DirectX

[ysteinbuch]

Is downloading DirectX Version 9.0a likely to improve performance much? Apparently, you can't uninstall, so I'm reluctant to risk it in case of compatibility issues.

[FSTipster]

If you're on Windows XP, you can set a restore point just befpore you install it and revert back if it does cause problems.

Having said that, DX9 has been better than a lot of previous incarnations in terms of compatibility. I've seen very few reports of problems at all.

Performance reports vary from no difference to claims of 50% jumps in f.p.s. I wouldn't expect miracles but DirectX is one feature that you're generally best keeping up-to-date with if you can.

If the worst does come to the worst, I have a file that will uninstall DirectX. Let me know if turns out that you need it.

[ysteinbuch]

Thanks much for the info and offer!

[Up_The_Sky]

From what i understand FS 2004 will require DX 9 just incase you plan on purchasing FS 2004...

It may be that all our fears of DX upgrades will have to be faced at some stage soon  ::)

[microlight]

If it helps: I installed DX9.0a last week with my Windows XP setup, and have found no compatibility problems. I also updated my GeForce 2 Pro card drivers at the same time (glutton for punishment!), and my framerate has gone from 15-20 to 20-25, so there has been a little improvement.

Good luck!

[Bazza]

I too have done a recent upgrade to DirectX9 without any drama.      I was reluctant to do so because the last time I upgraded it a number of serious problems were caused that were still unresolved at the time I gave that computer system to someone else whose needs were pretty simple.     I found a "removal" program in that instance but the damage was already done.

Having said all that, I am still unsure whether I have had any framerate improvement at all, if there has been any its pretty small.

With XP, I set a restore point just in case but there is still a question as to whether or not reverting to that point would remove DirectX - somehow I don't think it would but fortunately haven't had to try.

[fleetwood77]

It hasn't made much of a difference that I can tell.

[ysteinbuch]

Hmmmm, seems like a few pros and a few cons. I guess I'll hold off for now since I'm quite pleased with the performance. To mix metaphors, I won't rock the boat.

[GreG]

I downloaded it a while back, and I have winXp Pro, and it didn't make any difference, still getting crap frames!  Even with the latest graphics card drivers for my Geforce 4!  10-15 fps with the default planes, with every single setting apart from scenery complexity set to off, I also happen to have 576 Meg of Ram and a 766MHz processor, I'm really pissed off!

Greg

[BFMF]

What video card do you have Greg?

[jghost5]

Installed it awhile back and actually posted about it.
Framerates are alittle better and visual quality.
The big thing I noticed was a better "over-all smoothness" to everything.  Best way I can describe it- just a better way of how everything works together.

[Hoot]

GreG,

If that is indeed a GF4, and not a GF4MX card, then you need to get a new processor. 766MHz doesn't really cut it anymore and it's definitely choking your video card. I run a 900MHz AMD T-bird with an ATi Radeon 7000 (64mb agp) without any problems at all. My FR stays around 20-25 when I'm around any city with Dx9. Naturally the higher I go, the higher the FR goes.

Oh, you should also kill off any programs running in the background. MSN, AIM, Yahoo, IE, NS...they all chew up some processing power.

Enjoy!
--------------
Hoot

[packercolinl]

I also was eyeing the X9. But from what I've seen if you want to upgrade video cards etc you need the processing power. On advice from others I went to 1.8G with Geforce 4 MX on Windows XP HOME with 256M  RAM. Dollars stopped me going to 2.0+G but I've cranked EVERTHING and only get framerate stutter in max weather. So it seems go Gigs on upgrades first. Oh! I upgraded from 400Mhz. Can you imagine

[packercolinl]

I can honestly say that I don't know enough about it other than say that what I have got does enough for me at the moment. Being a frustrated pilot(some private flying has been done last flight 2001) I'm glad I've waited for FS2002 and a unit capable of producing what it does otherwise I think I would have been a bit disappointed. I've since handed on my old unit to someone who is now enjoying FS also. As far as addons I seem to find that scenery does not improve that much nor autogen buildings although I don't mind Gerrish Gray's trees at all. Bottom line I think it is still processor power. And lets remember $5 is a lot of money to someone who ain't got it!

[packercolinl]

AVsim have a survey running at the moment it may be worth a look(I'm only AVERAGE  :()  ;D