How can I improve the performance of RealFlight?
Summary
Improve overall performance in RealFlight.
Resolution
During installation, RealFlight analyzes your computer's hardware specifications. RealFlight then tries to optimize its configuration to best take advantage of that hardware, and achieve the best possible performance.
However, if the performance is less than you'd expect, you can adjust some of RealFlight's settings to improve the simulation speed and frame rate:
- Ensure that the drivers for the video and sound cards are up-to-date.
- Turn off all other programs, especially virus checkers and network applications (such as Instant Messengers) while running RealFlight. Use CTRL-ALT-DELETE to ensure that nothing else is running in the background.
- Run the simulation in Full Screen Mode (in the Options menu, uncheck the Run in Window option).
- Alternatively, if you are running in Window Mode (Run in Window option is checked), alter the screen resolution from 32-bit to 16-bit color. Also, decrease the size of the RealFlight window.
- Reduce the texture quality. This can have a profound effect on cards that do not have a high texture memory. You can adjust texture quality on the Graphics Optimization page. To do so, click on the Options menu and then access the Graphics Optimizations menu.
- Use Photofield rather than the 3D Terrain option. In the Airport menu, uncheck the 3D Terrains item (if the item is not checked, you are already using Photofield). Or, if you don't want to use Photofield, decrease the terrain density using the Graphics Optimizations page.
- Eliminate the Airport Objects Shadow using the Graphics Optimizations page.
- Eliminate the Detail Textures using the Graphics Optimizations page.
- Reduce the number of open Gadgets. Click the "X" on each Gadget that you wish to close.
- Eliminate the Smoke/Exhaust options. Press ` (the accent key) on the keyboard.
- Disable the trees. In the Airport menu, uncheck the Show Trees option (this will make all trees and foliage disappear from your flying field).
- Reduce the number of recordings that are currently in use.
- Eliminate collisions. Uncheck Enable Collisions in the Options menu. (If the Enable Collisions item is not checked, collisions were not previously active.)
- It may be necessary to increase the System RAM of your PC. Click on the Windows Start menu, select Program Files/RealFlight/ RealFlight Control Panel. Next, click on the Technical Support button. The system RAM will be displayed on the third line. If you have 64MB or less, you may wish to add more RAM to this system.