Need honest opinions...

[Dman]

Ok.. apples to apples.. My computer isn’t new. I’m able to run v3 fine. I have my frames locked at 30 .. I do get some stutters when zipping low level but I’m overall happy with it.. I mostly fly military stuff, so the long haul PMDG OOM stuff doesn’t really mess me up.
My question is.. is v4 worth it...? Besides dynamic lighting (which I probably couldn’t use).. is there enough improvements to make it worth it.. or more is it basically the same sim..?


Thanks guys!

[Daube]

You can view it as "basically the same sim", excepted it won't crash when flying in the nice detailed areas...
The autogen distance is another point.
If you're happy with your v3 experience, and you don't get OOMs on the sceneries you use, then you probably don't need to switch to v4 yet.

[henrystreet]

If you have an appropriate graphics card, you can see a significant performance improvement over v3.

My rig is pretty strong but went from 50-70 fps in v3 to 80-110 fps in v4, same add-ons, same hardware.

what is your graphics card?

[odourboy]

Pobably the biggest downside to v4 is the need to upgrade most of your fleet to be compatible. This means if an aircraft uses any 32 bit .gau or .dll files, it needs to be upgraded (or some functionality, possibly critical, will be lost ). In some cases, e.g. if it uses the Doug Dawson sound gauge, you can upgrade it yourself, some companies are providing free upgrades, some require a partial or complete repurchase, and some provide no upgrade path, and that aircraft must be retired. This last situation is pretty common and if a it means retiring one of your favorite planes, it makes the decision to hold off on v4 an easier one.

Aside from the move to 64 bit, which removes the virtual memory limit, V4 is evolutionary, not revolutionary. There are numerous incremental improvements which make the sim run smoother and look better than V3. You older rig will likely work better with V4 than it does with V3.

[gray eagle]

Aside from the move to 64 bit, which removes the virtual memory limit, V4 is evolutionary, not revolutionary.

Perhaps revolutionary to your wallet ($$$) To quote a popular US commercial - Whats in your wallet

[Dman]

Yea.. more money .. more investments.. I enjoy carrier ops.. so VRS is getting more money.. new FSUIPC.. blah blah blah.. this hobby has a slippery road..

did they at at least fix the carrier wake in V4?

[henrystreet]

Here is my personal list of v4 compatibles (not including VRS). Most of these were "free" upgrades

These aircraft are fully compatible with v4 installers:
JF T-1 Hawk
Carenado C90 GTX (T-44C)
Carenado C90 (T-44A)
Carenado B200 (T-12)
Carenado T-34A
Milviz UH-1 Huey
Carenado C337 (O-2A)
Milviz Beaver and Otter
Dino F-35ABC
Aerosoft OV-10 Bronco
CeraSim UH-60L
Ant's T-28 series
Milviz T-38A series
Milviz F-4J/S
Simworks F-4B/N
Aerosoft Twin Otter

These aircraft can be lightly modded or shoehorned to fullywork in v4:
Iris C-27J
TDS P-8A
Virtavia T-34C
Milviz CH-47 Chinook
Dino T-45C
Iris A-10A
Iris PC-21
Realair SF260
Iris T-6A
Iris T-6B

[evvatc]

Dman, it sounds like we do a similar style of flying.

I have both v3.4 and v4.1 installed on my computer. The differences that I have noticed between the two sims is that v4.1 is a smoother experience for me and the detail of ground textures. I have a lot of the same scenery installed in both sims and there are some areas that experience similar performance drops in regards to FPS or a scenery load stutter, but overall v4.1 is just smoother.

In v3.4 I would notice blurry ground textures when flying low level and at high speeds, such as MTRs or coming in for the overhead break. It appears v4.1 does a better job with ground texture loading. I will still get an occasional blurry texture in v4.1 but even then it loads quicker and is not as noticeable as it was in v3.4.

The only "tweak" I have made to the cfg file in v3.4 and 4.1 is adjusting the smallpartrejectradius to see objects at a greater distance.

