By that I mean: What external programs do you launch? Do you use batch files or other scripts? What about Task Scheduler? Any external harware involved in startup?
Windows Utilities:
– EVGA Precision X1 for a mild GPU OC.
– ILSC - Intelligent List Standby Cleaner - Replaces Windows System Device HPET (High Precision Event Timer) - Improves micro-stuttering.
– nVidiaProfileInspector - Customizable granular tuning of all nVidia driver settings.
– Riva Statistics Tuner - I use it to limit frame rate (90 FPS) instead of NVCP. Also adds performance monitoring tool.overlay.
– Process Lasso - Some say it does nothing useful. I think it does.
Task Scheduler:
I created two tasks:
– Run a batch file on logon that uses Robocopy to load cache files back into my empty RAM drive. The RAM drive is copied to a disk on Windows logoff.
– Run a batch file that enables HDRFIX, a handy utility created by our own @Vibstronium that watches my screenshot gallery and creates a colorspace tuned JPG file whenever JXR files (HDR) are dropped into it.
Special Mention:
– Addons Linker - Basically replaces your Community folder and lets you create presets that load only the mods you want in any given session. Also offers an easy way to fastlaunch the sim (bypassing the branding videos,) and also load additional programs. Using Linker I can launch the sim, then automatically launch SPAD.NeXT and Little NavMap. I used to have batch files that did that. Don’t need them anymore. As a bonus you can create an empty preset and protect your mods whenever the sim is updated. I mapped a button on my Stream Deck to launch Linker.
So my startup is very clean.
The utilities run as background tasks when I login to Windows. ProfileInspector keeps my nVidia card tuned (until I update drivers after using DDU, after which I have to run it again.)
And I press one button to launch all the software and MSFS mods I want running when I’m ready to fly.
Well, there are a couple of button presses in Linker needed: Select Preset, Launch MSFS.
Win11 Pro
5800X3D
EVGA RTX 3090 Ti
64 GB DDR4-3600/ CAS14 (15 GB used for RAM drive storage of Rolling Cache and Manual Cache. I may up that to 30 GB.)
As for how to find and set up all these things…
In the immortal words of Reverend Johnson:
PBO2 Tuner and RivaTuner on startup to optimise and overclock my CPU and GPU respectively.
LittleNavMap
Landing Rate Monitor
Windows Mixed Reality
FSUIPC
Discord
Twitch stream running on Chrome
Firefox with 20-40 tabs
Addonslinker to optimise MSFS addons used
start up TrackIR if it’s not running (head tracker for panning is nice)
start up spad.next for input management (per-aircraft configuration is nice!)
start up ForeFlight data bridge app (iPad for EFB! just like the real plane dudes on youtube! :D)
start up OBS to run a continuous video capture for the session
Then I have a ridiculously complex workflow for trimming and processing clips and screenshots out of the video capture. Still hoping to do a major upgrade on my HDR tool to better support directly pulling from a video, which will simplify it a lot…
For VR, I actually have a very specific procedure that I follow. It’s a bit specific, but it works for my PC/VR setup:
PC is off. Quest is powered off.
Turn PC on.
Launch Oculus App.
Put on headset and power it on. Enable Oculus Link from the headset.
Take headset off.
Launch Oculus Debug Tool and make sure everything looks good (set ASW off and lock 45).
6.b. If streaming, launch Oculus Mirror app and apply settings
Launch VATSIM Radio, launch vPilot, launch all-in-one tablet server
Fire up MSFS. Wait for everything to load until you are at the home screen in MSFS. Don’t touch anything in MSFS.
Press CTRL+TAB to enter VR mode (you will get the double window in your monitor with the VR view).
Headset on. You should now be in MSFS VR mode. It will have that gray box asking you to press the key to center your view. I have buttons bound on my yoke and stick to do this.
Have fun in smooth, glorious VR (pick your aircraft/livery, choose your start spot on the map)…
If streaming, fire up streamlabs, do other stream-related setup stuff…
It seems like a lot, but I have a flow that I pretty much don’t have to think about anymore… oh, and the appropriate app icons are all organized on my desktop in order of execution
I use the fast launch shortcut I put on my task bar that uses C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C start shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App -FastLaunch as the target. Cut’s out the video and such and saves about 30 seconds.
I’ll google it, but I’d like to hear exactly what you use it for. I just bought two refurb Gen 5 32GB, WiFi, 9.7" iPads, and I’m itching to put them to good use.
Switch ports on external hub(Thrustmaster pedals, throttle and stick(Warthog Hotas), then left, center and right cockpit console arduinos, Pico4 headset, HF8 haptic feedback)
Turn PC on
Put headset and power it on
Start MSFS from headset VD app
Start spad.next
Start FSLTL
When MSFS menu opens, start HF8 haptic feedback
Enjoy my PC-21 home cockpit with VR
Seems like ForeFlight + Navigraph are trying to achieve the same purpose, so I’m curious about the utility of using both. I’ve been using Navigraph and loving it, but now I’m a student pilot IRL and ForeFlight is what everyone uses at my FBO. I haven’t set up a subscription yet, but I will, and once I do I’m not sure I want to keep Navigraph if I can use ForeFlight both in-sim and IRL. How do these fit into your workflow?
