P3D V4.5 Released

[wombat666]

I was not looking forward to reinstalling ORBX TrueEarth Great Britain or The Netherlands so nice to know ORBX is compatible!
However, I agree that a measured approach is the best way to go, I can wait a few weeks to avoid any angst.

 

[ejoiner]

Just uninstalled 4.4 Client only, and installed 4.5 Client. All works ok. But is it worthwhile to uninstall/reinstall the Scenery and Content as well? NC

I just asked this on the prepar3d.com site. Awaiting an answer. I did the client only update. Worked fine. I am trying to find out what I am missing if I dont update the content.

however, i find this new version to be a DOG on frame rates. Needing to retweak everything.

1. Delete prepar3d.cfg and let it build a new one.
2. "verify files" in any global Orbx FTX stuff like landclass, vector, treesHD, etc.
3. If you use PTA, you need to download the newst 2.65 version. Then apply your shader tweaks again.

4. I found that despite having a new (2 month old) PC, with high end everything, best I seem to get out of this version is @30 FPS. Thats ok for me, but I would expect better. Interestingly I get better performance leaving the sim at Unlimited FPS vs capping it at my usual 30.

Dont even think about Orbx TrueEarth scenery.
I have TE GB South and have to use a special configuration just for that.. While London looks amazing, I wish I hadnt spent the 50 bucks now. FTX England is just fine.

I found that the Carenado C-170b wont start up from cold and dark, and the wizard they have to start it up in taxi mode wont work. Carenado will have to update. I did find that if I start another aircraft like the FSX default 172, which I still fly all the time, then I can switch planes to the C-170 and it works fine.

 

[RobM]

Tacpack may not be working, and I haven't flown very long in 4.5 yet, but so far I'm pleased with this 4.5 update: the stutters and
slow loading textures (black buildings and the like) I used to get in 4.4 or earlier seem to be almost all gone. I can really notice this
if I circle around and around a plane in external view. In the same situation with the same settings, what would have been a slide
show for me in 4.4 is now as smooth as can be in 4.5.

The fps haven't changed, it's just that the stutters are gone.

I'll have to do some more flying, but so far I'm pretty happy with the result.

-RobM

 

[bazzar]

I too just installed the client and content. I too am getting woeful results with really bad stuttering and in some cases single figure frame rates over ORBX sceneries, especially True Earth.

I would have thought that the beta testers would have picked something up?

Also, why on earth this update? Why not wait until V5 and then do a "proper" upgrade with (for most) meaningful improvements. Our new releases will be 4.5 dedicated but trying to test them is a nightmare right now.

Personally, I am going to try a complete (scenery etc) install and re-align third party stuff. If that does not fix things I am going to roll back to 4.4.

BTW, as we build for 4.5, we have found there are some issues with the SDK too.

You need to get better at this LM - you really do.

 

[Navy Chief]

Tacpack may not be working, and I haven't flown very long in 4.5 yet, but so far I'm pleased with this 4.5 update: the stutters and
slow loading textures (black buildings and the like) I used to get in 4.4 or earlier seem to be almost all gone. I can really notice this
if I circle around and around a plane in external view. In the same situation with the same settings, what would have been a slide
show for me in 4.4 is now as smooth as can be in 4.5.

The fps haven't changed, it's just that the stutters are gone.

I'll have to do some more flying, but so far I'm pretty happy with the result.

-RobM

Same result here. I updated everything, Client, Content, Scenery. So far, I am pleased. NC

 

[pilto von pilto]

I wonder what this means for V5.0. EG why release a point release when pundits ( who are these people btw ? ) say that mid year V5.0 is coming. Why not lock off V4.x at 4.4 and all/any changes/addons/extras get flowed into V5.0 especially since we're ostensibly 3 months out from the "release date ".

Or do I need to stop listening to pundits and get back to work ?

 

[StormILM]

I wonder what this means for V5.0. EG why release a point release when pundits ( who are these people btw ? ) say that mid year V5.0 is coming. Why not lock off V4.x at 4.4 and all/any changes/addons/extras get flowed into V5.0 especially since we're ostensibly 3 months out from the "release date ".

Or do I need to stop listening to pundits and get back to work ?

Maybe I am wrong or simply not current on the plans but isn't 5.0 supposed to be an all new sim platform that's finally breaking free of the old code? This of course would be all current addons would be essentially useless and/or out of standards. I know we heard that with 4.0 but I am curious to see what 5.0 will actually be.

 

[Daube]

No, LM has never said anything about a new platform. The thing is:
1- They barely ever say anything at all regarding new versions anyways.
2- They just can't afford to develop a new platform. P3Dv5, if it ever appears on the market, will still be an improved FSX.
3- Some rumors say they want to simply introduce a new graphic engine, but we've got close to zero info on that.

