Recommended Benchmark for Flight Simulator X

I have been looking for a decent FSX benchmark for some time. Following is the procedure I recommend after doing some research on FSX. Although, I got most of this from the flightsimworld.com forum. I modified it slightly and added more detail. I am working on a new flight file that would be more fun to watch, perhaps in an Extra 300 or whatever. But this should work in the meantime.

I chose the resolution 1024x768 mainly because this should run on pretty much any notebook PC, where running anything higher would require an external monitor for some people.

SETUP:

(1) Get the file fsxmark07.zip file from avsim.com (registration may be required). I am working on allowing them to let me mirror the file. If you can't get it then PM me.

(2) Extract the contents of the fsxmark07.zip file to your Documents/Flight Simulator X Files folder.



(3) Dowload FRAPS to record the benchmark. It's a free download.

(4) After downloading and installing FRAPS configure the FPS tab as follows:



- disable overlay display hotkey
- set benchmarking hotkey to the "P" key (there is a reason for this)
- Only update overlay once a second: OFF
- Monitor Desktop Window Manager: OFF (newer version of FRAPS)
- Stop benchmark automatically after 300 seconds
- MinMaxAvg: ON
- FPS: OFF (or on, just more info than you need for the bench)
- Frametimes: OFF (or on, just more info than you need for the bench)
Minimize FRAPS when done (don't close)

(5) Start up FSX and go to the "Settings" menu.

(6) Before configuring anything else, select "customize" button on the bottom. This will adjust the "Graphics:" setting to "Custom"

(7) In the Custom "Settings - Display" window, choose the following:



Target Frame rate: Unlimited (slider all the way to right)
Full Screen Resolution: 1024x768x32
Filtering: Anisotropic
Anti-Aliasing: ON
Global Texture Resolution: High
Lens Flare: ON
Light Bloom: OFF
Advanced Animations: ON

Click "OK"

(8) Back in the main "Settings" panel, choose the following:



Aircraft: Medium High
Scenery: Medium High
Weather: Medium High
Traffic: Medium High

Now you're ready for the Benchmark.

BENCHMARK:

(1) With FSX now running, select "Free Flight" from the left menu and select the "LOAD" button.

(2) You should see FSXMark07 in the flight menu, select it and then click the "FLY NOW!" button.

(3) Once in the game, press the "P" key. This will both start the FSX flight and the benchmark recording in FRAPS (reason for changing the benchmarking hotkey to "P" in FRAPS earlier). You should see the yellow frame rate counter disappear after you press "P" and the flight will go for 5 minutes.



(4) When you see the yellow FRAPS frame counter reappear (five minutes later) then you know the final benchmark results are complete. Press ESC to exit the flight.

(5) In your system tray, right click your FRAPS icon and choose "Show Benchmarks". It will bring up your folder of saved benchmarks in the form of a .csv file. Load the "fsx (time stamp) minmaxavg.csv" file with notepad.

(6) Note your min, max, and avg fps.

I recommend running it three times and taking an avg of your results because of the dynamic scenery it can make a difference.

From my Sager NP8662, P9700 2.8GHz, GTX 260m 1GB with nVidia WHQL 186.81, 4GB DDR3, Windows 7 x64 Ultimate I get (avg from 3 runs):
Min: 25
Max: 66
Avg: 44

 

My laptop eats FSX for breakfast

But I dont play it as fitting my flight stick in my bag is not possible, guess its time to design a fordable joystick so it can go flat for bag storage.

 

I have been downloading that game for 1 week now..

Damn you Seeders!!!

 

Try buying it, its not expensive.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=202790007&listingid=51409151

 

Its 40€ where I live.
Damn you economy!!!

 

There such a thing as a proper torrent with a lot of seeders....

 

I didn't know Microsoft offered FSX over torrents.