I have 2*2G memory modules installed in my MSI KA780G mobo. Will I see some improvement in FSX if I go to 8G ?

Currently there are two matched Kingston ValueR DDR2 PC6400 CL5 installed. I dont find exactly these modules for sale any more. Is that a problem ? Or is it sufficient to get two modules with the same technical specifications ?

jfri

I honestly don't believe that an extra 4GB of RAM will give you improvement in FSX. Where extra RAM is useful is if you have some 3rd party add-ons that have their own executable (.exe) files (I believe that some weather packages and complex airplanes have their own .exe files) and they need physical RAM to load their working set into - Note:FSX can utilise up to 4GB of Physical RAM at any one time, so an extra 4GB can be useful in some circumstances.

 

It is usually important to match the RAM, so if the mobo can take it a better option would be 2 x 4GB matched pairs and if it is an AM2+ board you could find RAM that has a slightly higher speed than you have now. Disregard this ie wrt to RAM speed if you have an AM2 mobo.

 

You may get away with installing 2 x 2Gb with the same specs as you have now, but you could also experience some difficulties if not now but down the track, so to speak. Its a judgement call and RAM is reasonably cheap at present so 2 x 4GB nay be nearly the same price as 2 x 2GB.

Good luck

pH

I have 2*2G memory modules installed in my MSI KA780G mobo. Will I see some improvement in FSX if I go to 8G ?

Currently there are two matched Kingston ValueR DDR2 PC6400 CL5 installed. I dont find exactly these modules for sale any more. Is that a problem ? Or is it sufficient to get two modules with the same technical specifications ?

 

Hi Jfri,

 

I think ideally you would want 8Gb if you were using the most modern hardware, but I doubt you will see much by adding 2x2Gb more, and if you are over clocking your CPU the more modules involved, the less tolerant of overclocking. Moreover, using non-matched pairs makes this issue even worse. I'm on 4y/o Core 2 Quad (Q9650) w/ 4Gb of DDR3@1660Mhz and my system never runs out of free ram, though it can get a little close on very long flights in complex scenery, weather, NGX, etc.

 

I'd stick w/ what you have and then consider the big upgrade when the time is right for your needs. I'm hoping Haswell turns out to be a better overclocker than Ivy Bridge and will pounce on one of those if so, adding 8Gb of the best ram I can find, plus a 512Gb SSD to put Win7 + FSX on.

 

Good Luck on your decision,

 

Noel

I'm happily running with 4GB as well - and feel no need to upgrade (for FSX)..

jfri

I honestly don't believe that an extra 4GB of RAM will give you improvement in FSX. Where extra RAM is useful is if you have some 3rd party add-ons that have their own executable (.exe) files (I believe that some weather packages and complex airplanes have their own .exe files) and they need physical RAM to load their working set into - Note:FSX can utilise up to 4GB of Physical RAM at any one time, so an extra 4GB can be useful in some circumstances.

 

It is usually important to match the RAM, so if the mobo can take it a better option would be 2 x 4GB matched pairs and if it is an AM2+ board you could find RAM that has a slightly higher speed than you have now. Disregard this ie wrt to RAM speed if you have an AM2 mobo.

 

You may get away with installing 2 x 2Gb with the same specs as you have now, but you could also experience some difficulties if not now but down the track, so to speak. Its a judgement call and RAM is reasonably cheap at present so 2 x 4GB nay be nearly the same price as 2 x 2GB.

Good luck

pH

 

I do use many complex addons like PMDG 737NGX ORBX scenery MyTrafficX . Also I use addonweather programs. Now I have REXE Active Sky 2012 and OpusFSX. It was in thread for the latter the developer suggested that even 8 Gb could be to little RAM. Also a store told me there should be a difference if upgrading to 8 Gb RAM. Where I live and have been able to see is that 2*4 G costs at four times as much as 2*2 G. And I'm not sure my mobo supports 4G modules. It supports max 8 G total.

I would advice you to refrain from spending your money on an expensive DDR2 memory upgrade.

What improvement is it you try to achieve with the update?

I'm confident that whatever your answer is it won't be solved by going from 4 to 8GB RAM on your system.

Instead save that money towards a complete system upgrade with a lot cheaper DDR3 memory and an Intel K-series CPU. That will give you the improvements you're after.