Having trouble with reflections...

[Draconiator]

Specifically, I can't get them to show up!  I have no problem with that specular lighting, but I have no reflections otherwise, like the shine of aluminum, or the reflection of the sun off the water.

I have a 1.1GHZ Celeron with 512 megs RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX

It's strange...because I had these things in 2002 (the water reflections looked...well...less than stellar in that one...).

[Sir_Crashalot]

Hi,

looking at your graphics card I think you have a small problem to get any reflection at all. When I remember correctly you need DX9 for that and with such an old card I don't think it'll work.

Crash

[ashaman]

The bare minimum videocard to have so to display reflections under FS9 is a Geforce TI 4200 or a Radeon 9000. Your videocard is a little too old.

Yet I remember of a "patch" of sort (a modded env texture, I seem to remember) that allowed the display of reflections even under the Geforce 4 MX. Sadly enough, seen that I've always had the minimum hardware, I've never taken the time to try and remember where it is. Try looking around.

If you don't find it (sorry), try and take the time to consider upgrading your videocard. Even a very inexpensive modern one is WAY better than a Gefo 4 MX under each and any points of view.

[ozzy72]

That was a 2k2 fix. You can find it here http://www.simviation.com/fs2002misc11.htm I'm not sure if it'll work in FS9 but it might (no promises)...

[simonmd]

Yup, sounds like a GCard issue, need a better one. Mind you, a 1.1 GHZ Celeron is right way too weak for handling FS9 effects as well. It would probably grind to a halt with those effects enabled.

[ozzy72]

I would disagree Simon, I'm running a 1GHz PIII with 512Mb RAM and still getting good results. Mind you I spent a lot of time tweaking my system. But with the sliders max'd I can still get 20FPS on average out of my Ti4600

[Groundbound1]

If you're talking about aircraft reflections, they may just need to be turned on in the display settings. The water is another story. For that you need a video card that is DX9 compliant. I was using an Nvidia Geforce4 MX420 for a LOOONG time , and I never had the water reflections, but the aircraft reflections looked great. (FS2002 graphics were based on DX8 technology, that's why you saw the water reflections in it)

[Kaworu]

I have a easy way to up preformance. What i did, before the ram upgrade, was disconnect from the internet, turn off EVERYTHING (AIM, anitvirus, firewall, etc) and I get 30+ fps, with reflections. It will be easier on your processor, too. Just, please, disconnect fro the internet!