CFS3 is cool, it really is!  It works completely good on my system!  I've come upon this conclusion since I was getting bad FPS during specific times.  And through a series of flights I've narrowed it down to the exact culprit!

• When getting around specific scenery (not autogen)
  • Flying low around specific scenery
    • Landing and takeoff around airbases
      • Large groups of objects at airfields
        • Large groups of aircraft at airfields
          • Bombers at airfields!
            • Bombers in general!

Victory! The culprit is bombers!  So I'm making a point to try to never come in contact with the default bombers.  But this is a problem, since they're always automatically placed at airfields.  Is there an XML file or something that can be edited to disable certain aircraft from being spawned at the airbases?

CFS3 is shweet!

What video card do you have?  I replaced some very basic card that my Dell came with, with a Ti 4200 64MB.  CFS2 suffered on my rig too (things flickering in and out) but after updating my drivers, I found CFS2 could run.  I don't really want to go back though. Oh, but the Corsair.

I've been tinkering around with files trying to fix the bombers appearing on the airfields.  I went into CFS/Facilities and opened up all the XML files that start with airbase_, and replaced "#bombers" with "#fighters", but I've enjoyed any mediocre success at best.  Would you happen to know any prolific CFS3 modders Hawker?

I have had wonderful luck , and a better time of CFS2 ( 140-250fps - full tex + added extras )   and CFS3  30  low end  - 65 high in clear blue  on my  Ti4200 64m Abit  V card.
  I recently had a system  error that gave me alot of  issues with  2 & 3,  but  a format , and fresh install  ( of more then I had  added to both sims, has me  absolutely extatic !
  YES , CFS3 Rocks on !  ( now to get me a new stick,  I tend to wear them out fast .

AMD 1700+  768 pc2100   + G4 Ti4200 64m  + Creative 5.1
  running on  XP pro  & CABLE .   ( now if those with dial up could see what I do , they'd cry )

Cheers !

Simply downloading that file won't help.  At least it didn't help me in my case. But I also had to permanently configure my Virtual Memory.  I also didn't like the fact that you had to sign up just to download it. Maybe I'll upload one to Simviation! Think I'll do that today.

Mathias, I started to realise I was wrong today after I was screwing around at airfields yesterday trying to verify my conclusion.  It only happens when vehicles or aircraft are on screen, and only at certain distances, which now leads me to believe it has to do with LODs.  I know it has something to to with objects.  Since with my first operational CFS3 install, whenever I used to get around specifically placed scenery (cities), FPS would drop through the bucket.  Cities cause me no greif now.  In fact, the only problem with flying around London or anyplace huge, is getting around those airbases!  If I'm at an airfeild, with almost all of it in screen, nothing happens, but as soon as I get those aircraft in the reventments or around the hangars, FPS drops.

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with objects, since I also get the same effect with factories, which usually have aircraft aplenty.  I also experienced this when escorting a bomer formation.  Far away, nothing happened, close FPS drop, real close, good FPS.

???

Mathias, you seem to know more about all this than any of us!  Any ideas?

Hi

FPS hits when approaching airfields has been seen as a problem for some time - due to the a/c and other ground objects spawned by the stock airfields. 

There are several d/l 'fixes' available - you can't go past the SOH 'other' section - that prevent these spawns at fields. 

Check out the tweak guides too - the preload.xml in MaxDevil's latest pack is worthwhile. 

Pack in too much detail - 4 engine bombers, 2 engine, fighters, ground units - whatever (clouds) is at some point going to bring any system to a standstill? 

Capt Black

Quote:


I'm unconvinced about using "fixes", the point for me is to get CFS3 (patched) to run smoothly.

I'm nearly converted to CFS3 now, only after some considerable driver swaps, not to mention dxdiag sessions and lots of head scratching.

My point is thus, CFS3 for me, 9 times out of 10 now runs virtually stutter free, quick combat for example intercepting a flight of 6 B-17's (3'rd party planes) is smooth, even if you decide to swoop down to take out that Tank column you've just spotted.......

I'd advise anybody not to give up with CFS3, when (and if for many systems) it finally runs well, the experience is worth it.

Paul.

Don't be afraid to join Sim-Outhouse, they don't bite. Some of the best people you'll ever meet. Preload.XML is only one of the fixes. There are numerous fixes at the site. Another of the fixes are the texture replacements. They make the scenery looks 100 times better (numerous variations), and my average framerate is now above 40 fps with no stutters. They've beenable to fill the gaps in the scenery XML's and add more types of trees etc... Give them a try, it really is a good game now. To another question. A patch is different from a fix as a patch comes from the game manufactorer, and a fix is from the community.