Jump to content

what weather addon combinations are you all using these days?


Recommended Posts

I was using REX Essential for a long time...the additional textures are great.  I went down the ASN path for my weather engine 12 months ago, and wouldn't go back, and still use REX Essential for textures.  Was looking to REX4 for overall improvement but I think it's only marginal.

 

Most of the Mutley Crew / Mods use the ASN / REX Essential combination.

 

Cheers

Andrew

Link to post
Share on other sites

same as above, I use REX+ overdrive for textures with ASN for the weather input, in P3D I use just REX+ Overdrive for both, only because I have not changed to ASN since v2.5 update.

Wayne

Link to post
Share on other sites

I like to fly and I dislike using to much time/energy on setting up things and reading manuals, so i go simple and fast and it works really well. I use Fsglobal real weather as a weather machine and some HD freware cloud textures. Sometimes, I use the soft clouds, but mostly because the one texture they install is low quality resolution and so, it runs lighter on fps.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I used to use Opus but switched to AS Next - I cant begin to describe the improvement, AS is superb.  Later I added soft clouds, this provides a subtle change, but in rain the difference is great, at lower levels you get those rain clouds that have indistinct edges. It is so life like, highly recommended.  

Link to post
Share on other sites

I find that the weather engine is a lot more important than textures. A good weather engine will make even default cloud and sky textures look great and remember that a lot of complex real weather layers with high resolution cloud textures means serious fps drop.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I went the freeware route for awhile but then went with REX Essentials w/Overdrive, during a sale and was happy as a dog in a fire hydrant store. :D 

 

I will try ASN one day since so many people seem happy with it (minus the wake turbulence which I believe they just improved somewhat). I always enjoy trying something new just for the change itself. :) 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok thanks guys all very interesting responses. I just got the rex 4 texture direct in the sale and already have soft clouds - next step is to try active sky next.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Tried active sky next and ended up buying it :) I only had OpusFSX (not the updated version) and it didn't perform as well with dense cloud coverage and frames.

ASN on the other hand performs a lot better and the overcast actually looks correct - I love all the additional features like turbulence caused by other aircraft and also the vast amount of other options too.

Opus was good but I never use the camera features as I have EZdok. So if someone was asking what I'd recommend now it would be rex texture direct and active sky next.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for your input Jim, hopefully it will help others searching for a great combination of weather addons..

It is just my opinion tho and extensive testing has not been performed. Like everything related to FSX every setup is different and performance varies from one piece of kit to another.

I try and grab every frame with my old dinosaur machine, so if a piece of software enables any benefit then for me it's worth every penny.

The thing I realised too tonight as well is if you turn RND off in EZDok but keep DHM on - your head moves with the turbulence. Having this with ASN and the A2A cherokee I was in heaven ;)

Thanks for listening to me babbling.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Once Active Sky Next came out (ASN) most of our customers blended that superior weather engine with the REX texture sets and many have sworn by that. So the ASN/REX combination appears to be the most popular from what I have seen/heard. It can take a bit of a performance hit running the two together or lower-end systems, but that was more evident for those that were using the higher-res textures from the REX Set.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Add one more to the ASN/Rex 4 Texture Direct combo.. still not on the soft clouds wagon though, although I'm considering it...

I've got soft clouds too and in combination of them all it really makes the sim come alive.

I go for 2048 textures as I have an old pc - runs really well in dense cloud.

Link to post
Share on other sites

 

Add one more to the ASN/Rex 4 Texture Direct combo.. still not on the soft clouds wagon though, although I'm considering it...

I've got soft clouds too and in combination of them all it really makes the sim come alive.

I go for 2048 textures as I have an old pc - runs really well in dense cloud.

 

 

I think I even had to scale back to 1024 textures in order to maintain good frame rates with dense cloud cover...

 

Trying to convince my dear wife that it's time to replace my old PC as well, but I can't really defend the cost for the specs I want ;)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Haha exactly the same buddy - spec'd up a machine I'd be happy with and it came to about 800 quid lol. My mrs said I can start a new pc fund but you know how it goes - higher priority stuff takes that away.

Feeling your pain :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

My cat had no objections to a new PC. Cats are awesome that way. She even thought my choice of replacement CPU was PURRfectly fine. Cats are so easy.

 

I am definitely thinking of picking up that ASNext, and I have already spoken to the cat about it, and she had no objections to that either...sweet.

 

Really starting to enjoy flying in inclement-er weather these days. The PrecipitX addon, and the Accu-feel addon purchased on sale recently from A2A made it all seem more present too. Looks like ASN includes more than just prettier clouds but also more realistic microburst/thermal/sink effects...sounds fun.

 

Unfortunately, it will have to wait for some wallet recovery...after the ORBx sale. Jeesshh...that whacked hell out of a paycheck. :( But such cool new places :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Like I said I use REX / ASN misture and I am very happy, are there any good shots posted of soft clouds and could a user explain what they do....

 

I built a machine about 18 months ago, cost about £730 quid, its not the best but it runs suffuiciently with the likes of REX, ASN, FTX GLOBAL / VECTOR, HD TREES etc, looked at a 2gb GTX960 for £169 today but not sure if it would change that much, I have FSXSE and P3D running fine with my old GTX650 at the momemt, we could just keep spending, it takes some will power to say no.....

 

Wayne

Link to post
Share on other sites

So, I took the plunge and picked up Soft Clouds at a nice discount... very nice!!!

 

Haha exactly the same buddy - spec'd up a machine I'd be happy with and it came to about 800 quid lol. My mrs said I can start a new pc fund but you know how it goes - higher priority stuff takes that away.

Feeling your pain :)

 

800 quid I could probably get away with, my machine I toyed with ended up in the $2.200 region   ;)

 

My cat had no objections to a new PC. Cats are awesome that way. She even thought my choice of replacement CPU was PURRfectly fine. Cats are so easy.

 

I am definitely thinking of picking up that ASNext, and I have already spoken to the cat about it, and she had no objections to that either...sweet.

 

Really starting to enjoy flying in inclement-er weather these days. The PrecipitX addon, and the Accu-feel addon purchased on sale recently from A2A made it all seem more present too. Looks like ASN includes more than just prettier clouds but also more realistic microburst/thermal/sink effects...sounds fun.

 

Unfortunately, it will have to wait for some wallet recovery...after the ORBx sale. Jeesshh...that whacked hell out of a paycheck. :( But such cool new places :)

Just you wait until those purchases starts to lead to diminishing cat food supplies in your house.. then you'll be in big trouble   ;)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...