Advice needed for performance improvement

[microlight]

Guys,
Can you help me? I'm a happy FS2002 Pro user, but the addons are becoming more and more FS9 focused - some of the new planes won't even show in FS2002. I'm not sure that my system will run FS9 well: it's Pentium IV 2.0gHz, 512mB RAM, Radeon 9200SE video card, 120mB hard drive.

So what will improve the performance? I've tweaked the virtual memory which has made a small difference, but would doubling the RAM make a big difference?

Thanks!

[microlight]

Oops - forgot to add I'm running WinXP Home, with around 160 of the 512mB memory in use when the system is idle.

[Gixer]

If you doubled your ram to 1 gig and got a new g/card like a 9800pro you would see a big difference. 2.0Ghz isnt the fastest cpu now but I think it might just hold its own  ;D

[congo]

Go for a good video card first, a RAM upgrade is not going to make a huge difference and if you decide on further upgrades, the RAM money could be put to better use..... ie. CPU upgrade.

I'm thinking you are going to find your current CPU a bit lacking, and a CPU upgrade for your rig may be hard to find. I tried to find a 2.6ghz cpu for a friend recently and they were not available any more for his rig. (That P4 CPU range topped out at 2.6ghz, it was a 400mhz Front side bus mainboard.)

Bear in mind your chipset and upgrade options are probably near their expiry date, so consider your options before spending more money.

The video card can be transported to a new system, but RAM etc. will be outdated.

[microlight]

Thanks, guys. Better start saving ...

[Iroquois]

When you look for a new card. Go with something like the Radeon 9600 or above or the Geforce FX5200 or above. They're DirectX 9 compatable.

My system is similar. My XP 2000 runs at the same speed as an P4 2.0ghz. The FX5200 is equal to the Radeon 9200. My system handles FS2004 just fine. My opinion is that you don't need to upgrade at all.

[microlight]

Thanks for the advice, all. Maybe I'll just get FS9 and give it a try - I can run both sims off the same hard drive as they are separate installs.

When I got my first Pentium PC back in the 90s the processor was 70mHz (wow! The speed!) I replaced the CPU with a 150mHz overclocked to around 200mHz, so a 3x processor speed upgrade was worth doing. Even if I could get a 2.6gHz now, I'm not sure that replacing the current 2.0gHz would make that much difference.

I'll let you know how I get on.

[congo]

A CPU upgrade will produce a reasonable improvement in FS9.

The reason is that it's very CPU intensive, it will use everything the CPU can put out.

Given that you had a graphics card capable of producing decent output, you would see a corresponding increase in frame rate, however if the G/card is weak, you won't see much improvement.

If you spotted a second hand one, cheap, it's worth it, but again, a new graphics card is the first step for playability in your case. So, save up for that card if you are serious about the using the sim to it's potential.

I spotted a Gainward Golden Sample NV6800 at pricewatch.com for $315, it's a lot of money, but that is one lovely graphics card, and it will see you out for some time to come, and it's capable of turning a sow's ear into a silk purse!