I believe Win 7 does have a higher demand on resources than XP. However, if you have a 64 bit version, then you can easily stick in 4GB of RAM minimum or 6GB if you are on a 1360 motherboard. Some people have reported compatibility problems with some addons using 64 bit O/Ss... but many are a case of installation issues.Nick seems to think it's best to install FS9 and FSX on Win 7 systems, in a non-program files folder... this prevents many of the issues.So, switching to a 64 bit system may result in one or two addons being unuseable... I stress "some" and "may"... !Basically, it is the 32 bit O/S that restricts memory addressing. The 3GB switch sometimes works smoothly - I've never had it running well though, others say they have,A 64 bit O/sS simply allows the application to use 4GB of memory... so if you have 6GB RAM or 8GB, FS9 or FSX would be able to use 4GB... and as there is at least 4GB "free" after system useage, it can use the entire 4GB of physical RAM, instead of using the pagefile.See here for great post... and follow links for discussions of 3GB switch and virual memory etc.Nick needham's Post on Win 7 and FSXThere is a lot of discussion there about this issue.Basically, if you are having OMEs, you must upgrade to at least 4GB of physical RAM, and either use the 3GB switch or use a 64 bit O/S. Simple really,n/b Flew the Leonardo MAddog yesterday, and it never used more than 800GB in total. No OMEs therefore.Unfortunately, my Coolsky Super 80 is still reaching 1.2 GB after around an hour on finals, and crashing. So, it's back to the hangar until I get my upgrade.I've actually decided not to messa round with Core 2 any more. I've decided to go for a full 1156 H55 m/b, with a "i3 530" CPU (should reach 4GHz), a GTS 250 (1GB) with 4GB of budget 1333 DDR3, and a Corsair 400W PSU all in an Antec 300 case. - £ 450... !This should double my FSX performance. (FSX actually utilises "virtual quads' to about 85% the efficiency of a full quad like a i5 750 - yet the i3 530 CPU is a third of the cost !)(It should also increase my FS9 performance by around 50% too and I'll have no more OMEs)I can then use my existing Core 2 Duo PC as anetworked PC for Active Sky, Radar Contact etc. etc.

I believe Win 7 does have a higher demand on resources than XP.

3Gb /Userva=2560 switch has worked perfect for me almost since day one when ms introduced it in winxp sp2 (or a little later ;) ). But mind you I still use a video card with 500 Mb memory (gtx9800+) only. When I installed a 1Gb video I had serious stutters in certain situations and switching to a 500Mb card fixed everything for me. I was thinking to install Win7 on my current hardware (e8600 @4.2Ghz, 4Gb RAM, gtx9800+) after some people advised that Win7 was much better in using RAM (nothing to do with 64-bit version with much larger VAS here). So, I won't bother messing with Win7 for now until I upgrade my hardware, since as you said W7 was a "higher demand on resources than XP". When ready I'll go to Win7 64-bit only then, of course.Thanks,Dirk.

3Gb /Userva=2560 switch has worked perfect for me almost since day one when ms introduced it in winxp sp2 (or a little later ;) ). But mind you I still use a video card with 500 Mb memory (gtx9800+) only. When I installed a 1Gb video I had serious stutters in certain situations and switching to a 500Mb card fixed everything for me. I was thinking to install Win7 on my current hardware (e8600 @4.2Ghz, 4Gb RAM, gtx9800+) after some people advised that Win7 was much better in using RAM (nothing to do with 64-bit version with much larger VAS here). So, I won't bother messing with Win7 for now until I upgrade my hardware, since as you said W7 was a "higher demand on resources than XP". When ready I'll go to Win7 64-bit only then, of course.Thanks,Dirk.

When you switched to the 1 GB card you were introduncing problems... you should have set the switch to 3.2 - 1 = 2.2 (subject to multiplier). The GPU RAM is included in the virtual memory amount... so the 2560 is only good for a 768 GB GPU RAM !With the 500 GB card, 2560 is about right.As for not switching to Win 7 - don't take my word on RAM useage. Do your research... you may find it's better. Many people say win 7 is great with FSX. Have not read anything about FS9. Put it this way: with no limit on the amount of RAM taht the 64 bit O/S can use, the extra useage by Win 7 over XP, will be more than compensated for.With your system I think you'll get a real boost with a 64 bit O/S - you can utilise all 4GB of the RAM instead of around 2 GB - don't forget, the O/S will use 700 MB or so, so there isn't that much left for FS9 itself.By going to 64 bit, you will effectively, be doubling the amount of RAM available to FS9. As you actually have 4GB and a decent overclocked Wolfdale CPU, - with the "perfect" GPU at resolutions up to 1080p - you can't go wrong ! You can pick up Home Premium 64 bit OEM from Ebuyer for around £60.

You can pick up Home Premium 64 bit OEM from Ebuyer for around £60.

Awesome, thanks for the advise!Cheers,Dirk.

You can pick up Home Premium 64 bit OEM from Ebuyer for around £60.

Sorry guys, just one more diversion - do you think I'll have problems in fs9/fsx on Home Premium 64 bit OEM if all usual external add-ons like ASE, FSRealTime, RC4 and etc. are on the LAN/wideclient on WinXP 32-bit PCs (that is another 2 PCs).Thanks,Dirk.

Well that's very interesting as I am thinkin the same.I have client PCs with networked stuff... I would think you would probably have to rest the network paths. So, I'd delete the network paths from the clients, and recreate them once you've shared the relevant folders on the main server PC.I currently have a client PC using Vista, and my main server is XP. So, it's do-able.If yo have mapped drives on your clients, just dismount them, and delete the network folders. Then once you setup the home network on your new Win 7 install, then redo the network setup on your clients, remap the drives etc.You may need also, to redirect the RC and FSC programs to the new folders/drives... or possible reinstall them.It is a bit if hastle no doubt. Personally, I'd reformat all of them with Win 7 - the whole thing can then be automated and will work a lot better and be more stable... but of course you'd (officially) need seperate licenses for each PC...But, in essence, there will be no problem setting up a network with different operating systems.Of course, Win 7 does have it owns foibles... particularly all the security and protection stuff. You should follow Nick Needham's guides for installing FSX and FS2004 on Win 7. I urge you to study all his stuff, before committing... :(

Of course, Win 7 does have it owns foibles... particularly all the security and protection stuff. You should follow Nick Needham's guides for installing FSX and FS2004 on Win 7. I urge you to study all his stuff, before committing... :(

Yes, I always do that, thanks again.Dirk.