Terrain Complexity in CFS2 (v1.1)
I have had no replies to this help on frame rates for CFS2 so I assume it is all correct, unless you know otherwise!
In CFS2 the DEM density level, terrain texture size and the complexity of the terrain can be altered in order to improve frame rates on an individuals machine.
Click on the settings button on the main menu screen or in the Freeflight screen or under Options when flying. Once on the settings page click the advanced display settings button in the display box. On the settings page click on the Image Quality tab on the top centre of the screen. You are now confronted with 8 slider bars which control the many features in the sim. We will only be altering 3 of them
DEM density level
Max terrain texture size
and, Terrain complexity level
The terrain settings I find can dramatically alter the frame rate performance of CFS2 much more than the effects such as shadows, explosions and even object textures.
Below is a rough guide on how altering the DEM complexity affects frame rates
| Setting | How it effects the frame rates |
| Very Low | Very little effect; this should only be used on computers on or below the minimum system requirements for CFS2 |
| Low | same as above |
| Medium | Low medium to high medium spec computers (P300-P600) Those with machines at the lower end of this scale will notice that frame rates begin to decrease slightly. |
| High | Only for computers with a P500 or greater processor. On machines lower than this it can only be used if the terrain complexity level is very low. |
Max terrain texture size. I find that only when this is set to 256 (out of options 64 and 128) will this reduce frame rates on low spec machines. Anything higher than a P500 should easily cope with the maximum setting of 256.
Terrain Complexity Level: this is a numerical value between 0 and 100 and is the most critical of the terrain complexity controls, it has most effect on frame rate and the visual quality of the terrain. Put simply the lower you have this value the more the terrain looks like it used to in FS98 and CFS1, pointy with very little curvature but it gives high frame rates. The higher this value and the more curved and natural looking the terrain becomes but with a serious drop in frame rates.
Here is a simple table with different examples of what will happen on different types of systems.
| Terrain complexity level | P333 | P600 | P1.2GHz |
| 0-25 | Very good frame rates, terrain though appears pointed and poorly formed. Ideal for multiplayer games. | Excellent frame rates | You should not use this setting your system can cope with max frame rates. |
| 25-50 | An excellent all round setting | Frame rates are still excellent but you can notice that the terrain is less pointed and curves are begginning to appear in the terrain. | Ideal for multiplayer gaming of for missions when there are hundreds of extra palnes and ground objects. |
| 50-75 | Frame rates are very low however reducing the DEM density and terrain texture size improves it. | A very good all round setting, frame rates are good and the terrain looks realistic. | Features such as mountains and canyons become more rounded. If this does not happen then it is a good indication that your system is not working to its full potential |
| 75-100 | Suicide!!! about 0.5FPS if you are lucky | Frame rates are very low however reducing the DEM density and terrain texture size improves it. | Frame rates are very good and the terrain looks most realistic with features such as mountains and canyons being easily recognisable |
This is only a rough guide to the complexities of how the terrain settings can affect frame rates in CFS2, I do appreciate that not everybody has the same computer system and that some people may have the latest Graphics card which makes their P200 act like a P500 system! etc, etc. So therefore this *.html file is of no use to them. If you wish to have your say on how you cope with the terrain settings to get the best compromise on your system then send me an e-mail and I will endeavour to include the best suggestions in version 2 of this guide which I will add to the next installment of the mesh terrain of the UK - The Borders
© Daniel Hamblin 2001