New To FS9!

[TheAaron.com]

Hello Guys!

Just downgraded from X to 9,

I have installed and tweaked FS9 to my desired settings and was now just wondering,

What downloads would you guys reccomend to enhance the visual aspect and performance side of FS9!

Thanks in advance!

[MIKE JG]

YES! We converted someone! LOL!

All kidding aside for FS9 here is what I would recommend:

Freeware:

All the freeware Terrain Mesh you have room to download. You can find a ton of files on AVSIM.

There is GREAT new program just out that gives you amazing clouds and other environmental detail for FS9. Here is a link: http://www.flightsimworld.com/forums/in ... pic=176252

I just installed this and I love the results, it makes a huge difference to my setup.

If you have the money, I would highly recommend the Ultimate Terrain Series for whichever region you mainly fly, N.America or Europe.

Also Ground Environment Professional will give you a set of high quality ground textrues.

All of that will give you nearly the same quality as the default FSX setup would. Obviously the FSX ground textures are a much higher resolution but the FS9 results are more than acceptable to me.

[kungfuman]

That looks interesting to me too.

How powerful is your computer? I'm just wondering if any of the above is worth considering on my ageing set-up.

[35yerth]

I have to say ditto on UT(they're all great) and GE Pro. Another thing that makes a big difference is a new mesh set, like the FS Genesis series. Personally, I went with FS Global Special Edition. It only offers 70m precision, but it shows less absurdities than more precise meshes, what with FS "moderately accurate" airport placement.

Another great(and relatively cheap) upgrade is Ultimate Water, which makes a very nice "FSX-like" water. (I chose it after having tried basically every freeware pack available, and found it the best overall compromise)

Then come the various freeware sceneries, which have to be tried individually....

All told, I'd say those upgrades have little effect on my framerates (A64 X2 4200, 3GB, Geforce 9600GT 512), except for the tons of add-on sceneries, which can be a crapshoot as to their individual impact. Generally, after eliminating the worst offenders, you're left with a loooong start time(made worse if you have tons of AI!), but tolerable framerates.

[MIKE JG]

@kungfuman......

My computer would be considered "ancient" these days. It is a 2003 model Gateway desktop with a 2.4 ghz processor, 1.24 GB Ram, and an 80 gig HD. I added extra RAM to get it to the 1.24 GB mark and have upgraded graphics cards twice. I also use two external HD's to spread the load a bit. I now use a GeForce 7800 GTI that is overclocked as a graphics card. I lock my FPS at 25 and can normally get that in most situations even with 3D clouds turned on.

I've found that the textures you use for clouds, water, sky and ground can also be a big drag on FPS.

But like someone said above, lots of AI and addon scenery will bring the FPS down.

[kungfuman]

Thanks

I've got to the point where I am thinking of re-installing my OS. I have the most seriously fragmented drive after the default auto-defrag tool ("disk-keeper"?) forgot it's job. Hopefully this will help.

But there is a lot I can also do to "clean-up" unused FS files (poor scenery, unused aircraft etc.), so I think the above mentioned add-ons could work well once I've prepared the ground for them.

Anyone else know of some "must-have" FS environment type files?

[TheAaron.com]

Yes lol! One of the big factors that made me convert was the variation on add-ons (The amount) and MAIW contributed to that factor loads so MAIW was a big reason for the downgrade!

Thanks for all these reccomendation so far guys and keep them coming, i will use them and post screenshots more now!

Thanks!