FS9 FPS increase

[cowpatz]

For those FS9 users seeking an increase in FPS and smoothness you may like to take a read of this.

[Charl]

FPS isn't much of an issue these days in FS9.5 but you do get stutters from a rogue texture every so often.
Fixing alpha and MIPS made a difference to my EHAM install which tended to judder somewhat.
Amazing that almost a decade on, we are still finding out new stuff for this sim.

Peter van der Veen is one of those Giants, like Lee Swordy and others, who have added amazing value to the hobby.

There is also a batch convertor:
http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/download/convimx.zip

[AlisterC]

Thanks for sharing that page. I've bookmarked for now, might look at trying that when I have retired lol. Seems like quite the undertaking.
Charl, what is that batch convertor file you've posted? (doesn't come with instructions)

[cowpatz]

Try this one DXT3 fixer
Just remember to back up your textures first. You can run a simulated pass and it creates a simple log so you can see what needs to be altered or has been altered when run non simulated.

[Charl]

Alister you just point the thing at the folder containing textures you want to convert to DXT3 with Alpha + MIPS.
You should avoid running this on aerial photo base plans because you don't generally want MIPS (IIRC they cause flashing)

The DXT3 fixer CP mentions only looks for DXT3 textures and (I think) only does the Alpha not MIPS.
This is great for flyable aircraft as you often want to leave 32 bit textures untouched.

[AlisterC]

Cool guys, thanks I will just try the DXT3 fixer so far on my FS9. (doing a simulated run right now)
Quiet thread by the way for something quite big. Not many of us FS9ers left perhaps? (though I can hardly talk, I'm a 50/50 FS9/FSX man now days)

Only a handful of files need fixing, other than one scenery, they are all aircraft textures. Think I'll just uninstall the culprits

[Charl]

Well it was discussed in 2010 in some detail, and most folk would have fixed their alpha channels then!
Sometimes one just misses these things (I think I just plain forgot!) and so its great that they come around again.

I see further down the AVSIM thread there's something to help the FSX users too.

[cowpatz]

Charl which texture files would benefit for the addition of mips? Any general rules to follow with that?

[Charl]

Anything that would shimmer when seen from far away.
So, airport sceneries are where I started, followed by AI planes.
There's some issue with MIPS and photoreal tiles, I just leave them with alpha fix only.
There's no point in mipping flyables, really, as you are generally close up.