Systems

227: FSX is still my Preferred Simulator

| Tom Tsui

After switching back and forth between Windows 7 and Windows 8, and FSX and Prepar3D, for over a dozen of times within the past seven days, I have to say that FSX is still my preferred simulator.

Over the week’s testing under Windows 7 and Windows 8, the new P3D performed satisfactorily, especially it off-loaded quite a bit of CPU processing work to the graphics card. However, FSX is still functioning better than the P3D in general.  Moreover, P3D, as I mentioned in earlier posts, has some issues with the Saitek hardware — in particular the FIPs, which also stops me from choosing it as my new platform.

My 7 FIPs have no problem connecting to P3D but Continue reading →

226: Prepar3D is Good but…

| Tom Tsui

After testing P3D for a few days, I have to say that it still hasn’t convince me to switch away from FSX.   One of the most devastating reasons is the program couldn’t work with my Saitek hardware seamlessly.   For example, the yoke and rudders are intermittently losing connections during a flight.  And in particular the gauge displays on FIPs, most of the time, are stuttering.

I must admit that I am amazed by P3D’s stunning image and lighting renditions even though the high-quality effect does come with a performance hit.   I am still exploring solutions to the issues I encountered.

So for now, Continue reading →

225: Will Prepar3D be My New Cup of Tea?

| Tom Tsui

A big thanks to Mario Cote, James Long, Niko Grozdanov and Colin Moir, who shared with me their experiences with P3D while I was wondering over the last few days if I should turn to this new simulator platform.  But unfortunately, both pros and cons have their supportees.  Also, I found the more I researched, the more I was perplexed.

Since I always emphasize that our systems are in general unique from each other, trying the P3D on my own system seems to be the only way to find out whether it will be my new cup of tea.    If it is no good, I could join the FSX league again at anytime.

So, here are a few screen shots from my first flight under P3D with all settings slided to maximum.   My new i7 4700K computer is running at stock speed without overclocking and tweaks.

P3D-01_resizeS Continue reading →

206: Cut The Flows

| Tom Tsui

TechLevel01W
ObjectFlow (for grasses, trees, animals) is a promoted feature in Orbx’s many airport ObjectFlowproducts.  Although it adds interesting stuffs to airport surroundings, it kills performance, too.

If you mostly fly your aircraft in the air rather than manuever it around airports, try cutting all or most of the ObjectFlow.dll in the DLL.XML file under the directory of fsx.CFG (C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX).

You could simply use the <!– –> notation pair for quick removal in case you want them back.

Try and see for yourself.  You could be amazed.

Continue reading →

198: Cast the Saitek Panel Driver Out

| Tom Tsui

Earlier this month, I was trying to associate a customized EZdok camera view (as shown in picture) to the gear lever on my Saitek’s Switch Panel, so that whenever I extend or retract the gear, the view changes to the bottom of the aircraft automatically.

SPAD01

After numerous attempts, I found there was no way out.   Saitek’s original driver is so “dumb” that except the default control functions, nothing more it offers to the users.

As a last resort, Continue reading →

186: FlyZone Switcher with Orbx EU

| Tom Tsui

The FlyZone Switcher has been updated with Orbx EU area with an assigned code of EUF.   However, only simplified version will now be available.

Be reminded that proper preparations are required to ensure the cores files are in-sync with the new region as mentioned in my Post 155 to 159 and 161.

No new user request will be accepted for now.   ALL existing FlyZone Switcher users could notify me for the download link in the comment section below.   If you are using the version with France region, please mention it as well.

179: FlyZone Loadup Time

| Tom Tsui

Some people question whether reconfiguring the FSX system for the FlyZone approach worths the effort?    Followings are the flight session load up times I recorded on my system for Orbx scenery areas.    All autogens, AI Traffic and scenery are set to the same level with preload disabled.

The time saved doesn’t seem a lot?

Continue reading →

177: Move on to the12.8 Radeon Driver

| Tom Tsui

After I downgrading to Radeon 11.x driver for nearly 5 months, AMD finally released a good enough 12.x driver for the FSX.   It is also the choice of Samy Fay who recommended the driver in a comment about his crossfire setup a week ago.

I wouldn’t say the new driver boosts the FSX’s performance obviously.   Also my observation is subjective.   However, my FSX running under this 12.8 version does give me an impression that it is above the overall level of the last 11.12.

Continue reading →

162: FlyZone Switcher Summing Up & Simplified

| Tom Tsui

It’s really a relief that the FlyZone Switcher first version has been finally released and completed as planned even though there are still many rooms for improvement.

For example, there are subscribers reported that the pre-assigned 14 FlyZones are too many for them.   Some said that they don’t use Orbx’s addons.   So those FTX regions are meaningless.

Also, there are comments saying that the preparation and verification processes for the FlyZone Switcher are far too complicated and tedious.

For the first two feedbacks, it is probably true since the first version is generally simplified from what I am using, which is highly customized according to my own system configuration.   So it is what it is.

But for the third comment, my suggestion is: Take It or Leave It !

Continue reading →