|
The "FIRST" and
"FOREMOST" thing to remember before applying any "tweak"
in Flight Simulator X is always remember to backup your important files
first! Should
your "tweaking" attempt fail, you will always have the
original file to revert to. This could prevent a complete de-install and
re-install of Flight Simulator X . There are several files and folders that
you will need to backup first. These files and folders are listed in the
following sections. I recommend copying these folders to DVD-RW's,
a temp folder or another hard drive.
The first place I like to start
is by modifying the fsx.cfg file. Many people are intimidated by
modifying this file, but not to worry. If you backed-up your file, let's
get started. Double-click
on the fsx.cfg file (for the location of this file, see the text
below). If you are prompted to select a program to open the file, select
"Notepad". The sections in the fsx.cfg file are categorized by sections stated
in brackets.
i.e. [MAIN]
FILE/FOLDER NAME: fsx.cfg file
fsx.cfg File Locations
* = This file may reside on a different drive.
WINDOWS VISTA USERS:
Located in Desktop\[Your Computer Name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX\fsx.cfg
(see below *)
WINDOWS
XP USERS:
Located in C:\Documents and Settings\[Your Computer Name]\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX\fsx.cfg
(see below *) |
This file can only be accessed
by opening your "Computer" (Windows Vista) or "My
Computer" (Windows XP), then clicking on the "Tools"
tab, then "Folder Options", then "View".
Make sure that you have checked the box next to "Hidden Files and
Folders" and "Show Hidden Files and Folders".
 |
To reduce the blurries, Microsoft
has reworked how Flight Simulator X scheduler prioritizes background tasks
in FSX. Now much more CPU time is devoted to loading scenery data, including
terrain textures, at the expense of somewhat lower frame rates. In my opinion,
this change has mostly solved this cause of the blurries, although the scenery
loader can still get behind at extremely low frame rates (less than 10 fps)
or at very large airspeeds (faster than 600 knots).
There are several ways to adjust how
much CPU time FS devotes to loading scenery and textures. The easiest way
is to set the target frame rate slider to a value that your machine can
consistently achieve. The lower you set the slider, the more CPU time is
diverted from rendering to loading data. Another thing you can do is to
modify the following variable in FSX.CFG:
| FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=n
[ n = 0.01 - 0.99 ] |
This variable determines the amount
of CPU time given to loading scenery data as a fraction of the time spent
rendering. For example, the default value of 0.33 means that for every 3
milliseconds spent rendering, FS will give 1 millisecond to the scenery
loader. If necessary, you can use a larger value to devote more time to
loading (any number between 0.01 and 0.99). Or, if you don't have a problem
with the blurries and you want slightly higher frame rates, then you can
use a smaller value.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it: Insert a line directly under the [MAIN] section and enter
| FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.33 |
Experiment with the number entered
here and adjust them to your taste for a balance of quality & speed.
It has been reported that for true photo scenery depending on your PC specifications,
you may need to set this value as high as
0.50 or
even 0.66.
* * * For Dual Core Users *
* *
I have found that a setting of
0.01 - 0.20 will allow you to have your Autogen set to "Very
Dense" and maintain a Frame rates of 20 - 100 FPS rate (depending
on your area of flight - FPS will be higher in rural areas and lower in
large cities).
My FS is set to:
| FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.33 |
|
Since the release of SP1
and the software modifications allowing FSX to operate utilizing multi-cores,
the default value of TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT (40) should be lowered.
In the past we would have had to increase this value, since FS used to operate
utilizing only 1 processor (on multi-core machines). How much you can decrease
this value before you start to experience side effects such as increased
stuttering depends on your system, particularly the amount and type of main
memory, the type of graphics card and the amount of graphics card memory.
