How it works
The frame rate index is meant to compare the performance of aircraft add-ons with each other. It provides a rating from 0 to 10 for both sims, FS2004 and FSX. This rating is not the frame rate itself, it is the outcome of a benchmark test. It works like this: an aircraft is flown on a standard location, time, season and weather with always the same fs settings. During the flight, the average frame rate is logged, one time in the 2d panel mode and one time in the virtual cockpit mode. The 'combined' average frame rate (2d panel + vc / 2) is then divided by 0.6. Why? Read on...
In this case, the frame rate can be any number between 0 and 60 fps (frames per second). 60 fps equals a rating of 10, which is the maximum. That's why the average frame rate is divided by 0.6. In this specific benchmark test, an aircraft will rarely get 60 or more fps. With this index number, you won't know what the frame rate will be with a specific aircraft in your FS on your computer. However, if you have one of the aircraft that are listed here, then you know the frame rate that you get while flying it, so you can compare it with the other aircraft that are listed here.
Many aircraft are not tested yet, but we're working on it. If an aircraft is not tested yet, the rating graphic will be grey. Some aircraft are compatible with FS2004 or FSX only. In that case the graphic will stay grey for the incompatible fs version..
Test locations and settings
For FS2004, the test location is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) on a summer day in august in daylight. The weather is set to 'clear skies'.
For FSX, the test location is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (KDTW) on a summer day in august in daylight. The weather is set to 'clear skies'.
The FSX test location is not KSEA because of the very complex scenery there. The frame rate is considerably lower at KSEA, compared to other more complex airports in FSX. This would result in too low frame rates thus too low index numbers. We asume that FSX users have at least a slightly faster computer, so we don't want to show too low index numbers for the FSX version of certain aircraft add-ons.
Why 'clear skies' weather theme?
Depending on your video card, clouds are frame rate killers. Because every aircraft is different - more to the point, every cockpit sight/viewpoint is different -
the amount of clouds that are visible during flight is different. Because of that, the frame rate depends on more than just the aircraft complexity. So, thats the reason for the 'clear skies' weather theme. |
