Confused about FPS

[mustang51]

When I press shift + Z I get a reading on FPS. Sometimes I see numbers jumping from the mid 20's to the mid 30's and at other times from the mid to upper 30's to the mid to upper 40's, this depends on the plane I am flying. Which is better, high numbers or small numbers, I think it is the smaller numbers. Am I right on this?
Also have read on forums that some of you lock frame rates at some number in the 30's or so. My FPS is set at unlimited. Is this good? Should I lock it at some lower number and if so why?
From my question you can tell I am kind of new to all this stuff so I thank anyone who will take the time to explain this to me. If you need to know what my computer is tell me how to find that info.

[FlyinSolo]

Only thing I can chime in about is the higher the better! If you are getting 10 and under it would be very choppy, I know. My system is locked at 12 right now If you are getting 30FPS then it is displaying 30 actual frames a second, that equals smooth play. If you are only getting 1-5 frames a second then you will be able to see them and the game becomes slow and unplayable.

[garymbuska]

If you know the manufactuer and model you can go to there site and find out what orignally came on your system.
Another way to find out what you have on your system is to download a little program called Belarc advisor this will tell you every thing you have on your system form memory to software and which updates you have installed just google the words BELARC ADVISOR and it will bring up the site to download it from.

[Jakemaster]

If you leave frame rates unlimited, the computer essentially tries to do whatever it can to reach the highest framerates it can.  This is not good as it uses up the most resources.  Locking is best for the computer because you can produce better graphics.  Lock depending on your system, anything higher than a lock of 25 is pointless because 25 is about the highest FPS noticable.   l lock at 20 because with 20FPS i get really good visuals and 20 is very smooth.

[beaky]

The higher your fps (frames per second), the smoother the sim is to fly, and more accurate, timing-wise.
Each frame, though, is a bucketload of numbers that your computer has to chew up and spit out. Color, texture, geographic grids, airport data, shadows, terrain, etc., etc.... it's all being recreated many times per second. You can imagine how this can push your computer to the limit... it's a lot of work.

My suggestion: With the setting on Unlimited, look at the average fps shown, preferably flying over a city or other dense scenery, then lock your framerate at a number around there.


From there, I suggest you experiment. start at the middle with all Display settings, then one at a time try turning them up and see if it reduces your framerates.
Regardless of your system specs, you just have to experiment.


Movies (on celluloid) are timed at 24 fps, which is about the minimum for the human eye/brain system to see as fluid motion... that's my minimum, although I can't always hit it with this machine and the FS9 settings I like.

[murjax]

When you are playing multiplayer, you must have your FPS locked at 20 because most servers require that to play.  :)

[eno]

When you are playing multiplayer, you must have your FPS locked at 20 because most servers require that to play.  :)

HUH?

[dave3cu]

This is getting a little OT, but........