Some time ago when I increased RAM(DDR PC3200)from .768 to 1.28GB, I got a 20%+ boost in performance. Question: if I now increase RAM to a full 2GB (2 matching sticks), am I likely to see a further gain? And since the Motherboard has 3 memory slots, would RAM in excess of 2GB accomplish anything?Here's the system: FS9 running TRIPLE VIEWS LFwd,Fwd,RFwd over 3 monitors giving a 180+

Anything over 1GB with FS9 won't gain you anything. Increasing RAM will never change the absolute framerate (which is not RAM-dependant) regardless of how much is added. I'd leave it alone.Doug

Maybe you could try going into the Task Manager while your running FS2004, that would tell you how much RAM fs9.exe is currently using.If your RAM is maxed out, then I think you might see a small boost if you upgrade, but probably much less than the 20% you got from the previous upgrade. I would go for 2GB, IF you run other programs along FS2004 like ActiveSky, Radar Contact, etc. They use ram too when running so the upgrade to 2GB might free up more for FS. I wouldn't expect too much of an improvement. As I was reading your post I thought "This guy should save his money for a new system" but since that's not an option...more ram can't hurt. I would definitely not go over 2GB tough.-Erik T.

Adding more won't increase FPS...however, if you use a lot of powerful addons, adding more should help with the stuttering - it did for me, I have 2 GB

Thanks for all your replies- I agree broadly, HOWEVER:Remember that there are 3 VIEW images being generated PLUS all popup instrumentation including either dual FMC/CDU's or Reality GPS. So the amount of data needing to be fed to the THREE video card buffers is far greater than the usual situation.I run with FPS=unlimited and in tests with just the main video card active, FPS runs extremely rapidly up and down between 30 &75 FPS- barely distinguishable to the eye. I'm guessing this relates to the transfer of data from Main to Card memory. (Something like the pulsing that can be seen in a firehose in action!)This is why I wonder if more RAM might make more data available to be "squirted" to the video cards. Incidentally, there is NO stuttering- even at night at a high density airport or in heavy cloud. Stuttering was totally eliminated by retarding Hdwe. Accel. slider 2 notches for the outer monitors. However rapidly moving NEARBY objects- clouds,runway lights in motion exhibit a very rapid "chatter" although the rest of the image is completely smooth, stable & flyable right down to 5 FPS!! WEIRD.Any comments? (see ScreenShot forum June 27 for a couple of Pics- "MultiMonitors- Triple Views").Alex Reid

Well, I run FS9 up to 3360x1050 on two widescreens, which is pretty close to what 3 standard screens will give you. I get the same FPS whether I have 1G, 2G or 3G of system memory installed (have tried all these combinations). The only thing that changes between single (1680x1050) and double screen for me is that more video RAM is consumed, but I'm pretty sure even that total hasn't gone over 256MB, even at 4X AA and 8X AF. With FSX, I've used up to 430MB of video RAM.In short, with FS9, more than 1G RAM won't give you any noticable improvement in FPS.Gary