[20NOV19] PMDG 737NGXu Update to Build 9961 is now available

[rsrandazzo]

Captains,

Tonight we have pushed another update for users of PMDG 737NGXu that includes a number of code/logic/behavior fixes, but is mostly targeted toward performance improvement.

During the past week we have been going through much of the data that we have collected since release in an effort to understand why some users have perfect performance and others have varying degrees of poor performance. This has had us analyzing everything from drivers to hardware to shaders to add-ons, and it did identify a few areas where we could make changes in order to further optimize NGXu in order to reduce the load we have on the processor.

This update brings to you the results of our research to date, as we felt that we were seeing enough improvement that it would be beneficial to roll it out to you rather than having you wait while we keep digging down some other areas that we think are worth investigating.

Something that did not make it into the change list that should have: We have added an option in the FMS OPTIONS menu that will allow you to reduce the update draw rate on the EFB moving map. This is an experiment, because we know that drawing the EFB, then subjecting that screen to HDR correction, then having cockpit lighting interact with those results, which then have to be recomputed and rendered once more, can have an impact on FPS. We thought it might be interesting to see if, instead of drawing that screen each tick we skip a few frames in the middle and see if that alleviates a burden from some with mid-range hardware. We played around with it and thought it was interesting, so we figured we would pass it along as an experiment to see if it helps...

This, along with many of the other changes we made this round will show some improvement for most users, we think.

This update can be picked up via Operations Center 2.0, following the same procedure as the previous update. Simply go to Aircraft and Liveries in the OC2.0 app, then click Aircraft Updates.

Thanks everyone,
Our work continues!

PMDG 737 NGX Lifecycle Maintenance - BUILD 9961 (Released 2019-11-19) [ View Issues ]
================================================== =========================
- 0008188: [External Model - Geometry] Inboard Leading Edge flaps animation missing a piece. (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008142: [Systems - Hydraulic] Alt steering switch does not adjust position when switch guard is closed. (hvanrensburg) - resolved.
- 0008179: [EFB - General] Extraneous word that is not needed in EFB title (hvanrensburg) - resolved.
- 0008176: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] EFB brigntess button positions are swapped. (hvanrensburg) - resolved.
- 0008166: [External Model - Geometry] 900SSW wing flex animation breaks and becomes disjointed. (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008155: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Start switches animation needs tweaking to correctly show motion in/out as appropriate. (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008127: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Parking Brake light illuminates during parking brake set. (abashkatov) - resolved.
- 0008216: [External Model - Geometry] Nose wheel buries itself upon max braking use (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008199: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] SELCAL placard should always be displayed (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008174: [Systems - General/Not Sure] NW Steering Tiller moves in flight (hvanrensburg) - resolved.
- 0008211: [Systems - Electrical] External Power breaker closes erroneously if switch is moved prior to battery-on. (rsrandazzo) - resolved.
- 0008204: [External Model - Geometry] Gear door texture mirrored (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008205: [External Model - Geometry] Nose radome mesh issue (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008206: [External Model - Geometry] Paint kit issue (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008200: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Blue on artificial horizon too bright so it's hard to read white markings (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008180: [External Model - Geometry] Paint kit issue (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008187: [External Model - Geometry] PCA hose does not connect into the correct spot. (hvanrensburg) - resolved.
- 0008126: [General - Engines] Flight Idle Not Decreasing with TAI Switched Off above 15500 (emvaos) - resolved.
- 0008186: [External Model - Geometry] Touch down smoke missing from NGXu (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008175: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Light bleed at windows (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008171: [External Model - Liveries] Paint Kit texture issue (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008183: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Cargo fire test two FWD cargo (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008124: [Systems - Wheels & Brakes] Landing Gear control valve needs tuning. (rsrandazzo) - resolved.
- 0008158: [EFB - General] North Up EFB Airport Map extremely high range with add on airports protection (emvaos) - resolved.
- 0008132: [Systems - Hydraulic] EMDP A overheat, overheats Both (rsrandazzo) - resolved.
- 0008165: [External Model - Geometry] Flap geometry adjustment (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008156: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Honeywell Altitude digits (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0007842: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Display unit reflectivity can cause excessive sun glare at particular angles (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008164: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] ELectrical Panel small errors (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008154: [Systems - Fire Protection] Cargo Compartment Fire Protection fault with AFT detection (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0007906: [General - Ground Operations] Auto Ground OPS disconnetcts GPU (hvanrensburg) - resolved.
- 0008152: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] COMM3 missing dzu fasteners (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008150: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Text missing from overhead: "GEN" is missing from "GEN 1" on upper overhead (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008137: [External Model - Geometry] Descriptions Performance Fields in aircraft.cfg (jbrown) - resolved.
- 0008147: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Switch cushions on overhead should flare out at the tip (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008148: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Some of the overhead switch bases are the wrong style (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008149: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Overhead textures are dark (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008146: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Blue annunciators on overhead need to be color corrected (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008143: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] The Fuel Cuttoff's should only illuminate on a fire test. Not on a normal Light Test. (hvanrensburg) - resolved.
- 0008057: [Systems - Pneumatic] Bleed and Packs on TO and GA N1 limit dependency [only checks switches not system operation] (emvaos) - resolved.
- 0008141: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] RMI guage glass not correctly lined up with bezel (vscimone) - resolved.
- 0008093: [Main Panel - Standby Gauges] Analogue speed backup shows TAS (abashkatov) - resolved.
- 0007881: [FMS - Performance Pages] Lateral RNP manual entry in FMS can only accept tenths (emvaos) - closed.
- OTHER00: numerous rendering changes, model updates to reduce draw calls and improve performance.
[43 issues]

