Does FSX recognise 3GB automatically?

[volunteer]

I have just installed an extra gig of memory to my computer and am wondering if FSX will detect it automatically? I remember reading somewhere the config file had to be told ....

thanks in advance
volunteer

my computer spec is
E6600 overclocked to 3400 (up from 2400) Asus P5N E SLI now 3 gigs OCZ DDR2 ATI 4 4 4 12 memory (800) in dual  and a Geforce 7900GS graphics board

[NickN]

FSX is not the main problem.,,, its the OS

You cant just stick 3-4 gigs into a computer and it work

First of all, assuming the motherboard has not reduced the speed of the sticks and they are recognized correctly, the operating system must be 64bit to see and use more than 2 gigs without hacks to the boot and cache. Otherwise nothing in the system will see 2+gigs

Second, even if you have 4 gigs in a 32bit OS the best you can get out of it is about 2.6-2.8gigs of memory to the system even with the hacks.

Third, FSX will use over 2 gigs if you have a: Acceleration installed -or- b: SP2 installed, but, it requires wither a 64bit OS -or- you mark the OS wioth the hack to use more than 2GB. If you are not running SP2 or Acceleration you must MANUALLY edit the fsx.exe file using special software.

So if you are running WindowsXP x32 you must edit a line into the boot.ini file on the C:\boot.ini (requires hidden files and folders be diabled to see it) to allow more than 2gb to be used

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

NOTE: The Userva= value should ONLY be tweaked based on values which are divisible evenly by 64


This will allow you to use more than 2 gigs but you are never going to get 3-4gigs to work without a 64bit OS, more like 2.6

WARNING: setting that higher than 2560 will most likely crash the computer. Windows needs a reserve address space for the OS and video card memory mapping

Here is the MS KB readup on the line and its use http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316739





In Windows Vista you must do the following:

WINDOWS VISTA ONLY:  
 
1. Open a command prompt with Administration rights. You find the command prompt box under "Programs->Accessories->Command prompt"   or somewhere around there
 
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  

The first value will tell VISTA to address more memory. It should be used if you have more than 2GB installed, or in some cases 2GB or less.  

the second line was to restore the default Vista value if it does not work.  

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

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





A 32bit operating system can not use much of any more than 2.6-2.8gig no matter how much memory you have installed. A 64 bit operating system can use as much as you feed it without the hacks above.

[Brett_Henderson]

This is a good place to plug this question in...

I'm still thinking that the RAM has to be installed symetrically ( slots 1 and 2  must equal slots 3 and 4, on the boards I'm familiar with), else the whole deal gets slowed down. In other words; 2GB must be installed  as 1GB in slot 1, 1GB in slot 3.... and if you add a 3rd GB in either slot 2 or slot 4, you throw thw dual-channel stuff out of whack. So in that case, 2GB is better than 3GB.

Now unless my thinking is outdated, the only way to use 3GB, would be with two, 1GB sticks, and two, 512MB sticks; with 1GB in slots 1 & 2.. and 512MB in slots 3 & 4.

Am I way off base ?

[volunteer]

-thank you for your kind reply.

The memory is 2 one gig and 2 half gig memory strips

thanks

[Brett_Henderson]

Don't thank me..lol      I'm asking too....

[Wii]

I have 2x 1gb and 2x 512mb in my system and I run on Vista HP x32 so does this mean all of my memory is not being used!? (I purchased the computer with that memory btw)

[NickN]

[quote]This is a good place to plug this question in...

I'm still thinking that the RAM has to be installed symetrically ( slots 1 and 2

[NickN]

I have 2x 1gb and 2x 512mb in my system and I run on Vista HP x32 so does this mean all of my memory is not being used!? (I purchased the computer with that memory btw)

Nope

Not unless you do what I posted above. x32 OS's will not see or use more than 2GB without marking the OS for its use and you will never get to use more than about 2.6-2.8 max even with it marked

[NickN]

-thank you for your kind reply.

The memory is 2 one gig and 2 half gig memory strips

thanks

You need to do exactly what I laid out above to use the memory

As for if the timing was reduced, that I can not answer. I would have to read the motherboard manual memory section to find out what happens when all slots are populated. It also depends on the sticks too. If the 2x1GB sticks are different timing than the 2x512 sticks, typically the timing is reduced on all sticks to the slowest stick speed. Therefore you must also know the timing specs for the sticks installed

[volunteer]

Thanks NickN
I will do it today. I mustsay I always thought any increases in memory had to be the same spec to work. Certainly my 3 GB now sings and was such an easy up grade. I am surprised that Vista (I have Vista 32) needs a change. It spotted the memory change quickly and I had to re vallidate.

Cheers - volunteer

I am well chuffed with the system. I grabbed the extra memory as OCZ was discontinuing the 1/2 Gig sticks. Grabbed 'em while stock was arround -

Extra - just tried it and it says access to data store is denied


Woa - just done it  -I forgot to ask for admin rights - thanks again NickN
Must go now and fly about !!

Cheers - Volunteer

[volunteer]

Woa -  - just  done my test run which is in a heavily built up area - it usually gives 12 to 16 frames
Now it is on 18 to 19 frames - so very well chuffed

Thanks again


volunteer

[freedomhays]

I have Vista Home premium 32 bit,

[volunteer]

There is a website for the 3 g switch that NickN kindly suggests its here:
http://www.prophotowiki.com/w/index.php/IncreaseUserVa

and worth a look before doing the switch

volunteer

[NickN]

[quote]I have Vista Home premium 32 bit,

[NickN]

[quote]Woa -