Sandy Bridge..stutters

I would try the following next. Make a backup of your cfg file, delete the original, load FSX and run the default flight to rebuild it. Then reapply only the tweaks you mentioned in the last post, plus this single Bufferpools entry: RejectThreshold=131072. I do find that I need that one. Also, be sure to try both the 8xS and the 64x4v12 AA settings. The higher one will crunch your frames toward 25-30 but can still be smooth if all else is well.

Try it locked at 25, 30 and 45fps. Ignore any stutters for the first minute or so of flying in each - even when switching in-flight - these are inevitable as the settings bed down.

PS Top timesaving tip if you've not tried it already. Save a copy of each of these display settings (25, 30, 45) under recognisable file names. Then edit these files (explorer -> documents -> FSX files) to restore any non-default settings: Eg I use 4096 clouds, and LOD 7.5. Then if you want to change your FPS lock in-game just load the relevant settings file without touching the sliders. That way you won't keep losing cloud resolution, etc. (I have also made further copies of these files with the water set to low so that you can quickly test if your water is causing a problem.)

Also, try to avoid tuning solely in an area full of your add-ons. I have found it helpful to break out and test in hong kong or somewhere where my FSX was running close to default. At least that way you'll know everything's fine without the load.

Finally, are you running anti-virus? Be sure to disable the FSX folder from scanning. Also, any weather engines acting as browsers need to be allowed unhindered access...

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
 
Ok...quick update:

...4 different drivers, all of which returned the same results: stutters. The driver that produced the fewest was the 270.61 driver. So, that has been the basis for my next few tests

...Tried HT on, and HT off. Noticed a slighty more pronounced stutter with HT off. Strange, considering most people I see say turn it off to avoid thread collisions, and run a higher overclock...

...went to a couple tweaks; Namely, turned wideviewaspect back to false. helped a little

...Applied various affinity mask settings; both with HT on and HT off. Seems that the stutter is reduced most significantly with HT on, and an affinity mask setting of 244.

...Also tried bufferpool settings. All settings I tried were poor, except for 'usepools=0'..that one seemed to help a tiny bit.

...Did a number of test flights; Over default areas as well as addons such as orbx PNW. Noticed NO difference in stutters between addon areas, and default ones. That is really, really odd. They both suffer from a micro-stutter that simply will not go away.

....messed with the sliders a lot, as well. No discernable difference in stutters or microstutters regardless of slider settings.

....Also tried different AA settings in inspector, along with the pre-rendered frames setting and nothing really had a positive impact. Only negative, as I went to lower settings, no change. Higher settings caused worse stutters.

So, I am basically looking at acquiring an EVGA GTX 580, in the hopes that my Gigabyte GTX 560Ti OC card is simply a piece of crap.....hopefully, If Ted or Benny or someone else has input that can solve this, I can save $500.

Thanks in advance!
 
Matt the 560ti has the power to run FSX very well. You could have a bad card have you tried it on any other games or simulators?
 
Agreed. There's no need to shell out any cash yet. Your stutters in default areas show that something else is holding things back, and that will likely remain the case with a slightly faster card.

There are more things to try yet. I'll send a checklist of things to try in a bit (when the kids and wife have no use for me!).

First off though, do you have a soundcard in there? If so, get that out - the integrated sound is fine and cards are known stutterers in FSX.
 
Thanks guys for the replies!

Ted: No, have not tried anything other than FSX, since the only reason this PC was purchased was for FSX...

Benny: Just using the integrated sound now, do not have a dedicated sound card
 
Another thing I have noticed, and not sure if it related, is that the red light on the top of the computer (presumably the one that indicates hard drive activity) Is constantly blinking. Even when i am not doing anything on the computer. I am currently talking to the salesguy at microcenter to see if they can swap the card for me, and that way I can rule out the possibility that i got a dud
 
Good luck with checking the card out.

If you're still having trouble when you get it back, can you double-check there is no anti-virus software busy in the background and that your FSX folder is excluded from any real-time activity?

Also, do you have FSX on a separate drive to the OS? to keep it away from any page file activity...

Then try these:

- reset your nvidiA control panel to default, and also the FSX profile in Inspector. Make sure Vsync is off. Rename your FSX.cfg file, let a new one build, and launch the default flight without making any settings changes. It should show considerable tearing, but should be very smooth despite running at the default 20fps

- If this isn't smooth check you've no unwanted processes running in the background. If you're using MSI Afterburner try right-clicking on the monitoring panel to pause the polling. If it's still not smooth then IMHO you have a hardware problem. You could try cleaning or replacing the memory, or reducing the overclock as a first step

- if the above is smooth, you know your system is OK and your battle is actually tuning. Keep vsync off for now (it introduces its own problems), don't worry about the tearing, and without adjusting any nvidiA settings start ramping up the in-game settings. You should be able to get close to max in the default Friday harbour flight (leave out light bloom, car traffic and air traffic for now). Try it at 30 and 60fps lock via FPS_Limiter and at unlimited.