[ljk811]

Thank you!Great job!

[evaamo]

Lovely performance with the new version on my PC! Thanks PMDG! (6700k o/c to 4.6 , 1080TI @ 4K)

[skyteam78]

Thanks Robert for this update!

[Erik]

Appreciate this constant stream of improvements!

[wijnand]

Hello,

Sometimes I feel a little stupid, but I did not realise that most these errors existed!!

Congrats!!

Wijnand Lindelauf (EHBK)

[TimS]

Just a quick note that this update wipes any installed liveries with no repair option in the OC. Not a major issue but if you've got something in there you don't want to loose make sure you back it up.

[cicimicikiller]

You mean together with equipment configuration? Wow thanks for heads up.

PMDG, you really should put information like this in the announcement if it indeed is the case.

[Emi]

Seems like a rushed update, couple of logic mistakes in there. Tickets sent.

[AngelofAttack]

Same feeling here, giving this update a "mostly targeted toward performance improvement", well...
performence wise I didn't have problem from start, so IDK, but it's logic step for PMDG to fix the problems that affects most people before get the hand on deep system stuff.

[TP Elven]

Maybe I am stupid, and i have checked the manuals, is the moving map now included in the EFB? in then case, how do i activate it? and yes, i have navigraph payware version.

and thank you for the update

[Chris Wright]

Just a quick note that this update wipes any installed liveries with no repair option in the OC.

Not quite - go into the OCv2 livery manager, down the bottom, scan for orphaned textures, select each item the scan finds and one at a time select 'repair'.

[adf]

That only repaired the liveries I installed from the OC. My custom liveries I made are gone and will need to be re-added manually (note to self: make PTP backups next time).

[glideslope2012]

Hi there,

performance worse than before. Ran very smooth before, didn't change any settings at all It is nearly unflybale. FPS going down to 10 in cruise. Have had stable 35-40 before....


Sebastian Hassert, EDDM

[Erik]

Performance is way better than last build... I have done a full re-install. Maybe worth a try?

[Jeff Turner]

Thanks again for the update Robert.

[glideslope2012]

Performance is way better than last build... I have done a full re-install. Maybe worth a try?

Seems a reinstall fixed it, thx!

[Boeing 25-01]

Thanks for the update!

[skyteam78]

After first test flight I can confirm that performance is improved. Thanks PMDG team!

[Wothan]

Seems a reinstall fixed it, thx!

Sounds strange...
It would be bad QA if the updated files would be different than those found in a fresh installer.

[Petetech]

I am going to try a fresh install later from fresh download, but unfortunately i have had a fps loss compared to update 1. It seems to be only when looking through windscreen. Not in rain though. Maybe rainmaker? Its a shame, because it was working great for me from release.

[Wothan]

I took the plunge and re-installed the PMDG 737NGXu, just in order to check if I would see a further improvement.
But performance with the updated vs the full re-install is the same.

FPS are way better now.
At Aerosoft Frankfurt (EDDF) RWY 25L I get 22-24 FPS with defaut weather set to clear weather at 12:00, so it´s now on par withh all my other addons, including the PMDG 747 QOTSII and 777.

