FSUIPC VERSION 3.3 Peter please take a look

[JAG007]

:D Hi there ,

Theres something ive just found out by playing about with FS2004.Once the sim is loaded and running everything is I guess ok. However I noticed that when I went into the FSUIPC module and well not even changed anything and then simply came back into FS2004 the frame rates had dramaticlly increased. Itw as so smooth. However this doesnt seem to last a long time.

Im not sure theres a reason for FSUIPC doing this and as I dont know much about PC HARDware and access times to bus bars and all that kinda stuff im just wondering if it might be related to how the PC uses FSUIPC . Its starnge because once youve seen how smooth the sim can fly just by simply looking into FSUIPC you kinda wanna do it every 5 mins or less all the time.

Have u any ideas why it behaves like this

:?

[Pete Dowson]

I noticed that when I went into the FSUIPC module and well not even changed anything and then simply came back into FS2004 the frame rates had dramaticlly increased. Itw as so smooth. However this doesnt seem to last a long time.

You mean, into FSUIPC options dialogues? ALT M F? When you say "doesn't seem to last a long time", how long do you mean?

Do you get the same effect with other Menu items? after all, all FSUIPC options does it effectively stop FS for a while whilst Windows runs the standard dialogue code. All of the other FS menus are basically the same, except they are using fancy DirectX graphics whilst mine is standard Windows.

... just wondering if it might be related to how the PC uses FSUIPC .

The PC doesn't "use FSUIPC". FSUIPC just bolts itself into FS, it is just another component of FS like all the others. And, unless you have some applications actually using it, it doesn't even do much most of the time.

Its starnge because once youve seen how smooth the sim can fly

I would be quite concerned that you've not got smooth flight in any case. There should be no reason for any jerky flights. Maybe you have something else going on in your system?

How exactly are you observing "smooth" as opposed towhat, exactly? Jerky? How frequent and severe are your "normal" stutters or jerks? What else have you got running as well as FS, and what are you using FSUIPC for? What is your hardware, and what have you set the FS frame rate limiter to? Oh, and are you using Win98 or WinXP, or something else?

Regards,

Pete

[JAG007]

Peter,

Your absolutley right its not FSUIPC . Even if I go into any of the other pull downs and then simply go back to FS2004 it runs just as smooth. The the problem if any lies some where else. I guess when you pause or just go to one of the menus the PC/FS2004 ALL HAVE TIME TO THINK/CALM DOWN AND catch up. Then obviously when the sim starts again everything is smooth. Im not really complainging that things are un fly able I just noticed a real smooth ness after coming out of FSUIPC . But as I can see its not the problem.

Thankyou very much for replying so quickly.

Kinda makes me wanna play about with things in FS2004 TO TRY AND GET THINGS PERFECT. bUT THAT i THINK Ill be doing for a long time.

I use AS2004 THE WEATHER generator program. Im never to sure what to se with this in FSUIPC although Im gonna go check the manual as im sure theres something there coving it.However saying that theres no dam clouds anyway when I start and still it gets a tad laggy.

My Frame rate was set at 30. Im reduced it to 25FPS.

tO BE HONEST i COULD DO WITH SOME PROGRAM THAT MONITORES fs2004 fps FOR set flights eg Heathrow to Glasgow and keep doing them to see how well they perform. Now of any such Program ???

Once Again Thankyou very much for the quick reply

Regards Juan :D

[Pete Dowson]

Your absolutley right its not FSUIPC . Even if I go into any of the other pull downs and then simply go back to FS2004 it runs just as smooth.

For how long? One second, one minute, 5 minutes? There might be a clue there.

The the problem if any lies some where else. I guess when you pause or just go to one of the menus the PC/FS2004 ALL HAVE TIME TO THINK/CALM DOWN AND catch up.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

No, I don't think things work quite like that. But it may have something to do with message queues or memory allocations. Are you running a complex add-on aircraft panel by any chance? Some of those are prone to piling up messages. Do you have at least 512 Mb of main memory? If not it might be worth increasing it to at least 512. With Windows XP and any add-on programs also running I'd go for 1 Gb anyway.

I use AS2004 THE WEATHER generator program.

Is this behaviour the same when you don't run AS2004? Maybe it holds off whilst you are in menus, and takes a while before starting again?

tO BE HONEST i COULD DO WITH SOME PROGRAM THAT MONITORES fs2004 fps FOR set flights eg Heathrow to Glasgow and keep doing them to see how well they perform. Now of any such Program ???

I wouldn't recommend any such thing even if I knew of one. I think you are making a mistake watching the frame rate counter. Turn it off and just see if the flight feels smooth. The frame rate does not tell you if it is smooth or not. I've had great flights where it rarely got outside 10-15 and terribly jerky ones where the frame rate was never below 30. Frame rate is not a measure of smoothness, and it is misleading to watch it.

