XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

FSX including FSX Steam version.

Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:13 pm

author=thetford569 link=1208959973/300#314 date=1239304797][quote author=NickN link=1208959973/300#312 date=1239301100][quote author=thetford569 link=1208959973/300#311 date=1239245292]thanks Nick. I will work my way down the list and check the FSX Tuning Guide this weekend. I actually have not seen that guide before and it gives me several items to try. The only guides I had seen were the XP Tuning and FSX Setup guide which I have followed to the t. If I can't figure it out with this I'll let you know. Thanks again Nick and also to you truck911 for the list of items to check.

Brandon


thanks...I worked through some of the list last night and will do more tomorrow when I get home from work including removing 2 GB of RAM to go down to 4 GB total. It just makes no sense to me though that my performance would drop from a steady 20 fps and pretty smooth flight to 10 fps and stutters with the same hardware but a better motherboard. And I have not even installed any of my add-ons yet...I just wanted to get FSX+Acceleration running well and then install my add-ons later over a length of time because I just don't have time right now to devote a few days to install everything I have.

One thing I have noticed after taking care of a few things on the list is that if I put the frames into unlimited I get fps in the 30s-40s but it is still a stuttering mess. One thing is though the textures all seem to be sharp and loading. Oh well, I'll keep playing with it and see what happens. I was just lucky before that I didn't have to do this much tweaking I guess?

Brandon


OK then your adventure is just beginning

Installing FSX and addons correctly is step 1

Setting up the system and optimizing correctly is step 2

Setting up FSX and tuning it for your hardware is step 3

Yep.. you will stutter like a rutting pig till you finish you mission and do it right

The first 5 or so posts on the first page of this thread includes all the info/linkage you need. It also includes the link to setting up FSX









Im not discounting the fact that you may have either defective hardware or a bad Windows/FSX install with this.. .or something out of sorts with BIOS or drivers.

Do keep in mind.. default FSX is a dog. Some addons like GEX actually increase perf. You should at the very least get the base environment addons installed like UTX and GEX and set up UTX right too http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?s=&s ... &p=1566124 before tuning

UTX can cause all sorts of problems if not set up correctly.. Night lighting and cars in UTX are killers on perf. Read that entire post in the link provided about setting up UTX
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby thetford569 » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:30 pm

well, I've worked through the list and I even did a complete Win XP 64 re-install + only FSX.  Installed per the correct order and did the XP optimization and defrag.  I've checked my hardware and BIOS settings and am not even running an overclock (although I tried).  I'm still getting fps in the 7-9 range with sometimes smooth flight.  I don't get this at all.  I'm mad and frustrated and it's time for me to give this up.  I bought a new motherboard so I could overclock and hopefully make my FSX experience better and instead it's much worse.  I had fps at 20 locked on my old motherboard with the default flight...now I have a 7 fps stuttering mess with a "better" motherboard.  This sucks!   >:(  I guess I have a hardware issue but I don't know where as everything works fine unless FSX is using it.

Brandon
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:36 pm

There must be something up with the hardware here..

Post the CPU, Mainboard and the Memory Tabs from CPUz and I will look at them and see if I spot anything obvious

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpuz_150.zip

unzip.. run CPUz.exe
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby thetford569 » Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:07 am

here are the CPU-z reports:

Image

I see the core speed is 1600 at idle and I've seen it spike to 2400 which should be correct as I'm not overclocking at this time...but I'd like to.

Image

Image
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:48 am

Let chat about the 3 tabs..

First, the CPU is running 1.6 because of SPEEDSTEP and/or CE1 instruction. This is a feature that will need to be disabled in the BIOS if you intend to clock along with a few other features that hold back CPUs in clocks.

The Q6600 is actually old news however it will run a max of 3.6GHz with the right support settings and the right heatsink installed. Without an upgraded heatsink from the Intel provided unit you will not get much more that 3.2 safely.

Clock settings for DDR2 800 (400MHz as shown on the memory tab) and running 3.6GHz are:

MANUAL
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby thetford569 » Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:58 am

ok I wondered about the PCI Express value when I saw it.
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:02 pm

Brandon.. thats your 2nd problem

old news card.. you updated the mainbard and other parts but still using an old news card

At the VERY LEAST you should be on something like this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814150267

8800GT or GTS

I do not know what drivers work best for your card.. I have not used a 7900 series card in years
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:05 pm

The dual card design may be causing the issue of x8.. I would need to research the board and how it works with such cards


but do be aware the 2nd core on that card is USELESS to FSX

You spent the money in all the right places.. you just left out the last part that needed to be replaced so those new CPU/mainbaard parts had something to FEED that could keep up with it.. .that card and the x8 is the bottleneck and why perf dropped
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby thetford569 » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:13 pm

well I just changed the only graphics settings I could find from Auto to Turbo which is the fastest it shows and it still shows x8.  I have the money for a new video card so I am assuming you recommend one of the two above that you posted?

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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:14 pm

Instead of going with the 8000 series which is being phased out.. I suggest the 260 which is in line with your parts

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130372

the core and memory speed are already clocked and you may be able to get a bit more out of them however that card is much more in line with your parts and what they are trying to do

The core design/type and speed is the key to FSX perf with a video card along with the memory buss speed (256bit and greater)

the 896MB video memory will allow you to work with bufferpools as well
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby thetford569 » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:28 pm

thanks I'm looking right now.  I love New Egg and always use them but at this point I don't mind spending some extra $ and heading to Best Buy or Fry's to pick one up today.

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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:31 pm

I goofed... I posted the older 260 card above

Just make sure they are not selling you the OLDER 260 model with less that 216PC

216 processing cores is the model you want.. with the fastest core and memory speed they offer

the onler ones are 192 processing cores


this is the right card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130433
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby thetford569 » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:36 pm

can you tell if this one is it?  http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8906437&type=product&id=1213046783306

I don't see anything about 216 processing cores
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:49 pm

author=thetford569 link=1208959973/315#328 date=1239903377]can you tell if this one is it? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 3046783306

I don't see anything about 216 processing cores



Yes. so I would be cautious about that one

the one you posted for Cry's Electronics is correct.. and make sure they do not bait and switch.. check it at the store by the model number if its not on the box
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Re: XP/Windows Setup, System Optimizing and Drivers

Postby NickN » Thu Apr 16, 2009 1:03 pm

and Brandon.. you will need to do some clocking because that Q6600 @ default is not what I would call top end for FSX.. even clocked to the max they are not going to beat something like a Q9650. None the less, I think you are on the right track now.
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