Sky-MAXX Pro -my two cents- a comparison

[redpiper]

Ok there seems to be some confusion with a couple people about running the addon Sky-MAXX Pro. It's simple HDR needs to be turned off and I'll prove it with a pretty simple test. There is from what I've read going to be a seamless integration with X-Plane in the very near future but again I have only read that. I'm somewhat of a graphics pig and HDR being off bums me out but sometimes you need to give a little to get a lot. Now, as far as this test is concerned I'm a beta tester (Windows version of Sky-MAXX Pro) so part of my job with this was to point out issues or bugs if you will with data and screenshots. I worked very closey with one of the team John so I do know what I'm talking about and just trying to help out so please bear with me.

 

OK my system specs:

 

Intel i7 2600k  @ 4.4 Ghz

Corsair H80 water cooler

ASUS MAXIMUS IV EXTREME IV motherboard

MSI GTX 680 4gb DDR5

32gb Gskill "Ripjaws" 1866 ram

Crucial 256 Gb SSD

HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 (1Tb? HDD 7400 RPM)

Rosewill BRONZE Series 1000W power supply

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit

 

The test model I used was X-Plane10 64bit running the default Baron B58 at 10,000' out of KGRR (Gerald R. Ford Intl) by Mr. Brian Godwin, scattered clouds with a base of 8,000' to tops at 10,000' and using the chase view camera. The scenery is slightly behind me over fields so it's not too heavy.

 

Test #1:  X-Plane default clouds with HDR (OFF)

Test #2:  X-Plane Sky-MAXX Pro with HDR (ON)

Test #3:  X-Plane SkyMAXX Pro with HDR  (OFF)

 

No other plugins were turned on or used at the time of any of the tests and screenshots with fps count were all captured with Fraps.

 

Here are my X-Plane settings with both HDR on and off and all the comparison screenshots with text explaining the test:

 

Edited November 27, 2013 by redpiper

[redpiper]

OK so the basic results of my testing are TURN OFF YOUR HDR (for now) and enjoy this wonderful addon. Guy's not once in the history of X-Plane10 has anything impacted frame rates with clouds on like SMP. This addon has done more for frame rates in my humble opinion than any update done by laminar yet. You've got amazing 3D clouds, beautiful skies and added frames with clouds. Whats not to like ?

Edited November 27, 2013 by redpiper

[RojanTrojan]

Thanks for doing this test. Even with HDR off Skymaxx makes X-plane look like a completely different simulator on times. Spectacular add-on.  

 

Rhydian

 

P.S Holy cow redpiper your system specs are mental!

[redpiper]

Thanks for doing this test. Even with HDR off Skymaxx makes X-plane look like a completely different simulator on times. Spectacular add-on.  

 

Rhydian

 

P.S Holy cow redpiper your system specs are mental!

Haha thanks. I built to stay beefy for a while but it's already starting to get outdated. This addon though will help anybody no matter what their specs are. I did this test because I've seen a few people that are having trouble using is and basically it's because they refuse to turn off HDR. They may have other issues but I'm seeing the HDR thing.

[FloB]

Well, the main problem with HDR is not HDR itself but AA (at least on my system: i7 2600k, GTX670 2GB, 16GB Ram, 1920*1080).

Performance drops as soon as SSAA is turned on and everything less than 4xSSAA+FXAA means a lot of shimmering.

HDR+FXAA alone is really fast.

 

Flo

[djMot]

Well, the main problem with HDR is not HDR itself but AA (at least on my system: i7 2600k, GTX670 2GB, 16GB Ram, 1920*1080).

Performance drops as soon as SSAA is turned on and everything less than 4xSSAA+FXAA means a lot of shimmering.

HDR+FXAA alone is really fast.

 

Flo

 

By and large, I agree with this.

 

But there's a more substantial failing on Laminar's part here that few ever talk about.

 

For the new global lighting system to work, as I understand it, HDR must be enabled.  I think that's where a lot of people lament turning it off.  They feel they will loose one of the biggest improvements to the FX flight environment, and so without it, what was the point of the upgrade?  Yes, there is more too it than just the lighting, but significant allure was built on those sexy night shots of lit billboards and headlights spilling light onto adjacent grass, and of course the airport environment where, when pulling up to the gate, taxi lights illuminate the terminal ahead.  VERY sexy.

 

But get into the air and Laminar forgot what it's supposed to look like from cruise altitude.  I might as well be flying over the ocean as over a densely populated area of land.  The brightness from the ground is unacceptably dark.  Further the gamma adjustment system is hopelessly broken.  Adjust it during flight (I know a restart is theoretically required, but not really I've discovered) and it might help, or it might not.  It's schizo in that regard, and if you forget to reset it at the end of a flight, you're screwed on the next, where you WILL have to do a restart to get back to a baseline gamma setting.  Laminar needs to develop an adaptive gamma system that accounts for day and night, period.

 

I flew from Washington DC to Madison, WI one evening earlier this year - on a real airline.  The flight had us over Lake Michigan somewhere around Grand Haven and making land fall on the WI side just north of Milwaukee.  It was a clear night.  The entire southern shore of Lake Michigan was outlined in that golden sodium vapor light.  The Chicago area was ablaze!  Little lines of sparkling spun-gold light for all the major the N/S streets.

 

Fly that same route in XP?  Forget it.  Nothing but black.  Making landfall at MKE in XP10 is perhaps what it might have looked like back in the gas-light days.  Laminar has GOT TO FIX THAT.

 

I don't know if flying in non-HDR yields any greater nighttime lighting brightness.  I'm still a dope running HDR. 

[JohnMAXX]

Maybe this is helpful:

 

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/427390-skymaxx-pro-another-winner-from-johnand-retraction/

 

 

Just a shot in the dark guys, with the complexity in hardware and software it may be time to look at the overall setup........

[marty2756]

Absolutely right about SKymax right now,,, has to be used without HDR......  made similar tests today....with no plugins messing around and same results, excessive FPS drop with HDR enabled . (made every possible combination with SM UI). Really sad for me.... as I'm one of those who won't go back to non-hdr. Will have to wait...

Anyway , addon is great.

[canox]

Non-HDR

 

HDR

[Sully]

 

Haha thanks. I built to stay beefy for a while but it's already starting to get outdated.

Yes, but still a very respectable setup.  Upgrade may consist of a Z87 MB and an i7 Haswell.  The 680 is a nice card. 

 

I am new to X-Plane 10 and have jumped in with both feet.  The SMP is one of the add-ons I am looking at.  Your hardware setup is really nice... what is your monitor configuration?  Nvidia Surround?  Monitor or Projectors?  I really like the scenerey, so monitors (my view) and the flight deck will get equal attention.  The clouds in those examples are what I was hoping to be possible with todays X-Plane and hardware combination.

 

John - I haven't read the hardware / software link you posted, but will shortly. 

 

Interesting stuff.  Thanks for letting me chime-in.

[redpiper]

Yes, but still a very respectable setup.  Upgrade may consist of a Z87 MB and an i7 Haswell.  The 680 is a nice card. 

 

I am new to X-Plane 10 and have jumped in with both feet.  The SMP is one of the add-ons I am looking at.  Your hardware setup is really nice... what is your monitor configuration?  Nvidia Surround?  Monitor or Projectors?  I really like the scenerey, so monitors (my view) and the flight deck will get equal attention.  The clouds in those examples are what I was hoping to be possible with todays X-Plane and hardware combination.

 

John - I haven't read the hardware / software link you posted, but will shortly. 

 

Interesting stuff.  Thanks for letting me chime-in.

Unfortunately just one 22" 1920x1080 at the moment :-(