Below about 45 fps is where I start to notice the frame rate in flight simulator.
I can live with 25-30 if stutters are minimal.
Above 45-60ish I think you start running into diminishing returns.
Only if it creates a stutter Trackir is fine lol
I’ve yet to oh noes I couldn’t look quick enough
In the history of flight simulation, I am willing to bet framerates are the most discussed topic. They matter a lot to a lot of people. Personally, I think people look way too much at fps counters but that does not change the fact they matter.
I also think many people believe that buying more expensive hardware is the answer and I do not agree. With Aerosoft we visit most shows and events and framerates are often discussed there. Many times people ask me to put my feet where my mouth is (is that a saying) and see where their setting could be better.
And often it is the very very basic stuff that is not done. They spend weeks tweaking a config file with guides they find on the internet and do not set Smart Access Memory. That is a free 10% extra fps and way less whacky fluctuations if you have the matching hardware. Without ANY negative effects. When I say they should experiment with upscaling they look at me like I am crazy. But especially in flight simulations with its massive sight ranges it can have very good results. And again it smooths frames.
On a $1500 system you can get a very smooth 30 fps with pretty high settings. And I claim (with dozens of experiments done on customers) that that is what you should aim for. Got the cash to double that FPS, fantastic! Just do not expect to see the difference most of the time.
And when in doubt, pay $15 and try MSFS cloud. It’s bloody amazing if you have a 100 mpbs internet connection.
2 Likes
oh no I’m with you, I’m all about getting those sweet, sweet frames. I have a higher end system and dislike anything below 50fps, but can tolerate down to 30 in a high-poly area on the ground. Usually once I’m in the air I’m cruising at 60fps which feels smooth as butter 
. I play DCS World and require a constant 60fps to enjoy the action there. Some people can’t even tell the difference between 40 and 60fps which is hard for me to comprehend. But to each their own.
But asking why anyone would even care if the fps are over 24 in a game/sim because of movie? I wouldn’t consider 24 fps even playable as it would give me a migraine and is probably melting your system at the same time 
1 Like
Ahhh, that’s why the servers have been so lousy for 8 months.
That of course answers a lot.
1 Like
For $20 a MONTH I will give you the MFSF implant, no computer, phone, or tablet needed. ;p
1 Like
If you are looking at your fight deck when flying surely the speed of the craft is the same as you so how does that affect FPS, sightseeing might.
You will notice this every time you come in for a landing. If you are up at altitude fps does not matter as much, even sightseeing at a reasonable altitude. When you are low to the ground such as landing that is when high fps matter the most. Unfortunately, with MSFS that is also when we get the lowest fps.
You are looking out at a stationary object, the runway, and trying to precisely put the airplane down at the aim point (Captain’s Bars) plus flare distance. If the point you are aiming at is jumping around 8 feet in between screen redraws then you are having to rely on predicting where minor control inputs will put the runway in your windscreen. Now add in things such as control lag as an input in the controls does not provide an instantaneous change in the flight path. With lower fps, you spend more time fighting the airplane than actually flying it. This is where solid 60 fps is better than 30 fps. 120 fps would be even better, but that is beyond what home computers can give in with MSFS unless you turn down the setting significantly and limit add-ons.
Take the most difficult approach you can find, landing an F-18 on a carrier with slow pitching and rolling deck, and take a group of seasoned pilots and divide them into three groups. Put group A on a computer that gives 30 fps and let them try three times after getting an instructional approach and landing. Wait three to five days and then do the same thing with a computer that gives them 60 fps. Group B starts with the computer that provides 60 fps first then moves to the 30 fps machine. Group C is the control half stay on the 60 fps machine and half stay on the 30 fps machine. I suspect that in this type of test repeated over a few months’ time you will find the landings will be more precise on the 60 fps machine.
1 Like
I just spent over $1000 for a new 3080 and 5800X3D to upgrade my 2060 and 5600 to try to eek out a few more frames.
Yes, things look a bit smoother. Also, the shimmering I was experiencing since they downgraded the AA effects is much better since I’m now rendering in 4K.
Overall not very earth shattering and probably not worth it but YMMV.
Great words of advice. I remember reading somewhere that “Nobody will check if you turn everything down to low” For me it was an epiphany; start at the bottom and crank everything up until it breaks (Or not).
1 Like
Did you install openXR toolkit? It resolved a lot of judder issues for me.
Yes, I love it. Do you mean it resolved the juddering with motion reprojection disabled?
To be honest, now I’ve managed to get my settings optimal to ensure the MR never dips below the 30 fps lock I just don’t notice any MR warping or artifacts any more so I can’t imagine flying without out it.
I’ve increased my FPS limit to 40 which makes flatscreen 4k look and run a lot smoother, although still not as smooth as it is in VR with MR enabled. I think I’m just sensitive to any kind of judder or ghosting at all. If I sway my head side to side in the cockpit with MR disabled the instruments ghost and blur which I absolutely can’t stand. With MR on it’s just nice and smooth.
I have my frames locked at 60. I know what you mean about motion reprojection but I can’t seem to get on with it. For me XR toolkit helped with the head shaking and the anti aliasing. Fly safe.
Or it gets too hot!
I realise that I was just being lighthearted about it.
Maybe their chairs speed up with higher FPS who knows. My chair stays at 35 fps and is very smooth.Any faster and I fall off it in the turns 
1 Like
simple, it needs to be 60+ fps without stutters for me.
having 100+ fps would be amazing but i don’t think that will ever happen.
but i also want them to push graphical fidelity further when they optimize the sim more.
so as long as i can stay around the 60 fps mark im happy.
For example:
Getting 60fps at ultra
Asobo optimizes getting 70fps at ultra
Asobo decides to push graphical fidelity further cuz there are optimizations that happened.
back to 60fps with better visuals
Repeat
Repeat
= gorgeous sim
1 Like
Haha the theory of relativity strikes again.
What hardware are you using now and would like to see what settings you have to achieve 60fps all the time. What aircraft are you using? I am fine with 30fps in a complex aircraft like fenix a320. And trying to achieve 60fps in default 152 for example.
I have all the traffic option off/0 and photogrammetry off those things makes my sim run really unstable. The traffic is too dumb to earn my cpu power 
Photogrammetry looks bad in distance and really close anyway. Melted buildings looks worse than those default buildings that always run smooth.
All other settings in graphics at ultra t-lod at 200 res at 4k and 80 renderscale.
i910900
rtx 2080 super
32gb ram
I get pretty much 60+ fps in the PMDG 737 everywhere at 4K Ultra preset.
I have traffic disabled as well cuz i use vpilot to connect with vatsim.
In the fenix i get around 45-50fps.
I have a 10700k, 32GB ram and a 3080Ti
1 Like