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Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 9:41 am
by Cherokee_6
Hello All,

This will be by far the most "suggestion-Wanted" post I have done to date...

I have tried all sorts of things to get a better picture quality in FS2002 but it just is not working... I have attached a picture of what I am seeing and I think I should be getting better quality visuals...

Lets start with my pc specs:

Dell Dimension 4500
P4 2.0GHz processor
256mb DDR SDRam at 266Mhz
40GB ATA-100 7200 RPM HD
SB Live! 1024 Digital Sound Card
64MB Geforce4 MX Video Card
Dell 17" Monitor
Windows XP Home Edition

And here is what I have tried so far:

- All Settings are pretty well maxed
- I have tried Tri-linear and Bi-linear filtering (no obvious difference there)
-Tried Anti-Aliasing in FS2002 and in Windows but I lost alot of frame rates
- Downloaded the latest Nvidia drivers
- Downloaded Direct X 9 (which I tested and is working ok)
- I have "Application Controlled" and "Enable Texture Sharpening" setup in the Windows Settings
-My screen size is 1024X768 (in FS2002 and in Windows)

On average I am getting about 20-30 FPS, but it just seems that the quality of the image is not what it should be...
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
(and if the moderators feel it necessary to move this post then thats fine but I look around and was not sure where to post it)

Thanks everyone...

This is what I am talking about...Check out the edges of the plane and as well there is line on the ground that constantly moves along that divides the clear ground from the blurry ground...
Image

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 9:42 am
by Fly2e
Cherokee, YOU NEE TO CONTACT RAMSA at  www.ramsa329@msn.com

HE will work wonders. I do alot of graphic posts and I though they were OK, but he is on a whole other level, all those specs go right out the window!!  But wait your turn,.... I am working with him right now!!!  LOL
Dave  8)

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 9:51 am
by Cherokee_6
You should realize that going mach one 3 thousand feet off the ground is going to do that to the ground textures. You computer just can't keep up.

Try flying along in a cessna instead


Thanks, I thought of that and I have tried in a Cessna and it still happens...(not as bad but it still happens..)

graphics

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 10:12 am
by Sky_Shark
"there is line on the ground that constantly moves along that divides the clear ground from the blurry ground"

I think that's just the way the game graphics are. However if the details are really high this 'limit' will be far away. Downloading real weather condicions normaly reduces visibility under "infinite" so the border clear-blurry ground isnt' visible.

About the aircraft, maybe it's got something to do with it being an add on... and by the way... pardon my ignorance..

WHAT IS THAT THING?? WHERE DO I GET IT?? IT LOOKS GREAT!!!  :D

Re: graphics

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 10:24 am
by Cherokee_6
About the aircraft, maybe it's got something to do with it being an add on

At first I thought it was due to the aircraft but the same thing happens with all aircraft...Check out this pic of the default Baron...check out the edges of the wings and the lines on the edge of the runway...
Image

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 11:39 am
by Rifleman
I had very similar results as you and played in the advanced settings of the vid card....I also have a MX 440 and XP 1800, so we are close on hardware.....I had the same jagged edges as you when I ran in 1024x768 on my 19" monitor so I decided to see what would happen if I flew in 1600x1200 and guess what ?.....look at this.....its a reduction of my screen, to post here at 800x600.........you be the judge.

Image
I'm not saying that this is up to Ramsa's standard, but for now, 'til I can get in touch with him, it is an improvment for the jaggies.........

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 11:43 am
by Cherokee_6
I had very similar results as you and played in the advanced settings of the vid card....I also have a MX 440 and XP 1800, so we are close on hardware.....I had the same jagged edges as you when I ran in 1024x768 on my 19" monitor so I decided to see what would happen if I flew in 1600x1200 and guess what ?.....look at this.....its a reduction of my screen, to post here at 800x600.........you be the judge.


Awesome Idea! Thanks I will try that tonight when I get home from work...
And great pic!

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 11:46 am
by Rifleman
Also on this note, I have all my sliders maxed out, and when I fly, I try to ensure that I have done a defrag and fresh restart with my resources above 97% free....that also helps on my machine.

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 11:58 am
by TJ_Gumby
GF 4 MX? There's you're problem. You won't get nearly the same quality with the MX cards as you would with the TI series. You have a very good system, but nothing will make up for having a poor GC.

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 12:13 pm
by Cherokee_6
Also on this note, I have all my sliders maxed out, and when I fly, I try to ensure that I have done a defrag and fresh restart with my resources above 97% free....that also helps on my machine.

Good point. I ran a defrag not too long ago but it may be time for another...

GF 4 MX? There's you're problem. You won't get nearly the same quality with the MX cards as you would with the TI series. You have a very good system, but nothing will make up for having a poor GC.

Thats not what I wanted to hear!

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 12:43 pm
by RIC_BARKER
Cherokee_6,

The jaggies you see around the edge of the aircraft and the runway lines are products of the way computers draw lines on a screen. Using pixels (the screen elements) a computer can only draw straight lines, it cannot represent curves, to draw a curve, the computer must draw a series of "stepped" straight lines that give the appearance of a curve.

One way in which your computer can cut down on these jagged edges, or "Jaggies", is to use Anti-Aliasing.

I notice from your post that in the control settings, you have "Aplication controlled" set. Try setting this to 4x AA, and turning Anti-Aliasing OFF in the FS2002 menu.

I did some test on this just recently as part of a guide I'm putting together, and I found that the "in-house" FS2002 AA causes a bigger hit on frame rates than the 4xAA thats on board the card itself. I alos think the end result looks better.

Here are two screenshots, see for yourself:

1st, no AA
Image

And 4x AA controlled outside the aplication
Image

If you want some more help, email me and I'll forward what I know.

Ric B.

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 12:47 pm
by Cherokee_6
One way in which your computer can cut down on these jagged edges, or "Jaggies", is to use Anti-Aliasing.

I notice from your post that in the control settings, you have "Aplication controlled" set. Try setting this to 4x AA, and turning Anti-Aliasing OFF in the FS2002 menu.

I did some test on this just recently as part of a guide I'm putting together, and I found that the "in-house" FS2002 AA causes a bigger hit on frame rates than the 4xAA thats on board the card itself. I alos think the end result looks better.

Sweet! I will try that to. PLEASE send me whatever info you have to wmu316@hotmail.com

Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 1:05 pm
by BFMF
Thanks Ric, I disabled anti-aliasing in FS2002 and enabled the 4x anit-aliasing in the nvidia settings and it's an improvement!

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 3:35 pm
by ysteinbuch
Here's a silly question ...

How do you disable anti-aliasing in FS2002 and enable the 4x anti-aliasing in the nvidia settings?

I see the "jaggies" and have not been particularly bothered. But now that you guys are talking tweaks, well...  :)

Re: Desperate for higher Quality

PostPosted: Thu May 08, 2003 4:02 pm
by RIC_BARKER
Hi,

To do this you must open up FS2002 and go to "Settings"

Under the "Hardware" tab, you'll find this:

Image

Uncheck anti-aliasing here and then....

Right-click on the desktop, select "Properties" and go to "Settings".

Under there, go to Advanced, and click on the tab that shows the name of your video card.

Once in there, you will find a sub-menu for the AA controls (If your card supports them). Depending on your card, it may or may not look like this.

Image

Just try a few settings and see which gives you the best trade-off between looks and performance. To make sure FS2002 registers the change, hit ALT+ENTER twice to switch between full screen and windowed mode and back, whichever you use.

Hope this helps,

Ric B.