Open to suggestions on settings

[Simul8]

Hi Guys:

Been lurking for a little while and finally finished setting up the new machine (specs in the signature) today. I've heard great things about the DX10 fixer, and having set up today and performed a couple of flights in the PMDG 738, i thought i'd check in here to see if anyone had any suggestions on my settings.

I've been through a lot of PaulJ's documentation (thank you so much by the way Paul. It's great to see someone with a passion for the hobby, and the willingness to share their knowledge with people). I spent a bit of time today setting up Steve's DX10 Fixer, and i was actually pretty pleased with the results.

The only gripe i have at the moment is that PAPI lights are seeming a little dim and small. Any thoughts on that would be great.

I'll post my FSX.CFG and Nvidia Settings below for reference, but any thoughts anyone might have on any possible improvements would be great. Todays flights were around Europe with FTX Vector, Global, EU Eng, EU Wls enabled and OrbX Control Centre in Hybrid mode, in the PMDG 738 and were generally great, with a few little stutters here and there. I'll be giving the PMDG 777 a run out tomorrow, so hopefully i can expect more of the same DX10 goodness...

[AccelerationPack]
ControlsFirstRun=0
HomePageFirstRun=0


[AContain]
LabelColor=FFFF0000
LabelDelay=1000
ShowLabelAirline=0
ShowLabelAirlineAndFlightNumber=0
ShowLabelAirspeed=0
ShowLabelAltitude=0
ShowLabelContainerId=0
ShowLabelDistance=0
ShowLabelFlightPlan=0
ShowLabelHeading=0
ShowLabelManufacturer=0
ShowLabelModel=0
ShowLabels=0
ShowLabelTailNumber=0
ShowUserLabel=0


[ATC]
AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=0
COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=FFFF7840
COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=FF00FF00
COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=FFB6FFB6
COMM_MSG_NONE_COLOR=FFFFFFFF
COMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=FFFFD21B
PilotVoice=0
ShowATCText=0
UsePilotVoice=0


[CONTROLS]
Controls_Current=Standard
Controls_Default=Standard
KBDAIL=64
KBDELEV=64
KBDRUD=64


[Display]
ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64
ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
BLOOM_EFFECTS=0
ChangeTime=4.000000
InfoBrakesEnable=True
InfoLowerLeftBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerLeftTextColor=255,255,255
InfoLowerRightBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerRightTextColor=255,255,255
InfoOverspeedEnable=True
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=True
InfoPauseEnable=True
InfoSlewEnable=True
InfoStallEnable=True
InfoUpperRightBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0
InfoUpperRightTextColor=255,0,0
NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64
NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=80
TransitionTime=4.000000
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=32
WideViewAspect=True
TextureMaxLoad=6


[DynamicHeadMovement]
HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000
LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000
LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000
MaxHeadAngle=5.000000
MaxHeadOffset=0.300000
RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000
RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000
YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000


[FACILITIES]
CITY=
COUNTRY=
GTL_BUTTON=1254
STATE=


[GRAPHICS]
AC_SELF_SHADOW=0
AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1
AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1
COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1
D3D10=1
EFFECTS_QUALITY=2
ForceWindowedVsync=1
GROUND_SHADOWS=0
HIGHMEMFIX=1
IMAGE_QUALITY=0
LANDING_LIGHTS=1
NUM_LIGHTS=8
See_Self=1
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693500672
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693500672
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=2048
TEXTURE_QUALITY=3
Text_Scroll=1
MultiSamplesPerPixel=4
MultiSampleQuality=8


[INTERNATIONAL]
ASLAT=2
ASLON=0
MEASURE=1


[Main]
DisablePreload=1
HideMenuFullscreen=1
HideMenuNormal=0
Location=160,-26,1200,752,\\.\DISPLAY1
Maximized=2
PerfBucket=7
ProcSpeed=8929
SimObjectPaths.0=SimObjects\Airplanes
SimObjectPaths.1=SimObjects\Rotorcraft
SimObjectPaths.2=SimObjects\GroundVehicles
SimObjectPaths.3=SimObjects\Boats
SimObjectPaths.4=SimObjects\Animals
SimObjectPaths.5=SimObjects\Misc
SimObjectPaths.6=SimObjects\IVAO_MTL
SimObjectPaths.7=SimObjects\Smiffy_AI
User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter
FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.15


