Cloud quality based only on altitude?

[tallcedar5]

Firstly, thank you for this fantastic utility which works really well.
I was wondering if it would be possible to have a feature where the cloud quality increases at specified altitudes, rather than in response to FPS targets.
This is because in VR, I need to achieve frame times equivalent to higher than the 45 FPS target that I need for a smooth experience. So for example at the moment, I can still get a smooth 45 FPS reported by the sim, and yet have a choppy experience unless the frame times are below approx 18ms (which is obviously equivalent to around 55 FPS).
So unless I'm missing something (quite possible!) - there's no way to make AutoFPS track and achieve, say, 55 FPS while running the VR experience at 45 FPS.
I currently use Auto TLOD mode to manage TLOD by altitude and that works very well - but it would also be great to manage could quality by altitude (rather than FPS target). In this way I would hope to be able to have Cloud Quality always at "Low" on the ground and then increase to "Ultra" by say 5000ft or above.
No worries if this is too difficult!

[ResetXPDR]

Which MSFS version are you referring to?

So unless I'm missing something (quite possible!) - there's no way to make AutoFPS track and achieve, say, 55 FPS while running the VR experience at 45 FPS.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a way of monitoring CPU headroom with MSFS specifically, so that is not currently possible.

I currently use Auto TLOD mode to manage TLOD by altitude and that works very well - but it would also be great to manage could quality by altitude (rather than FPS target). In this way I would hope to be able to have Cloud Quality always at "Low" on the ground and then increase to "Ultra" by say 5000ft or above.

Sure that would be possible, but it doesn't strike me as necessary given that in MSFS 2020 there is already a decrease cloud quality option, triggerable by TLOD or GPU load (preferable), and in MSFS 2024 you can use both the Auto Cloud Increase option and Auto Settings Reduction in any other mode except Auto TLOD to auto achieve the three levels of clouds that you seek. Also, most users do not like cloud quality changing ever, as it is the most obvious setting change to see visually, hence why these settings are optional in both MSFS versions. I am surprised you would want to move between low and ultra quality as it would be visually ugly to experience these transitions.

Like you, I use VR with an FPS cap (40 FPS in my case) and cloud quality set to Ultra/High in 2020/2024 respectively, and I get very smooth performance and auto adjusting the clouds using the app as it currently is. For VR with an FPS cap, I strongly recommend the following settings with your TLOD Min/Max set to what you currently use in Auto TLOD Mode:

• MSFS 2020

- MSFS 2024

With MSFS 2020, you will need to have GPU-Z running in the background for decrease cloud quality to work. Instructions on how to configure it for AutoFPS are in the Readme.

With MSFS 2024 I also strongly recommend enabling and setting Max Frame Rate and Dynamic Settings both to 45 in MSFS settings. The Max Frame Rate setting in particular delivers a very smooth experience when achieving your FPS cap.

With these settings, I get clouds range between Ultra (default) and High (decrease cloud quality active) in MSFS 2020 and Ultra (auto cloud increase active), High (default) and Medium (auto settings reduction active).

[tallcedar5]

Hi, thanks for that quick and very comprehensive reply - some excellent advice there, much appreciated. I should have said I am using MSFS 2024, apologies.
So far I haven't quite been able to get down to the magic frametime numbers using "Auto Reduce Settings" and "Auto Increase Clouds" but I'm a lot clearer now about how to proceed based on your guidance above. There are several things I can now try - including also looking in detail at the in-game Max Frame Rate and Dynamic Settings options.
I will crack on and do some more testing with all that in mind, many thanks once again.