Hope this helps,

Bill

[henrystreet]

The only "tweak" I have made to the cfg file in v3.4 and 4.1 is adjusting the smallpartrejectradius to see objects at a greater distance.
Bill

A "must do"

[Daube]

Yea.. more money .. more investments.. I enjoy carrier ops.. so VRS is getting more money.. new FSUIPC.. blah blah blah.. this hobby has a slippery road..

did they at at least fix the carrier wake in V4?

What is the problem with the wake ? As far as I remember, the only problem was the 2D wake over the 3D waves, but that was fixed in v3 already.

[Dman]

I still get jagged wakes with the Nimitz.. but the other carriers look fine

[odourboy]

The only "tweak" I have made to the cfg file in v3.4 and 4.1 is adjusting the smallpartrejectradius to see objects at a greater distance.

How are you using this tweak? According to the SDK, the default setting is '1', which should provide the maximum visibility distance. Anything else results in increased culling of small objects.

[awstub]

You can see my computer specs in my signature.

I have FSXA, P3Dv3 and P3Dv4 all installed on the same system (including the same hard drive) with the same add-ons installed......and P3Dv4 significantly performs the best.

The only reason I keep the other versions is for testing purposes.

[Dman]

Thanks.. I’m sure I will take the plunge.. it’s just reinvesting back into this.. not excited about having to rebuild it all.. and I’m afraid when it’s over.. I’m going to be like.. it just ok.. nothing earth shattering..

[jmig]

Thanks.. I’m sure I will take the plunge.. it’s just reinvesting back into this.. not excited about having to rebuild it all.. and I’m afraid when it’s over.. I’m going to be like.. it just ok.. nothing earth shattering..

I agree that it isn't earth shattering. However, I have since removed V3 and gone strictly with V4. I haven't looked back. I love V4.

[strykerpsg]

The only "tweak" I have made to the cfg file in v3.4 and 4.1 is adjusting the smallpartrejectradius to see objects at a greater distance.

Hope this helps,

Bill

A "must do"

You have my curiosity piqued...what tweak and what is the outcome of the tweak? I have a very robust system too but suddenly, had to change my sliders from max everything, to 70% to get everything working right. I will update my system specs in my signature.

[henrystreet]

You have my curiosity piqued...what tweak and what is the outcome of the tweak? I have a very robust system too but suddenly, had to change my sliders from max everything, to 70% to get everything working right. I will update my system specs in my signature.

http://c-aviation.net/fsx-tweak/smal...-in-fsx-steam/

[manfredc3]

Just read about this "Must do" tweak, I have not done any tweaks in P3Dv4, which is unusual for me, as I have always been busy tweaking FSX.

I will have to give this one a try with me mediocre graphics card. I can always remove it and go back to basics.

So far I am very happy with the overall performance; getting avg 30 fps with OrbX Global, Vector, Open LC Europe, NA, PNW, Fjords, and and and... installed.
Although for me fps has never been a measure, I look at smoothness inside and outside the cockpit.

[henrystreet]

Just read about this "Must do" tweak, I have not done any tweaks in P3Dv4, which is unusual for me, as I have always been busy tweaking FSX.

This is the only manual edit I've done to both P3Dv3 and P3Dv4. It is very important if you fly online formation or aerial refueling. With my setup and this tweak, I can see the tanker at about 2-2.5 miles without labels.

[strykerpsg]

http://c-aviation.net/fsx-tweak/smal...-in-fsx-steam/

Thanks for the info Henry.

[Dman]

Thanks guys.. I'll probably take the plunge anyway.. i'm usually excited about new Sims.. but this time I'm like.. ugh.. again..?

[Snurdley]

I've got a huge archive of aircraft that I like to fly, and I'm sure quite a few won't work in v4. I also have a big collection of AI traffic that use a number of FS9 models. I've never had OOM issues so the incentive for me to move is very minimal. v3 is performing wonderfully and it's looking crazy good with PTA. v4 is very fussy about where addons are placed as well. I can put them where ever I want and most of my FSX scenery is working well.