[MAPVIEW_MAP]
SHOW_AIRPORTS=1
SHOW_AIRSPACE=1
SHOW_APPROACHES=1
SHOW_DATATAGS=1
SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1
show_flight_history=1
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0
SHOW_JET=0
SHOW_NDBS=1
SHOW_TERRAIN=1
SHOW_VICTOR=0
SHOW_VORS=1
SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1
SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1


[Misc]
Com_Rate=7


[PANELS]
DEFAULT_VIEW=0
IMAGE_QUALITY=1
PANEL_MASKING=1
PANEL_OPACITY=100
PANEL_STRETCHING=1
QUICKTIPS=0
UNITS_OF_MEASURE=1


[PointOfInterestSystem]
CycleSetting=1


[REALISM]
AllowEngineDamage=True
AutoCoord=False
AutoTrim=False
CrashDetection=False
CrashTolerance=1.000000
CrashWithDyn=False
GEffect=True
General=1.000000
GyroDrift=False
GyroEffect=1.000000
ManualLights=True
PFactor=1.000000
RealMixture=True
StressDamage=False
Torque=1.000000
TrueAirspeed=False
UnlimitedFuel=False


[RWW_WEATHER_MAP]
SHOW_AIRPORTS=0
SHOW_AIRSPACE=0
SHOW_APPROACHES=0
SHOW_DATATAGS=1
SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0
SHOW_JET=0
SHOW_NDBS=0
SHOW_TERRAIN=1
SHOW_VICTOR=0
SHOW_VORS=0
SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1
SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1


[SCENERY]
DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1
IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=3
LENSFLARE=0


[SIM]
SYSCLOCK=1


[SlewTextInfo.1]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2


[SlewTextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
LockedFrameRate=1,2


[SlewTextInfo.3]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
FrameRate=2,1
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
Longitude=1,2


[SOUND]
AmbientUI=0
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
PrimaryDevice={FEA53A5C-B83C-4BB7-B7E2-97D942ED69F8}
SOUND=1
SOUND_FADER1=0.500000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=0.500000
SOUND_LOD=0
SOUND_QUALITY=2
UISound=1
VoiceDevice={FEA53A5C-B83C-4BB7-B7E2-97D942ED69F8}


[STARTUP]
DEMO=0
LoadWindow=1
SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1
STARTUP_DEMO=


[TERRAIN]
AUTOGEN_DENSITY=2
DETAIL_TEXTURE=1
LOD_RADIUS=4.500000
MESH_COMPLEXITY=100
MESH_RESOLUTION=24
TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=29
WATER_EFFECTS=5


[TextInfo.1]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6


[TextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
FuelPercentage=1,4
GForce=1,3
LockedFrameRate=1,2


[TextInfo.3]
AirSpeed=1,5
Altitude=1,3
FrameRate=2,1
FuelPercentage=2,4
GForce=2,3
Heading=1,4
Latitude=1,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
Longitude=1,2
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6


[TrafficManager]
AirlineDensity=0
AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=0
FreewayDensity=0
GADensity=0
IFROnly=0
LeisureBoatsDensity=0
ShipsAndFerriesDensity=0


[USERINTERFACE]
Map_Orientation=2
OpenATCOnCreate=0
PageID=1
PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0
PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1
SelectAircraftManufacturer=All
SelectAircraftPublisher=All
SelectAircraftType=737-800
ShowAllACPaintSchemes=1
SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0
SITUATION=FLIGHTS\OTHER\FLTSIM


[VirtualCopilot]
VirtualCopilotActive=0


[Weather]
AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1
CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=8
CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=5
DETAILED_CLOUDS=1
DisableTurbulence=0
DownloadWindsAloft=0
DynamicWeather=0
MaxGustRampSpeed=200
MaxGustTime=500
MaxVarRampSpeed=75
MaxVarTime=50
MinGustRampSpeed=1
MinGustTime=10
MinVarRampSpeed=10
MinVarTime=5
THERMAL_VISUALS=0
TurbulenceScale=1.000000
WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0
WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com
WeatherServerPort=80
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1


[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780.0.0]
AntiAlias=1
Mode=1360x768x32
Anisotropic=1


[BufferPools]
UsePools=0


[MULTIPLAYER]
condAccoutPassword=0

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts and assistance

Warmest regards

Smiffy

(another Avsim refugee)

 

[Paul J]

Smiffy!! Welcome to the Club and thank you for coming!

