This is what I have found on this matter.From Microsoft WindowsXP Help file: Click this option if you are using this machine as a server, or if you use programs that require a large system cache.From ZDNet:Memory usageThe two options in the Memory usage panel allow you to control how Windows XP manages the use of available memory and system/disk caching. Here, the default setting of Programs makes more of the actual RAM in your system available to your applications by setting aside only 4 MB of RAM for disk caching.For most situations, the default setting will be sufficient. However, if you discover that your applications are running sluggishly and you have at least 256 MB of RAM, you may want to experiment with the System Cache setting.When you choose the System Cache setting, Windows XP allocates all but 4 MB of the available RAM to the system cache. The big performance gain here is brought on by the fact that this setting allows the operating system kernel to completely run in memory. Furthermore, having a larger system cache can, in many cases, improve the performance of an application by providing quicker access to multiple files.It

Yes I did restart since it prompt you. I actually tried this long ago for fs9. it was in the Megascenery forums as one of the solutions for blurries. I didn't see any difference then but that was with one gig of ram. Now with 2 gigs I got to be honest I don't see a difference on my system. I don't doubt your experience though as all systems are different. Maybe ive got to pick up another couple gigs and try it again with 4 and see what happens but I have to wait for some disposable income first. Hey too much ram can't hurt anyway.Regards, Carlos

Some Windows XP Myths :http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/XPMyths.htmlScroll down to 'Large System Cache' for further info.

Hey Mike.Believe me, I didn't just splat superlatives for a whim. This one single thing...sheared away EVERY complaint listed in these forums.This tells me, that FSX (or the CPU?!?!?) needs INSTANT access and not 'mechanical hide and seek' in using files of any kind, needed by FSX.That's the only way to make sense of it.Also, the ANIMATION is unbelievable. My first flight in post Cache mode was in trying to check out Alcatraz. So...I took off from KOAK's 29 and immediately picked up on the fact that the sea was zinging past under the wing. I started to do pans, and found that the plane had come alive in the scenery!!!I started to do low flybys of the Bay, and had a blast in skimming over the waves that by the way truly seemed to crest in movement to the wind. I was having a blast! I forgot all about The Rock, lolI then started buzzing the airports KOAK, KSFO, with A.I. doing their thing to see if a jerk or stutter would occur. NOTHING! Yeah.....NOTHING....as smooth as silk.This tells me a lot. We all suffer from 'mechanitis'. The time it takes for the CPU to make a low-level request, have the disk spin, have the head seek, call it back into memory, and then pass back to the CPU/GPU...is too DARN SLOW!!!! Too SLOW for what you need in a 10th generation F.S.Mike, seriously, it won't kill your system to boot up in CACHE. Fire up FSX with the SAME settings you have whilst in default PROGRAM, and then fly the thing with your favorite aircraft. Do maneuvers. Look out the sides, use spot-view. Ascend. Descend. Bank. All of it. Put the coal to the engine as you barrel down the runway---LOOK AT THE RUNWAY disappearing beneath you. Nothing like this before allowing XP to keep the 'stuff' at hand for lightning access.Hey...there is one way to all this. Boot into CACHE. Fly FSX, flip the 1 to 0, and then reboot for whatever else you need to do. Just a suggestion, but...at least TRY THIS FOR ONE FSX episode. I will assure you that if you do not wish to 'play with fire', you will be sobbing each and every time you fire up FSX in program for you know that your computer at present can give you what everybody, including myself wanted and hoped for right out of the box...and THAT, Mike..is gonna kill ya....LOLTake care, and thanks for the good thoughts,Mitch R.

This is about tweaks. This is about the use of **software**, whether FSX directly, or a program O.S. that is USED as an environment to HOST FSX,...XP.The others spoke about increased MEMORY and in hindsight, was probably moved to HARDWARE for that reason.I read what others care to contribute as a result of my posts.I read yours, didn't I?Take care,Mitch R.

