Awful Multiplayer Frame Rate

[ak416]

Hey all, been a while. After a bit of a hiatus, I've reinstalled FSX:SE and some essentials add-ons (REX, Global, Shade, some planes). With my current settings, in free flight I average 60-70FPS consistently so long as I'm not near any major cities or trying to fly something with a glass cockpit. I've flown numerous aircraft at numerous locations, and that frame rate is pretty consistent. However, if I try to join a multiplayer session with other aircraft also in the session, my frame rate is drastically reduced. If I join an empty server, performance is the same as it is in single player free flight. I can spawn in Norway while everyone else is in Vancouver and my FPS takes a huge hit, so it's not like my PC is even rendering them, unless somehow, someway it's rendering them even though they are across the entire world. For example, I tried joining the server last night briefly to do some testing. With ~20 other people on the server my frame rate would not go any higher than 4-5FPS. No, I did not forget a 0. I immediately logged off, loaded up the same scenario in free flight and was back up to 60FPS.

I've had performance issues in the past, especially in multiplayer, but nothing like this. Anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem might be?

FSX:SE
Win10 x64
Global, REX, Shade, Accu-Feel
Tested in rural Ontario with the A2A Cub, A2A P-51, Default C172 and Default Maule.

[ak416]

Well just logged on, server is showing 2:35:00 since last restart and my performance is much better. Sitting around 45fps with 21 pilots online. Looks like a restart fixed whatever the issue was. :confused-new:

[-TK-]

I talked with Space Taco and Buck last night about this and we are all experiencing terrible frame rates with the increased traffic on the server. Robert said the server had not been reset in a while last night but I'm not sure if that is the issue or not.

Edit: Simulpost. Glad to hear it's better.

[ROBERT DUNN 2]

Thanks, ak and TK. I flew Steam side of group flight last night also and I didn't notice a framerate problem. My client Steam FSX is remote also, Las Vegas to Seattle server. The server was 3 days into a session There were 20 to 30 pilots on NA Steam server during this time. The first server reset about 0300EDT was a complete machine reboot. A second Steam server reset at about 0600EDT was an FSX reset only because I noticed Kalo's North American flight at noon EDT needed to be daylit. By the way, Steam NA server time is only minus 2 hours until I reset it back to our normal minus 7 hours from real time.

I have my frame rates locked at 34 fps so I didn't notice an impact. I was getting full locked framerate. If it means a better experience for our Steam flying members and especially if it means getting ak416 back flying with us, I'm going to explore a locked members only configuration with daily refresh-resets, at least during iconic group flights.

I'm scarce today but I'll be on TS tomorrow frequently. Thanks for these reports guys. Let's fix this issue sooner than later. I may ask for quantification of Steam experiences from you Steam regulars in this pursuit.

[ak416]

Thanks for the info guys.

Robert, I typically run locked at the exact same frame rate as you, 34, for multiplayer. This is to reduce the back and forth jittering that can happen to other traffic in multiplayer and makes formation flying difficult. For whatever reason when I lock my frame rate to a set number, FSX will never actually reach the number and sit at around 4-5fps below my intended target.

I had it locked it a much higher number yesterday and today just for the sake of testing online performance. I can't say for certain that the reset/reboot is what fixed my issue, but I couldn't get more than 5fps last night and today during two separate flights my frame rate was fine. Will keep you posted, thanks for all your help.

[-TK-]

It's curious that Robert did not have any frame issues. I also have my FPS locked at 34 but was dropping down into single digits on multiplayer only to have smooth and nearly perfect FPS in single player free flight. I tested the server today with around 20 people on it and performance was just a little below target frame rate. It was looking good. I'll keep my eyes open to any potential triggers to the poor performance. Thanks, guys.

[Dash Cloud]

I logged on currently towers are running 30-45 FPS and Planes are running 19-45 FPS. I've also noticed the more windows that you open within the flight the slower the FPS may operate at some points