I’m absoutely desperate trying to play FS 2024 ON 1080P, with a decent frame rate. given my specs:
-AMD 9800X3D
-Nvidia RTX 5080
-64GB DDR5 RAM
-2TB SSD
I’m roughly getting 60fps, normally i’m on 55fps and can get as low as 40fps, and at the worst scenarios, down to 20.
Chipset driver just updated, running latest Nvidia drivers, all set to ultra, using TAA, no DLSS, no frame generation, no V-Sync option enabled in the sim, no dynamic settings. TLOD at 100. No fauna and no rocks.
Reset BIOS settings to default, no XMP, all set to auto.
I’ve honestly ran out of options and i just want to play with good performance after saving so much for this new PC. I’ve seen people with the exact same setup or even less powerful at 80FPS. What is happening?
It looks like you are on the SU4 Beta. It’s hard to troubleshoot a Beta version.
You are not pushing your GPU hard enough. The 9800X3D is a great CPU, but it needs your 5080 to take up some of the load. Try 2K instead of 1080p. See what happens. Then try 4K.
I recommend using DLSS Swapper to get your system up to the latest version. Then use DLSS Quality instead of TAA.
Go back into your BIOS and re-enable EXPO.
What speed is your RAM? If it’s DDR5-6400 or less, make sure UCLK=MCLK.
Note: Most DDR5-6400 RAM that’s on your motherboard’s certified memory list will run with UCLK=MCLK. 6000MT/s RAM definitely will (unless defective.) Anything > 6400MT/s will need UCLK=MCLK/2
For reference, I have a system that isn’t too far down from yours. I’m getting a very smooth 45 FPS @ 4K with mostly Ultra graphics, and that’s more than enough. Don’t chase FPS.
Explanation:
“UCLK=MCLK” refers to setting the Unified Memory Controller Clock creating a 1:1 ratio, which is generally preferred for performance and stability on AMD Ryzen processors, especially with DDR5 memory speeds of up to 6400 MT/s. This “Gear 1” mode for AMD is often called “UCLK DIV1 MODE” in the BIOS and provides better performance than “Gear 2,” where UCLK runs at half the speed of MCLK (UCLK = MCLK/2).
Finally, if you read through the forum you will find many reports of lowered FPS and stuttering in some areas, regarding of the computing power. It’s most evident around certain airports, especially on approach and early taxiing. This is something we are almost all struggling with, and something that SU4 is intended to address.
Even with a 5090, I’ve found that the Ultra settings for Textures, and the various Aircraft Quantities, are just too high and impact performance even sitting at the gate., So if you are using Ultra, you can improve things significantly by reducing selectively under Graphics Settings > Global Rendering Quality:
Texture Resolution: reduce to Medium or High, not Ultra
Parked Aircraft Quantity: reduce to Low or Medium
Aircraft Traffic Quantity: reduce to Low or Medium
You might also want to use the “High” global Preset as a starting point instead of Ultra
The details of your graphics settings matter, including:
Screen refresh rate / VRR or G-Sync capable?
Windows refresh rate / VRR on or Off?
NVIDIA Control Panel, Monitor Technology: G-Sync Compatible?
NVIDIA Control Panel, Vertical Sync: Use 3D Application Setting
In MSFS Graphics Settings, instead of TAA try:
Anti-Aliasing, just for now, try DLSS Quality (to start), this renders the image slightly smaller and upscales it back to your screen resolution
Set Max Frame Limit of 30 or 32
Frame Generation, DLSS 2x (targeting 64 fps)
Finally a trick, saves some power and helps indicator show green:
Disable Frame Generation temporarily
Change V-Sync to HALF Monitor Refresh Rate
Re-enable Frame Generation - now your FPS counter will be Green mostly
Check if that VRR setting works in sim, of course, panning around.
The above tip may result in motion not being smooth, but it depends on the refresh rate of your monitor. My screen is set to 120 Hz with G-Sync Compatible, so by targeting 64 FPs, with a 60 refresh, it seems really smooth. I don’t quite understand if I’m doing it right or wrong, but by experimenting I landed there.
I wanted to limit frames to just above 60 (to save wattage), so I used the above and here is a screenshot of my settings. My screen is 120 Hz VRR.
I solved it before reading your comment, but you mentioned the thing that fixed it immediately. The monitor refresh rate. THAT WAS IT.
I exactly did what you said, set the refresh rate to half the monitor’s refresh rate and instantly the simulator came back to life. I have a 165hz monitor so obviously the CPU was unable to keep up with that refresh rate in ultra.
Now I’m rocking 260-300fps!! I’m so happy
Thank you! Hope this helps someone in my same situation. I have been 3h trying things today until I finally found the cause. Thank god
I realized that as long as the sim is producing over 60fps (assuming VRR) then it apears smooth. So instead of chasing more FPS that my eyes don’t really notice, I realized I might be able use extra headroom to increase LOD and TLOD…
So now, by having the sim only produce 32 Frames, and using DLSS Frame Gen x2 to target 64 FPS… I can increase literally everything to the max: TLOD 400, and I can see little lights and vapor trails way off in the distance. It’s a whole new sim.
400 is likely too high, and also may cause VRAM issues especially in areas that are not optimized. But you get the idea.
Also, if you do hit a bottleneck, reduce Traffic, Parked aircraft and Textures will have the most effect (that I have found so far).
