I finally managed to get P3D to work, well sort of

[britfrog 180]

Well for the few of us that are messing with P3D I have finally made progress and got it to work nearly as well as FSX in DX10 mode, and believe me it isnt simple it requires quite a lot of changes in the .cfg file.

Initially using ftx england and a few FTX airports I could only fly for about 20 minutes before it just got too jerky to fly anymore , but by using a lot of the FSX .cfg mods I have managed to get it (for the moment) where I can start to enjoy it, so am installing more scenery and trying to fly longer legs.

 

I do think though that L.M. would be on a sticky wicket if someone in The uk felt that it was not fit for purpose, because it certainly is not something that you can install and run like FSX.

If anyone wants a copy of my .cfg file just yell.

I also feel that there are precious few on the LM team that have ever used FSX because some of their responses to problems are pretty amateur.

 

There is no doubt that the stock P3D has some superior facets than the stock FSX but it also has some serious problems as well

 

So for those that are sitting on the side awaiting the right moment to make the jump, the $50k question is , is it now ? and I would probably say no! unless you dont mind tinkering . there is no doubt some upgrades coming this year , but I still dont believe it will be a better product than FSX until they go 64bit, and by then they should have ironed out all the problems as well.

 

Do you feel the same? intelligent debate is welcomed

 

[Kevin Firth 114]

I disagree BF, I've found P3D2 to be pretty good in a fly and forget way, only with much prettier eye candy. I see smoother better looking views regardless of fps. I have had no need to tweak using any old FSX.cfg tweaks other than those specified in the LM manual.

On the slight downside we are within a week or so of v2.3, so while I would agree with your analysis as of v2.0 release date, most of the bugs will now be ironed out and lots of performance improvements made.

The teething troubles are over, now IS the time to jump on board P3D.

I would add only one caveat, which is because P3D2 can do so much more than FSX, I think the performance of your system will have a great effect on what kind of experience you will have.

NVidia users seem hampered by poor AA in a way AMD graphics don't. I think generally though that you will find a better experience with more capable up to date hardware.

[britfrog 180]

an interesting observation Kevin , however our p.c's are virtually identical in performance so my problem isnt there, it will be interesting to hear other peoples views. it will also be interesting to see how you see your version run if you change jobschedular from 14 to 84 (the fsx setting) it made quite a difference for me

 

[mutley 4,498]

Hi BF,

 

I haven't found it necessary to apply any fsx.cfg tweaks to my Prepar3D.cfg file so would be interested to see what changes you have made.  

 

Mind you, Kev is right with V2.3 released soon we will need to re-evaluate the performance.

 

Must say I am happy with it. 

[Paul K 22]

Nigel ( Britfrog )...I'd like to see what you have in your .cfg so I can compare it to my own, please.  

[britfrog 180]

I will post the .cfg a bit later as i am downloading aerofly FS at the moment and the cfg file is on another hard drive.

I must admit the 5 mods that I found on the LM site made my P3D useable , out of the box it was hopeless I then still had blurried scenery until the jobsheduler mod was tried that gave me a 6fps improvement, i now need to try it with FTX stuff because that made it grind to a halt before.

[Paul K 22]

There seems to be as many affinity mask settings as there are P3D users. I have a quad core with HT enabled, and have settled on:

 

 

[JOBSCHEDULER]
AffinityMask=254

 

This leaves the first physical core free for the OS ( W7 in my case ). I also sometimes set the affinity and priority in Task Manager while the sim is running. 

[dogtrack 346]

Was going to leave it until v3 was released....BUT. Have been upgrading my machine over recent weeks, bit by bit. Finally changed the Graphics Card to complete the operation.

 

Have installed v2.2  defragged and started it up...MMmmmm.  Guess I have a lot of reading and  trial & error "fiddling" ahead.

 

FSX runs like a dream though, so that's good innit !!

[britfrog 180]

as requested here is my .cfg, sorry for the delay

 

