Doubtful if I will be spending any $$ on new CPU etc or even vista next year, so I am wondering if at least increasing RAM from 1GB to 2GB would help in FSX. I saw a post where tdragger mentioned that FSX would use 2GB so is this a worthwhile addition? Any 2GB users care to comment?The demo is really making FSX look palatable but my FPS arent that great even with the default sliders. Did a flight today with some real weather and it was quite stuttery on approach.Current sys is a P4/3.4ghz HT/win XP SP2/ATI X700 pro pci express. ThanksBill

When I jumped from 1GB to 2GB I saw just a little difference. Things loaded a little faster, there was less stuttering. I'm sure it will help though once I start piling on the addons into FSX.

Well, it certainly can't hurt. I don't know if you'll see massive improvements, but it should help with load times at least.Then again, you are doubling your RAM, so that should mean something.

Depends on how much virtual memory it may be using now. If it is constantly paging stuff into and out of virtual memory, then upgrading your memory will help. On my previous system I upgraded from 128MB to 384MB and saw a major decrease in harddrive usage while flying, which of course meant a preformance increase. (I think this was with FS2002.)As far as preformance, try cutting back on autogen. It's a bit buggy. And as I understand it, the "default" settings will vary from system to system. (It tries to match it's initial settings to your system's specs. Though AMDs lower reported processor speed apparently skews that a bit on those systems.)"Let me help you out. You're cleared to taxi any way you can to any runway you see."

Thanks for the replies. I really guess it cannot hurt to go to 2GB, since the demo is probably not good to use as a benchmark.At present I have the autogen (known to be buggy) set at normal and I am at 18-20FPS on the runway, no AI. As soon as I add real wx, it drops to 9. Anyways I guess the final release will dictate what to do.CheersBill

If you're not going to upgrade your whole system you might as well get the extra memory. I'm hoping to be able to save up my pennies from flight instructing to buy a whole new system next year. Otherwise I'd probably upgrade to 2 gigs now as well, and my PC is even quite a bit older than yours. (more ram is all i can put in it; it's maxed out for the motherboard in every other category)

>If you're not going to upgrade your whole system you might as>well get the extra memory. I'm hoping to be able to save up>my pennies from flight instructing to buy a whole new system>next year. Otherwise I'd probably upgrade to 2 gigs now as>well, and my PC is even quite a bit older than yours. (more>ram is all i can put in it; it's maxed out for the motherboard>in every other category)Like you I would have to change motherboard and all the rest of it and just cant be bothered. So the extra RAM will have to do for now.ThanksBill

My new system (anticipated) will have a minimum of 3 GIGS of RAM.After all, perhaps the most "cost-effective" part of a new system that you can add (even an older system if you have the slots for it). Stanps. Dell's new systems make this easy to order. Not bad moving from 1 to 2 to 3 gigs.I expect to order a new system in the NEW YEAR...after Vista and with DX10 on the horizon.

The problem with adding ram is what you buy now is not what you will want next year. DDR2 will be required by then on most modern motherboards whereas standard 184 pin DDR is the standard now. If you buy well good ram will cost about $150 for 2 G of ram. Maybe if you only have one module now you could find a match to run dual channel. Your computer would be okay to run FSX with the addition of a slightly better video card. That is probably holding down performance. I would try for a bargain there before adding ram.

Probably a good idea. The ACES guys have said that FSX will use up to 2GB and Vista will use a bunch more. I think anyone thinking of using Vista really needs a minimum of 3GB physical memory.Doug

Something I ran into when doubling my ram.. if you are using unbuffered memory and add 2x512 modules (using all 4 slots), your memory's speed may decrease. My PC-3200 modules slowed to 334mhz (this is a normal feature of my mobo). The Ram Guy at Corsair said to crank up the voltage a bit and it would would run at 400mhz. However, every utility I have still reports my memory at 334. Frankly, I think he was trying to head off a return.:-roll I've been running this way for 6 months and have had no problems, but I didn't notice a performance improvement with FS9. Don't know if it will help FSX or not, but it's something you should consider before throwing money at it.

>Something I ran into when doubling my ram.. if you are using>unbuffered memory and add 2x512 modules (using all 4 slots),>your memory's speed may decrease. My PC-3200 modules slowed to>334mhz (this is a normal feature of my mobo). The Ram Guy at>Corsair said to crank up the voltage a bit and it would would>run at 400mhz. However, every utility I have still reports my>memory at 334. Frankly, I think he was trying to head off a>return.:-roll >>I've been running this way for 6 months and have had no>problems, but I didn't notice a performance improvement with>FS9. Don't know if it will help FSX or not, but it's something>you should consider before throwing money at it.>Thanks for that info...how do I check if I have buffered or unbuffered..I have two slots free and planned on 512 sticks running at 400mhz to match the current ones.Bill

A benchmarking program or hardware info tool like Lavalys Everest should be able to tell you using Serial Presence Detect (SPD) info."Let me help you out. You're cleared to taxi any way you can to any runway you see."

>A benchmarking program or hardware info tool like Lavalys>Everest should be able to tell you using Serial Presence>Detect (SPD) info.>>"Let me help you out. You're cleared to taxi any way you can>to any runway you see."Thanks will look into it.Bill

I think in most cases it is best to run a single, matched pair of RAM sticks from a speed standpoint. Not sure how to evaluate the tradeoff between more memory populating 4 slots vs speed. I'm not sure it is at all desirable to try to run 3g.scott s..