Additional Memory

[Bumkin]

I'll put this in perspective - I'm probably one of those who knows just enough about computers to be dangerous.

My system is a custom built with a 2.33 ghz dual core, 2 gig memory & a Nvidia 9600.

[T1MT1M]

try running memtest to see whether or not the memory is faulty.

[Bumkin]

Before I reinnstall the memory to run the test, I did check System Information in Accessories/System and it indicated 4 gig installed.  Will the additional 2 gig show up even if faulty?

[T1MT1M]

Yes. but the symptoms dont sound like you have faulty memory BUT it could be the case. best to make sure anyway so you can take em back if they are. I always test new parts to make sure they are in working order.

[Bumkin]

As I said in my first post - I know enough to be dangerous.  How do I run memtest?  I tried under run & I went to the command prompt at both c:\ and c:\windows\ & I get bad command.

[Bumkin]

Forget my last, I was able to run the memory test in administrative tools.  It ran 2 passes & no memory defects wrer detected.  I may be grabbing at straws but on reboot I did notice Nhancer fades in on start instead of it's immediate load prior to the additional memory.  I have also tried deleting the fsc.cfg file & allowing FSX to build a new one with no success.

[Bumkin]

For those of you who are like me - know enough to be dangerous, the problem may be solved.  It seems as though I created it.  For those who monitor these posts and are in a position to help, I did not provide you with the proper information which it that I run Vista 32 bit.  After doing some additional research on the net I found that 3 gig of memory is all that is supported by Vista 32 bit.  I saw 4 slots so I figured 4 gig.  Wrong.  Were I to have installed 2 additional 512 mb memory sticks instead of 2 additional 1 gig sticks my system would have accepted the additional memory & I would have realized the benifit of the additional performance.  I have not attempted to increase my memory to 3 gig yet, I have only removed the 2 gig add & FSX is back to normal so I have not been able to fully verify my findings.  Moderators, please verify that what I have posted is correct concerning the 3 gig limit.

[T1MT1M]

*facepalm

Why didn't i think of that lol.

You can have the extra 2 1 gig sticks installed it just wont recognise all of the extra memory. There are ways that can allow windows to recognise the memory but i'm not sure if it will use them.

Try looking at this to see if it is in there (not sure if it is or not) and if it isn't its a good read anyway to let you tweak your system if you haven't already. But if you do some of the things off it make sure to copy them to the letter and to read the steps before you do them.

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1208959973/0#0


*Edit

Look at the 4th post.

[Bumkin]

Thanks, I've saved that link for the future.  For now I think I'll stay with the 3 gig installed.  Things are working great.  No stutter or pauses as I fly past buildings and trees at 150 feet AGL & 500+ KIAS.  Thanks for the input on this one.

[NickN]

You must enable the CACHE edits to use more than 2GB  and be safe from OOMs however with performance this was more than likely an issue with the motherboard whereby populating 4 slots forced the motherboard to INCREASE memory timing which will drop performance like a rock.

In order to circumvent those issues you must purchase 2x2GB instead of 4x1GB to run the 4GB

You will have access to up to 3.2GB if you use the CACHE edits posted hoever at 3GB you are not getting much more memory to the system than woth 2GB installed.. pehaps another 2-300MB at best

so keep that in mind

and you are also suppose to use the CACHE edits posted even if the memory amount is 3GB. ANYTHING over 2GB and your system WILL NOT SEE OR USE IT unless you set the edits as laid out in this post.



USING VISTA AND WINDOWS XP x32 WITH MORE THAN 2 GIGS OF SYSTEM MEMORY

If you have FSX SP2, the exe file is already 2G+ aware

If you have XP or VISTA x32 and more than 2GB you need to MARK the OS for that use or it will ignore the sticks and never use them

x64 operating systems do not need the following changes


For XP:

disable hidden files and folder, then on the root C:\ you will find a file named: boot.ini

Open it in notepad and add the follwoing to the end of the OS boot line:


/3GB/Userva=2560

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP Professsional" /fastdetect /3GB /Userva=2560 <---- add it here


save and close the file

reboot

to set that back to default, simply remove the edit


If you are using XP SP2 and are running a dual, quad, OR a single core Intel HYPERTHREAD processor, make sure this update is applied
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en



For Vista:
WINDOWS VISTA ONLY:  

1. Open a command prompt with Administration rights. You find the command prompt box under "Programs-Accessories-Command prompt"  

2. Right Click the command prompt and select "run as administrator".  

3. Enter in the box at the prompt: (copy/paste if you wish)

bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVA 2560  

and press enter  

4. Reboot  

TO set that back to default in VISTA just start the command line prompt with Admin right again and type:  

bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVA 2048  

Hit enter and reboot  


Make sure you have the VISTA updates from Windows Update installed that address out of memory errors too.

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1188591122

As long as you have Vista up to date with Windows update... or SP1 for Vista installed, you should already have those patches



FSX RTM or SP1 requres the user mark the exe file manually using special software for 2GB+ use.











So right now, unless you have set those edits up correctly you are not getting any of that extra gig of memory used by the system... its just like you have 2GB installed.

[Bumkin]

Thanks Nick, I'll give it a try on the 1st of Jan, I have to keep my FSX use to the weekends & holidays due to work schedule.

[Bumkin]

Nick - I purchased the 4g as you suggested (2x2gb) however, once installed, my system will not start. I hear a momentary hard drive access then nothing seems to run except the cooling fan.

[NickN]

I would need to look up the motherboard manual and see what memory it specifies, and, if the memory VOLTAGE will run 1.8 as that memory specs

If the motherboard does not support the memory purchased then it can not be used.

One can not purchase any memory and plug it in.. you must review the motherboard manual and the specs of the system to make sure the memory selected is indeed supported, and, what slots the memory would use based on its speed and amount

[NickN]

I just looked at this board

it is a business computer and not a performance system. It only has one qualifying module that will run 2GB

http://support.intel.com/support/mother ... 026592.htm


So you have a situation where you are trying to add memory to a board that is not really made for performance and gaming, and, it restricts memory timing to 5-5-5 as well.

My advice is to run the 2GB and forget it. The additoonal purchase on this board is not going to net what you may expect.

You need to replace that board with something designed for performance and games.. those generic Intel boards are at best made for workstations


EDIT: The memory you purchased from Kingston is ECC memory designed for servers... that board specifies NON ECC memory

If that may be presenting a issue, I can not say but none the less I see little advantage of throwing money at that board for game use none the less

[Bumkin]

Thank you for looking into it.