Simviation Forums

Is downloading DirectX Version 9.0a likely to improve performance much? Apparently, you can't uninstall, so I'm reluctant to risk it in case of compatibility issues.

If you're on Windows XP, you can set a restore point just befpore you install it and revert back if it does cause problems.

Having said that, DX9 has been better than a lot of previous incarnations in terms of compatibility. I've seen very few reports of problems at all.

Performance reports vary from no difference to claims of 50% jumps in f.p.s. I wouldn't expect miracles but DirectX is one feature that you're generally best keeping up-to-date with if you can.

If the worst does come to the worst, I have a file that will uninstall DirectX. Let me know if turns out that you need it.

Thanks much for the info and offer!

From what i understand FS 2004 will require DX 9 just incase you plan on purchasing FS 2004...

It may be that all our fears of DX upgrades will have to be faced at some stage soon  ::)

If it helps: I installed DX9.0a last week with my Windows XP setup, and have found no compatibility problems. I also updated my GeForce 2 Pro card drivers at the same time (glutton for punishment!), and my framerate has gone from 15-20 to 20-25, so there has been a little improvement.

Good luck!

I too have done a recent upgrade to DirectX9 without any drama.      I was reluctant to do so because the last time I upgraded it a number of serious problems were caused that were still unresolved at the time I gave that computer system to someone else whose needs were pretty simple.     I found a "removal" program in that instance but the damage was already done.

Having said all that, I am still unsure whether I have had any framerate improvement at all, if there has been any its pretty small.

With XP, I set a restore point just in case but there is still a question as to whether or not reverting to that point would remove DirectX - somehow I don't think it would but fortunately haven't had to try.

It hasn't made much of a difference that I can tell.

Hmmmm, seems like a few pros and a few cons. I guess I'll hold off for now since I'm quite pleased with the performance. To mix metaphors, I won't rock the boat.

I downloaded it a while back, and I have winXp Pro, and it didn't make any difference, still getting crap frames!  Even with the latest graphics card drivers for my Geforce 4!  10-15 fps with the default planes, with every single setting apart from scenery complexity set to off, I also happen to have 576 Meg of Ram and a 766MHz processor, I'm really pissed off!

Greg

What video card do you have Greg?

Installed it awhile back and actually posted about it.
Framerates are alittle better and visual quality.
The big thing I noticed was a better "over-all smoothness" to everything.  Best way I can describe it- just a better way of how everything works together.

GreG,

If that is indeed a GF4, and not a GF4MX card, then you need to get a new processor. 766MHz doesn't really cut it anymore and it's definitely choking your video card. I run a 900MHz AMD T-bird with an ATi Radeon 7000 (64mb agp) without any problems at all. My FR stays around 20-25 when I'm around any city with Dx9. Naturally the higher I go, the higher the FR goes.

Oh, you should also kill off any programs running in the background. MSN, AIM, Yahoo, IE, NS...they all chew up some processing power.

Enjoy!
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Hoot

I also was eyeing the X9. But from what I've seen if you want to upgrade video cards etc you need the processing power. On advice from others I went to 1.8G with Geforce 4 MX on Windows XP HOME with 256M  RAM. Dollars stopped me going to 2.0+G but I've cranked EVERTHING and only get framerate stutter in max weather. So it seems go Gigs on upgrades first. Oh! I upgraded from 400Mhz. Can you imagine

I can honestly say that I don't know enough about it other than say that what I have got does enough for me at the moment. Being a frustrated pilot(some private flying has been done last flight 2001) I'm glad I've waited for FS2002 and a unit capable of producing what it does otherwise I think I would have been a bit disappointed. I've since handed on my old unit to someone who is now enjoying FS also. As far as addons I seem to find that scenery does not improve that much nor autogen buildings although I don't mind Gerrish Gray's trees at all. Bottom line I think it is still processor power. And lets remember $5 is a lot of money to someone who ain't got it!

AVsim have a survey running at the moment it may be worth a look(I'm only AVERAGE  :()  ;D