>This will be my last post on this subject. I'll now be too>busy .....>>Mitch R.If nothing else - you have at least redefined my understanding of "my last" ...Cheers,S

The last post as the ROOT SUBJECT post.-------------------------------------------------------------If someone responds to that post/thread, would I not be RUDE to not respond to their comment if they by question seek a reply or retort?Mitch R.

well, I was skeptical about this change to say the least. Only having 2 GB of RAM I wasnt sure if I shoudl do it. However, being the curious guy that I am, I made all of my necessary backups and made the change. I have to say there is quite a difference. Before the change at KATL with UT and World-of-AI installed (traffic at 70 percent) I was getting 10-15 FPS on a clear day. AFTER the change with a major thunderstorm I was getting 21-25 FPS. at a non-detailed airport I rarely ever dipped below 27 FPS. I usually stay pegged at 30 FPS which is my limit. Now, I DONT have Autogen, airport vehicles, or road traffic on but, everything else is pegged full right. this change really did help alot. I also noticed the 20 FPS I am getting now is so much smoother than the 20 FPS I was getting before. I cant describe it but, it just is. thats my .02

There!Do I sell 'Snake Oil', or the real deal!I had all the benefits you just found out about. About that smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooothness......told ya!:)You owe me a beer....perhaps the next AVSIM convention.;)Mitch R.

Nigel, BTW, your FPS won't even be dented if you enjoy ROAD TRAFFIC at 33 percent. I kept pegging down from 100 until I saw traffic amounts on the interstates that looked about right.For my sense of things, it at the 33 percent level.Try it...report back.Mitch R.

if this performance keeps up, I will send you a whole case of beer!! I will have to try your traffic suggestion. I have always noticed a huge impact at 10 percent but that was on the old settings. Keep in mind, I do only have 2 GB of ram. I dont wanna crash my system by asking for too much out of FSX!

I'm on my way out of the forum and saw your post...and wanted to respond.Rickard's Red from Canada. Really good stuff, when you can find it. :)Great beer!I'm glad that I could point you onto something I thought to be pretty terricfic.Enjoy, my friend!Cheers!Mitch R.

Hi Mitch,God, your enthusiasm is infectious, and VERY hard to resist..LOL!You, Sir, are a true pioneer.Mike (resist, resist...resist, oh go on, no, you must resist....aaahhhhh....right click 'My Computer' - 'Properties' - 'Advanced' - 'Performance Settings'....sob...no I musn't, I really musn't, but Mitch says it's okay, oh go on, just a few clicks more and then nirvana. Are you quite sure? Are you really really sure?...others have done it, why not you? All those negative posts...I must take time to think, think...again. Removes sweaty shaking hand from mouse...Sigh!)I bet I've given in and done it within the next 24 hours...LOL!

by Big John:>So how do we change over to "file" mode?dito

>There!>>Do I sell 'Snake Oil', or the real deal!>>I had all the benefits you just found out about. About that>smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooothness......told ya!>Mitch R.I am not for a moment suggesting that you are trying to sell "snake oil" Mitch - but more the point that "so far" you have been "lucky" Perhaps some people might like to also go back and read my post #39 - I did however re-read it myself and noticed a couple of unforgivable errorsDuring my little discourse into another program (in this case chosen Email system - plus of course incoming Email - plus of course the fact that I actually replied) - ALL that additional information is NOW stered in Cache - It has NOT yet been written to the disk - hopefully the files that were already in Cache have been correctly written back to disk - Last used - 1st kicked back outSo far - so good - BUT what happens IF we just have a couple of little tiny power fluctuations - you know - the ones where the lights just dim for a second - they ARE power spikes (either UP or DOWN - unless you are running on a GOOD UPS) and THEY can quite easily just "FLIP" one or more bits in the RAM - that is called a corruption (potentially) - sometimes the OS can take care of single bit errors - sometimes it cannotThere is therefore the potential for a file that is sitting in cache to have a 1 or 2 or 3 bit corruption if or when it gets written back to the disk on the basis of "last used first out"Where I used the term "last used" - that SHOULD have been Oldest - My apologies for thatTo put that further into perspective - whatever "information"has sat in the cache the longest WITHOUT being accessed is the 1st to be written back to the disk (with or without errors) - the rest is pretty well as I intended I would welcome any comments from the more knowledgable Software people here to correct me on any of the issues as my knowledge is getting a little old now but I still doubt very much that the consumer OS's can cope any better today than they did in years gone past