Crappy performance CFS2

[TAFKAM]

I've got CFS-2 for a long time now, and i'm WELL above the minimal required system specs, (PIII 866MHz, 512Mb RAM, 32Mb Video - Nvidia GeForce 2 GTS, SB Live! 1024) but my CFS2 performance is VERY crappy

i'm running it under Win2000, 1024x768x32 resolution
and when i play, i start out with a framerate insanely varying between 2FPS and 80FPS, after i get shot down or after approx. 10 min. of flying the FPS drops to 1FPS, and it gets very unplayable...
the FPS-RATE ALWAYS drops slowly to zero during play, and is ALWAYS very unstable !

I have already turned down the details, and effects and so, but NOTHING helps, lowering the resolution even worsens the problem, and my monitor can't manage more than 1024x768x32...

I've reported this problem a long time ago, here on the forum, but it was never solved..

IF there are more guys with the same problem, please report them here too...

HELP ME OUT PLEASE

[nickle]

Your cptr and RAM is certainly adequate for CFS2.
The card is not adequate.

However, I would do the following:
Run an AV scan just to make sure the cptr is clean.
Run a privacy software such as Ad-aware from Lavasoftusa.com. $15.  Over a period of time the cptr and registry gets loaded with data miners (data stealers) and malware. These are in RAM and slow the cptr to a crawl operating and on the net.
Run Registry Mechanic, $20, to clean the registry of much junk.  Make certain to create a restore point (XP).  The program will remind you.
Delete all or some of the prefetch files.  These are created by XP (my reference) but not deleted when the program is deleted.  I deleted all. Cold boot twice.
Last, try 16 res.

Your description tells me that RAM overloads as the sim is run.  Shouldn't happen with 512 as CFS2 is friendly compared with CFS3.

[AuMaV]

Hi
I run on a simular system and whilst it chugs in some of the heavy missions free flight and quick combat I get around 35 to 75 fps with the folowing settings

1024X768 16
shadows off (aircraft and scenery)
dem set to 90%
detailed texure off
detailed cockpits on
max view distance set to 35
all else maxed out

make sure your got a full install as default uses the cd for senery and it slows down

also if you get a sound skip when going into quick combat you may have a sound card prob.To check if its your sound when flying hit the Q key to kill the sounds,if it smooths out drop the sound Harware aceleration to one notch above the lowest setting(control panel multimedia-advance or through directx diags)
this is assuming things like virus scanners ect ect are not running in the background
Hope this helps
MaV

[1danny]

jeeze after setting up my machine for cfs3,CFS@ runs fantastic full every thing
only thing is i tend to space out and hit the ha hah ha ha water snicker snicker.

compaq 9000
2.4
ram 512 (i intalled 256)
i installed nvidia geforce 4 64mb

just learning to do down loads of planes
missions
campain still giving me probs

[TAFKAM]

My RAM overloads

How on earth can i fix that, or is it just crappy RAM

I forgot to mention in my top post here; my CFS2 is an illegal copy, i can't play online with it, 'however it is the complete game and i'm running a full install.

My settings:
Resolution 1024x768x16
Under hardware: Biliniar Buffering, Anti-aliasing, Mipmapping, T&L all turned ON

Image quality:
DEM Density: Medium
Terrain Tex Size: 256
Terrain Complexity: 75
Object Tex Size: 1024
Visibility: 35

Aircraft Shadows and High Detail Cockpit: ON
Effect quality: High
LOD Target FPS: 45 (slider full left)

Auto Performance adjust is turned OFF
Scenery object density: NORMAL

Note to: AuMaV: Disabling the sound (Q) makes the problem even worse

[_526th_Fireman]

You should try what nickle posted and you could also buy more RAM. Flight Sims love lots of RAM.

Windows2000 is not the best OS for games. If you don't need to have it, reformat and install XP (NTSF).

Definately get a new video card. There are some great ones out there for a good price that just a couple mos. ago were top of the line and very expensive.

[TAFKAM]

Thanks for your advice and i really wish i could, Fireman,

but i'm a student and i've got to pay my education (+/-900 Euro's, books not included) myself, and at the moment i'm VERY unemployed
(sucky Economy)

the last things i'm thinkin'of at the moment is buying a new videocard and RAM  :(
IF i had the money, i would have ran to the store immediatly  ;)

On the Win2k thingy; within a few weeks i'll be switching to either Win98SE or WinXP, but i've had the same problem with CFS2 under Win98 too, so that won't help too much...though it's a better gameplatform than Win2k

[AuMaV]

Hey
Im supprised it even runs with those setting

turn Anti alising OFF ~Why this uses the sims own AA which kill fps big time,AA looks nice but its just not worth the fps drop on slower comps, also in the control panel for the video card(display~advance settings)  there is a setting which changes the AA level switch this to AA off(by default it sets it to use application settings)  

turn Aicraft Shadows OFF~Why trust me this is a big killer of fps basicaly ya renedering 2 aircraft for every 1 aircraft

Switch to tripple buffering dont ask me why but the Gfarse cards seem to like it Cfs2 seems to smooth out more
So try these and see what happens
MaV

[J_M_C_123]

Just a total guess here...

Did you install an add on FX for "lingering damage"?

With my crappy box --pii333 card=8meg-- that lingering-damage fx renders my cfs2 unplayable after I shoot a few things down.

Just a guess, remember.

[TAFKAM]

hmm..
gotto think...i'm running the 1%Module from Avhistory and i've got a number of aircraft that use the 1% Technology, but NOT all of them, and especially not the default CFS2 planes.....

and my problem occurs just as often with the stock cfs2 craft as with the 1% 3th party aircraft....

In Free Flight mode, nothing goes wrong, but in quick combat or campaignmode, the FPS starts dropping FAST after i've shot down 3 craft or so, or after i've crashed......sometimes when i start with more than 5 aircraft in the game, i've got 16FPS STANDARD and dropping...

So far, i've tried all of the above (except buying new hardware) but the problem was'nt solved  :'(

i would love to switch back to European Air War, wich i love, or i'd like to get Janes WW II Fighters, to try...but EAW won't even install on my Win2K machine...
CFS-3 Barely runs on my machine, but i hate it....looks quite good, but plays like shit (- sorry)

[egypt23spitfire]

if your ileagle (or sick bird) copy of cfs2 was made with
"clone cd" make sure you have a copy of that prog on your hard drive.
for some reason when installing progs made with that s'ware