- if you get big stutters during the above, check your GPU usage history in afterburner - you're probably hitting 100% every now and then. Tune down card-heavy settings (shadows and water) to back it off while the CPU is pumping so much at it. Small stutters are fine for now

- add the widescreen tweak and try again to check this has no impact

- then introduce (via inspector) vsync on, prerendered frames 0, AA at 64x4v12. Use the standard recommendations for the other inspector settings. Exception: I keep my AA ticked on-game and use inspector to Enhance it, rather than Override. I am assuming this helps the o/clocked CPU take some work away from the GPU but am not sure.

- your card will likely hate you for the above, but if you then try with various internal frame locks (ditch FPS_Limiter now) and check the GPU usage every couple of minutes you will soon get a feel for how much throttling back it needs to avoid saturating it and incurring the big stutters. Use Seattle or something to give it a fair test. You can also experiment with triple-buffering on and off but I can't see a difference.

- if this broadly nails it, you can then try tweaking via bojote's web tool (leave out the vsync obviously as your card is doing that) then building in 4096 clouds, 7.5 LOD radius, and air traffic, etc. When tuning for these changes, save a copy of your settings file for each FPS limit you want to try, as previously posted, so that you can quickly switch without losing the other settings. I settle at mid-twenties FPS smooth.

Good luck - you deserve this to work!
 
Benny,

THANK YOU sooo much for all of the good troubleshooting and tuning steps. As soon as I get the card swap done, i will set out to get testing and follow those steps to see what happens.

As far as what you have posted above, I use NOD32 antivirus, and I have it set to exclude the FSX folder and associated folders from scanning; FSX is on the same drive as the OS, as I am not proficient in partitioning or anything like that. Maybe i should add an SSD just for X.

The post that Ted put in a few up really makes me feel like I have a serious hardware issue, because his test was with very similar hardware and he has the 'buttery-smooth' flight that I am looking for, and he really didn't mention any hardcore tweaks or tuning.

So, I will be working from my laptop for a day or two while microcenter does their thing swapping my card (i can do ram, but don't feel comfortable doing the vcard) and it is warrantied, so once i get it back, I will report. Thanks again!
 
Felixthreeone said:
Maybe i should add an SSD just for X.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest getting an SSD for your OS and keeping the FSX install on it's own dedicated drive.

I've just ordered my own i7 2600k upgrade and am looking forward to seeing how FSX will run in comparison to my current (3 year old) overclocked QX9770 build.
 
Felixthreeone said:
Benny,

THANK YOU sooo much for all of the good troubleshooting and tuning steps. As soon as I get the card swap done, i will set out to get testing and follow those steps to see what happens.

As far as what you have posted above, I use NOD32 antivirus, and I have it set to exclude the FSX folder and associated folders from scanning; FSX is on the same drive as the OS, as I am not proficient in partitioning or anything like that. Maybe i should add an SSD just for X.

The post that Ted put in a few up really makes me feel like I have a serious hardware issue, because his test was with very similar hardware and he has the 'buttery-smooth' flight that I am looking for, and he really didn't mention any hardcore tweaks or tuning.

So, I will be working from my laptop for a day or two while microcenter does their thing swapping my card (i can do ram, but don't feel comfortable doing the vcard) and it is warrantied, so once i get it back, I will report. Thanks again!
Click to expand...


This is the only tweak I used:

http://www.venetubo.com/fsx.html

not one single jaggie and smooth as butterView attachment 46203
 
Ted - that's interesting. I get to the same IQ but only with the above considerations and FPS limit. Would you mind detailing your nvidiA driver version and all your inspector settings please? And what vsync solution are you using - card-based or via FSX.cfg? Many thanks.
 
OK...faster than I thought...but interesting result. I just returned fro Microcenter, where they swapped out my Gigabyte GTX 560Ti OC for an EVGA 560Ti SOC, and after getting it home and re-installing the driver and setting up FSX the way it was prior:

................NO CHANGE AT ALL. STUTTERS LIKE HELEN KELLER.

.................I give up. Done.
 
