Vista doesn't play nice with openGL, don't expect good performance. I do not support anyone using Vista (for far more reasons than just IL2) and cannot help him in any way beyond the original tweak post. My advice? Go back to XP.
Nearmiss: You did all the tweaks, including specular tweaks, update your ATI drivers, and turn off shaders? Are you using Vista? You have a very poor IL2 setup but it should be possible to get the framerate playable even at 1920x1200. Are you using newer graphic DLLs for il2? You shouldn't be if you are. I need more details before I can help you. Also about your monitor you listed 1920x1200 which is widescreen, your monitor is widescreen correct? 1024x768 is not a widescreen resolution and therefore everything in the game will be stretched flatter unless you have aspect ratio locked in drivers.
Here are some cut/pasted sections from my X800 conf.ini setup:
[window]
width=1680
height=1050
ColourBits=32
DepthBits=24
StencilBits=8
ChangeScreenRes=1
FullScreen=1
DrawIfNotFocused=0
EnableResize=0
EnableClose=0
SaveAspect=0
Use3Renders=0
[Render_OpenGL]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=2
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=1
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=1
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=1
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=1
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=1
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=1
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=0
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=1
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=0
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=1
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=0
HardwareShaders=0
Shadows=2
Specular=1
SpecularLight=0
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3
Sky=2
Forest=0
LandShading=3
LandDetails=1
LandGeom=2
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1
VideoSetupId=17
Water=0
Effects=1
ForceShaders1x=0
PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.15
PolygonOffsetUnits=-3.0
----
And of course, please post more system details including OS type and service pack level, background processes you run while playing il2, driver revision for video card, etc. I want more information, not less.
I followed you first posting on this thread and the above posting.
ALso, WinXP Pro SP 2 and the ATI 8.4 drivers for x800 GTO PRO 256MB VC.
Using BlackDeath.trk as benchmark
Resolutions I tried:
1680x1050-----Avg 19 Max 55 Min 5
1440x900-------Avg 25 Max 55 Min 10
1280x800-------Avg 29 MAX 55 Min 12
1024x768-------Avg 35 Max 55 Min 17
I used Enditall2 and closed almost all services along with Virus and Spyware scanners
It sounds like a severe CPU limitation, but that doesn't make sense because the 3700 is not that bad of a CPU. I used to use that exact one (Windsor core, 2.2ghz, right?). Something seems off.
Hmmmm this is a tough one. Can you please run 3Dmark 03 or 05 and post your complete results so I at least know your system is running properly. If your score is within reasonable parameters, the problem is obviously with IL2 or something related to openGL in windows. (or it could just be that your computer is typically slow with IL2 and I've just forgotten how badly it runs on that combination... possible)
I'd also like a complete spec sheet for your PC, just list it like I'm listing mine here:
CPU: Q6600 @ 3.2ghz
MOBO: ABIT IP35-PRO @ 400 FSB (x4)
MEMORY: GEIL DDR2 800 @ 1:1 FSB
VIDEO: MSI GEFORCE 8800 GT OC @ 700/1000
SOUND: TURTLE BEACH SANTA CRUZ
MONITOR: 22" WIDESCREEN 1680x1050
OS: WinXP SP2
PSU: 600w OCZ
My computer
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+,2.2ghz
Mobo: AsRock 939Dual-SATA2
Memory; Patriot PDC2G3200ELK 2GB PC3200 Latency(3-3-3-8)
Video: Sapphire ATI X800 GTO PRO
Sound: Onboard Realtek AC97
Monitor: ACER X241W 24"LCD
OS: WinXP SP2
PSU: ABS Tagan ITZ/BZ 750W highPerf PS
My runs on Futuremark
3DMark03 = 4266
3DMark05=3117
Oh before we move too far away, did you run 3dmark03 at the default settings? Running at your custom resolution (1920x1200) is obviously going to kill your score.