(Apologies to the few that had previously answered the first poll, I needed to remake it to modify it to prevent multiple selections - please vote again if you see this! )
I’m downloading as much as possible - I think streaming is a poor solution to the weak memory design of the older XBox.
However, we haven’t a clue what is in the Rolling Cache; Asobo report zero information about it.
I have a strong feeling the stutters at airports are due to close-up ground textures being streamed, which Seb has hinted at. We don’t know which ground textures are in an installed airport and which are streamed.
The network activity seems to block the main thread, if so the fastest CPU and GPU on the planet will not prevent stutters. I see a lot of people with high end systems feeling really grumpy about stutters and their screen shots show that data is being read (streamed) from the internet, which we know is then read from the RC.
Seb, Asobo:
Please show info on the contents of the rolling cache.
Give us an idea of how many ground textures are already downloaded at runways and how many are streamed.
Allow downloading complete data of specific runways.
Option 1 could be a plain text file from a Dev mode command. It’s a few hours development work to start with number of objects and size. If lat/long is included, the more technical users can analyse that data.
I also have good internet speeds, 500 Mbps down, and the same applies for MSFS 2020. You have to stream live weather and live data, including maps, anyway. However, most of the other 500 GB of data is stored on your drive, meaning that all aircraft and airports, from handcrafted to default are loaded via your SSD and ready to go.
Even with fast internet, if the server is busy, you can still experience delays in data loading. For example, my friend and I both loaded into a helicopter at the same time. We have different systems, and he has 1 Gbps internet. My helicopter loaded immediately and was ready to fly, while his helicopter textures were blurry and only partially loaded. He had to wait about 20 seconds for everything to fully load!
what I have to consider for be streamed or download, are performance hits via the CPU. Streaming on the fly uses more CPU because the simulator has to download, decompress, and process scenery and data in real time while also running the flight, all at the same time. Where data, like airports, aircraft, and about 500GB of add-ons is stored on an SSD, it’s ready to go immediately, just load and fly. My 10700K feels weak, and performance is key. I’m locked at 30 FPS, which is weird, because some people with older CPUs seem to get better performance than me, streaming at 80 FPS even with 250 Mbps download speeds.
I have downloaded only one thing: An addon that, when downloaded, allows another addon to utilize its soundset Otherwise I stream everything. I am on a 1gig connection so I have that luxury! Once in a blue moon I do see streaming issues (slow load-in of textures, the Huey as part of the Stranger Things addon took a solid 60 seconds to fully load for some reason) but 99% of the time, it’s perfectly fine.
Not because I have noticed any particular problems with streaming; but because I hate the MSFS Marketplace (the horrible UI; the massive, unfilterable number of sub-par products it carries, and the long, long, long delays in addon updates).
Conceptually, I think the MSFS Marketplace was a great idea. But now I am now so turned off by its execution that I regret buying anything from it!
To extent I could, I have transfered all of my Marketplace products to Contrail, and have repurchased most of those I could not directly from their developers.
Full streaming. I see no benefits to downloading with my PC / Internet configuration (Internet connectivity provided by Starlink at ~350-400 Mbps maximum), but big benefits with streaming in reduced SSD footprint, and very short update times for CUs, SUs & WUs. New purchases from the Marketplace take seconds, since all that is required is enablement of the server-side streamed content. No need to re-download content every time there is an update from a developer, either.
Edit: There is also a huge difference in the time it takes to create backups of MSFS:
MSFS 2020 (core content + all CUs & WUs) - about 2 hours.
MSFS 2024 (core content + all CUs & WUs) - about seven minutes.
I’d expect about the same time (2 hours) for a fully downloaded 2024.
Everything for Contiguous US I have downloaded. Same with marketplace content I have bought. I’m on a 1Gbps connection and it’s on a very fast NVMe M.2 SSD. Rolling cache set to 300GB. Not sure if I see any pros and cons doing it.
Full streaming since I see no difference in loading times nor performance versus downloaded data. What I found important, however: Clearing rolling cache and dx shader-cache frequently. Helps a ton with outdated data and associated stutters on my rig.
I tested it twice, all downloaded vs streaming. I came to the conclusion that streaming is the better option IF you have a good internet connection with good peering, low latency and jitter rate.
I think a poll on this thread’s original question would be interesting to see over time.
I don’t pre-download a thing. I have a fast connection (~2 Gbps down, which is never ever reached on MSFS 2020 or 2024 downloads)… about once a month the network routes go extra weird and everything is slow to load for a few minutes, but I’m no longer juggling hundreds of gigabytes of MSFS folder and that’s a huge improvement.
What exactly is the meaning of “Download Everything” ?
Is it now possible to download the assets one whats to use, “AND an area of CACHED scenery to fly in” , —– and then select a Mode, where one can fly in that area without an Internet connection ?
In my survey above I tried to be clear by providing the following option: “All Installed (with the exception of world content which must be streamed).”
As far as I know, the sim still 100% relies on a constant internet connection for essential services including global terrain data.
Streamed, the only thing I may download is the odd aircraft if I’m flying it a lot.
The only difference I noticed was when I downloaded a lot of content it took a lot longer to load up the sim. (Initial Loading splash screen). Maybe it’s changed since as I tested at the very start when downloading was an option.
Downloaded every kilobyte of the game😅 bar the Kodiak100 which is streaming only untill Asobo fixes the download problem which only shows the cabin. Also killed the rolling cach by making a fake one and set the size to 0. But that made the terrain pre-caching function not operabele, so back to stock RC.
I play in Vr and in 4k on 2d and have a smooth sim without terrain pop-ins. Hard to say if it gives better fidelity over all. 250 mbts, Ethernet. Vr via link cable. Hardware specs in profile. 9950x3d Rx 7900xtx
I could see that downloading may be the better option if one has the sim on (2 or more) PCs in the household. Given when you take into account all device/s that may be using the internet will be eating up bandwidth. Something to keep in mind even if you have say a 300Mbps + ISP connection.
Otherwise I stream everything. I am on a 1gig connection so I have that luxury! Once in a blue moon I do see streaming issues (slow load-in of textures, the Huey as part of the Stranger Things addon took a solid 60 seconds to fully load for some reason) but 99% of the time, it’s perfectly fine.