Help with FSX

[Joe60]

Hi guys, as you see I'm new here and have some questions.
I own FS2004 with a all the patches etc plus a zillion addon aircraft mostly from this site and everything works brilliantly - thank you
Now before I go out and spend $70 on 'upgrading' to FSX I first decided to borrow a copy from a friend just to see if I like it etc.
Now during installation it asked me to 'activate' which I feel I cannot as it will clash with my friends copy and I dont want to land him in the lurch.
Now I installed the FSX Update SP1 but it would not allow me to install the FSX Acceleration Pack as it requires FSX to be 'activated' for that.
Now this is my problem.
Although I a have a fairly good PC system I find the FSX 'Plane' graphics to be VERY poor compared to the FS2004 'Plane' graphics, in fact it is shocking in comparison.
The new terrain, scenery, buildings and trees I see in FSX is absolutely magnificent compared to FS2004 so the graphics is working (6600GTS256)
I have tried the settings on Medium, High, the whole lot but still the edges of the planes are very ragged and looks quite terrible.
The other problem I have is I cannot get the 'Main' cockpit with the oprational guages, and can only see the Virtual Cockpit.
The 2 outside views seem ok except they are opposite to what they are in FS2004.
Now is this because my graphics card is not good enough, or is it perhaps because FSX is not 'activated' ?
If its due to activation, is there a temporary way around this so I can test FSX ?
Any help on this would be appreciated.

[machineman9]

I wouldnt say it is due to activation, but I would like to see what you are talking about. Can you post a screenshot of said 'poor plane graphics'?

[Meck]

Although I a have a fairly good PC system I find the FSX 'Plane' graphics to be VERY poor compared to the FS2004 'Plane' graphics, in fact it is shocking in comparison.

...have you checked antialiasing?

[Joe60]

Although I a have a fairly good PC system I find the FSX 'Plane' graphics to be VERY poor compared to the FS2004 'Plane' graphics, in fact it is shocking in comparison.

...have you checked antialiasing?

OMG how did I miss that.... thank you very much.
That most certainly did the trick.
Strange that they default that as un-checked as in FS2004 it must have been defaulted as checked as I dont remember ever touching it.

Ok now I still have one problem in that if I check:
3-D Virtual Cockpit as the default, I cannot ever see the Instrument panel.
It toggles: Cockpit and Virtual cockpit on top of it, then Tower and then Spot.
In otherwords I only get 3 options and not 4 like in FS2004.
If I now check 2-D Instrument Panel as the default, the Virtual Cockpit dissapears underneath the Instrument panel.
Any idea's on this ?

[Daube]

For the virtual cockpit to dissappear, you might have a chance by modifying the line see_self=1 in the fsx.cfg. Set it to 0, it works the same as in FS9 I think...
However, normally, when you are in VC, pressing F9 or F10 (don't remember exactely) will switch from VC to 2D, and vice-versa. I never heard about the VC being displayed on top of the 2D panel :/

PS: also, when you are in VC mode, pressing 'A' will circle through the available view positions (to help getting closer to a part of the cockpit), and will normally end up in 2D mode as well

PS2: 2D cockpit is baaaad  :-X

[dave3cu]

The view selection controls in FSX are somewhat different than FS2004.

[Joe60]

S=cycle view category-Cockpit, Outside, Tower, Aircraft
A=cycle views within the catagory
W=cycle thru 2D panel views

Shift+(key)=reverse cycle.

F9 thru F12=quick change views

Ok thanks very much, this all works great, but I see its all very different to FS2004.
Unfortunately my trial period is over and I've been disabled from FSX.
Man this sucks, only 3 days trial period.

Anyways this is what I discovered in the time I had this morning.
Firstly the 'W' view key rocks - who needs a virtual cockpit when you have this
'S' only cycles thru 3 modes here and that depends on which view you last set with F9 - F12
For example:
F9, F10 sets your inside default to Virtual Cockpit (VC) or Instrument Panel (IP) mode.
F11, F12 sets your outside default to Aircraft (AC) or Outside (down) (OD) view.
Pressing F9 and then F11 - 'S' will cycle: VC - AC - Tower
Pressing F9 and then F12 - 'S' will cycle: VC - OD - Tower
Pressing F10 and then F11 - 'S' will cycle: IP - AC - Tower
Pressing F10 and then F12 - 'S' will cycle: IP - OD - Tower
I see the Topcap on my joystick is also connected to this lot giving a smooth cycle to all of the above, but unfortunately at this point the 'Trial Version' expired.