DX10 doesn't work at all for me; Makes the water look funny and all of my graphics look 'corrupted' with dx10 switched on....and IT STILL STUTTERS!:angryfir:
 
Looks like I am left with a couple other components to try. A new CPU, a new Hard drive, or different RAM. I only use it for FSX, and since it runs like crap, what is the point? Might as well throw component after component into it, until flight comes out, and runs at 1,000,000 fps and stutter free. I know the 560Ti series of cards aren't that great, but c'mon...2 different cards, both very reputable brands. Both stutter. So...maybe my cpu is fritzy, or my HD isn't up to the task....
 
Unfortunately the test unit I built at TechCorp is no longer, they tear 'em down fast and set up the next build, but the settings I think these are the settings for Nvidia Inspector I had:View attachment 46230View attachment 46231View attachment 46232

Did you run prime95 CPU test Matt? Also drop that overclock down to 3.5ghz and see what you get. FSX has an internal clock too and if your overclock is done badly or reported wrong the clock could be off and your bandwidth very slow.
Ted
 
Thanks, Ted. Yes, I actually have run several Prime95 runs, and I tend to do one after each change to speed or voltage in BIOS...

"Did you run prime95 CPU test Matt? Also drop that overclock down to 3.5ghz and see what you get. FSX has an internal clock too and if your overclock is done badly or reported wrong the clock could be off and your bandwidth very slow."

..Not sure what you mean by this....as far as my overclock, it is, at least from all of the research i have done, fairly clean and stable. It will pass prime95 blend torture test for over 12 hours, and I don't see awful temps.

..I do notice, however, that you had your inspector set to AA 'enhance application setting'? Does this mean that you had AA ticked in FSX settings? maybe I will try this and see...
 
I am seeing some progress....

With the new EVGA card, I have tried a few tweaks that I had attempted with the Gigabyte card...and the EVGA unit **SEEMS** to be responding a bit better...namely, the bufferpool setting. With the Gigabyte card, adding a bufferpool entry caused either no change, or a negative one. With the new card, however, the bufferpool entry seems to have had a slight smoothing effect on the stutters.

I am, at this point, focusing on the inspector settings, as well as the config settings that relate directly to the video card (i.e. the vsync, BP, AA, and texture bandwidth etc) and as soon as I am satisfied on some level of thoroughness, I will report my findings.
 
WoooooooHoooooooo!!!!!

...After much trial, error, tweaking, tuning, researching, testing, beer drinking, head scratching, headaches, nausea, vomiting, cheering, yelling, and other odd behavior, I have, at last, solved this!!!!

...The short story is as follows:

Did a ton of research into FSX inner workings, and got a better idea of how it works. So I set about applying the usual tweaks that are posted all over FSX forums everywhere, after researching each one, and studying its merits and drawbacks.

After a TON of trial and error, narrowed down the tweaks that actually DID something for me: affinity mask, bufferpool=0. I am currently using an affinity mask of 12, and I will continue to experiment with 14 and 15 also. And bufferpool=0, because every other BP setting was a no-go.

Now....after making it that far, I was still getting stutters, albeit reduced stutters....so, I thought 'hey, man...this setup MUST be able to run better than this!'...and did a bit more research about the rendering from the GPU, its feed from the cpu, etc...

And, incidentally, Ted's post a few back really got me thinking...SO...I used my MSI afterburner to monitor GPU usage, and set up invidia inspector with a few changes.

I changed the anti-aliasing setting to 'enhance application setting', and ticked the AA box inside FSX. Then, I changed the anisotropic filtering setting in inspector to none (same as use application), and changed the setting in FSX to anisotropic. Finally, I set the vsync setting in inspector to 'use the 3d application setting' , and added the vsync lines into the FSX cfg directly.



.....The result? At 30fps, the smoothest flight experience I have ever had since getting this new PC. It is AMAZING!!! Any stutters that do show up are so minor they are almost invisible...you REALLY have to be looking for them in order to see them!!

As of now i am still testing with different aircraft, in different areas, and so far, I have been able to max out pretty much every slider (except ai, since I use UTII), and I am astounded at what I am seeing. The help and advice of other people on this forum really made a difference, and I appreciate it very much!
 
Glad you got it up and running,Matt. Now you can enjoy FSX as it's meant to be.:applause:



I got my i7 upgrade parts this week too. I'm considering keeping my current rig "as is" as a backup rig and getting a new case,gfx,cooler,fans,SSD,hard drives,optical drives and psu for the new build...but Mrs KD isn't too keen on the idea of yet another d**n pc about the house! :kilroy::icon_lol::icon29:
 
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