Finding FSX.CFG and setting an affinity mask

[TSR2]

My personal preference is to not bother with the Affinity Mask in FSX. On my system adding it only seems to slow it down (Intel i5 quad core).

In P3D however it speeds it up. this seems to be because the LM team decided to have a default mask applied to use n-1 cores (where N is the number of cores in your CPU - unless you only have a single core). On my system, adding the affinity mask of 15 makes a significant improvement to the performance of that SIM such that it doesn't limit the sim to 3 cores as is the default behaviour.

[GHD]

As I've said, there's a lot of misinformation on the web ...

But not in this forum

[TSR2]

As everyone's system is unique in some way or other its up to individuals to choose settings that work best for them. Whether or not we understand the full detail behind each one is a moot point, we'll all be able to decide what works best for ourselves and share that here as some may find it helpful.

[rohan]

... Some folk just wanna 'Wash'n'Go' mate.. others become programmers ...

It's a shame there are two kinds of programmers - those who know what they're doing, and those who think they know what they're doing ... but then that applies to any human activity ...

[TSR2]

I don't think any of us are programmers Ro. That's a bit like saying if you want to drive a car you need to know how one works. A great many have a good idea, but a lot just know how to use it. So in that respect we are users, and programmers would be redundant without us.

[rohan]

Actually, I was made to be a programmer, and damn good at it I am, but also a system designer and developer. And I was taught that, if I want to ride a bicycle, I should know how to fix a chain or puncture; same with a motorbike (but more tech stuff); same with driving a car (even more tech stuff). Of course, these days, you don't really need to know that tech stuff, and in fact that old tech stuff is totally irrelevant. Ever tried to replace the points in a solid-state distributor ?

And to clarify another point - it's all well and good posting the settings that "work" for you, but don't try and propagate the misconceptions you've picked up elsewhere. On this particular subject, my source is unimpeachable and the information has been corroborated by a group of very technical gurus who know their subject inside out ...

[DaveB]

Actually, I was made to be a programmer, and damn good at it I am, but also a system designer and developer

I didn't know that Ro and I hope you don't think I was having a go My comment was off the cuff but still broadly applies though. There are those of us who like to hit a button to make something work and there are others that like to make the button

As a programmer, system designer and developer, you would be expected to know what you're on about. You obviously have an aptitude and interest in 'making the button' and what goes on behind it but some of us.. the majority I'd guess, simply have neither. That's not to say we're 'closed' to good advice.. that wouldn't be true

ATB
DaveB

[rohan]

Dave,
No, I wouldn't think that of you, nor was my response particularly targeted at you. And, yes, I do understand that some users (perhaps even most) just want to wash and go. I also think that I'm in a very small minority within my species that takes a holistic view of both what a system is trying to do and what a user needs in order to get the most out of that system. Nor do I feel I have the right to impose my views on others or tell them what to think. As such, if users want to tell others what works for them, then I'm not going to try to stop them. It's a different, and objectionable, matter when they insist they're right even after I've explained why they're wrong.

But I set out here with some hope that I might be able to teach some users what I know about this single parameter in the whole world of FSX.CFG. It seems however that nobody wants to listen, because the truth of the matter is that if someone says that value X works for them, when the only value that ever truly works on a four core CPU is 14, is that using an affinity mask is pointless in their case. What's actually happening on their system is that so many other factors are combining to overwhelm the benefits of using a mask, and any benefits that the user sees are at best transitory. As both Ben and yourself have said, trying to even identify those specific factors would take a long time even for a user who understands the tech involved, and most users just want to wash and go. The end result is that most users (those who have a four core CPU) don't really need to use a mask UNLESS they also want to run other FSX add-on apps (like TrackIR or weather) along with it, and then they need more than just a mask value. Users with CPUs with more than four cores could benefit from a mask whether they're running with or without those extra apps, but again other factors could overwhelm any real benefits. That's all part of why I'm not in favour of all these tweaking tools, particularly payware ones. OK, I accept that a lot of users think that this or that tweak or tool has given their system a boost, but just how significant (or even real) is that benefit ? For example, I wonder how many users would notice a difference in FSX performance if their mask parameter suddenly disappeared overnight.

So once again it seems that the world just doesn't want to know the truth behind affinity masks, especially with some users with closed minds. As such, there seems little point in keeping this topic if so few users are even prepared to discuss the subject - I'd like you to delete it please,
Regs,
Ro

[DaveB]

Hi Ro

No.. I won't delete it. I completely understand your feeling and frustration as an 'insider' (as it were) that the majority of us rumble on in ignorance and I'm sure we do However.. the main target of this thread was and is Mike (Airspeed) though I appreciate you aimed it at a wider audience so if he gets something useful out of it.. then job done. I'm sure we'll all learn something along the way too so please continue

ATB
DaveB

[rohan]

Yes, the original point was to help Mike, and it's my belief that I did that, in a rather limited way. TBH, I'm not too sure whether I can be much more help to him, but I am still prepared to do what I can to that end. It's just that, given the reaction here, I'd prefer to do that by PM - assuming of course that he still wishes to continue.