My current hopes are quite low. I will be happy if P3Dv5 is not just P3Dv4.6.

 

[wombat666]

Or do I need to stop listening to pundits and get back to work ?

Sounds like a plan PvP.
As for the 'pundits'......would that be ScoMo and Little Bill?

 

[YoYo]

Chaseplane is ok too (after the update).

 

[Naismith]

I will be happy if P3Dv5 is not just P3Dv4.6.

The caveat there is of course, you have to buy it all over again for something that may or may not be a massive upgrade.

 

[wombat666]

Probably so Naismith but it is still likely to be less money than many of the current breed of 'additions'!
I'd be really pissed if it broke my ORBX collection just the same.
We 'students' are a hardy bunch.

 

[UnknownGuest12]

Probably so Naismith but it is still likely to be less money than many of the current breed of 'additions'!
I'd be really pissed if it broke my ORBX collection just the same.
We 'students' are a hardy bunch.

Dito...like the "additions" prices are flying high...

 

[Gregory Paul]

With the V4.5 update I noticed a new C-130J with a "Soft Panels". This one C-130J has a new panel. I'm not sure how much you can click on. Just a heads up.

 

[jeansy]

No, LM has never said anything about a new platform. The thing is:
1- They barely ever say anything at all regarding new versions anyways.
2- They just can't afford to develop a new platform. P3Dv5, if it ever appears on the market, will still be an improved FSX.
3- Some rumors say they want to simply introduce a new graphic engine, but we've got close to zero info on that.

My current hopes are quite low. I will be happy if P3Dv5 is not just P3Dv4.6.

we were warned about v4.5 months ago

I cant see a new complete platform, as it will render all addons obsolete and everyone will be at day zero, there will be so much outrage from people just like when FSW was released

even a completely new graphics engine will cause a lot of hurt as it will change how things are modelled and textured

realistically you will see new features, memory and shaders usage to a point where they will not advance further after that, it will have to become a completely new platform

the msfs code will be around for a while

 

[wombat666]

That would be 'P3D5' Matt.....we have P3D4.5 now.
I would like to think your rationale is correct but LM might just go their own way given that 'P3D' is a 'Training' program and they add whatever aircraft fits their philosify.
Of course we 'students' would be really pissed if they adopted a scorched earth policy but it is written in their TOS what is expected.

 

[Dangerous Beans]

This is interesting.

I did a full reinstall from scratch and it went well, loading times are fast and framerates also good, in the default startup flight i'm getting about 110 fps

I'm currently in the process of reinstalling all the ORBX scenery and so far have installed all the global stuff, Base, OpenLC and Vector and framerates are still about 110 fps.
As soon as I installed the free global airport pack my framerate dropped to about 85 fps even though I'm still at the default startup airport.
I confirmed that was definitely the culprit by moving the "Prepar3D v4\ORBX\Scripts\scenerylib_FTX_AA_GLOBAL_AIRPORTS.cfg" file and rerunning FTX Central to disable them and framerates where back up to 110.

So just having the free airports installed causes a framerate drop for me, very odd.

I'm carrying on installing all the regions and airports I own and testing after each one to see what causes any drops. but for now the free global airport will stay disabled.

 

[paiken]

Haven't noticed any improvements on my rig. There seems to be an issue with the ATC window, too. When I close it or try to re-size or move the window there is another window still in the original position. the only way I have been able to close it is to right click with the mouse and close the window from there. I'm not alone with this issue as I have seen it reported on the Prepar3D forums. Hoping there is some easy fix, but for now I'm ready to uninstall 4.5 and revert to 4.4.

 

[Naismith]

Haven't noticed any improvements on my rig. There seems to be an issue with the ATC window, too. When I close it or try to re-size or move the window there is another window still in the original position. the only way I have been able to close it is to right click with the mouse and close the window from there. I'm not alone with this issue as I have seen it reported on the Prepar3D forums. Hoping there is some easy fix, but for now I'm ready to uninstall 4.5 and revert to 4.4.

Just tested mine and I do not get what you are experiencing at all. I wonder if a complete uninstall/reinstall would be beneficial. I initially tried the partial install and got an error just in installing the program. I did the complete uninstall and second time it worked flawlessly. Quite impressed so far, sim seems smoother (no addons yet of course)

 

[paiken]

I finally figured it out. I had saved my Addon folder when I installed v5. Apparently something in there caused the ATC window issue. I renamed the old v4 Addon folder and am gradually moving the items there into the v5 Addon folder.