FSX-SP1 released!!!

[ATI_7500]

John, while you have a fresh RTM, I strongly suggest zipping the folders up and burning it to two DVDs.

It makes things much easier when you've replaced files without backup.

[gddyup]

Wow! I've read through this entire post and I have almost no idea what you guys are tlaking about with all the config changes!  LOL!  I've been running FSX on my machine with no real difficulties at all. I've been looking forward to the SP, but even more looking forward to the DX10 patch that I hope is coming along soon. I'm not a "hardcore" flyer right now, but that is changing slowly as I get to enjoy more and more of the greatness that is FSX.

I am currently downloading the SP1 update (40kbps???  I have Fiber to the house and MS is only giving me 40kbps??  Menga!!!), and I'm going to try a direct install without mesing with the original install of FSX. I have no real add-ons at this point besides the scenery fix and a few FSX specific aircraft. I'm curious to see what improvements I'll see with my current config :

EVGA NForce 680I SLI mobo
EVGA 8800GTS (not OC'd right now)
Intel Core Duo 2 6300 (not OC'd right now, but has been stable at 2.4 mhz with air cooling)
2 Gig RAM
2 Gig Readyboost (just for gits and shiggles)
X-Fi Platinum
All HDs running SATA

Anything you guys want me to try out when I get DL'd and running again?

[ATI_7500]

...but even more looking forward to the DX10 patch that I hope is coming along soon.

Define "soon" by "late summer" and you're right.

[macca22au]

I know that I sound like the old fool from Australia (OK I know), but I have been playing with a completely different approach - suggested by PTaylor and BCs tweaks. I posted the URL for that guy in another thread.  

I am using, TTTF at .20,
TBM at 40 max,
trees/buildings 1150 each,
scenery and autogen sliders max-ed.
mesh at 19, except for photoscenery for the UK, which is set at 1.

Sure that makes stutters at Boeing Field but I move autogen only one to the left and it is settled.  I have MyTraffic X, and though some of the models are a bit strange, I have traffic at 30%.  I would have to move autogen to Dense or Normal if I upped the AI I know.  But after a totally frustrated six months, I now have SP1 going gang-busters.  Sure the popping is a pain, but that looks like what it will be for this sim.

My rig is an e6700, XFX nVidia 8800 GTX card, 4 gigs of 800 Corsair RAM, most of which is not used by the program.

I made a mistake and put TTTF at 010 - left out the decimal point.  Now that makes for big time hitches believe me.

My problem is I enjoy tweaking beter than flying - seems a bit the reverse of the intention.

[macca22au]

My absolute favourite aircraft is the FSD Navajo.  It is so real.

[Keep It Simple]

...... Sure the popping is a pain, but that looks like what it will be for this sim......

About the the autogen popping that we now have with SP1.....

I recently put together a "core duo" sys and FSX actually ran quite well considering I'm still running an old ATI X1800XT.
Then, I installed the increasingly obligitory SP1 and now have the "popping".
I thought I have seen the last of "popping" with "Moto Racer" that I ran on my old P400/ TNT sys!

First, we were told

[macca22au]

Keep it Simple I agree.  If it is possible the DX10 patch should get rid of old style scenery popping that has been quite deliberately reintroduced into FSX.   This is important because the Penrhyn CPUs and the next gen video cards will be on the market at the end of the year,  and the need for the SP1 downgrade will no longer be there.  Or will Phil Taylor and ACES be recommending that we return to the RTM version then?  

[Keep It Simple]

There are some good things in SP1 so, let's not throw out the baby with the bath water.

The ideal situation of course would be to take the best features of SP1 and incorporate them into the DX10 patch/upgrade.
I woud more or less assume that this would require a fresh RTM install but, it would be well worth it.

Edit:

I just found this on Ptaylors BLOG:

"Note 1:

The vastly improved batching of Autogen was one of the major performance items in SP1 and helps to reach our target reduction of 35-40% for Draw and SetTexure calls. However, it does have an implication that, when coupled with a feature we lost from FS9, you should be aware of.

FSX does not

[macca22au]

I follow Phil Taylor's blog, but missed that good news.  I strongly recommend his blog, there is useful information, and useful tips and tweaks.  

Phil if you scan these forums please make sure that the DX10 patch reverts to the RTM treatment of alpha-fade as you forecast.  

SP1 is now being used by third-party designers and cleans up many other problems of the RTM so its here to stay.

[ATI_7500]

I've spent the last few days pushing my C2D to new limits, but FSX still looks like crap.

I simply can't get rid of the blurries and I'm really starting to wonder where all my computing power actually goes!


This software is really starting to annoy me - big time!

"Superduper SP1!" - my butt.

[Keep It Simple]

[quote]I follow Phil Taylor's blog, but missed that good news.

[Keep It Simple]

I've spent the last few days pushing my C2D to new limits, but FSX still looks like crap.

I simply can't get rid of the blurries and I'm really starting to wonder where all my computing power actually goes!


This software is really starting to annoy me - big time!

"Superduper SP1!" - my butt.

I think we have to start to define exactly what type of "blurries" we all are refering to.
1) Near burries caused by textures not loading.
or
2) Distant blurries which are cased by the terrain radius that FS-X diplays relatively high res textures is apparently smaller than FS-9.

If i's #2, I'm afraid that there isn't a way to rectify this yet as far as I know it.
This

[ATI_7500]

Mix of #1 and #2.

Blurries of the second kind can be "controlled" via LOD_Detail_Radius, but this brings any PC to its knees with a higher setting than 8.5.
So if you apply tweak #2 to make the ground look better (it works), you'll get #1.

But even with the deafult detail radius (4.5) I'm getting blurries #1, so I put in 6.5 to push the blurries a bit further away.


Works so far. Not the best solution 'though.

[macca22au]

Thanks KISS for the clarification.  They really should put alpha-fade back through DX10,  otherwise it is back to the future.

And even though we have been told that there will be no further SPs, the problem of the blurries is still a major detraction from the quality of the sim.  And there should NOT have to be a hundred pages of tweaks to make the game run.  So more patches small though they might be should keep on coming out, or be incorporated in the DX10 patch.

ACES should think of it as continuous product improvement.

Adrenaline, shemaline, I wouldn't have bought it anyway.  I want a serious flight sim - not some aviation version of Grand Theft Auto.  So make the core work better, not cover up with lipstick and gloss.

[DizZa]

Bjorn, I did some tweaks yesterday which helped eliminate blurries.

Add SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=xx to the terrain part of your fsX.cfg and make the Value (x) your framelock multiplied by 1.375. Then lower water setting to high 1.0x.

Worked for me..... Running LOD Radius at 6, autogen at 750/375 very dense.