I also have a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and an RTX 4090 - CPU is definitely not too weak. I’m running a 240Hz monitor, and 240Hz is set in Windows. Overall, I don’t have FPS issues (apart from the SU4-related problems).
However, I have my FPS capped at 60, because for virtual flying you don’t need 200 FPS. Locking it at 60 takes some load off both the GPU and CPU, which results in a smoother simulation. I should also mention that a new NVIDIA driver was released today, and I’ve already downloaded and installed it without NVIDIA app and NVIDIA Audio.
Some recommend using DLSS, but keep in mind that it generally causes noticeable image degradation (at least to my eyes), so I stick with TAA.
Also, Frame Generation is basically just fake frames - my eyes catch them right away. But if someone doesn’t notice the difference, sure, they can play with DLSS and FG enabled. Unfortunately, I can’t.
And I’ll add that with Nvidia’s Smooth Motion, I set my monitor to 240Hz and enabled VSync at half the refresh rate. This way, it delivers the smoothness of 120Hz without taxing the CPU.
FYI, generally, Smooth Motion is useful if you have low FPS in games that don’t support DLSS and/or Frame Generation. Since MSFS already has those, it’s up to you whether you prefer to use Smooth Motion or stick with DLSS and Frame Generation in MSFS settings.
I was using Framegen until SU15 (2020) and SU02 (2024).
But something was introduced in both updates that pushed my CPU latency to the maximum, with yellow and red lines, without any explanation when using Framegen. The only option was to disable it and use SM.
With Framegen, my CPU is experiencing an absurd bottleneck, and I don’t know the reason.
Well, your gpu may be pumping out 260-300fps however your monitor is only displaying 165fps. Therefore, there are a lot of wasted frames that are getting dumped on the floor!
Set the max frame rate to 165fps or less so no wasted frames and let your cpu/gpu fans throttle down a little. Better yet, take the advice of @TenPatrol and @GimbalAxis above and turn down the max frame rate some more and start cranking up the Tlod/Olod eye candy for a more immersive sim experience! Nobody needs 165 fps let alone 300 .
Completely agree, it’s nonsense. I’m definitely gonna lower the FPS with DLSS X4, so the CPU and GPU are under less processing and therefore I can set higher TLOD and LOD and enjoy
For me, with a quirky Samsung with VRR:
Monitor: 4K 120 Hz (Game Mode VRR)
Windows: VRR on, HAGS on,
NVCP: G-Sync Compatible, V-Sync “use 3D app settings”
MSFS:
AA: DLSS Quality (renders 2K, upscales)
Max Frame Rate: 32
FG: DLSS x2 (targets 64 fps)
V-Sync: Half monitor refresh rate (targets 60)
I have no idea why, but this is the sweet spot for my hardware between efficient power draw and smooth result on screen, and allows me to increase TLOD
On that note … one big thing to keep in mind is that for most aircraft, especially more complicated, higher fidelity aircraft, the base physics and systems simulation cycle needs to run at a minimum speed to maintain control, properly simulate aircraft systems and aerodynamics, etc. This minimum may vary from developer to developer and aircraft to aircraft, but usually is around 18 - 20 hz (cycles per second). In the simulator, this ties pretty tightly to frame rates. So long as you are able to maintain a simulattion rate of >20 hz, most planes will operate fine. Below that, the step-time (e.g, latency) from cycle to cycle results in jerky control, odd or inaccurate aircraft system simulation, weird aerodynamics, etc. Staying above that minimum rate is useful in that it gives a “cushion” in case sim performance dips briefly, and helps with responsiveness on controls, but it’s a diminishing experience. In other words, a little bit under 20 fps is very noticeable when landing, but a LOT over 30 fps really that noticeable isn’t for most aircraft in the sim.
Therefore, if you can maintain a base (non-frame generation) rate of 30 hz or 30 fps, your aircraft will function perfectly well, and you’ll have headroom for occasional dips in performance. Using 2X frame-generation to double that to 60 fps will add more visual fluidity and smoothness while stressing your GPU hardware less and resulting in fewer frame generation visual artfacts (usually seen in rotating objects like engine fan blades or propellers). 3X or 4X will give you more interstitial frames but won’t really do much except increase the number on your FPS counter.
This is why folks like @TenPatrol and others suggest capping your sim to 60 hz - you get plenty of visual fluidity and smoothness, aircraft are responsive and simulated property, and your PC will have a huge amount of overhead available in stressful high-intensity situations, like flying in dense photogrammetry areas, adding in traffic, etc.
You can still strive for hundreds of FPS in Cyberpunk, Battlefield or GTA V if that’s what you want. It’s just not really needed in flight sim and can in fact be counterproductive.
If you use FG or have a G-Sync monitor, that fits.
In my case, as I don’t use FG for my NVIDIA RTX to a Freesync but G-Sync comaptible monitor, I found it better to cap to 40 fps as my monitor’s VRR range minimum is 48 fps. So below 48 fps, it doubles frames by LFC e.g. 45 fps GPU → 90 fps on monitor).
So I avoid switching the monitor from single to double fps and vice versa when the GPU jumps between below and above 48 fps. The monitor has always to double frames while capped to 40 fps, this seems more smooth to me.
I have a similar set up on a 240hz alienware monitor. part of the support mentioned above you, is it better to limit frame rate to 30 and 2x frame gen?
Nobody needs 165 fps let alone 300 
.