sound performance?

[EricK]

Hi again,

This will be my last performance question, because if I can't get this fixed I'm going to stop using FS2002 until I go get a new system.

I have made many of the usual tweeks and adjustments. I have purchased ram and upgraded my video card. I am finally reasonably happy with the graphics display and performance. Like anyone, I wish my frame rates where better and my terrain textures developed quicker, but it is OK.

My problem is this - Once underway in which ever aircraft (makes no difference) the sound gets choppy and terrible. It is aggravated by changing views in the cockpit. Spot view seems OK. Before I started tweaking everything my sound seemed reasonable. The last adjustment I made was to get reflections turned back on using the technique listed here. It worked, but after doing it I read another post where someone said you shouldn't add that information in the display cfg. on a pci card and that is what I have. I'm wondering if that has contributed to my latest headache.

Anyway, my sliders are all at about 3/4 and I use my graphix card to control anti-aliasing. I have water effects off and relections are on. My computer has an onboard sound card and I will list my equipment below.

I am finally happy with the visuals, now if I could just get the sound to work properly, it will prevent me from throwing this bloody thing out the window.

System - EMachines with celeron 1.7 processor, Windows XP, ram upgraded to 384 mg DDR, GeForce 4 MX440-SE (pci), AC97 audio (onboard) and a Logitech Wingman Joystick. The system is very free and the control panel settings for sound performance are on best but it doesn't seem to make a difference if I change them.

Help please. I'm certain this will be the last time because after this I am going to either buy a super computer or a real f***ing airplane.

Thanks
Eric

[ATI_7500]

i couldn't read your problem out of your post...do you have a bad sound quality or do you have no sound??
maybe you should upgrade your audiochip drivers.

[EricK]

Thanks for responding,

I have sound but is just very bad quality. It becomes very choppy and studdery. It seems to come about after looking in different view modes but mainly effects the regular cockpit view. It is mainly the engine noise that is problematic. It is the worst when I am taking off and climbing through clouds or landing going through clouds that are being rendered outside the window.
Current hardware and settings are as mentioned above.
Help
Eric

[Paz]

 Personally, I'd get a real soundcard, I have never cared for on-board sound systems, ever since I started out in PC gaming, the first thing I add to a system is RAM and a soundblaster, I use a soundblaster live! in my main gaming system and have great sound, and these days you can get one for around $40.00 through Tigerdirect.com.

 Of course if you are already considering getting a new machine, then it wouldn't make sense to keep adding on to your current PC, (I would still get the soundblaster and put it in the new machine anyway.)
 

[EricK]

Thanks for the advice about the soundcard. I will certainly look into getting one. I may also look at increasing my ram a little more.

After I posted this subject, I began to play with my settings while in the game and realized it is not only the sound which is effected. When the sound becomes choppy, the frame rates are down at around 4 fps. I couldn't beleive it, but it happened at the same time in the game, every time, and because of one thing - CLOUDS!!! As soon as I switched off the few clouds that I was flying near that where at about 10, 000 feet, the problem stopped. My frame rates jumped back up and the sound instantly corrected itself.

The problem did return slightly when I was looking in different views out of the cockpit at complex scenery such as a big city at night.

I don't know very much, but I think, as mentioned above, a sound card and a bit more ram may correct the problem????

If anyone has any input, please let me know.
Thanks
Eric