I recommend a setting of 30.
| TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=n
[ n = 1 - 400 ] |
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it: Under the [DISPLAY] section, change this line
to read
| TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=30 |
|
Turn off the red warning text message
for brakes, pause, etc.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Under the [DISPLAY] section, change this following lines to read
InfoBrakesEnable=False
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=False
InfoPauseEnable=False
InfoSlewEnable=False
InfoStallEnable=False
InfoOverspeedEnable=False |
You are changing anything that
reads "True" to
"False"
My FS is set to:
InfoBrakesEnable=False
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=True
InfoPauseEnable=False
InfoSlewEnable=True
InfoStallEnable=False
InfoOverspeedEnable=True |
|
This tweak adjusts the number of
Autogen objects are rendered in Flight Simulator X. The values I recommend
below are what I am currently using and I have had substantial increases
in frame rates without sacrificing Scenery Quality.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Insert the following (2) lines
directly under the [TERRAIN] section.
TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_TREES_PER_CELL=n
TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS_PER_CELL=n2
| n = 1 -
3000
n2 = 1
- 5000 |
|
Replace the numbers with a number
between 0 and 6000. The lower the number, the fewer autogen objects will
get displayed and the greater your frame rates might be. The actual number
used by FSX will scale based on your Autogen Density Slider in FSX. In other
words, the slider still has an effect, this just changes the scale of the
slider. I have found that using 400 in
the TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_TREES_PER_CELL section and 3000 in the TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS_PER_CELL section gives a nice balance
of speed and quality. However, I prefer more speed, therefore I have adjusted
this setting as listed below:
My FS is set to:
TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_TREES_PER_CELL=300
TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS_PER_CELL=500 |
|
This tweak disables FSX from preloading
the default flight to reduce load time once you click "Fly Now".
If you change settings or start location, the preloading process starts
over again.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Add the following to the [Main] section.
|
This tweak helps reduce the popping
& stuttering that you may be experiencing when turning or panning around
your aircraft from the outside view by adding the [BUFFERPOOLS] command. The Bufferpool is the amount of memory used by the system
to quickly re-introduce textures.
The default value for SP1
is 4000000, however to help reduce the
stutter even more, you can use any value above 4000000. Some users are even
using settings as high as 12000000.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Add the following command:
My FS is set to:
[BUFFERPOOLS]
PoolSize=12000000 |
|
This tweak sets FSX to accept multi-core
systems by adding the [JOBSCHEDULER] command. There are several
variants that can be applied to the settings depending on if you have single,
dual, tri or quad-core system.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Add the following command:
[JOBSCHEDULER]
AffinityMask=n
| n= |
# of Cores |
| 1 |
1 core 0001 |
| 3 |
2 cores 0011 |
| 7 |
3 cores 0111 |
| 15 |
4 cores 1111 |
|
"n" refers to the number of cores on your system that
are scheduled.
Refer to the table below:
Since I am utilizing an AMD Dual-Core
Processor on my system, my FS is set to:
[JOBSCHEDULER]
AffinityMask=3 |
|
As written by "snave"
on the High Flight Forum.
This tweak instructs the sim which
mip level to display at and is directly related to the slider GLOBAL TEXTURE
RESOLUTION in the sim.
Simple test of this menu setting:
Make changes to the GLOBAL TEXTURE
RESOLUTION then quit the sim, open the .cfg and see the changes represented.
For a physical representation in the sim, go to the default Cessna VC and
go to the switch panel, either through preset camera view or by changing
the viewpoint and see the difference in clarity on the fonts displayed when
you change the values in the GLOBAL TEXTURE RESOLUTION. Go back to the normal
F9 VC view and making changes to the slider will also allow you to see what
is changed - clouds, panel res, and autogen all briefly disappear, then
re-display at the chosen resolution.
For most modern graphic cards 1024
is the correct setting, and is necessary to display the VC in full clarity.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Add the following to the [GRAPHICS] section.