(another Avsim refugee)

I almost fell out of my tree, laughing!

Seriously, though, Smiffy - Roger and his team couldn't be better hosts - nothing but a great welcome and first-class support.

Your fsx.cfg is just about perfect, and you've geared it well for a mid-range system: your only hold-up - is that beautiful proc, running with chains around it's ankles - at 3.5 gig (yawn) with a bit o' turbo to push it to 3.9 or something. 8x CSAA + FXAA is going to be a bit hard because of that, though - and I still run 4x as I like other things, and just turn a blind eye to the odd tree of patch of water that shimmers. What sort of cooling are you running?

Bloom will help with the PAPI lights, and is extremely configurable, and if that's not suffish - you can always make it brighter through the [Display] section of the fsx.cfg, like so:-

RUNWAY_LIGHTS_APPROACH_SCALAR=0.9
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_STROBE_SCALAR=0.9
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_SURFACE_SCALAR=0.9
RUNWAY_LIGHTS_VASI_SCALAR=0.9

One can bump them up or down as you wish.

Anyway - there's a lot to learn about DX10, and having that nice 780 will make it so much easier. There's folks out there green with envy, reading this!

All the Best,

pj

 

[adi518]

The AA settings are incorrect. Looks like a lot of people make this mistake.

It's not Supersampling you need to choose under transparency AA, it's SGSS - > SPARSE GRID SUPER SAMLPING.

The key here is SPARSE GRID. This is what fixes the shimmering and unreadable gauges. Few years ago, GPUs weren't good enough to run this AA mode. Luckily, today we can. If you enable this type of AA, then you need to define the corresponding MSAA settings into your fsx.cfg. FXAA is terrible and should be used only on low-end rigs.

 

[Paul J]

The How-To guide, Smiffy - pages 4 through 9 - on Nvidia gpu settings.

Good one, Adi!

pj

 

[Adamski_NZ]

My only comments about your .cfg file are:

AC_SELF_SHADOW=0
Any reason why you don't want shadows on your aircraft? Your system should certainly cope!

Also:
LOD_RADIUS=4.500000

You could easily bump that up to 5.5 or 6.5 for more detail at greater distances.

Adam.

 

[Simul8]

Well thank you one and all. What a lovely response.

nothing but a great welcome and first-class support.

Couldn't agree more

What sort of cooling are you running?

Corsair H110 all running from a Corsair AX860? PSU. Considering a bit of an OC when I'm happy with the sim's stability at stock.

8x CSAA + FXAA is going to be a bit hard because of that, though - and I still run 4x as I like other things

Would the 4x settings be those from Example 2 in your How To Guide Paul? I shall give that a go, and see if i can't get some Road traffic.

you can always make it brighter through the [Display] section of the fsx.cfg

As soon as i asked that question, the display CFG mods occurred to me. Many thanks. Also now turned bloom on so lets see how that goes.

The AA settings are incorrect. Looks like a lot of people make this mistake.

Noted. Thanks Adi. I've just revisited those settings and going to have a wee test flight now.

Any reason why you don't want shadows on your aircraft?

I always thought that Self Shadows was a bit of a Frame Rate killer? I generally fly the advanced heavy metal too, FSL ConcordeX / A320 and PMDG 737 and 777. I rarely go outside, and when i do, it's usually only to have a look at the scenery.

Also:
LOD_RADIUS=4.500000

You could easily bump that up to 5.5 or 6.5 for more detail at greater distances.

I was fairly happy with what i was seeing out of the window at FL350 yesterday, but shall perhaps creep that one up after i'm happy that the system is nice and stable.


Thank you so much to all of you for your kind input and assistance. Really very much appreciated.

Cheers

Smiffy

 

[Adamski_NZ]

I always thought that Self Shadows was a bit of a Frame Rate killer? I generally fly the advanced heavy metal too, FSL ConcordeX / A320 and PMDG 737 and 777. I rarely go outside, and when i do, it's usually only to have a look at the scenery.

