FS2020 unusable due to 10-30 sec. screen freezing. Is my GPU crashing?

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
1

Hi all!

I am having a serious problem with FS2020 (version?) on my fairly beefy system:

  • Dell XPS 8930 i7-9700 @ 3GHz, 32GB RAM, 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD, 1GB CAT6 Ethernet direct to a 1.0/0.5GB Bell Fibe connection, which Speedtest.org never shows less than 800Mbps down/500Mbps up/4msec ping times
  • Nvidia GeForce RTX2060, 6 GB RAM
  • Windows 10 Pro, v2004 build 19041.630
  • full screen mode, 2560x1440, 60fps, anti-aliasing off, global rendering quality=LOW
  • all drivers & Windows updates installed as per Dell’s Driver Update and Windows Update.
  • PC is ~6 months old. It is an absolute rocket (to me at least!) for eveything else I do with it (mostly web browsing with Chrome); the only thing I run that’s close to FS2020 is Fusion360, which performs smooth as silk, although I don’t really push it.
  • no joystick, no pedals, nothing but a keyboard and Kingston Expert Mouse.
  • Windows startup is pared down to only what’s required (all updaters and other useless bling is disabled).

I’m not a gamer, but I think this PC should be able to handle FS2020, especially when I’m barely pushing things. I don’t even have to be flying, ■■■!

The symptoms: while sitting at the “Welcome” screen, before even touching anything, or when moving through menus, or while “flying” (sitting on the runway right after a flight is started), the screen will freeze. No response to key presses or mouse button clicks. This will last for 10 to 30 seconds.

While screen is frozen, audio continues. If sitting at the “Welcome” screen, the background music plays as normal. If flying, the sim progresses; when the screen unfreezes, the plane bobbles around a bit, and the scenery shifts (catches up?).

I can switch to other tasks, and they seem to work fine. For instance, I can open a Windows Explorer, browse around my C: drive (where FS2020 is installed). If I play a YouTube video, it plays fine.

If I have Windows Task Manager up, the screen freezes happen at the same time as my GPU “3D” graph drops to 0%. The screen stays frozen until the GPU “3D” graph recovers back to “normal” (~70% if sitting at the “Welcome” screen, ~95% if flying). This is what I see:

here you would see a screen cap of what I’m talking about… but apparently newbies can’t post an uploaded file… any suggestions on how I can include my image? JFC, does everything have to be so f$%&&^king difficult? }

I’m not sure which is causing which: is my GPU “crashing”, and it takes 10-30 seconds to recover? Or is FS2020 killing my GPU?

Obviously, something’s very wrong. This is my first experience with GPUs, so I don’t even know where to start troubleshooting. I’ve been struggling with this for a few days, gradually paring things down. This is my only PC and I do a lot of work with it; I’m not willing to re-install Windows to solve this… sadly*, FS2020 will have to go if I can’t solve this.

I would really appreciate any suggestions on how to proceed.

Sadly, since I love FS… my first exposure to FS was on an Apple II clone. Mono green vector graphics, most of the instruments were just numbers, not dials or gauges. Sound was just ticks from the little speaker. And it was awesome!

*And my second software purchase for my first Commodore 64 was FS (first was Jumpman).

2

I have the same problem.

It turned out to be my buetooth mouse an keyboard. If I don´t use them for some time, they enter energy saving mode, and then when I use them again, it takes exactly 16 seconds for FS2020 to be responsive again. Audio continues as normal, but image freezes. This only happens with FS2020, al other software seems inmune to it.

It is 100% repetable, in fact, if I use USB cable keyboard or mouse, the problem is gone. I tried to update drivers and change energy management configuration for my bluetooth, but nothing solves the problem. It is better now, because it takes more time for the energy saving mode to kick in, but the problem is still there.

In the end, what I do is be careful and ocasionally move the mouse and press some key in the keyboard, so they don´t enter energy saving mode. It is not optimal, but not terrible either. If I forget to do it, I will only have to wait for 16 seconds, so it is not exactly the end of the world.

Don´t know if this can be also your problem, but you can check.

1 Like
3

I do use a Bluetooth keyboard. Replaced it with the Dell crappy keyboard that came in the box. Sadly, no better.

Thanks for playing! :slight_smile:

4

Sounds a lot like bluetooth or USB controller related. Try disabling bluetooth (not just changing keyboard). Do you have an xbox controller for the drone? could be that if you do.

2 Likes
5

Tried reducing my UBS to just my mouse & keyboard, the original Dell items. So very basic. No other USB devices attached, although all their controllers at enabled and (allegedly) working.

No joy. No change in symptoms I originally described.

I do “stress test” my GPU; it appears to be working correctly. I’ll make a new post about that.

6

Update: I “stress tested” my GPU by running Unigine’s Heaven Benchmark 4.0 (Basic). Over 1 hr of running various levels of the benchmark, no problems. Watching Youtube videos in Chorme window also running for my entertainment.

Score of 1073 at 2560x1440, all the settings at max. I have no idea if this is good or bad. Appreciate any feedback. Be gentle. I am not a gamer.

7

I still can’t post images or links; as soon as I can I’ll edit my original post. I’m new here, awaiting approval.

8

For those with the Bluetooth issue, try changing ports if using a usb Bluetooth dongle.
I also once had this type of issue. It turned out that a usb thumb drive I had plugged in was interfering with the Bluetooth usb.

1 Like
9

ProofPandora683
I can’t thank you enough for your post. After months and months of this issue busting my chops, I saw this and thought, Nah, it couldn’t be my problem. I had just re-installed everything from scratch last night after deleting any signs of FS2020 and nothing changed, I was devastated. But I remember seeing this thread and after retiring at 4AM after the long reload, I woke up today to try one last thing, the Bluetooth keyboard issue I had seen of yours. BINGO! For the record, I have a DREVO Calibur Bluetooth keyboard and purchased separately a TP-Link USB Bluetooth Adapter. I have disabled them. Thanks Again!

1 Like
10

I´m really glad it was useful to you.

I had no choice but to use wired keyboard and mouse. Otherwise, my bluetooth surface keyboard and mouse keep on causing long pauses.

11

ok, thanks. i havent tried updated drivers or different ports, etc. if something works i’ll let you know but it sounds like a no-go.

12

Sorry the problem stay’s… I do not use Bluetooth. But i still have 2 freezes after 30 seconds or so.
PLEASE HELP!