[Jobscheduler]
AffinityMask=84
[Display]
TextureMaxLoad=6
ChangeTime=4.000000
TransitionTime=4.000000
TEXTURE_FILTERING=16
MSAA=4
SSAA=0
VSYNC=1
FXAA=1
TRIPLE_BUFFER=0
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=True
InfoParkingBrakesEnable=True
InfoPauseEnable=True
InfoSlewEnable=True
InfoStallEnable=True
InfoOverspeedEnable=True
InfoWeaponSystemEnable=True
InfoCountermeasureEnable=True
SKINNED_ANIMATIONS=1
TEXTURE_BANDWIDTH_MULT=40
UPPER_FRAMERATE_LIMIT=35
WideViewAspect=True
FullScreenExclusive=True
FullScreenAutoFill=True
FullScreen=False
[sCENERY]
POP_FREE_AUTOGEN=1
AUTOGEN_BATCH_LOD=2
AUTOGEN_TREE_MAX_DRAW_DISTANCE=9500.000000
AUTOGEN_TREE_MIN_DISTANCE_TO_LOD=2500.000000
IMAGE_COMPLEXITY=5
[Main]
Fiber_Frame_Time_Fraction=0.33
User Objects=Airplane, Helicopter, Submersible, ExternalSim
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\Submersible
SimObjectPaths.7=SimObjects\Weapons
SimObjectPaths.8=SimObjects\Countermeasures
Location=440,130,1480,908,\\.\DISPLAY1
LocationFullScreen=0,0,1920,1080,\\.\DISPLAY1
Maximized=2
HideMenuNormal=0
HideMenuFullscreen=1
[PANELS]
IMAGE_QUALITY=1
PANEL_OPACITY=100
PANEL_MASKING=1
PANEL_STRETCHING=1
UNITS_OF_MEASURE=1
QUICKTIPS=0
[Weather]
WindshieldPrecipitationEffects=1
MinGustTime=10
MaxGustTime=500
MinGustRampSpeed=1
MaxGustRampSpeed=200
MinVarTime=5
MaxVarTime=50
MinVarRampSpeed=10
MaxVarRampSpeed=75
TurbulenceScale=1.000000
WeatherGraphDataInDialog=0
AdjustForMagVarInDialog=1
DynamicWeather=0
DownloadWindsAloft=0
DisableTurbulence=0
CLOUD_DRAW_DISTANCE=6
DETAILED_CLOUDS=1
OPTIMIZE_DENSE_CLOUDS=0
CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=8
THERMAL_VISUALS=0
VolumetricFog=1
[CONTROLS]
Controls_Default=Standard
Controls_Current=Standard
KBDAIL=64
KBDELEV=64
KBDRUD=64
[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_Version=1
MIPMAP_VC_PANELS=1
TESSELLATION=1
TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=4096
NUM_LIGHTS=4
COCKPIT_HIGH_LOD=1
AIRCRAFT_REFLECTIONS=1
LANDING_LIGHTS=1
DAWN_DUSK_SMOOTHING=1
LENSFLARE=0
HDR=1
BLOOM_LEVEL=2
SHADOW_QUALITY=3
TERRAIN_SHADOW_CAST_DISTANCE=4
CLOUD_SHADOW_CAST_DISTANCE=4
OBJECT_SHADOW_CAST_DISTANCE=3
CONTENT_NO_SHADOW=0
INTERIOR_SHADOWS_CAST=0
EXTERIOR_SHADOWS_CAST=0
SIMOBJECT_SHADOWS_CAST=0
TERRAIN_SHADOWS_CAST=1
VEGETATION_SHADOWS_CAST=0
BUILDING_SHADOWS_CAST=0
CLOUD_SHADOWS_CAST=1
INTERIOR_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
EXTERIOR_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
SIMOBJECT_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
TERRAIN_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=1
VEGETATION_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
BUILDING_SHADOWS_RECEIVE=0
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_LOW=4
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_MID=5
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_HIGH=7
SHADOW_NUM_CASCADES_ULTRA=12
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_LOW=0.850000
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_MID=0.850000
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_HIGH=0.850000
SHADOW_LOG_PARTITION_ULTRA=0.850000
EFFECTS_QUALITY=2
EFFECTS_DISTANCE=2
TEXTURE_QUALITY=3
IMAGE_QUALITY=0
See_Self=1
Text_Scroll=1
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti.0.0]
Mode=1920x1080x32
[DISPLAY.Device.NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti.0.1]
Mode=1680x1050x32
[uSERINTERFACE]
SHOW_MISSION_CAPTIONS=0
PAUSE_ON_LOST_FOCUS=0
PROMPT_ON_EXIT=0
SITUATION=C:\Users\nigel\Documents\Prepar3D v2 Files\soton b58
SHOW_SCENARIO_WINDOW=1
RestoreTimeOnMove=0
Map_Orientation=2
[PointOfInterestSystem]
CycleSetting=2
[sOUND]
PrimaryPlaybackDevice={DEF00000-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
VoicePlaybackDevice={DEF00002-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
VoiceCaptureDevice={DEF00003-9C6D-47ED-AAF1-4DDA8F2B5C03}
SOUND=1
SOUND_QUALITY=2
SOUND_LOD=0
UISound=1
[TrafficManager]
AirlineDensity=50
GADensity=60
FreewayDensity=15
ShipsAndFerriesDensity=10
LeisureBoatsDensity=0
IFROnly=0
AIRPORT_SCENERY_DENSITY=1
[AContain]
ShowLabels=1
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
[TERRAIN]
Swap_Wait_timeout=30
LOD_RADIUS=8.500000
TESSELLATION_FACTOR=85
MESH_RESOLUTION=23
TEXTURE_RESOLUTION=29
AUTOGEN_VEGETATION_DENSITY=2
AUTOGEN_BUILDING_DENSITY=2
DETAIL_TEXTURE=1
WATER_REFLECT_CLOUDS=1
WATER_REFLECT_USERAIRCRAFT=1
WATER_REFLECT_SIMOBJECTS=1
WATER_REFLECT_TERRAIN=0
WATER_REFLECT_AUTOGEN_VEGETATION=0
WATER_REFLECT_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS=0
WATER_REFRACT_CLOUDS=0
WATER_REFRACT_USERAIRCRAFT=0
WATER_REFRACT_SIMOBJECTS=0
WATER_REFRACT_TERRAIN=0
WATER_REFRACT_AUTOGEN_VEGETATION=0
WATER_REFRACT_AUTOGEN_BUILDINGS=0
ENABLE_BATHYMETRY=0
WATER_CLARITY=30
WATER_DETAIL=4
[ATC]
AutoOpenAirTrafficWindow=1
UsePilotVoice=1
PilotVoice=0