[GRAPHICS]
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=n
| n= |
Corresponding Global Texture
Settings
within FSX |
| 64 |
 |
| 128 |
 |
| 256 |
 |
| 512 |
 |
| 1024 |
 |
|
Refer to the table below:
Since I am utilizing an nVidia
GeForce 8800GT DDR3 512MB graphics card on my system, with a balance of
performance and detail, my FS is set to:
[GRAPHICS]
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=512 |
|
This tweak informs FSX to only
draw Autogen scenery that is larger than a specific size. FSX default setting
is to draw objects that are 2 pixels and larger in the Autogen. This tweak
will raise the minimum size of Autogen to be displayed. Changing this value
may result in some popping (items being displayed for fractions of a second),
however the performance improvement is well worth the slight, if any distraction.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Add the following to the [SCENERY] section.
[SCENERY]
SmallPartRejectRadius=n
|
"n" refers to the size of Autogen objects to be displayed.
FSX default is "2".
My FS is set to:
[SCENERY]
SmallPartRejectRadius=3 |
|
This tweak appears to act as an
adjustment of the autogen image complexity and detail. However, some forums
state that this tweak has no effect at all. However, I have found that it
does helps in increasing frame rates.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Add the following to the [MAIN] section.
[MAIN]
PerfBuckets=n
| # |
Setting |
| 1 |
Minimal |
| 2 |
Very Low |
| 3 |
Low |
| 4 |
Medium Low |
| 5 |
Medium High |
| 6 |
High |
| 7 |
Ultra High |
|
|
"n" refers to the setting. FSX default is "6".
My FS is set to:
|
This tweak helps to reduce blurries.
If you get random texture tiles that appear in a solid color this may help.
In some cases, the textures generated from this code can get throttled and
will be timed out.
Should you choose to use this "tweak",
here's how to do it:
Add the following to the [TERRAIN] section:
[MAIN]
SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=n
|
"n" refers to the number of frames per second time
out value. FSX default is "30".
My FS is set to:
[MAIN]
SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=30 |
|
This technically isn't a tweak.
This refers to any additional directories that you might have aircraft stored
in besides the default SimObjects directory.
Should you choose to use this,
here's how to do it:
Add the following to the [TERRAIN] section.
[MAIN]
SimObjectsPaths.n=a
| n = The next number in sequence
a = The alternate aircraft location directory |
|
Since I have additional aircraft
located in Microsoft Flight Simulator X/Aircraft directory, my FS is set
to:
[MAIN]
SimObjectPaths.6=Aircraft |
|
Here is my fsx.cfg file for
reference & comparison.
All items bolded in Red have been modified
from the default FSX.cfg file
Click the PDF icon for an Acrobat file of this
fsx.cfg file
[JOBSCHEDULER]
AffinityMask=3
[SOUND]
AmbientUIMusicVolume=-6.000000
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
UISound=1
AmbientUI=0
PrimaryDevice={70816782-1A36-46EB-9A56-6A0143B5113B}
VoiceDevice={70816782-1A36-46EB-9A56-6A0143B5113B}
SOUND_FADER1=0.250000
SOUND_FADER2=0.500000
SOUND_FADER3=0.500000
SOUND_FADER4=1.000000
AmbientUIMusic=FSX01
[Display]
ChangeTime=4.000000
TransitionTime=4.000000
ActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
ActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=0,28,140,64
NonActiveWindowTitleTextColor=255,255,255
