BirdDogICT

Good for you!!

There is a known glitch in CFS3Config.exe. You have to close the exe carefully, and the results aren't displayed properly. According to the FAQ: A22. Launch CFS3config (now accessible since V1.30 update via a button called "Graphics Config" in Workshop menu!)- make sure you set up Anti-Aliasing samples as high as possible: Go to File menu, choose Change display options, and set up AA to highest samples and click OK. Go to FILE, EXIT (do NOT close using [X] box in top right). Then in your Graphics card display setup (right click on desktop to get to them normally, then look for Nvidia or ATI tab usually or similar) set up to "override application settings" for AA, and set AA to whatever samples you require 2x 4 x etc. So, set AA to the highest value within the game and then set Catalyst to override game settings. Catalyst AA settings that work best for me are 4X (Edge Detect) and Multi-Sample AA. Super-sample AA brings my machine to a crawl.

BruceD, I recently built a "budget" machine that runs OFF (and everything else I throw at it) very well: AMD AM3 dual core processor (X2 550) overclocked to 3.6 ASUS M4A79XTD mother board 4MB G.Skill Ripjaws memory overclocked to 1600MHz Corsair TX750 watt power supply Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 1MB DDR5 memory (not overclocked) Antec 900 Two case Zalman 9700 cooler Seagate Barracude 1TB SATA hard drive LG 24" Widescreen Monitor Windows 7 Home Edition 64 bit TrackIR 4 CH Pro Pedals, Pro Throttle, Fighterstick There's nothing special about any of the components or anything I've done in tweaking the system. I just make sure that I do regular maintenance defragging the hardrive and registry. When I build a budget machine, I usually leave room for potential future processor, graphics and memory upgrades.

Reducing memory demands is good advice. AA settings are critical: using Super Sample AA will reduce BHaH to a slideshow with the 5770. Much better to choose Multi-Sample AA. FWIW, I'm using a 5770 with Catalyst 10.6 and not having any problems at all in Windows 7 64 bit.

SirMike, I didn't mention the Thrustmaster Elite rudder pedals...I believe that they would be incompatible with your Logitech joystick. As a Logitech fan, you might consider the Logitech 940 system. http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/5463/Review_of_the_Logitech_G940_Flight_System.html I haven't found a source for buying the rudder pedals alone, but the whole system allows force feedback and looks pretty solid for around $250. BTW, Amazon has used CH rudder pedals for as low as $89. They are extremely durable, so could be a good deal.

SirMike, There are not a lot of choices out there...it's either CH Pro Pedals ($99 at Amazon.com) or Saitek PZ35 Pro Flight Pedals ($109 also at Amazon). Like any controller, which one you like is largely a matter of personal choice. I've used a CH Flightstick, CH Pro Pedals, and CH Pro Throttle setup for many years without any problems at all. The Pro Pedals work well with other brands of sticks, not sure if the same is true of Saitek...it's something you would need to verify.

Chrispdm1, Glad you decided to not give up...there are a lot of helpful people here, including Uncle Al. He has tried to twist my tail a few times, especially when he didn't agree with my technical advice, but I think his positive contributions outweigh the bad. But, I remember the pain of getting severly flamed years ago in my first post on a fansite for Rowan's Dawn Patrol. One thoughtless troll just about ruined the WWI flight experience for me. I would welcome Uncle Al back as the "official OFF curmudgeon."

Ditto. I still run XP SP3 on several of my older machines, but Windows7 64 bit has been a real joy to use, Never thought I'd say that about a MS operating system, and I've suffered along with just about every version since Windows 2.0.

Nice job...I viewed videos on the TrackIR website last year before making the decision to buy TrackIR to play OFF, and wondered why we weren't represented on their website. Nice video, Hellshade. Wish I had the time to learn how to make make decent vidoes, but have learned a lot by viewing yours.

i agree...he's given me h*ll a time or two, but I can't say I'm any the worse for it.

Morris, Thanks for the heads up. FWIW, I'm not having any problems with the Windows7 64 bit version. The driver didn't install correctly the first time...had to install it again, but otherwise okay.

RugbyFan, I use essentially the same settings as Von Paulus. Be careful coosing the AntiAliasing mode in Catalyst. I've found that Super Sample AA turns the game into a slide show, especially in clouds. You'll may have better luck with Multi-Sample AA or Adaptive Multi-Sample AA.

Widowmaker, Thought at first that you were referring to the U.S. accidentally scoring on the Brits today...

According to the Canvas Knights website: News! June 7, 2010 All Aircraft Arcade has closed and the future of Canvas Knights uncertain at this time

I don't have any problems with IL-2 1946 in Win7 64 bit, can't say if earlier issues might be a problem. I'm installing to "c:\Ubisoft\IL-2 Sturmovik 1946" directory. I have UAC turned off, haven't had to set compatibility, With Catalyst 10.5, ATI finally fixed the blocky text issues with OpenGL, and I'm not getting screen tearing with TrackIR, even with VSync off.

Try this: http://ultrapack.il2war.com/index.php

Olham, Von Paulus' is providing you excellent advice. I've overclocked for years and it can be worth the effort as long as you have good cooling, including CPU, GPU, memory, and motherboard (especially the north bridge). You will learn a lot in the process, especially when solving unintended problems that crop up (too many to go into here). Keep us posted.

