I recently built a new system for MSFS with a 4090 and an AMD 7800x3d. I’m getting very high average framerates but I’m also getting very distracting microstutters everywhere in the sim. This happens at all graphics settings from low-end to ultra.
However, Installing my old 3080 TI into this same system solves this issue and everything runs as I would expect. With the 3080 TI at low settings I get buttery-smooth performance. At high settings I get a few microstutters at airports - but otherwise it’s smooth sailing.
This CapFrameX graph that displays this problem quite clearly. In these tests, I’m taking off west from KSFO in an A320. These tests were done on the same rig, the same exact MSFS settings, same NVCP settings, and so on. In the graph below, the 40-50s stretch is near the SFO parking garage.
In summary, the 4090 gives me very low average frametimes but with large noticeable spikes - and the sim visually looks “off” - if I follow an object with my eyes I can tell that it’s not moving smoothly. The 3080 gives me a wider frametime variance - but it just feels much more consistent and doesn’t have the massive scenery stutters near buildings.
The only way I’ve been able to get the sim to seem “smooth” with the 4090 is my maxing out literally everything. Render scale set to 200% (so 5120 x 2880 resolution), ultra settings, etc. This yields an experience that feels much better - at least one where I can’t see scenery skipping around.
I find it weird that I can only get smooth gameplay when I effectively force it to always be GPU limited.
Questions
Has anyone else noticed similar behavior with a 4090?
Is it likely that my 4090 itself has an issue?
Test settings for the capframeX graph:
MSFS high settings
TAA
VSync on & locked to 50% refresh rate (80hz for my monitor)
DX12
1440p render resolution
MS A320 flying west out of SFO
NVCP - power management prefer max performance
Note - I DDU’d the NVIDIA drivers before swapping the cards.
I’m not using any addons. This is a fresh install of windows 11 and MSFS.
Are these results reproducible if you swap GPU and clean reinstall the drivers again?
Are you testing the current build or the beta version?
Test with 100% refresh rate, the other MSFS settings are sometimes bugged and RTSS or the NVCP limiter are the preferred option to limit framerate
Delete the rolling cache prior to testing, even if you don’t use it. Some users reported the rolling cache to cause stutters when swapping GPU/drivers/updating the sim, even though they set it off in the settings
Yeah, they’re reproducible. I’ve done this test a couple of times now - DDUing each time.
not using the beta version
have tried all combinations of vsync/gsync/refresh rate limit/capping fps with RTSS or NVCP. In general limiting the FPS hasn’t stopped the stuttering around detailed scenery and the motion always seems to involve tiny microstuttering with the 4090
have tried with rolling cache off and deleted it several times while testing the 4090 with no immediate difference.
That seems pretty normal to me. HAGS off as recommended, but this will prevent you from using Frame Generation. Vsync takes the load off the GPU. I have found the best results with Vsync off, Nvidia Reflex = on + boost, HAGS off, and around 120% renderscale (4k). With Reflex you must be GPU bound.
The jerky motion of objects moving past you is “normal” as well. I have trained myself not to look for it. The closer an object is and the faster it moves across your viewport, the more chance it will be non-smooth.
Have you experimented with DLSS?
Are you using Frame Generation? If not, you should or it’s money wasted. It’s a night/day difference. The variation in frame times will not be noticeable. You’ll have to disable VSYNC in game (which can cause issues anyway) and enable it in the NVCP for the MSFS profile.
No - I sent all of this data to Nvidia and they’re RMAing my card. I somehow doubt the card itself is the issue given that several others have this issue in MSFS - but we’ll see.
Im pulling my hair out. New build and cannot use DLSS at all. Frames got down to 10FPS so having FRAME GEN on is useless. Watched video after video, duplicating everything. One guy gets 80 FPS, I get 15.
SYSTEM SPECS:
ThermalTake 1200 WATT Modular Power
ASUS Z790 PRIME WIFI
CORSAIR 48GB DDR5 7000 RAM
ASUS GeForce RTX 4090
INTEL 13900K CPU
CORSAIR H150i CPU Cooler
Sound Blaster AUDIGY 5RX & Buttkicker
CORSAIR 5000D Case
RealSimGear G1000 SUITE with cockpit panel
Honeycomb ALPHA & BRAVO and Logitech Rudder Pedals
ALESIS Powered Speakers
NEXT LEVEL RACING Cockpit
3X SONY 4k 43" TV’s (5 Screens Total)
To be sure it´s not a card issue try some benchmark tests (e.g. 3D Mark) and compare your results online and start again with only 2 screens attached to the card.
Nope lol I just stopped playing MSFS bc this was too much of a headache - every other game I play runs fine and my PC runs every benchmark well and has no other issues.
