Did you know this?

[Daube]

I know the FSX tweaks very well, I'm flying FSX since 2007 and never touched FS9 ever since. I partially switched to P3D only in the very recent past.
I would advise you to set the FSX options in the "advanced" mode instead of using the normal "high-medium-low" cursors. A lot of options are real FPS killers and you really don't want to activate or increase them.

For example, you will soon discover that the road traffic is quite ugly, and the cost on the performance is not really worth it.
Same with the clouds: the default clouds are ugly and very expensive on the FPS. Switching to alternative 512x512 textures really helps the performance.
The cloud draw distance is a serious FPS killer too, just like in FS9.
etc, etc...

In the end, it's better to set each option individually in the advanced mode, instead of using the general sliders

[Jean Loup]

I know the FSX tweaks very well, I'm flying FSX since 2007 and never touched FS9 ever since. I partially switched to P3D only in the very recent past.
I would advise you to set the FSX options in the "advanced" mode instead of using the normal "high-medium-low" cursors. A lot of options are real FPS killers and you really don't want to activate or increase them.

For example, you will soon discover that the road traffic is quite ugly, and the cost on the performance is not really worth it.
Same with the clouds: the default clouds are ugly and very expensive on the FPS. Switching to alternative 512x512 textures really helps the performance.
The cloud draw distance is a serious FPS killer too, just like in FS9.
etc, etc...

In the end, it's better to set each option individually in the advanced mode, instead of using the general sliders

Thank you: while you fly Jets, me I fly in the 30's (LOW & SLOW, also only have access to ultrallights & skydive here in México or ... comercial flights suk!), look at my FSXdemo aircraft selection (ALL from Simviation, except Cessna C152 from FSinsider):

Your wise adviser did not fall into empty ears ... WORKiNG on it!! The Bloom not to my fancy, the Mountain GREAT!!

[Daube]

I mainly fly low and slow as well, since FSX does not really allow me to fly jets...
Most of my aircraft are single engine propelers, mostly from WWII but also some ealier ones.
FSX is really nice for flying low and slow because it offers better graphics than FS9 at low altitude, mainly because it has higher ground textures resolution, higher mesh resolution, and higher autogen density.

That being said, some of these settings are dangerous for the performance of the sim.
Concerning the ground textures resolution, I recommend you to stay at 1m/pixel for your initial tests. You may be able to try 60cm and even 7cm later.
For the mesh, I believe the demo area doesn't have a really high resolution one, so you might want to keep the mesh resolution setting at 10 or 19 meters (mesh resolution also has a big impact on loading times).
For the autogen, avoid the maximum setting ! It causes a lot of stutters. The "one crank below the max" setting offers the best balance between quality and performance.
Of course, you might want to use the two tweaks you mentionned before in the FSX.cfg, about the maximum trees and buildings. Nice values for initial tests are 1000 trees and 300 buildings.

The worst setting is the water. Don't set it at maximum, it's really a FPS killer. Try one crank below the max instead

[Jean Loup]

I mainly fly low and slow as well, since FSX does not really allow me to fly jets...
Most of my aircraft are single engine propelers, mostly from WWII but also some ealier ones.
FSX is really nice for flying low and slow because it offers better graphics than FS9 at low altitude, mainly because it has higher ground textures resolution, higher mesh resolution, and higher autogen density.

Good excuse to have some flying fun, this FSX configure quest!! Really an excellent Sim, among the best (the best I know so far). One thing is obvious with these tests: I need to add 2 GB RAM memory card, I only have 2GB RAM memory & my PC too.

With general sliders at full right I can pilot "the Flight of the Sttutter" as Wanda's brother: but astonishingly, manageable (although algo anoying) for taking a few graphics dedicated to this forum

Moored (full right sliders, slight sttutter):


Take-off (full right sliders, slight sttutter):


General sliders had to be set at One notch back from full right, indiv sliders at minimum in weather/clouds, minimum in Traffic, then individual tweak on Scenery sliders for nice graphics & SMOOTH FLiGHT=above ALL!! And I reached the smooth flight heaven. Take-off:


I can live with this ... (same settings as before) Some smooth flying, until I hit "Real World Weather" & then I get a few hicups ... not bad, but "Real World Weather" has been un-notched!! Eliminated!! Kaput!!


Strange, how "unimportant things" can make such a BiG difference:
LENS flare ON:


LENS flare OFF: gives a sharper image

MAYBE, not perfect: BUT, pretty darn close!!
WEEE!!! (wheelies over the lagoon = Paradise!!)

[garryrussell]

I think you'll find the Ferry's wheel is a Ferris Wheel.

[Jean Loup]

I think you'll find the Ferry's wheel is a Ferris Wheel.

my spelling is reaching Alzheimer as well ... In my deffense: I learned english in Haskell Texas, NOT in Westminster Castle

[Jean Loup]

the amusement park animation effect does not appear in fsx or p3d.
would it be possible to add them in ?
port them over somehow ?

I have the FSX-DEMO(n), focused on the Caribean area & for ONE hour, so I can't check that San Diego area. I can add Aircraft (with gauges, effects, etc. BUT no Add On Scenery & no Flights) and I can configure its Settings.
Maybe, if you CLiCK on Advanced Animations??

[PhantomTweak]

I think you'll find the Ferry's wheel is a Ferris Wheel.

In my deffense: I learned english in Haskell Texas, NOT in Westminster Castle

Then according tot he Brits, you learned American, NOT English!!

Pat☺

[Jean Loup]

I think you'll find the Ferry's wheel is a Ferris Wheel.

