Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is a visually stunning and immersive experience, but for many PC players, the game's performance can sometimes be less than ideal. Stuttering, FPS drops, and frame lag can ruin the experience, leaving you frustrated. Fortunately, there are several ways you can optimize your settings to boost your FPS and enjoy a smoother experience. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps you can take to eliminate stuttering and enhance performance in Flight Simulator 2020.
1. Optimize Your PC Settings
Before diving into in-game settings, it's essential to ensure your PC is properly configured for the best performance.
Disable Game Mode
Windows Game Mode is designed to optimize your PC for gaming, but it can sometimes cause performance issues in certain games, including Flight Simulator 2020. To turn it off:
- Type "Game Mode" in the Windows search bar.
- Click on "Game Mode Settings."
- Make sure Game Mode is set to Off.
Turn Off Xbox Game Bar and Overlays
Overlays from applications like Discord, AMD Radeon Overlay, and the Xbox Game Bar can be taxing on your system. To ensure these aren't affecting your performance:
- Open Settings > Gaming.
- Turn off Xbox Game Bar and any other overlays.
- Disable background recording in the Captures section of Settings.
Update Drivers
Make sure your Nvidia (or AMD) graphics drivers and Windows drivers are up to date. The latest drivers often include optimizations for Flight Simulator 2020. Nvidia recently released a new driver that provided a 6% FPS boost for many users.
Disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
Hardware-Accelerated GPU scheduling can sometimes lead to issues with games like Flight Simulator. To disable it:
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics Settings.
- Turn off Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling.
2. Optimize Your Flight Simulator 2020 Installation
Where you install the game can have an impact on performance. If you're using Steam, follow these steps:
- Right-click on Flight Simulator in Steam and click Properties.
- Go to Local Files and click Browse Local Files.
- Locate the FlightSimulator.exe file and right-click it.
- Select Properties > Compatibility and check Disable Full-Screen Optimizations.
- Click Change high DPI settings, then check Override high DPI scaling behavior and set it to Application.
DirectX 11 Compatibility
Flight Simulator 2020 runs on DirectX 11, so these tweaks to the executable file ensure better performance.
3. In-Game Settings for Better FPS
Now, let’s dive into the in-game settings. Here’s a rundown of how to configure Flight Simulator 2020 for optimal performance:
Display Mode: Full-Screen
Always set your display mode to Full-Screen for better performance. Windowed or borderless modes can reduce FPS.
V-Sync: Off
V-Sync can limit your FPS to your monitor's refresh rate, which isn’t ideal if you're aiming for higher frame rates. Turn V-Sync off in the settings.
Anti-Aliasing: Test for Your PC
Anti-aliasing smooths out jagged edges, but it can be very taxing on lower-end systems. If you're not seeing much of a performance boost or loss, leave it off or at a low setting. For higher-end PCs, you may want to enable it, but test it for the best balance between quality and performance.
Terrain Level of Detail: Medium
Set Terrain Level of Detail and other terrain settings like Buildings, Trees, and Grass and Bushes to Medium. Lowering these settings from High to Medium can provide a decent FPS boost without sacrificing too much visual quality.
Objects Level of Detail: 10
Leave this at 10 for a good balance of performance and visual detail.
Volumetric Clouds: High
Texture Resolutions and Filtering: High to 8X
Set Texture Resolution to High for better visual fidelity, and set Anisotropic Filtering to 8X for sharper textures, especially in the distance.
Water Waves: Medium
Water waves have a relatively low impact on FPS. Setting this to Medium provides a good compromise between visuals and performance.
Shadows: Off
Shadows are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to performance hits. Set Shadow Maps to 768, and turn off Terrain Shadows and Contact Shadows. Additionally, disable Ambient Occlusion for a significant FPS boost, particularly when flying closer to cities.
Windshield Effect: Low
The Windshield Effect (such as rain or fog) can cause FPS drops. Set it to Low to reduce performance hits.
Reflections: Low
Reflections, particularly on water or glass surfaces, can be demanding on your system. Set Reflections to Low to stabilize your FPS during challenging scenes.
Other Visual Effects: Off
- Set Light Shafts, Bloom, Depth of Field, Lens Correction, and Lens Flare to Off. These visual effects can be quite taxing and are often unnecessary for a smoother experience.
Traffic: Low or Off
If you're still struggling with FPS, consider reducing the amount of traffic. Set Aircraft Traffic to Off if you have a lower-end system, and reduce Airport Life and Ground Traffic to Minimum.
AI Traffic: Disabled
Finally, if you're experiencing extreme FPS drops, make sure to disable AI Offline Traffic. This feature can significantly reduce performance, especially in busy areas.
4. Final Thoughts
By adjusting both your PC and in-game settings, you can make significant improvements to your FPS and eliminate stuttering in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. These tweaks should help you get a smoother and more immersive experience, allowing you to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes and realistic flying experience the game offers.
Remember, every PC is different, so it’s always a good idea to test each change and monitor your FPS to find the optimal settings for your system. With these adjustments, you should be well on your way to soaring through the skies without any performance hiccups!
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