So this leaves me in an awkward position in that unless I can somehow 're-activate' FSX I will not be purchasing it as I have noticed several other thing during testing that I now have not had chance to look at.
For instance aircraft have a bad tendancy to slew off to the left or right of the runway making takeoff's very difficult.
The controlling of aircraft in the air is a bit erratic compared to FS2004, like setting the trim is like a razor blade setting, not smooth at all.
Sometimes after a lengthy flight, say 20 minutes in the air, the aircraft like goes into a slow motion mode and although everything still works ok, your speed is reduced to around 1 MPH and no matter what I press I cannot get out of it except a Ctrl+Break
I cannot seem to get rid of the 'Tips' that keep popping up with the most rediculious tips M$ can think of like "Starting the engine will help" or some cr*p like that after you have had a bad crash.
Anyway thanks for all the help

[Daube]

For he tips, it's exactely the same as in FS2004: you set it in the options.

For the speed issue you mentioned, never saw that before, sorry :/

For the rest of the controls, you have to keep in mind that some stuff were whanged, including some of the sensitivities. If you need further testing, don't forget there's a free demo to download. Limited to Princess Julianna, max 30 mins flights, but as many flights as you want

And my last advise: if you plan to fly onlt with the 2D cockpit, FSX is quite useless for you, stick with FS2004.

[Joe60]

And my last advise: if you plan to fly onlt with the 2D cockpit, FSX is quite useless for you, stick with FS2004.

When you say "2D cockpit" you are saying the "Instrument panel cockpit" ?
Why do you say this, because one needs this to see the functioning of all the guages and do settings of ILS etc, or am I barking up the wrong tree

[Meck]

all this is now (with FSX) possible with the VC, you normally don't need the 2D view (I do use it because it's more exact in my oppinion)...

[markag]

I don't know about 2004 but fsx has the same gauges working in the 2D instrument panel as the 3D Virtual Cockpit.  Some of the less common buttons and switches don't work in the VC, but all the gauges work just fine.

[Joe60]

ahhh ok, I did not know that the VC had these functions and did not look to see either.
I did notice though in most aircraft the VC's looked real bad, especially user addons like Spitfires etc and here you have to use the 2D.
Anyway I'll have to wait for next month to download the demo as I see its 800+ megs and in my country we are capped bad

[Daube]

And my last advise: if you plan to fly onlt with the 2D cockpit, FSX is quite useless for you, stick with FS2004.

When you say "2D cockpit" you are saying the "Instrument panel cockpit" ?
Why do you say this, because one needs this to see the functioning of all the guages and do settings of ILS etc, or am I barking up the wrong tree

With 2D cockpit, I refer of course to the flat, non-3D bitmap intrument panel. If you're an instrument-flying addict like a lot of liner pilots here, FS2004 will bring you just as much as FSX brings, so my guess is that the overall better FS9 performance will allow you to enjoy flying much more than with FSX.

Since FS9, the virtual cockpits have become really detailled, leading to a new way of flying, new way of monitoring the instruments, new constraints with the view, new enjoyments around the evolution in a detailled world. The VC is pretty much bringing you an aspect of the real life: what you really see from the cockpit, and not only when you look straight forward.

FSX has made a new step in the details of those VC and they have become fluid (gauges in FS9 are often stuttering, not very precise), very clear and even more beautifull than they were in FS9. This is of great interest only for the people like me that cannot fly from anywhere else but the VC. For the other people that focus mainly on the 2D panel like you, for the easier reading/mainpulation etc..., FSX will not bring enough new features to justify the sacrifice in performance. This was the reason why I was advising you to stick with FS9.

I agree with you that it's REALLY difficult to find airplanes with good VC. This is very restrictive criteria, and the amount of airplanes to be downloaded is greatly decreased compared to what you can enjoy with a 2D panel. However, there ARE some good planes around, even freeware, even more payware. A good VC coupled with a Track-IR sounds like perfect immersion to me... I don't have a track-IR yet, but it's on the top of my shopping list

[Joe60]

Thanks for the heads up Daube, you have given me some insight to FSX as up to now I cannot find a reason to purchase it and have more or less decided to stick to FS9 for the time being.
Except for the location beacon I dont use the instruments much at all and mostly fly by the seat of my pants so to speak