Regards,

Pete

[JAG007]

Ok I did I quick flight around Bristil Airport. If I go into the FSUIPC DIALOG BOX OR EVEN any of the FS2004 pulldowns when ever I go back to the sim it basically stays pretty smooth for about 3 mins or so. There is definately a change in smoothness when u go back into the sim.

Im using 1GB Memeory Running Windows XP pro . I am using the PMDG 737NG AND ALSO THE pss Dash 8 . To be honest I havent even tried the good old 737 that u get with FS2004. Might see what happens with that.

Actually I was observing all of this without AS2004 even running. I know the manual says to set all FSUIPC settings to default. It says you can play about with the smoothness of visability but just now it looks fine if I ever have to use AS2004.

The only reason I was looking at the Frame rate per second was for info only. Smoothness im sure is what the eye sees as something that is constant. Whether its at 12 fps or 35. Once your eye gets used to seeing the same frame rate it will eventually look smooth. However Im not exactly to sure what to be doing with my frame rate slider. Some people have it here and there and every where. I tried 30fps.... then Unlimited but I would have to look into this more to actually see which is best for the flying and my pc.

Im on the case

Regards Juan

[Pete Dowson]

when ever I go back to the sim it basically stays pretty smooth for about 3 mins or so. There is definately a change in smoothness when u go back into the sim.

For 3 minutes!? Phew!. I cannot imagine what would be 'held off' for that long. Certainly with 1Gb memory it shouldn't really be down to the memory getting tidied up.

I am using the PMDG 737NG AND ALSO THE pss Dash 8 . To be honest I havent even tried the good old 737 that u get with FS2004. Might see what happens with that.

Yes, try that. The slow down (not the speed up) could possibly be due to the message queue getting heavily laden with panel commands. The advanced panels in these add-ons seem to do a lot of that.

However Im not exactly to sure what to be doing with my frame rate slider. Some people have it here and there and every where. I tried 30fps.... then Unlimited but I would have to look into this more to actually see which is best for the flying and my pc.

Microsoft's recommendation is to fly with it set to "unlimited" and observe your average frame rate, with the sort of aircraft and scenery you normally use. Then set the slider a bit below that value. This helps the sim keep 'up' to that rate, therefore making it smoother, and also allows more time for other things to happen rather than it spending all of its time only re-drawing scenery -- for instance, the AI traffic may get more attention, things like that.

However, there are some different recommendations. For instance, the UK VFR scenery is said to run best with the slider set to unlimited, otherwise I think it implies that the "fuzzy" look appears more regularly.

If you use my WideFS I recommend setting it low enough for WideServer to operate smoothly in relation to the frame rates expected on the Client PCs. Also, I expect the limiter would also come in useful for those trying to use FS to play back flights from external applications.

Regards,

Pete

[JAG007]

Well Pete u clearly know a hell of a lot about FS2004/2002/2000 And we could go on forever. But im gonna have a good go at everything u have said and try my best to get things running AOK.

Have a good flight

JAG007

Juan :) :) :) :) :)

[RichD]

Pete's "Da Man". gave up watching fps a long time ago. However, I use both PMDG 737 AND PSS Dash 8. PMDG 737 a real system hogger and thats before pulling down the menu, but the dash 8 is ok, and my system ain't the latest by 2 years.

I'm not going to suggest a fix because I'm not qualified, just wanted you to know that the Dash 8 should cause no problems.

BTW, hows me ol mucker Pete doing, you getting set for that holiday yet?

[Pete Dowson]

BTW, hows me ol mucker Pete doing, you getting set for that holiday yet?

No holidays planned yet. Need to get my eyes working properly first -- I'm committed to regular attendances at the hospital at present. My left eye (operated on 2 weeks ago) is okay at present, but the first one done (6 weeks ago), the right one, still is unable to focus and has a smaller image. Seems this isn't the brain getting confused as they first though, but a swelling at the back of the eye. I'm on medication for that now.

The only problem with all this is that my time in front of a PC (or reading for that matter) is limited. I'm keeping up with support messages and emails, but I'm not doing any new programming at present.

So that's a holiday of sorts, I suppose. :lol: :wink:

Regards,

Pete

[RichD]

Glad your well Pete. Hope they get your eyes sorted soon. Just and idea but, have you thought about one of those programs that reads what it on the screen like Office xp. You can even dictated to if via a mic, that might help in cutting the time you need to look at the screen.

[Pete Dowson]

Just and idea but, have you thought about one of those programs that reads what it on the screen like Office xp. You can even dictated to if via a mic, that might help in cutting the time you need to look at the screen.

Well, it would take me a long time to get used to programming like that. I'm used to looking at big chunks of code and visualising what they are doing. I'd make too many terrible mistakes that way. Thanks for the idea though.

I manage okay at present. just need to take lots of long breaks. I'm just not used to not programming solid all hours. :)

Regards,

Pete