Spawn times streamed v installed

Sim Update 3 Beta | MSFS 2024 SU3 Beta Discussion
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I thought it would be interesting to make some comparisons, between spawn times for streamed content and installed content, since this option is a new feature, introduced in SU3.

I tried this test with different air traffic settings, as that had an effect on my spawn times in the SU2 beta, as noted in this post, but that had seemingly no significant effect, in this SU3 beta.

The tests were conducted such, that I first spawned into the airport (KDFW, part of WU2), in the plane of choice (C172 Basic), so that everything was cached and ready. I then noted the time it took between clicking ”Start flight”, until I saw the ”Ready to fly” button. I’m on a Xbox series S, 32 GB rolling cache, 250 Mbit Internet connection.

SU3 Beta, v. 1.5.1.0

Streaming

KDFW, Dallas, Cessna 172 Basic, Gate C2

Live Traffic AI Traffic Traffic Off
32 sec 30 sec 29 sec
28 sec 31 sec 29 sec
31 sec 29 sec 28 sec

Installed

KDFW, Dallas, Cessna 172 Basic, Gate C2

Live Traffic AI Traffic Traffic Off
28 sec 28 sec 28 sec
28 sec 28 sec 28 sec
28 sec 28 sec 28 sec

Before I started timing the installed spawns, I again spawned in once first, as I noticed that the airport was not immediately rendered while in the menu. Presumably it has to re-render from the installed files, rather than the cache, on first spawn.

Conclusion? It was at least very consistent spawn times with the files installed, but the benefit is either marginal or inconclusive. Small sample size, and all that. It certainly didn’t hurt the spawn times, at least.

As a bonus test, I timed spawning in a plane on an airport where both definitely weren’t in the cache prior to test. First v second spawn, both streamed and installed.

Airbus A330, KATL (WU2)

1st 2nd
Streamed 1:37 min 0:54 min
Installed 1:29 min 0:55 min
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I didn’t run this particular test, but in an unrelated one I had downloaded both the 182Q, and the C208. The time it took to download both planes was longer I think than it would take to spawn in at an airport/airstrip when streaming them. Just the plane I mean, not the airport itself. I think on the basis of that, even if it takes an extra 5 seconds to spawn in I will leave the planes streaming for now.

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I would say that the sim loading time as soon as you click play would take longer to load, like how 2020 is :slight_smile: As there has to be over 500GB to load in.

This is where the M.2/SSD comes into play

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I have a 4TB NVME Gen4 SSD and everything I can install.

500+ GB worth, and the load time is the same as FS2020 from starting the sim to in the cockpit at the gate.

I have ALL traffic and multiplayer turned off because I use Beyond ATC and FSLTL traffic injection.

Not sure why it takes as long.

System:

Ryzen 7 7800x3D Processor

64 GB (2Ă—32 GB) DDR5 6000 CL30 memory

4TB NVME Gen4 SSD

X670E AM5 Motherboard

GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB Video Card

1000 Watt Gold Modular ATX 3.0 Power Supply

Windows 11.

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It is not clear for me do we download 100% of the plane or just a small part of it. Some folders of downloaded planes are empty.

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Hi

Good info, thanks for taking time to test. By the way is the Basic 172 the aircraft from within the premium/deluxe folder to download?

File called Cessna SKYHAWK 172 I think.

Just want to be sure I’m installing the correct file as I fly that aircraft a lot.

Thanks

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Interesting results!

If you didn’t clear the cache before the bonus test you might’ve had some objects precached such as runway lights, taxiway signs, treed, fence objects etc.

So the 1:37 streamed load in might’ve taken even longer!

This test and the benefit you’d get from installing also heavily depends on your internet connection speed and latency, and possibly Microsoft server load at the time.

A 250mbps 10ms fibre connection will see much less benefit from installing than a 10mbps 50ms adsl connection would, and seeing as you’re on virtually the best connection possible, you could say the benefit is at least what you noticed but probably a lot more for people on a slower connection :slight_smile:

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Thanks, I’m going to keep streaming everything.

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Yes, the Basic is from the Deluxe version. The base version is called something with G1000.

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Yes, shared resources would be cached. My guess is that custom buildings would take up the majority of the file space, but I wouldn’t know.

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So even though 500GB worth of files are downloaded, why is the case that some streamed packages folder continues to have files in there that also contain liveries. I removed the folder, and as soon as I opened the SIM, it came back.

So still things are being downloaded/streamed - end of the day, want how 2020 is and only stream weather/bing maps.

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It was officially told that despite the download button is available the functionality is not yet fully implemented:

This also might draw any comparison for loading speeds basically invalid on the current build compared to later ones - you might be able to download and install something, however the sim might anyway download the streamed files into cache again instead of “just loading” whatever is there locally.

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