RAM

[brundlefly]

Processor: Intel (R) Celeron (R) CPU 2.60 Ghz
Memory: 256 MB

[deKoven]

The bottleneck here is that graphics controller. I'm guessing you're using the motherboard onbd graphics? It ain't gonna cut it.

Further, WinXP uses more than half of your 512mb of memory just for itself. So, I'm thinking that when you're out flying the system just sits there endlessly swapping in and out of memory. Boost memory up to AT LEAST 768mb of mem, and 1 gig would be better. Then get a late model graphics card and you'll double your frame rates.

[Skittles]

I thought installing more RAM would decrease graphic loading times.

[Saitek]

Brundlefly, 512 mb is fine. I run my sim on it. Obviously the more the merrier, I would like more, but its ok without it. What you need is a better graphics card.

[Iroquois]

You definately need a new graphics card. You'll want to look at a Geforce FX5200 or above, or a Radeon 9600 or above. That's because these cards are compatible with the latest version of Microsoft's DirectX.

[JBaymore]

Hi.

IMHO the Celeron is not as "robust" as the PentiumIV or one of the better AMD chips... so that is a start of the issue.  FS2004 uses a lot of processor power to calculate all the math and physics needed to represent all that eye candy and AI and such.

But I too think the onboard graphics is the real BIG issue.  Make sure your computer has an AGP slot... find out the maximum speed (1X , 2X, 4X, 8X) and look for a card that is compatible.  128M of video memoery is pretty much "standard" for fs2004.

It is easy for us to spend your money, isn't it ?  

best,

....................john

[garymbuska]

A quick way to tell if you have your memory installed correct is to run DXDIAG from the run command.
But as everyone has said that on board video needs to hit the trail. If your system does not have a AGP slot you can still use a PCI slot for a graphics card.
You might have to move a jumper on your mother board in order to disable the onboard graphics. I had to do this on a older system when I added a AGP video card. The system did not recgonize the card untill I moved the jumper than every thing worked ok.
But do not move anything untill you add the card and try it you will know if it is working or not.

[brundlefly]

well it WAS the right kind of RAM and it's installed ok...guess i was just expecting to see a dramatic increase in performance from 256 to 512 .

[congo]

I see a lot of people here recommending a RAM upgrade to improve graphics performance.

You really shouldn't do that. Because it's leading people astray and wasting their money.

Brundlefly, you have an El Cheapo computer; that is.... it has a celeron CPU and a "all in one" motherboard with onboard graphics chip. If you have an AGP slot as earlier mentioned, you can add an AGP Graphics card, these are very expensive items if you want one that actually works well in FS9. You get what you pay for, and you didn't get a Pentium4 processor; therefore, your front side bus speed (the speed at which your mainboard shuffles all the data around) is slower than what it could be.

Iroquois, you shouldn't be recommending the FX5200 for FS9, it doesn't perform well enough and some poor sod will go out and buy one, wasting their money. Also, the latest or last 3 versions of directX has stuff all to do with graphics performance in FS9, except for a couple of minor frills.

Garymbuska recommends a PCI graphics card if you don't have an AGP slot for an addon AGP graphics card...
Well,..... don't waste your time or money there either... they are bad... real bad, and probably show no improvement over what you have now.

You need:

1. A decent AGP graphics card, minimum 128mb, but don't let the 128mb of ram on the card fool you, there are lots of junk cards with 128mb of ram on them. The "class" of the card is most important..
Here are some that work well in fs9:
GF4 TI4200, 4400, 4600,
Radeon 9600XT, 9800pro, 9800XT
GF FX 5700 ultra, FX5900XT, FX5900,pro and ultra
NVidia 6800, pro and GT
The new Radeon card (the name escapes me at the moment)

2. an AGP slot to put it in, (a new mainboard if you haven't got an AGP slot on your machine now, and the mainboard should be an 8x AGP speed compliant one or it's too old of a design)

3. new RAM to suit your new mainboard (now that you just wasted money on your recent purchase... assuming you bought ram only fast enough for the celeron.)

4. A decent CPU to fit into your shiny new rig.

5. possibly a larger power supply unit to fill the new power requirements.

Saying all that, if you have an AGP slot, buy a decent graphics card (you need extra power in graphics to overcome the other shortcomings of your system), and you should get reasonable performance on what you have now.

Good Luck.

[Gixer]

You require the absolute best of everything to run FS at its best.  I just got my new G/card and I still drop to 20fps at KSEA with full AI and everythin maxxed  all the eye candy possible.  Guess I gotta save for a new CPU/mobo now lol (Jok that can wait, not gonna bother am happy as it is for now), I hate to think how FS 2006 will run on our PC's  ;D

[congo]

You got that right Gixer.... well, at least you got 20 FPS lol, and that's with just about the latest gear! Sheesh!

[Selbio]

[quote]You require the absolute best of everything to run FS at its best.

[congo]

Why on Earth do so many people think RAM makes a PC's video capabilities better?

It's Random Access Memory..... not Really Awesome Magic!

[Selbio]

Congo,

i was thinking about that and alomst blew $100 for another stick of 512mb.

brundlefly,

I had an onboard video card and always had trouble with fs9 and other games, so get a decnet video card. I got me an ATI Radeon 9200 with 128mb(Non SE) and I play all my games without problems. I only get low fps when I'm on short final at KSEA or some other big airport, other than that I can get real good fps.

I will say this, Back when I had the Nvidia Geforce 4 ti 4200 with 64mb of ram I couldn't use the Anti-Aliasing because fps would go as low as 5. With this Radeon card that I got. I have all the setting maxed on the control panel. AA @ 4 or 6x Anisotropic Filtering @ 4 and I do not see any loss of performance in fs9 or any other game, the image is even better.
Now I don't want to get into any argument with anyone here telling me that is bull****. This is just what I have experienced so far.
Not only does FS9 looks better, GTA Vice city looks awesome as well as the rest of my games.

[congo]

That's pretty amazing Selbio, considering the fact that the 9200 is about half the power that a TI4200 is.

The TI4200 handles AA at 2x reasonably well, but higher settings will drop it back, as will AF.

Overall, I'm surprised you didn't see an obvious advantage using the TI4200 though. As long as it works for you, I guess that's the main thing.