Improving performance on my system

[jcogardner]

Can anyone tell me if adding more memory is worth the effort, and expense?

My system is:  

Pentium 4 @2.8GHz
NVidia GeForce Fx Go5600 w/ 64mb
XP
512MB RAM

With what I would call 'nominal' setting in FS, I clock at 25-30 FPS.  This would be with little weather, just some clouds, and 50% AI traffic.  Bilinear filtering, MIP at 4 and antialiasing off.  

The performance isn't really 'bad', but there are times when I am flying in approach situations (with a lot of traffic) or when I am in MegaScenery areas where the ground textures and scenery don't load fast enough and the frame rates drop to around 20.  I also get an annoying skip or jolt in the display.  I want to correct this because it's annoyong and the stuff I like to fly the most is in the MegaScenery and with a lot of AI traffic.  It's really irritating to look out the window and see a perfectly reproduced area where a farm is and then right next to it there is a half rendered hill where my computer hasn't caught up with the graphics.

So, I'm thinking about adding another 512MB to my system, will that really make that much difference?

Sorry for the longwinded scenario, any advice is appreciated.

[legoalex2000]

YES!!!!

for games like flight sim, the more memory, the better

also a better processor when you need it...

your good, like me, i have a P4, but 640mb Ram. you and me both should consider getting 2 512mb cards

[carolina_ice]

I have a 1.4 athlon, 9600xt, and 1 gig Ram. and it plays great know.

[sir_crashalot]

I think you better upgrade your videocard instead. 64 Mb isn't that much for FS 9. 256 Mb is much better. It will get rid of those skips.

[carolina_ice]

Good point,  If you have the extra cash Get both you can get 512 Ram for 89 bucks at compusa. And a pretty good card for around 150 or a little more. You can probably  find them cheaper at newegg.com

[Scottler]

A 2.8 processor doesn't really warrant an upgrade just yet.  I think the majority of your problems lie in your video card. Upgrade that to at least 128 mb and I'll bet you see an increase in performance.  (Followed by a RAM increase.)  If you can swing a 256mb card, even better.  But I'm quite content with my 2.0 processor, a gig of RAM, 200GB hard drive and an FX5200.

[jcogardner]

Thanks everyone...  I figured a better video card would come up, but the memory is cheaper so I thought I'd try that first.

Looks like I'm shopping this weekend!

[Gixer]

Just dont go getting the 256 version of the FX5600 as it wasnt a particularly good card!

In fact ram size on the card isnt the main thing.  A 128ddr ATI 9800pro would whoop a 256ddr Nvidia FX5600.  Remember to take into account the bandwith of the card too.  Some card will for example be 128bit others 256bit, you would want the 256bit one.