Simviation Forums

Is there a cloud replacement that gives better FPS.  I have a high end computer running FS9.  The sim runs great until clouds show up, then I can get frames under 10.

Well what are the specs of your high end computer? What AA level are you running? Are you currently using the default clouds?

More details please

I am using the default cloud textures.  I have discovered through a few tweaks of my graphics card I can get slightly better performance.  I am just wondering if there is something better than default.

Google for FS Sky World for FS2004. Amongst it's options are 2 frame rate friendly (cumulus) cloud sets that may help.

Also, if you haven't done so already, in Settings>Display>Weather tab: Reduce 'Sight Distance' and 'Cloud Draw Distance to the minimums. It can also help to create user-defined weather with Visibility set to 20 mi.

Dave

You might try (after backing up the originals first, of course) using DXTBmp to convert your cloud textures to DXT1 format. The visual quality of the textures will be reduced a bit, but they should load much faster.

If you have or should have (IMHO) ActiveSky 6.5, under the Options setting select Limit Cloud Layers and set the number to 5.
This will provide you with great cloud visuals and keep the frames moving.
Also checkout the new clouds

You might try (after backing up the originals first, of course) using DXTBmp to convert your cloud textures to DXT1 format. The visual quality of the textures will be reduced a bit, but they should load much faster.

Would that be ACE DXT1 Texture ??

You might try (after backing up the originals first, of course) using DXTBmp to convert your cloud textures to DXT1 format. The visual quality of the textures will be reduced a bit, but they should load much faster.

Would that be ACE DXT1 Texture ??

Nope. Under "save as" from the file menu, select "extended bitmap". Then you can select DXT1 from the "save as type" menu.

Like I said, you will see a decrease in cloud detail from this method, but your clouds will render much faster.

Hi davysims, have you tried

I highly recommend the HDE package.  It comes with different quality levels for the cloud textures, so you can use the one that gives you the best performance for your set up.

Third file from the bottom here: http://www.simviation.com/simviation/in ... 85&page=23

HDE - High Definition Environment v1.0 for FS2004
12.21Mb (2528 downloads)
Photo-realistic texture pack that will change the aspect of your Clouds(cumulus, stratus, cirrus), sky color, aircraft reflections and ground detail. Cloud Textures WILL work in FSX, but not the sky colors. This package was created by Pablo Diaz.

Posted 2009-09-24 07:18:08 by ShaneG

I still get up 75fps (I am locked at 75fps) on my old dell p4 3.0ghz.

Hunh?  75 fps on a P4 3.0?  Is that a typo?

best,

.................john

Hi John,   No its not a typo.   Most of the time the fps are between 50-75  large airports egll  25-30    I did set my (locked) position to unlimited, but I found that generally speaking, the textures loaded better at 75.

Barry

I still get up 75fps (I am locked at 75fps) on my old dell p4 3.0ghz.

Hunh?

Do as I'm doing, wait for the release of REX for FS2004 (very soon, they say

I did what Groundbound1 suggested last year (converting the cloud textures to DXT3) and there was a significant improvement.

If you want to try it, I'd suggest using ConvlmX (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia ... vImX.shtml) for batch conversion - much quicker than editing individual files.

Can't emphasise this enough, though - identify the files you want to change and then back them up and put them somewhere safe before you do anything. That way, you can put them back if the conversion doesn't work for you.