[iNTERNATIONAL]
ASLAT=2
ASLON=1
MEASURE=1
[REALISM]
PFactor=1.000000
Torque=1.000000
GyroEffect=1.000000
CrashTolerance=1.000000
General=1.000000
UnlimitedFuel=False
AllowEngineDamage=False
TrueAirspeed=False
AutoCoord=False
RealMixture=True
StressDamage=False
GEffect=True
ManualLights=True
GyroDrift=False
CrashWithDyn=True
CrashDetection=True
OnCrashAction=0
AutoTrim=False
[ATTACHMENTS]
WeaponHighlight=False
HighlightDuration=1.000000
AutoWeaponSwitching=False
UnlimitedWeapons=False
UnlimitedCountermeasures=False
IgnoreAttachmentWeight=True
IgnoreAttachmentForces=True
[RECORDER]
RecordAITraffic=True
RecordAirportVehicles=True
RecordLeisureBoats=True
[sIM]
SYSCLOCK=1
OPTIMIZE_PARTS=0
[sTARTUP]
DEMO=0
STARTUP_DEMO=
LOAD_SIMDIRECTOR=1
LoadWindow=1
[FACILITIES]
COUNTRY=
STATE=
CITY=
GTL_BUTTON=4096
[Misc]
Com_Rate=7
[FlightPlanMap]
LineWidth=2
[MULTIPLAYER]
condAccoutPassword=0
 

[britfrog 180]

There seems to be as many affinity mask settings as there are P3D users. I have a quad core with HT enabled, and have settled on:

 

 

[JOBSCHEDULER]

AffinityMask=254

 

This leaves the first physical core free for the OS ( W7 in my case ). I also sometimes set the affinity and priority in Task Manager while the sim is running. 

 

LOL yeah as you say however 84 works for my setup but as in all these things it is trial and error and one man's meat is another mans poison

however I will have to try 254 i hadnt come across that before

 

[mutley 4,498]

Thanks Nigel, I need to check mine.

@Arnie, I guess P3D is not running that well for you?

[dogtrack 346]

Default install, loading was atrocious Joe. Black screen for some moments. F22 appeared in sections bit by bit. then similar for the location scenery. But hey, it looked nice once it arrived.

 

No rush though, plenty to read and try. Will keep me out of mischief for a while.

[dogtrack 346]

Sorted...the jobs a good one.  No Scenery on board as yet but that's no big deal. Just need to remap my controllers via FSUIPC.  As for some obscure reason the Sim is reluctant to retain the settings across the board. 

 

Life is good as the Orange advert used to proclaim. 

[Paul K 22]

Remember that you can always experiment by altering the affinity settings while in the sim, using task manager. While you are there, you can also raise or lower P3D's priority, which I have found to have some benefit. If you get sound problems after raising the priority, try turning sound off and back on in the sim, using the Q key.

 

Also, if losing FPS after switching from one window to another ( say from P3D to Plan G etc ) - take note of this from Beau Hollis of LM :-

 

Click on the main app window and it should go back up. We have some known issues where the main app window loses focus after clicking on UI windows, context menus, and undocked prepar3D windows. The operating system the treats Prepar3D as a background app and throttles the application causing a drop in FPS and GPU utilization.

 

 

 

[britfrog 180]

FWIW i just tried the affinity at 254 and lost 8-10fps compared to 84

[dogtrack 346]

Runs better with HT off (AM14)....on my rig at least. Running without any addons except FSUIPC at this point in time. Will worry about Scenery when I have finished chopping and changing the assortment of settings. And have become comfortable finding my way around.

[Paul K 22]

FWIW i just tried the affinity at 254 and lost 8-10fps compared to 84

 

84 is the default affinity, built into P3D by LM. That is to say, if you have no Jobsheduler edit at all in the .cfg, P3D will run at the default setting of 84. It only uses three of the four physical cores ( 2, 4 and 6 if you have HT enabled, leaving the first one, core 0, free for the OS ). And yet... I get better frame rates if the 84 edit is placed in the cfg.  

 

All in all, I think its best to just try any and all permutations of core usage using Task Manager. At least you can see the results instantly in the FPS counter, and I still reckon bumping up the priority setting adds..oh..at least 1 frame per second.