do that for me, hope that will fix my problem.  I'm too dumb in this kind of thing.
I love flying, and have been flying for years, small, medium, big planes, and been everwhere, and never experienced a problem like this before.

Again, Thank you all you guys for your time spent for me. I'll let you know how it turns out in the end.

John

[NicksFXHouse]

[quote]Good evening again to all you good friends that have suggested so many things to get my problem solved.

To answer "wealthysoup's" question: The kind of flickering I'm talking about is, for example, when I sit at an airport, any airport, in the cockpit or spot plane view, the runways and taxiways lights flicker constantly, they light up very bright just fo a split second at a time, and often freeze my screen, also just for a few seconds at a time, and it also flickers all around, even where there are no lights at all, tiny little, all kinds of color, spots that constantly flicker,

[John_HR]

Hi Nick, that was quick,   FS9 is the only 3D application I have in my system.

I'll try and get my friend over here to do and follow your, so nicely detailed, instructions, I'm certain that will fix it. It has to, we've tryed everything else.    :D

Very much appreciated Nick.

John

[NicksFXHouse]

[quote]Hi Nick, that was quick,

[wealthysoup]

Have you installed any scenery addons for fs that might have changed the rwy lights for some reason

[John_HR]

Thank you Nick,

I'll have my PC guru friend install a 3D Mark and run benchmark, hope that will solve my problem.

Answer to wealthysoup's question: no, I have not installed any scenery programs in a long time.

Thanks again guys, I'll keep you informed.

John.

[John_HR]

Well, finally it happened, "flickering, flashing and freezing problem solved.
Had my friend over tonight, and guess what he found? My graphics card had a bad connection, (loose) on one of the 2 cooling fans that come with a card such as mine, such a simple thing, but so annoying, card is only  months old, how could it have a loose electrical connection? but thats what it was, so I'm a happy flight simmer again.

A big thanks to all you guys that spent so much time trying to help me. I owe you one.

John

[NicksFXHouse]

[quote] Well, finally it happened, "flickering, flashing and freezing problem solved.
Had my friend over tonight, and guess what he found? My graphics card had a bad connection, (loose) on one of the 2 cooling fans that come with a card such as mine, such a simple thing, but so annoying, card is only

[phantomflyer81]

Another option is to use FSAutoStart which you can program to shut down these processes for you, and then re-start when you're done with FS.

Hello microlight,
Where do I find FSAutoStart? Is it freeware?
Thanks,
Bill

[wealthysoup]

Hello microlight,
Where do I find FSAutoStart? Is it freeware?
Thanks,
Bill

Go to http://www.avsim.com and in the file library search for FSAutoStart exactly as its spelt here