I updated my BIOS on my motherboard a couple of days ago and I had to redo my OC settings (I have an I9-9900K running at 5.1 GHZ with 5.2 GHZ bursts temps never above 82 unless I do a stress tests (95C)) .
When I loaded MSFS and got to the main Menu screen, where you make your selections, I noticed a HUGE drop in FPS (using DEV MODE for FPS). Normally I was getting 140-142 FPS with my Strix RTX 3090 OC, and I was now getting only 118 FPS. Remember, this was at the MAIN MENU SCREEN.
I went back to my MB BIOS and realized that I had forgotten to change the PCI-e clock cycle from the default 32 BUS Cycle to the max for my configuration (248)
After doing that simple change, which is located at the beginning of your BIOS settings (AMI BIOS), my FPS on the main menu screen jumped back to 140-142.
I was wondering how peple who do not like to mess with their BIOS still have their PCI-e cycle at the default 32 BUS Cycle, so I decided to bring this up to those who are not aware of it.
If you have an RTX 20XX instead of a 30XX, increase the cycle to the next level , 64 BUS Cycle, test and repeat if needed. You should also do a benchamark on your NVME drive, to make sure that the change did not affect your NVMe speed, or any other device connected to your PCIe. In my configuration, not changes whatsoever.
On a 3440x1440 monitor with everything in ULTRA in TAA (no DLSS), I am getting 40-44 FPS flying over NY with the paid NYC addon at approximately FL2000. My main thread in green with some yellow showing at peak times(switching views). My system is so GPU limited that it could take advantage of a 4090. When someone
tells me my CPU is old, I laugh…Of course, I was doing mother board retracing with my soldering gun, IRQ jumpers and overclocking since the days of Windows 2.1, so I am very confident and safe on what I do. Good luck, and as a disclaimer, do this at your own risk, be careful.
FYI, google PCIe cycles for more information and explanation on what it does. There are many articles that recommends changing the PCIe cycles for gamers.
UPDATE__
Well, I guess being from the old school has its dissaventages. I was going to take some pics and uploading them here showing the differences, and when I switch back to the default 32 BUS cycles, THE FPS WERE STILL THE SAME, meaning that what I said above about better performance, IT IS WRONG. I did further reading on updated articles and realized that back in the day it did make a difference to give you PCI a little extra time, but that is no longer the case in newer systems.
Apologize for giving some of you some false hope. It was probably some glitch that cause the drop of FPS during my initial tests. I guess is time for this old man to hang its hat…
