Well this could be part of the problem.
Sitting on the runway at PAJN, 1400 Local Time w/static weather.
TFDi 717 - 55-65% CPU usage - 17-26 FPS
Majestic Dash 8 - 19-21% CPU usage - 40-50 FPS
A2A Cherokee - 15-18% CPU usage - 38-55 FPS
I just included the A2A as a general aviation example. Its amazing how much more the 717 eats up compared to the Dash 8.
I sure hope they are working on some Chuck Norris-like optimization.
Interesting CPU issue. I did some checking on my FSX system and did not have the same problem. Here are the results I had:
FSX sitting at a gate at Anchorage. I have Aerosoft's Anchorage X and it is the most demanding scenery I have:
Orbx Bob (for a "nominal baseline" at PANC) - 18% CPU
Q400 - 26% CPU
PMDG 777 - 19% (engine/systems on too!)
TFDi 717 - 25%
So, unlike your results, the 717 and Q400 had similar CPU results whereas in your case it was twice as high. The difference is, of course, you are running P3Dv4 and I'm running FSX. Also, my FPS had negligible variation.
All things considered, how does the 717 "feel" for you Stardog? Do you notice a performance degradation as a result of the CPU demand?
My system has an i7-6700 CPU @ 3.40 GHz, 16GB RAM, and GeForce GTX 1070 video card.