Groumf, Can't help you with ATI Tray Tools...haven't used that program for quite a while. But I can comment on the 5770. As Olham pointed out, it's not a terribly fast card, actualy a little slower than Olham's 4870. But I get 45-60 FPS with 54455 sliders, and the overrides suggested in the FAQ. Catalyst 10.5 settings are as follows: 4XAA (Edge detect, 12 samples), 8XAF, Catalyst AI Disabled, Mipmap Detail Level at Performance, Multi-Sample AA (this one is critical...SuperSample AA brings my FPS to <10, especially in clouds), Vertical Refresh Always On, and OpenGL Triple Buffering On (you have to have a third party program to get the last two to actually work, thanks to ATI driver glitch). I also have AA turned OFF in the game, and set regional air activity and ground density to medium. Having a 3.6MHz processor and fast memory helps, and regularly defragging your hard drive is a must. Also run at the highest resolution you can. I'm at 1920X1080@60Hz. Try the above setings, but with terrain and scenery set to 3. You can also gain FPS by turning shadows and dual pass render off in the overrides. Your mileage will vary, but this works for me.

Olham, Unpack the D3DOverrider.rar file to a folder of your choice, and you will see the program files and file folders. D3DOverrider.exe should show in your file list as "D3DOverrider", with "Application" as it's file type (it's the only application file, although there are several application extensions). You don't have to install the program, as it doesn't require any registry entries. I simply created a desktop link to D3DOverrider.exe and activate it when I need to use the program. The D3DOverrider icon (green X) should show in your taskbar when it's been activated. You can right click the icon and chose "show" to get to the program's simple, intuitive interface. You can set general properties and application profile properties, if you like. Once you've activated D3DOverrider, it waits in the background until a DirectX program like BHaH starts, and you'll hear a Windows system sound (default sound is "Exclamation") to let you know it's working. In the case of BHaH, you'll hear the Exclamation sound when a mission is loading, shortly after "Contact, Clear" Hope this helps.

Is my Freudian slip showing??

Morris, Here's the link to standalone version of D3DOverrider: http://www.mediafire.com/?2zzymudjfbh As Van Morris noted, it's usually bundled with RivaTuner, but this version doesn't require RivaTuner to be loaded. BTW, I started using this utility as a way to eliminate screen tearing with TrackIR in BOBII and IL-2. The recommended solution is to turn on VSync, but this is not possible in ATI Catalyst without third party utilities (this is a known problem with ATI drivers, still not fixed as of Catalyst 10.4). Video anomalies with TrackIR aren't unique to BHaH.

Tamper, Sorry I didn't reply sooner...real life intruding. My situation applies to those with ATI cards. First off, ATI's Catalyst Control Center has menu items allowing one to turn on Vertical Refresh (same as Vsync) and OpenGL Triple Buffering. But there is a known bug with the ATI Drivers that prevents those settings to operate with some versions of DirectX. Even if the're turned on, they don't work with some applications. SO...I run D3DOverrider in the background, and it enables the VSync and Triple Buffering that I setup in Catalyst. D3DOverrider is bundled with RivaTuner, but I use a standalone version. Hope this helps.

Hellshade, It looks like there are a coupe of different ways to skin the same cat. MaxFPS seems to have an impact only if VSync is off. In my case, I have everything synced to my monitor refresh rate, 1920X1080@60Hz: With MaxFPS=0, Vertical Sync On, TrackIR speed 0.8, I get 45-60 FPS, absolutely no jaggies. The key for me was to sync my GPU refresh rate to the monitor and then adjust the TrackIR speed to the speed that would eliminate jaggies. Without knowing how the TrackIR speed setting actually works, it required a little trial and error.

My budget system: BHAH: HITR with all patches TrackIR4 with hat clip, TrackIR5 software with speed=0.8, smoothness=30 1920X1080 resolution, in-game AA off Graphics overrides as recommended in FAQ Workshop settings: regional air activity=medium, gound object density=medium, in cloud fog=on, aircraft skins=normal Windows 7 Home Premium AMD X2 550 dual core processor overclocked to 3.6 GHz 4Mb G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3-1600 ATI 5770 1Mb DDR5 memory running Catalyst 10.4 LGA w2361 widescreen monitor running at 1920X1080@60Hz Catalyst settings 4XAA (12X samples, edge detect), 8XAF, Catalyst AI=Advanced, Mipmap Detail=Quality, Adaptive Multisampling AA, Vertical Refresh=Always On, OpenGL Triple Buffering On. Use third party utility D3DOverrider to control Vertical Refresh and Triple Buffering Use on-board VIA sound fron ASUS M4A79XTD EVO motherboard, 96k sample rate in 5.1 setup. Corsair TX750W PSU, max load on 12V rail= 60A, 720W, max load on 5V rail=3A, both at 50C Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA hard drive, 32Mbcache, 7200 rpm CH Fighterstick, Pro Throttle, Pro Pedals Have no issues at all with stutters, jaggies, or tearing. Will see occasional tearing with TrackIR5 speed at or above default of 1. No problems at 0.8. D3DOverrider seems to reduce jaggies, as well (I first used it to eliminate tearing in BOBII and IL-2. If ATI drivers fully supported VSync and Triple Buffering, I wouldn't need to use D3DOverrider at all in older games).

Rabu, I think it would also be helpful to know speed and smoothness settings for TrackIR. The speed setting seems to have a big impact on tearing. At default speed of 1, I don't see any tearing, but do at settings of 2,3 or higher. I'm currently using TrackIR4 with the hat clip, TrackIR5 software with speed=0.8, smoothness=30 (as recommended by almccoyjr)