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Lagging/freezing in MSFS caused by Simtools?

Discussion in 'Flight Simulator 2020 - FS2020' started by Moe Colontonio, Aug 19, 2021.

  1. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Hey guys,

    I'm experiencing a lagging in MSFS. It freezes for half a second, at random intervals. Otherwise my experience is smooth. The lag goes through the motion rig and my Pimax 8kx which loses tracking for an instant and shows the grid.

    Tonight I turned off Game Manager and Engine, and all the lagging/freezing went away. I flew along for about ten minutes without a stutter. As soon as I turned Engine/Manager back on, it started freezing again. Interval is about 3 times a minute.

    I'm not really sure how to troubleshoot this? Attached is a screenshot from FPSvr showing the freeze.

    Attached Files:

  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    The demands of MSFS2020 vary, depending on what you have enabled, where you choose to fly and what you choose to fly.

    I would suggest first try without VR, but with motion enabled. Do you still get the glitches? If not it is likely a computer hardware/resource issue based in the settings you are making in MSFS2020.
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2021
  3. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    I have the freezing in and out of VR. I'll do some more testing when I get time. I guess I'll unplug devices one at a time until I find the culprit? Is there some other way to find device conflicts?
  4. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    If your Pimax 8kx loses tracking and MSFS2020 has freezing in and out of VR then it is unlikely to be related to motion, but more likely related to your computer, my guess would be USB bandwidth issues: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/simtools-usb-issues-can-cause-crashes.313/
  5. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Thank you for the links. I changed the windows USB setting, swapped out a powered hub that I found was connecting/disconnecting.

    I put the Thanos board on a 2.0 port, and both hubs on 3.0 ports. Pimax is on the USB3.0 PCI card.

    Still getting the freezing, in and out of VR. Killing game manager resolves the issue every time. Here's a snapshot of what USB tree gives me. I'm not sure what those unknown devices are. USB deview shows everything in the green.

    Attached Files:

  6. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Here's a better shot of what I have plugged in. USB hubs are showing as 2.1 even though they are 3,0? Maybe the extension cables I'm using?

    Attached Files:

  7. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Lots of Unknown Device: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com...ce-is-an-quot-unknown-device-quot/ba-p/270739

    I would try having just the Pimax on a USB3 controller, not shared with anything else, the Steam stuff on a separate USB 3 hub, not shared with anything else, and dump the rest together on what remains.

    Though keep in mind that implementation of USB3 standards can often be a bit shoddy, so in those circumstances USB2 tends to be more reliable, which may also be worth a shot for particular devices.

    @yobuddy do you have any further ideas, as SimTools is not computationally expensive and I suspect killing it just disconnects the controller(s), which may be the issue?
  8. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    Yes, this is probably the case.
    What output rate are you using, maybe the interface is getting overrun with data from time to time?

    I have seen allot of problems disappear by just swapping cables out.
    I would try connecting the sim directly to the PC and see what happens.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Tonight physically disconnected every usb device, then uninstalled them via usb deview. Restarted the pc with only the Thanos board connected to a 2.0 port and fired up msfs.

    Same thing, freezing a few times a minute, killing game manager resolved it. When i get a chance I'll reinstall simtools and see if that fixes it open to any other ideas here.
  10. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    I did a lot more testing today. I tried running with the actuators powered down, but with simtools running. Still freezing, so I think this rules out EMI?

    I shut down simconnect, but left game engine/manager running, and no freezing. I tried installing an alternate version of simconnect from here: http://www.fspassengers.com/?action=simconnect but it's still freezing.

    Looks like simconnect is actually the problem. Any ideas on how to proceed?
  11. SeatTime

    SeatTime Well-Known Member

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    You could try using FlyPT mover - remembering not to open it up until you have MSFS open, or it will not connect. I don't have a issue with either, but I have installed two multi-controller USB powered cards to reliably run all my USB connected peripherals.
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2021
  12. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Does FlyPT use something other than Simconnect? That seems to be the issue.

  13. Zed

    Zed VR Simming w/Reverb Gold Contributor

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    About the USB 2 vs 3, might check the capabilities of the hubs. Pretty sure if you plug even one USB 2 device into at least some USB 3 hubs, the hub may back down to USB 2 on all ports. This used to be pretty common but not sure about how common now but thought I’d mention as something to check.
  14. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Like I said above, I did pull all USB devices, including the hubs, and the freezing continued. It only happens when simconnect is running. It's driving me up the wall!
  15. Arvid

    Arvid New Member

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    Same here with msfs.. its has some stuttering. its due to simconnect with the simtools.. Something looping??
  16. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Just an update here, I switch to FlyPT and zero issues. No stutters or lag, and shooting from the hip I seem to have picked up a few frames...
  17. gianlu320

    gianlu320 Member

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    I also get these freezes, they last one two seconds.
    I don't think it's usb related, I don't have this problem with Dcs.
    It must be MSFS/ simconnect related.
    Did anybody find the root cause of this problem?
  18. Moe Colontonio

    Moe Colontonio Member Gold Contributor

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    Since SU10, I have this issue again, even using flyPT.

    Still looking for ideas to troubleshoot.
  19. SeatTime

    SeatTime Well-Known Member

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    Unfortunately don't have a solution as mine works perfectly for both Simtools and FlyPt. Have been running MSFS with simtools most of the day (setting up multiple screens) - no issues. I did a month or so ago upgrade my CPU and motherboard, but did not have any real issues with simtools/Flypt before that.
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2022