Move to X-Plane? - (2015 annual edition)

[Keith Smith]

You can email ops@pilotedge.net with controller feedback (positive or negative) as listed on the Contact page. If you include the date/time of your flight, we'll be able to work out who the controller is. This is pretty similar to the real world process of calling the TRACON after a flight to discuss an experience (positive or negative).

[wmburns]

I'm glad your experience with X-Plane has been positive. I'm a fan.

A couple of notes on how X-Plane uses resources (RAM and video). Once X-Plane has enough resource to run (RAM or video memory), adding more will not improve X-Plane's performance. This is documented in the developer's BLOG.

http://developer.x-plane.com/2011/12/ti ... ates-pt-1/

Notes on CPU use. The reported CPU use of 33% many not be an accurate indication of HOW much CPU is being used. Consider that while X-Plane does make better use of multi-core CPU's, once up the majority of the work is still single core bound. So in a four core CPU, if one core is 100% used, this will be reported as 25% CPU utilization.

Under Windows start a task manager. Look at the CPU usage graph and you may notice one core "maxed" out.

Note, I'm not suggesting that you need an upgrade. I am trying to point out that you may not have as much CPU resources available as you think. My general advice is to look at the "mission" that you want the PC hardware to perform. Resist the urge to upgrade if the hardware is meeting the intended mission. Remember that as time marches on, PC hardware gets more powerful and cheaper (for the same horse power). So up to a point, deferring an upgrade will always be cheaper in the long run.

Again this assumes an honest assessment of the critical success factors of the mission the hardware is meeting the intended mission.

[stevekirks]

I'm glad your experience with X-Plane has been positive. I'm a fan.

A couple of notes on how X-Plane uses resources (RAM and video). Once X-Plane has enough resource to run (RAM or video memory), adding more will not improve X-Plane's performance. This is documented in the developer's BLOG.

Notes on CPU use. The reported CPU use of 33% many not be an accurate indication of HOW much CPU is being used. Consider that while X-Plane does make better use of multi-core CPU's, once up the majority of the work is still single core bound. So in a four core CPU, if one core is 100% used, this will be reported as 25% CPU utilization.

Under Windows start a task manager. Look at the CPU usage graph and you may notice one core "maxed" out.

Note, I'm not suggesting that you need an upgrade. I am trying to point out that you may not have as much CPU resources available as you think. My general advice is to look at the "mission" that you want the PC hardware to perform. Resist the urge to upgrade if the hardware is meeting the intended mission. Remember that as time marches on, PC hardware gets more powerful and cheaper (for the same horse power). So up to a point, deferring an upgrade will always be cheaper in the long run.

Again this assumes an honest assessment of the critical success factors of the mission the hardware is meeting the intended mission.

Here's some interesting notes:

I did a run from Chino to Camarillo last night in the default C172 on X-Plane as N425PK. I was a simple route: PDZ V186 FIM DCT. Cores were all used and rarely passed 40% usage. RAM started at around 18.GB to 2GB and grew to nearly 3GB by the time I hit the VNY VOR. Frame rate started at 30FPS and had degrade to just under 6FPS also by Van Nuys. I radioed SoCal and asked them for a moment to turn down the detail and traffic and let the sim reset. Since traffic was quiet in that area, they graciously allowed it and when I came back up, I was back to 30FPS and completed the flight without issue. I think something might be buggy when it comes to texture loading of the HDMesh for the two tiles of SoCal that I have loaded. I might start another thread with more details on usage and behavior when I replicate that flight.

* It was stunningly realistic to see the cars and streetlights laid out in front of me at 6,000 feet.
* The weather engine was forcing some seriously weird wind at Chino that was pushing the plane all over the place on the ground. At first, I thought I had a controller issue, but when I saw the actual weather and not the METAR (check via ATIS within X-plane) I used standard aileron/elevator countermeasures and a strong leg muscle on the rudder to correct it. The climbing right turn to the Paradise VOR was full of chop and I was being thrown around the cockpit. Palmsweat was bad enough that I almost disconnected. I warned the controller about my weather and that my course might be erratic as I fought the weather until around El Monte.

So far, the best $30 I've spent. Now I understand why Keith has to take a shower after using FSX.