At night, same position, and with all lights, except those called "Flood..." and Dome light turned on (½ way settings), I still see around 20 FPS.
With Flood lights and Dome lights turned on (½ way setting / Dim) I see around 16 FPS.

Turning on the EFB Airport map, makes FPS flucturate more, but still feels smooth. This is with options set to 12 FPS for the Airport Map. It seems flucturations lessens with lower FPS set for the Airport Map, but it might be placebo.

Note my modest system.

My Prepar 3D setup:
P3D V4.5 HF2
1920x1080, 4xMSAA, 8xAF, 2048x2048 Textures, FPS Unlimited
Terrain: High, High 2m, 15cm
Scenery: Very Dense, Medium, Normal, Normal
Water: Medium, Refl: Clouds, User veh.
Lighting: HDR, Dyn. Refl: High, Dyn Light: On, Ldg lights: Illum gnd.
Shadows: Medium, High, Cast: Int/Ext Veh., Clouds, Receive: Int/Ext Veh.
Weather: 60nm, Max, Detailed clouds, Vol Fog, Detailed Precip., Winshield effects

Orbx Global Base
UTL set to 50%
Ezcam V3
GSX
PTA Shaders
FSUIPC (works flawless with all my PMDG aircraft, including the NGXu - Chosing the right kind of input is important !!)

Normally I use Active Sky as weather engine, but conducted this test without.

[chadryan]

I appreciate all of the effort going in to making the plane perfect!

[erikschlijper]

Another job well done by the PMDG team! Thanks for this update! Runs very smooth now

[krodgers]

Note my modest system.

This is most of the cause. There's only so much we can do to alleviate performance issues while still using current methods like dynamic lighting.

[Jacob Stolz]

After a quick try I can confirm, that perfomance is way better. Got a 10-12 FPS boost (now running 30fps at JustSim EDDS & 40-42 FPS at other scenery like Aerosoft EDDF, EHAM etc). Still my graphic card is not good, but with a very powerfull cpu. I guess its a perfect balance now for my system (Ryzen 3700X, GTX970, 32GB RAM, 1080p monitor).
Hope that helps for dev's.


In addition I found a bug. I am starting from cold&dark (previous flight with gpu & air condition connected) there is no way to turn off the gpu after using power from it. Disconnecting is still possible nevertheless.

[Vieira12]

After a quick try I can confirm, that perfomance is way better. Got a 10-12 FPS boost (now running 30fps at JustSim EDDS & 40-42 FPS at other scenery like Aerosoft EDDF, EHAM etc). Still my graphic card is not good, but with a very powerfull cpu. I guess its a perfect balance now for my system (Ryzen 3700X, GTX970, 32GB RAM, 1080p monitor).
Hope that helps for dev's.


In addition I found a bug. I am starting from cold&dark (previous flight with gpu & air condition connected) there is no way to turn off the gpu after using power from it. Disconnecting is still possible nevertheless.

Yes I am having this issue as well the cpu will not turn off

[EDawg109]

Awesome, thanks for the updates

[robroberson]

Speaking of updates.... I recall it was mentioned that we may see the MAX in the mix at some future date. The reason I mention it, is I watched a couple of cockpit videos of the MAX and the flight deck is markedly different than the NG. The panel is more like the 787. It looked awesome. Might we see it in all of its splendor if and when it is in PMDG house colors?

[Captain Kevin]

Speaking of updates.... I recall it was mentioned that we may see the MAX in the mix at some future date. The reason I mention it, is I watched a couple of cockpit videos of the MAX and the flight deck is markedly different than the NG. The panel is more like the 787. It looked awesome. Might we see it in all of its splendor if and when it is in PMDG house colors?

I wouldn't get your hopes up of it happening anytime soon, given the situation with the actual aircraft at the moment. They need to be incredibly cautious about this since it's a pretty touchy subject at the moment.

[547482]

Since the Update my ACARS isnt working any more.
Is that issue already known?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marco Jesinger

[oblongmushroom]

Im unable to update the aircraft to the latest update? with the following pop up message.
Im running everything as admin by the way.

" UPDATE FAILED "
Unable to copy files

[oblongmushroom]

Im unable to update the aircraft to the latest update? with the following pop up message.
Im running everything as admin by the way.

" UPDATE FAILED "
Unable to copy files

PROBLEM RESOLVED

"Reboot Computer"