Fair enough! I'm exactly the opposite ... and seem to spend most of the time gawping at the clouds and scenery!

If you're into the big jets, make sure you have HD Jet Shadows enabled (if you have cockpit shadows on).

Adam.

 

[Simul8]

So...

Taking suggestions on board, I've just completed an OMDB - VTBS trip in the PMDG 777, with my Texture Max Load at 2048, Rex4 Weather Textures, WX Injected by ASN, OrbX Global & Vector on, a Day / Dusk / Night Transition, and all the bells and whistles.

It's a flight that i'm fairly certain would have caused an OOM on my previous machine, and possibly also under DX9 on this machine, or maybe at least have sounded the FSUIPC 'Low VAS' warning.

Here's the FSUIPC 'Remaining VAS' notes that i made throughout the flight

Time Point VAS Remaining

Offline at Gate 1.25Gb
Vatsim Logon 1.21Gb
Push / Start 1.20Gb
At the Hold 1.07Gb
Top Of Climb 1.64Gb
Mid Way 1.57Gb
Top Of Descent 1.54Gb
Arrival Proc 1.50Gb
Approach (4DME) 1.34Gb
Taxi In 1.22Gb
Blocks 1.16Gb

Not totally scientific but i think a good example of what DX10 Fixer can do for you

Cheers

Smiffy

 

[Adamski_NZ]

Great!!

As I said earlier - I tend to max out my GFX settings towards super externals (I love taking screenshots) - a bit of a slide show - but what a slideshow LOL.

Pre-DX10, I was beginning to get too many OOM's for my liking. I'd tried DX10 before - and though it cured my OOMs, there were simply too many issues - particularly with missing scenery textures and legacy aircraft. Steve's Fixer fixed all of those things - and added a few lighting tweaks and other features into the bargain.

Also - because it's stirred up a lot of discussion, people have pooled their knowledge and cleared the "black magic" from fsx.cfg tweaking. I now have a highly DX10-specific fsx.cfg that works beautifully - and my FSX is running like a dream.

I've hardly looked "under ther hood" with FSUIPC. Is it easy to set up low VAS warnings? Did you log them manually or did FSUIPC create one for you?

Adam.

 

[Simul8]

Hi Adam:

I'm all about the smoothness of the flight here, love to handfly the heavy's for as long as possible on the Departure / Arrival / Approach. Never really been into Screenies although i've found myself doing a few more these last couple of days!

With a registered (possibly even an unregistered) FSUIPC, you'll get the Low VAS warning automatically in the current version (here for the install - http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.html ) and then here for the module updates - http://forum.simflight.com/topic/66139-updated-modules/

for logging VAS, as i fly in windowed mode, i have FSUIP display the remaining VAS in the FSX Title Bar, it does so in Bytes, so currently it states my remaining VAS as 1685400, so 1.68Gb

To do that (registered version only it seems) if you have a look at the third post down, by Sanal, you'll get the 'How To' http://forum.simflight.com/topic/75637-oom-warning/

Cheers

Smiffy

 

[Adamski_NZ]

Thanks for all that info, Smiffy - I'll certainly go thorough it.

I bought/registered FSUIPC many moons ago - and can't imagine running FSX without it. I use it mainly to set up/calibrate my joystick axes. With that done, I haven't fiddled with it for years - but have always been secretly awed by what it can do - and am forever grateful that there are clever people like Pete Dowson around to help us out.

I'm interested in this VAS issue because I push my FSX to its limits to get the best out of the visuals and often wonder whether I'm sailing a bit close to the wind. Right now, I'm absolutely delighted with what DX10+Fixer allows me to have on my pretty average, old, hardware!

Adam.

 

[Adamski_NZ]

Smiffy - it turns out I'd already set that up (years ago)! All I had to do was tick the box to have it show in FSX. Duh!

Many thanks!

Adam.

 

[Simul8]

You're welcome.

Added the higher LOD Radius and Self Shadows to my CFG today, looks great, no appreciable FPS loss or issues on my system at all. Loving DX10... Next thing is to try and get the PMDG 777 and 737 VC's self shadowing....