FS9 Performance: memory, CPU or graphics card?

Post by **TSR2** » 31 May 2007, 00:50

This depends on the motherboard Garry, but generally yes. The memory timings are also important, as mixing these can give bad results. 2GB of properly configured RAM will work much better than 3 which isn't. If the 3GB is made from 2 pairs of RAM which has the same specification, eg. 2x 1GB 4-4-4-12 and 2 x 512mb 4-4-4-12 that should be fine. Its also important to note that the slots on modern motherboards are paired.

If you have 4 slots and 2 dimms, they need to go in the matched slots. Most manufacturers will label the four slots 1A 1B 2A 2B, indicating that A's should go together (i.e don't mix a and b), but there are different variations of the same naming standard. If in doubt consult your motherboard handbook, as that will tell you (useually) where the memory should be placed.

gevers1 · Post by **gevers1** » 31 May 2007, 08:49

Ben Watson wrote:If your system uses memory in pairs to enable the higher performance, you might find that 2GB is faster than the 3 you've got... especialy if the latency's of the different DIMM's don't match. The memory bus won't know if its coming or going.

What memory configuration have you now got? i.e. which ize dimms in which slots, and also what is the model number of the new stuff you have bought?

Ok, specs are (according to the HP website)

Memory Installed 1 GB (2 x 512)
Maximum allowed 4 GB* (4 x 1 GB) requires the replacement of the installed 512 MB DIMMs

Speed supported PC-3200 MB/sec
Type 184 pin, DDR SDRAM
DIMM slots Four
Open DIMM slots Two

and i bought:

Corsair Value S. PC3200 DDR-DIMM 2048MB (and thats 2 * 1gb cards)

Does that help ..?

Update: I've just noticed something the HP site ... apparently if you've already got 2 memory banks installed (as i did) and you're adding another 2, you're supposed to install them like this:

old -- new -- old -- new

whereas i did

old -- old -- new -- new (cuz i'm a n00b and dont know any better)

does that make sense ..?

petermcleland · Post by **petermcleland** » 31 May 2007, 10:58

Yes it does...because one pair should be in 1 and 3 and the other pair in 2 and 4.

gevers1 · Post by **gevers1** » 05 Jun 2007, 21:07

For anyone who is interested. Tonight the new power supply (650w) and graphics card arrived (Sapphire X1950XTX). Installed it all and, well ...

After the crushing dissapointment of the complete lack of any improvement in fs9 fps after installing an extra 2gb, I thought "surely, this has to make some difference" ....

So has it? Has it fcuk. Using the benchmarks posted earlier i still get a measly 24-28fps which is hardly the improvement i'd expect when you've trippled your memory and jumped from a bottom of the range graphics card to the top of the range graphics card by that particular manufacturer and that class of graphics card. Even using the Dornier Do-27 i get a completely crappy 19fps ... LevelD 767? That'll be 16fps! Captain Sim 757? 11fps ... That really nice freeware cessna 150? ... 21fps!

I have literally wasted over €500 on hardware that has actually made my fs9 performance worse. I just dont get it ... I am sooooo angry ... :crying:

I am out of ideas. Do i blow another €300 and get the cpu as well? Do i reinstall FS9, on the premis that perhaps one of the addons is causing the problems? remove fs9.cfg and go with default settings? Get XPlane?

Post by **TSR2** » 05 Jun 2007, 21:26

As I said before seb, its important to understand how the data gets to the graphics card / cpu. ie... hdd (slowest) memory(faster) Cpu(fastest0

More likely though you'll need to recreate your fs9.cfg file, but in dowing so you will loose any FS settings.

A good way to do this is to find fs9.cfg, fename it fs9.org and then start the sim. A new FS9.cfg will be created and take account of your new Graphics card etc.

gevers1 · Post by **gevers1** » 05 Jun 2007, 22:06

Thanks Ben, did that. Still pretty much the same though. I removed a lot from the module section (EZ-scenery, FSInn and a few others) and noticed load time improves but fps stays pretty much the same. Defragged, got a new version of fsuipc.dll etc. got the latest catalyst drivers ... nowt makes a difference ...

what i find odd though is the fluctuations in the frame rate. Just watching it idling away the fps jumps from 19 to 25, then back to 19, jumps to 23, back to 18, jumps to 25 ...

DanKH · Post by **DanKH** » 05 Jun 2007, 22:14

If you have fluctuations I might suggest you set it to say 30 fps instead of unlimited. Works for some and not for others.

Try it yourself.

airboatr · Post by **airboatr** » 05 Jun 2007, 22:39

I would say start from scratch
I mean your at a point ..(preinstalled FS9 and other graphic drivers ect. ) where you probably should.
A clean install of the OS . it's updates and clean driver installs
reinstall FS9 and fly the default ...see what you get
and from there add your Addons
limiting them to only the AC and scenerys you really like to fly

take it slow and make notes , I think you'll be rewarded
ATB

gevers1 · Post by **gevers1** » 05 Jun 2007, 22:51

DankH, I lock the fps at 28, but I've yet to reach that.

airboatr, yes i think a clean FS9 install is called for at this stage, i just dont know what else to do. Just delete all, install only the carenado centurion and the dornier do-27 and see how we go.

thanks again for all the help and patience with this one. I find it hard to believe that this is a hardware problem - it just cant be with all the things i've added over the last 2 weeks.

Post by **TSR2** » 05 Jun 2007, 22:55

Just out of interest, what OS are you running and what is your hard disk config?

Cheers