Prepar3d 2.5 is out

[TeiscoDelRay]

How big is the basic install? Also about how long does it take to download the whole thing?

[CG_1976]

Ok where is the Addon Scenery folder in P3D tree?? How I am supposed to install CYFB Iqaluit and Acapulco and KSAT, KLAS??

[DaveWG]

There isn't one. Doesn't stop you making your one yourself though. Doesn't have to be in the P3d main folder, can be anywhere.

[CG_1976]

There isn't one. Doesn't stop you making your one yourself though. Doesn't have to be in the P3d main folder, can be anywhere.

Does that effect P3D's performance?

[falcon409]

Does that effect P3D's performance?

Nope. Just setup your own Scenery folders wherever you wish. Just activate them in the Scenery Library, that's it.

[Snurdley]

One other thing I want to mention about the water. . .Snurdley mentioned that he saw no animation with the water in P3D. It must be set to "max" for that to show. Also, when you do that, if you have a boat (or even if you don't) get right down over the water and take a look. . .that's animation FSX will never have.

Thanks. I left the settings the same as FSX and expected to see the same effects. I'll give that a shot. Hope it doesn't hit the rig too hard.

[DagR]

Right!

I have now installed version 2.5 and I am having problems with external canopy reflectivity. In previous versions I had very nice reflective canopies on the F-35. F-22, the aerosoft F-14 and also Dino's MB-326. Now they are all dull showing no sign of diffuse alpha reflections (glass-like) at all. Does anyone else have this issue?

Best
Dag

[Dumonceau]

Right!

I have now installed version 2.5 and I am having problems with external canopy reflectivity. In previous versions I had very nice reflective canopies on the F-35. F-22, the aerosoft F-14 and also Dino's MB-326. Now they are all dull showing no sign of diffuse alpha reflections (glass-like) at all. Does anyone else have this issue?

Best
Dag

Not on my rig. have you checked the reflection settings??

[DagR]

You mean reflection settings in the sim right? Yes, off course.


Best regards
Dag

[hschuit]

Dag, I am (almost) sure you did these checks yourself already but just in case:

Are all required global environment/specular/fresnel maps present in the P3D .\Texture folder ? Many FSX addons use these global files:

Fresnel_Ramp.dds (or .bmp)
GlobalEnv_AC_Chrome.dds
GlobalEnv_AC_Glass_T.dds
GlobalEnv_AC_Glass_spec_T.dds
GlobalEnvTest.dds

And this is a long shot: I would delete/rebuild the shader cache (located in "C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\Lockheed Martin").

[DagR]

Dag, I am (almost) sure you did these checks yourself already but just in case:

Are all required global environment/specular/fresnel maps present in the P3D .\Texture folder ? Many FSX addons use these global files:

Fresnel_Ramp.dds (or .bmp)
GlobalEnv_AC_Chrome.dds
GlobalEnv_AC_Glass_T.dds
GlobalEnv_AC_Glass_spec_T.dds
GlobalEnvTest.dds

And this is a long shot: I would delete/rebuild the shader cache (located in "C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\Lockheed Martin").

Only the fresnel ramp was missing from the texture folder.
I rebuilt my shader cache many times, I have been experimenting with the HDR settings you see :-)

Thanks
Dag

[DagR]

No joy on getting the reflections back like in 2.4 :-(

Best
Dag

[TeiscoDelRay]

Just bought it and so far not happy. I run three gtx 980 cards and thought that because Nvidia now had a profile for this sim that at least two cards should work in SLI. Wrong, viewing the cards usage and temps in Afterburner showed me that the top card ran around 70 degrees but the other two were loafing around 40 degrees. I tried several things including setting the cards up as alternate frame rendering but still the top card in the stack did all the work while the other two took a nap.

SLI in this sim is not perfected yet so I guess refund and try again some time in the future when they get that ironed out.

Oh, by the way, FSX uses all three cards equally.

[Daube]

No joy on getting the reflections back like in 2.4 :-(

Best
Dag

Can you post a screenshot of what you're actually getting in the sim ?
Are you sure you hadn't installed some alternative "envmap" texture in your P3D 2.4 ?

[Naismith]

I don't really understand the benefits of more than one card anyway with any game. Anyone care to supply a primer for me? It strikes me as a bit of a cash cow for the card makers. Am I wrong or just mean and poor?

[DagR]

Can you post a screenshot of what you're actually getting in the sim ?
Are you sure you hadn't installed some alternative "envmap" texture in your P3D 2.4 ?

I did a full clean reinstall of 2.5, the only way to go I am afraid. And no, I did not put in any custom envmap. Will post some screenies on monday.


Best regards
Dag

[spatialpro]

I don't really understand the benefits of more than one card anyway with any game. Anyone care to supply a primer for me? It strikes me as a bit of a cash cow for the card makers. Am I wrong or just mean and poor?

I'm certainly the wrong guy to supply a primer, but my impression is that SLI with GPUs are subject to the law-of-diminishing-returns. I'm given to understand that adding a second card with SLI won't simply double your available GPU power (as many assume, in error) and adding a 3rd card certainly won't triple it etc. etc... According to this you'll actually end up getting less value for money the more you set out to achieve. For these reasons alone I'm sticking with a single card.

Andy

[CanadaKen]

I run three gtx 980 cards and thought that because Nvidia now had a profile for this sim that at least two cards should work in SLI.

As far as I know LM is still waiting for Nvidia to get off their butts and provide a profile for P3D.

CK

[TeiscoDelRay]

Nvidia's newest drivers does have a profile for P3D but the program only really uses one card so far.

[DagR]

Here's how my P-38s look. These both hadd a nice metallic shine to them in earlier versions. This is after the hotfix for 2.5 but they looked just the same before. Dull glass and very dull fuselage.
Many aircraft have similar features, especially on the canopy glass. I refuse to believe they are supposed to be like this.

best
Dag

[Dumonceau]

Here's how my P-38s look. These both hadd a nice metallic shine to them in earlier versions. This is after the hotfix for 2.5 but they looked just the same before. Dull glass and very dull fuselage.
Many aircraft have similar features, especially on the canopy glass. I refuse to believe they are supposed to be like this.

best
Dag

I have the same problem and I did change over the envmaps...

[DagR]

I have the same problem and I did change over the envmaps...

Do you mean you got rid of the problem by copying over different envmaps?
I tried several with the same result. To me it seems like the diffuse alpha channel is not read by the sim.

Dag

[dharry]

I'm considering updating to v 2.5 but has i've just remastered my PC and installed v 2.4 with various aircraft and scenery add-ons, can I get away with just uninstalling v 2.4 leaving the aircraft add-on folders in place and installing v 2.5? My scenery is already on a separate drive to P3D so that shouldn't cause issues apart from Orbx Global Base & Monument Valley?

[Phantom88]

I'm considering updating to v 2.5 but has i've just remastered my PC and installed v 2.4 with various aircraft and scenery add-ons, can I get away with just uninstalling v 2.4 leaving the aircraft add-on folders in place and installing v 2.5? My scenery is already on a separate drive to P3D so that shouldn't cause issues apart from Orbx Global Base & Monument Valley?

I don't think so,P3D 2.5 folders have been restructured, The SimObjects folder is no longer in The root P3D folder,I think this restructuring was the reason a Fresh install was needed instead of a patch.

[Daube]

Also, you won't be able to activate your 2.5 install if you don't uninstall the 2.4 first.