Info about FSX STEAM with Nvidia Optimus system

[crsalvo]

Dear Steam community as by the subject I am new here and I need some suggestions about FSX STEAM editition before buying it. Actually I am using ASUS N550JK Lapotop equipped with I7-4700HQ and two video card, the Intel one plus Nvidia GTX850M 4GB RAM. Few days ago I bought Prepar3d 2.5 but seems it is not running on my system due to Optimus technology in my Nvidia card, then I want look foward to move to FSX STEAM but I wanna be sure that I will not have the same issue...Any suggestions ? Thanks. Salvo.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

U obviously just dont have it setup right; anything DirectX/OpenGL can run off the NVIDIA GPU if u set it up right. It's not gonna just use that GPU by default.

Have u dumped all the drivers yet; and installed the latest ones for everything?

Setup NVIDIA CP to run off the NVIDIA GPU as the default for everything?

Setup WinOS and NVIDIA CP for Max Performance?

[crsalvo]

Yes I did it and I tried all possible setup in Nvida card panel withou success. Actually I am using win 7 65 bit installed few days ago then all drivers are last version...I was talking even on Prepar forum but no conclusion. Actually sim is working witn Intel card while I cannot run it with Nvidia...which is totally a mess...

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Many laptops have a "Low Power / High Performance" mode button or switch on them; ensure it is not in any Power Saver Mode; as that will force it to only use the Intel GPU.

Have u tried right clicking the Prepar3d shortcut and click "Run using NVIDIA GPU"

For Win7, make sure it has been updated to SP1 and beyond; all the latest Windows Updates. Many apps and games also must have all the various updated runtimes installed as well; .NET Framework 3.xx / 4.xx; Visual C++ (2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013); and DirectX Redist June 2010

Aside from this, ensure both your Intel and NVIDIA GPU drivers are up to date; that means first removing all of those drivers for both GPUs. DO NOT update from one version to another, always uninstall + clean install them when u change versions.

For NVIDA I would suggest using 353 WHQL or older; as some of the newest to date drivers are problems for some.

[crsalvo]

Hello thanks and let me answer to your question :
1) Yes I tried to run prepar clicking on the shortcut right and Run with Nvida but it stuck on the first window while if I select Intel card it runs
2) Actually the driver I am using for Nvida card ( GTX850M) are : 06/08/2015 version: 10.18.13.5560
3) Directx 11
4) I am using external monitor which I can connect by dp or HDMI but no differences
5) Win 7 Professional SP1

[crsalvo]

oh I forgot about power I set it as max perfomances

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Try clean installing an older Driver; and u need to update Intel GPU as well; that matters here because in these types of setups, the Intel & NVIDIA GPUs work together.

And when u install NVIDIA driver for trouble-shoot purposes; always select Custom > tick the Clean Install box. And it may also help to only install Display Driver and PhysX, nothing else from the driver suite.

Set NVIDIA CP back up again every time u change drivers; as each driver change will mean NVIDIA CP goes back to defaults.

under "Manage 3D" >

Default GPU: High Performance NVIDIA GPU

Max Pre-Rendered Frames = 1
Power Management = Prefer Max Performance
Threaded Optimization = ON

Click APPLY

[crsalvo]

ok let me explain what i did :
1) I deleted Nvidia driver and installed again clicking Clean Install Box
2) reboot
3) Installed again driver and set NVIDIA CP as you suggested
4) Reboot
5) Start again Prepar with Nvidia but it stuck as usual,
6) Start Prepar with Intel card-- ok

So no way to run with Nvidia....:((

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Could be issue with that App then.
It is not uncommon for some just won't work on Mobile GPUs.
Given that Sim looks quite hefty anyways, I can't see it running well anyways.

I would go into the Discussion Forum on Steam (if the game u want is on Steam) and post in there then before buying.

For all I know could just be that Prepar3d is poorly written. It doesn't seem like the typical sim/game app you'd run on cheap hardware either. It's look more like a hardcore sim you'd only run on an expensive desktop setup.

~ Sorry if I couldn't help u. I've been reading a bit in their forums and it seems v2.5 is crappy anyways, memory leaks and such under Win 8.1 & 10; but working fine under Win 7

[crsalvo]

Ok thanks, but then what do you suggest to by FSX steam an try ? In case there is no Demo Version ? just to try

[Bad 💀 Motha]

There is a stand alone FSX Demo
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/1304/microsoft-flight-simulator-x-demo



But again, before u buy I would review that product's forum a bit.
http://steamcommunity.com/app/314160/discussions
If u have doubts and don't see good info already in there, ask in there about the product.
Such as "Will it run on my system" and list your full specs and such.
Plenty of gaming laptop users out there, so I can't see not getting good info.

I already know FSX is top notch; I just can't speak for how well it runs on mobile hardware and how that compatibility is. U can't always assume because things will work on Desktop AMD/NVIDIA GPUs that the same will apply to Mobile GPUs. It's one reason Gaming and Mobile just really don't go together well.

[crsalvo]

Ok Thanks so I will try to open a new post there in case I do not find anything useful. Thanks again. Salvo.

[HokeyPokeyPoo]

Hey Salvo, not sure if you have already fixed your Nvidia issue, but I am currently using a i7-4510U + Nvidia 840M with a 8 GB RAM and it is running FSX fine.

As for the Nvidia Optimus system, I used to run into the very same issue where the system would not detect the software that I am running which would cause my laptop to continue using the Intel graphics card, After several tries, I found that the most reliable fix was restart "NVIDIA Display Driver Service" from the services manager before starting any game/software.