CFS3 Configuration reference:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/directx9_c/dire...

Descriptions of Pool and Usage terms and compatability.
Lacks a comprehensive matrix on compatability Pool and Usage.  Much useful information Search on MSDN.  Excellent resource for D3D.

My objective was to use system memory for some of the functions and free up card memory.  DirectX is about card access to system memory or other devices without a call to the CPU.

Vertex and Index Buffer pool is set to Systemmem and associated sliders were maxed.  The buffers are in RAM and less than 150kB so not a big hit on system memory.  The cache is very small and is in card memory.  It is only a start point and is set dynamically.

If Systemmem is selected then Texture/Aircraft Pool must be Default.  If Default then Rendertarget which are the "normal" settings.

I researched "flip" and "discard" and decided that discard was better.

You can play with the Pool/User settings and if not compatable, at worst the system will hang on app boot or will default to the desktop.  Just reset the settings. I havent found any combination that will use Texture/Aircraft Systemmem.

In CFS3 I note some stutter in the first few dogfight turns and then is smooth.  May be the driver setting indexes and vertexes.

My opinion is that the ATI driver does not fully exploit CFS 3 Configuration.

i have found better frame rates also by fly ing without virtual cockpit. less relistic but hardley any stutter now(i mean with just gauges and gunsite)

Hi Nickle,

When I first got CFS3 I needed to wait a little while for a set of 9700 Pro drivers just to get CFS3 to start up. I was getting that oh too common "graphic card incompatibility error".  Then a set of "unofficial" Catalyst drivers were released at Rage3D (I think it was) and CFS3 finally ran on my video card.

Since then, in the Catalyst versions 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 there were CFS3 specific issues resolved so ATI was keeping an eye on us CFS3 simmers. You can see them in the "Release Notes/Fixed in this version" at the ATI archived drivers webpages.

Now just what ATI has done (and done lately) to optimize the drivers to improve framerates and the ability of the drivers to more efficiently render the graphics and effects specifically for CFS3 I don't know. I wish there was a set of drivers that would double my framerates while at the same time keeping the graphics at a high quality but I don't think that's gonna happen anytime soon. Maybe a few FPS at the edges but it won't be until we buy some new and expensive hardware that we'll see any marked improvement. And since nVidia and ATI alike follow the marketing strategy of "nickel and diming" us to death with negligible performance improvements with each of their latest releases while hawking it as the best thing since sliced bread, they'll be charging us $500.00 for it!

Whatja gonna do?  ???

In the downloads also over at Sim-outhouse there are also files called 128K and 64K and 256K which also help out alot on performance. Theres another download at that site called sound preload that really helps out on performance hits.