NonActiveWindowTitleBackGroundColor=24,33,87,64
InfoUpperRightTextColor=255,0,0
InfoUpperRightBackGroundColor=0,0,0,0
InfoLowerLeftTextColor=255,255,255
InfoLowerLeftBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoLowerRightTextColor=255,255,255
InfoLowerRightBackGroundColor=255,0,0,128
InfoBrakesEnable=False
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=True
InfoPauseEnable=False
InfoSlewEnable=True
InfoStallEnable=False
InfoOverspeedEnable=True
BLOOM_EFFECTS=0
SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=30
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=30
WideViewAspect=True
pan_rate=200
[Main]
FIBER_FRAME_TIME_FRACTION=0.33
User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter
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=Aircraft
HideMenuNormal=0
HideMenuFullscreen=1
PerfBucket=7
Location=0,0,1680,1050,\\.\DISPLAY1
Maximized=1
ProcSpeed=5743
[PANELS]
IMAGE_QUALITY=1
QUICKTIPS=1
PANEL_OPACITY=100
PANEL_MASKING=1
PANEL_STRETCHING=1
UNITS_OF_MEASURE=0
DEFAULT_VIEW=1
[Weather]
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1
MinGustTime=10
MaxGustTime=500
MinGustRampSpeed=1
MaxGustRampSpeed=200
MinVarTime=5
MaxVarTime=50
MinVarRampSpeed=10
MaxVarRampSpeed=75
TurbulenceScale=1.000000
WeatherServerAddress=fs2k.zone.com
WeatherServerPort=80
WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0
AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1
DynamicWeather=0
DownloadWindsAloft=1
DisableTurbulence=0
CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=3
DETAILED_CLOUDS=0
CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=5
THERMAL_VISUALS=0
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce 9800
GT .0]
Mode=1680x1050x32
Anisotropic=1
AntiAlias=1
[CONTROLS]
Controls_Default=Standard
Controls_Current=Standard
KBDAIL=64
KBDELEV=64
KBDRUD=64
force_master_gain=10000
force_stick_force_enabled=1
force_stick_shaker_enabled=1
force_gear_bump_enabled=1
force_crash_enabled=1
force_ground_bumps_enabled=1
[TextInfo.1]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6
[TextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
LockedFrameRate=1,2
GForce=1,3
FuelPercentage=1,4
[TextInfo.3]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
WindDirectionAndSpeed=1,6
FrameRate=2,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
GForce=2,3
FuelPercentage=2,4
[SlewTextInfo.1]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
[SlewTextInfo.2]
FrameRate=1,1
LockedFrameRate=1,2
[SlewTextInfo.3]
Latitude=1,1
Longitude=1,2
Altitude=1,3
Heading=1,4
AirSpeed=1,5
FrameRate=2,1
LockedFrameRate=2,2
[DynamicHeadMovement]
LonAccelOnHeadLon=-0.020000
LonAccelOnHeadPitch=-0.010000
RollAccelOnHeadLat=0.010000
YawAccelOnHeadLat=-0.100000
RollAccelOnHeadRoll=0.100000
MaxHeadAngle=5.000000
MaxHeadOffset=0.300000
HeadMoveTimeConstant=1.000000
[VirtualCopilot]
VirtualCopilotActive=0
[GRAPHICS]
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED=1693500672
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=4096 (Required setting for REX - Recommend 512 for normal
FSX Setting)
NUM_LIGHTS=8
AIRCRAFT_SHADOWS=1
AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1
COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1
LANDING_LIGHTS=1
AC_SELF_SHADOW=0
EFFECTS_QUALITY=2
GROUND_SHADOWS=0
TEXTURE_QUALITY=3
IMAGE_QUALITY=0
See_Self=1
Text_Scroll=1
SHADER_CACHE_PRIMED_10=1693500672
D3D10=0
[USERINTERFACE]
PageID=1
OpenATCOnCreate=0
SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0
PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=1
PROMPT_ON_EXIT=1
SITUATION=
Map_Orientation=2
ShowAllACPaintSchemes=1
SelectAircraftManufacturer=All
SelectAircraftPublisher=All
SelectAircraftType=All
DisplayFuelAsWeight=0
[ATC]
ShowATCText=1
COMM_MSG_NONE_COLOR=FFFFFFFF
COMM_MSG_ATC_USER_COLOR=FFB6FFB6
COMM_MSG_USER_ATC_COLOR=FFFFD21B
COMM_MSG_ATC_AI_COLOR=FF00FF00
COMM_MSG_AI_ATC_COLOR=FFFF7840
AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=1
UsePilotVoice=1
PilotVoice=0
[PointOfInterestSystem]
CycleSetting=0
[SCENERY]
SmallPartRejectRadius=3
LENSFLARE=0
DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1
IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=3
[TrafficManager]
AirlineDensity=25
GADensity=25
FreewayDensity=0
ShipsAndFerriesDensity=0
LeisureBoatsDensity=0
IFROnly=0
AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=0
[TERRAIN]
SWAP_WAIT_TIMEOUT=30
TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_TREES_PER_CELL=300
TERRAIN_MAX_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS_PER_CELL=500
LOD_RADIUS=4.500000
MESH_COMPLEXITY=80
MESH_RESOLUTION=20
TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=25
AUTOGEN_DENSITY=3
DETAIL_TEXTURE=1
WATER_EFFECTS=4
[AContain]
ShowLabels=0
ShowUserLabel=0
ShowLabelManufacturer=1
ShowLabelModel=1
ShowLabelTailNumber=0
ShowLabelDistance=1
ShowLabelAltitude=1
ShowLabelAirline=0
ShowLabelAirlineAndFlightNumber=0
ShowLabelFlightPlan=0
ShowLabelContainerId=0
ShowLabelAirspeed=0
ShowLabelHeading=0
LabelDelay=1000
LabelColor=FFFF0000
[INTERNATIONAL]
ASLAT=2
ASLON=1
MEASURE=0
[REALISM]
PFactor=1.000000
Torque=1.000000
GyroEffect=1.000000
CrashTolerance=1.000000
General=1.000000
UnlimitedFuel=False
TrueAirspeed=False
AutoCoord=False
RealMixture=True
StressDamage=True
GEffect=True
ManualLights=True
GyroDrift=True
CrashWithDyn=True
CrashDetection=True
AutoTrim=False
AllowEngineDamage=True
[SIM]
SYSCLOCK=1
[STARTUP]
DEMO=0
SHOW_OPENING_SCREEN=1
STARTUP_DEMO=
LoadWindow=1
[FACILITIES]
COUNTRY=
STATE=
CITY=
GTL_BUTTON=1244
[Misc]
Com_Rate=7
[BUFFERPOOLS]
PoolSize=12000000
[AccelerationPack]
ControlsFirstRun=0
HomePageFirstRun=0
[Trusted]
[FlightPlanMap]
LineWidth=2
SHOW_AIRPORTS=1
SHOW_VORS=1
SHOW_NDBS=1
SHOW_APPROACHES=1
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=1
SHOW_VICTOR=0
SHOW_JET=0
SHOW_AIRSPACE=1
SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1
SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1
SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1
SHOW_DATATAGS=1
SHOW_TERRAIN=1
show_waypoints=1
show_airways=1
show_markers=1
show_volume_boundaries=1
show_ac_twr=1
[MAPVIEW_MAP]
SHOW_AIRPORTS=1
SHOW_VORS=1
SHOW_NDBS=1
SHOW_APPROACHES=1
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0
SHOW_VICTOR=0
SHOW_JET=0
SHOW_AIRSPACE=1
SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1
SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1
SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1
SHOW_DATATAGS=1
SHOW_TERRAIN=1
show_flight_history=1
[RWW_WEATHER_MAP]
SHOW_AIRPORTS=0
SHOW_VORS=0
SHOW_NDBS=0
SHOW_APPROACHES=0
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0
SHOW_VICTOR=0
SHOW_JET=0
SHOW_AIRSPACE=0
SHOW_FLIGHTPLAN=1
SHOW_WEATHERSTATIONS=1
SHOW_WEATHERSYSTEMS=1
SHOW_DATATAGS=1
SHOW_TERRAIN=1
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce 9800
GT .0]
Mode=1680x1050x32
AntiAlias=1
Anisotropic=1
[MULTIPLAYER]
condAccoutPassword=0
VoiceVolume=2.000000 |
|
|
|