In my deffense: I learned english in Haskell Texas, NOT in Westminster Castle

Then according tot he Brits, you learned American, NOT English!!

Pat☺

ROGER THAT!!! with a Chewing Gum Accent:

[Fozzer]

I think you'll find the Ferry's wheel is a Ferris Wheel.

In my deffense: I learned english in Haskell Texas, NOT in Westminster Castle

Then according to the Brits, you learned American, NOT English!!

Pat☺

..... ... ... ...!

Two communities divided by the Atlantic Ocean and a totally different language!

Paul....An English Cokney from the City of London...>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockney.... ...!

More confusion!...>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyming_slang

[PhantomTweak]

For the life of me, I have nerver, EVER been able to figure out CRS. Even after WORKING with a Cockney for over a year. Man name of Bob Edwards. Huge individual. Used a 10 foot long breaker bar (solid steel shaft about 3/4" diameter) as a pointer, one handed mind you, when directing operations. He once, and I saw this with my own eye, lifted a car's rear wheel off the ground so it could be changed. THAT actually took two hands...He also had, and I quote "...more engineering degrees than a thermometer...". Incredible person to try and hold a converstion with, although when he got to the rhymining slang thing, he would get this little smile on his face...That's when we knew it was time to give up. I could keep up with a lot of the technical stuff, even oudo him on the electronics stuff, but that little smile was my cue to end the convo immediately and walk away, cause I was about to be left in the figurative dust...
Still, a darn good friend and great man to know...
We actually had several Brits working with us when the Aerostat Site first "stood up", along with one man from N Carloina, and one from Jamaica, who managed to drop the f-bomb literally every other word in every sentance he spoke. Get them all on the headset comms at once, during lanch/recovery operations, and 90% of the communications were "Huh?", "Eh?", "what??" etc etc.

Pat☺

[Jean Loup]

For the life of me, I have nerver, EVER been able to figure out CRS. Even after WORKING with a Cockney for over a year. Man name of Bob Edwards. Huge individual. Used a 10 foot long breaker bar (solid steel shaft about 3/4" diameter) as a pointer, one handed mind you, when directing operations. He once, and I saw this with my own eye, lifted a car's rear wheel off the ground so it could be changed. THAT actually took two hands...He also had, and I quote "...more engineering degrees than a thermometer...". Incredible person to try and hold a converstion with, although when he got to the rhymining slang thing, he would get this little smile on his face...That's when we knew it was time to give up. I could keep up with a lot of the technical stuff, even oudo him on the electronics stuff, but that little smile was my cue to end the convo immediately and walk away, cause I was about to be left in the figurative dust...
Still, a darn good friend and great man to know...
We actually had several Brits working with us when the Aerostat Site first "stood up", along with one man from N Carloina, and one from Jamaica, who managed to drop the f-bomb literally every other word in every sentance he spoke. Get them all on the headset comms at once, during lanch/recovery operations, and 90% of the communications were "Huh?", "Eh?", "what??" etc etc.

Pat☺

IF I may ask, what kind of launch/recovery operations?

[PhantomTweak]

The 71 meter long Aerostat, moored, and most of the site buildings all in one pic. Castle Dome is in the backgroound, a sure way to tell it's the Yuma baloon


Launching the Aerostat late one afternoon. Too hot usually to do it in the middle of the day, due to thermals that would bang the aerostat around badly. That's Tony walking around. Great guy, one of our mechanics.


Just hit the mooring tower with the nose probe at sunset. Next we pin the mooring lines and then we walk away to do maintennance, eat dinner etc. The main winch motor, a huge Cat diesel is inside the mooring system

I was a Flight Director, later on after the Bob Edwards period and we stood up operationally, on the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (Yuma TARS). I was also the lead Electronics Tech. They were a pretty cheap company that ran the thing. Saved a ton by having me on both jobs.
Just so happened I was on duty the night we broke the coninuous time aloft record of over 31 days. Stayed up another 2 days to set it in stone, then had to pull it down, since helium leaks no matter what. Run outta helium, it no go UP no mo!

The small (relatively) bulge underneath is where the radar system hung and spun. The entire Radar system, including the huge, Kevlar based antenna, rotated. We could see out to 160NMi. It was to provide surveillance of our sector, looking DOWN to see the drug smugglers, etc trying to sneak in under all the ground based Radar systems. To give a perspective on size, we could comfortably fit 3 people on the Radar's maintennance platform. There is a hatch in the bottom center to provide access to the radar.

The tether, that held the Aerostat to the mooring system and gave us altitude control to the foot, was made of woven kevlar strands, all about 1" in diameter. Had the electric Power run up 3 8Ga wires in the center. About 10KvA. Breaking strength tested out to 70,000 lbs pull. Every 6 months we cut off about 200' worth, reterminated, and reattatched, for testing break strength. Total process, 24 hours. Takes a bit to properly reweave the kevlar into a loop for attachment to the Aerostat. Took us 8 hours alone to properly reterminate the electrics run up the center alone.

90% of our time was spent watching it sit up in the sky and do radar stuff. The radar data was sent to March AFB for interpertation and action, as needed. We had full telemetry on the Aerostat and radar, and could monitor the data sent to March.
We monitored the aerostat telemtery 24/7/365, and had a crew on duty 24/7/365 for launch or recovery ops as needed.

Any questions, please feel free to google them
I think i got finger cramps now!

Pat☺

[Jean Loup]

So that where the "Phantom" part of your Forum Name comes from ... all is so white! My respects, sir! (in mexican we say: "Pinche gringo Chingón"!)

[Jean Loup]

In english ...mmm... I mean, in american: Gringo Mother Fbomber!!!