You should never disable virtual memory under NT/2k/XP. Causes problems and can decrease performance. Set the pagefile min size to something really small but leave the max size at default.

Also compressing makes a big difference to textures also. Did on my computer with only 512 Megs of DDR ram.

>Wow! I can't believe Dell charged you that much for 512MB of>RDRAM! You could have gotten 512MB of Corsair XMS3700 for>less than that!>>For info for anyone else interested in getting more RAM, looks>like Dell is not the best source for you. 512MB of RDRAM>shouldn't cost more than around $270 or so. Shop around!>>Jim>Same here. I have a Dell Dimension 8250 3GhzHT. I upgraded from 512 Mb to 1 gig of 1066 RdRam too. I first tried Dell but the prices scared me away. So I bought 2 x 256 Kingstone somewhere else for far less.2 points to remember (Dell tipped me of there):1. Get Kingstone Ram as thats the brand used in a Dimension so you don't get compatibility problems2. Remember that RDRam is used in pairs, so you have to buy 2 rimmsMarc

That's a good point. If your motherboard supports dual channel, you should always buy memory in pairs to take advantage of that. It's also best if you purchase memory from a manufacturer that sells them in matched pairs so that you'll be sure to get two modules that have been tested together in a dual channel environment.Jim

Yes, I currently have the memory stable at 143mhz. Haven't tried it to 150 but might. Thanks.

>>Doug,>> Thanks for that link!!! :D I can get another 512Mb of>>PC2100 from A2Z Computer for $89 and they're right here in>>Aurora, Ohio, where I live!>>>>Steve>>$89 for 512MB of PC2100 RAM? That's a ripoff. You can get>name brand PC3500 RAM for about the same price (maybe $10>more). Try pricewatch.com for more reasonable prices.>>-Max CowgillMax,I usually agree with almost all of your posts but on this one I simply can't. Where can you get 512 Megs of PC3500 DDr for $99 dollars??. Name Brand?? Whose name?? Hasbro?? LOL..Newegg has Good Memory that starts at around $138 for 512 megs. If you want real quality Ram your going to spend around $160+ for high quality PC3500.Now $389 Dollars for 512 megs of memory from Dell.....And people wonder why I build machines for people. They may have well pulled his pants down and raped him. Sorry but that is absolutely rediculous and borders on robbery.Bobby

I agree! I can get 1GB of PC4000 memory for less than that.Jim

Well, I've run a bunch of flights with the Windows XP performance window open - even flying a complex plane I've never seen the software use more than 500 megs of hard memory. I have 764 megs. Not sure how useful going above 500 megs is. Would love someone to prove me wrong - memory, even RAMBUS, is still a cheap upgrade.

With Windows XP and only 384Mb of ram, he was getting hurt performance wise I bet, XP almost always loads more then 100Mb by itself, FS9 I've not checked yet but read some say they've seen of 400mb...I don't know for sure. But anything close to 300 and he was accessing the much slower HD for data. That will allways gives you stutters of some sort.But, we were talking Memory Speed performance...that can make a very big improvement in over performance also as your memory bandwidth goes up. My MB runs best in Dual Channel mode....so that's why I run 2x512mb...if one goes bad I still have enough ram to play my games well while waiting on a rma replacement. (had it happen once on mu last MB, 2x256Mb...one died...games went to major stutters on 256mb only...the day the replacement showed up my stutters where gone. Added another for 768mb total for insurance...now Kids will get that MB/CPU/Memory)

I'm thinking 512 would be much better than my current 384mb. I've got my computer set up using a hardware configuration in which everything not needed is disabled. That has certainly helped but I'm getting some stutters and I noticed last night that I used 68mb paging file. I might just go for broke and get some 3200 memory. My wife needs some memory in her computer so I can give her my 2100. You know, if it wasn't for this one piece of software, my computer would be quite sufficient as it is.RandallAthlon 2200+384mbWindows XPSoundblaster Live 5.1 Xgamer

Randall,Couple things....WinXP has excellent (unlike Win98/ME) Memory management....let it decide the paging file size, that works best in XP. Mine is huge, but I have large HD's. I did use Norton SpeedDisk to move the page file to the outer edge of the HD, supposedly a little faster that way. IMO 512Mb is the minumum for WinXP if you play games. If you do any video editing it too will benefit from more. (1Gb or more really helps that process) It's all about loading those textures into the fast memory, istead of digging them up off the much slower HD....XP also handle resources very well, I dont shut anything down...AV, 2 FW's, etc...I usually see a good 30+ processes loaded, but if you look they are all at 0, so they do not impact your gaming. Win98/ME was different because they had lousy resource management. XP is much smarter (due to it's NT roots) and is best left alone to run things. If your looking for memory, I hunted for months before buying...finally got the Buffalo DDR3200 that uses the Winbond CH-5 Modules (same as used in much highed priced memory) and they have a lifetime warranty. I'm very pleased with it so far. I got mine from www.newegg.com Think I paid $89 for each 512Mb module, they also carry them in 256Mb size. Free shipping, cant beat Neweggs service....

FS2002 or 2004 uses nowhere near 1GB of RAM no matter how you configure it. A little over 512 for the OS and FS is about it I'm afraid.Noel