Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support |
Whats more important RAM or CPU? |
DVA5426
Captain, B737-800
Joined on January 11 2008
Century Club
50 State Club
"Fly Safe, and Have fun!" Grand Forks, ND USA
140 legs, 263.0 hours
136 legs,
253.6 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 25 2009 19:34 ET by Tom Boutain
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Alright here's my system now
CPU: Intel P4 3.00ghz
RAM: OCZ 6gb DDR2 800mhz
Vid: ATI Radeon x1600 512mb
HDD: 250gb Seagate
OS: XP Pro 32 bit.
I am thinking about upgrading either the CPU, to a dual core, probably the Core 2 Duo 3.00ghz, or either upgrading the OS to vista 64 bit, since the 6gb of RAM is doing me no good, 32 bit systems are limited to 3gb (4 with a little tweaking). What i want to know is if you guys have any idea which way would be more worthwhile.
Right now I have the FPS set to 20, and it stays right around there in the cockpit view, around 12 on outside views, and my slider are set to medium mostly. I'd like to get the same results, or better but with the sliders on high.
Tom BoutainCaptain, B737-800
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DVA3908
Captain, B757-200
Joined on January 11 2007
"Landing Gear .... CHECK" Newport, KY USA
39 legs, 64.3 hours
38 legs,
62.7 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 25 2009 20:31 ET by Benjamin Duerk
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you need a better CPU now more than ram in your system for FSX for FS9 i have no idea
Benjamin DuerkCaptain, B757-200
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DVA4169
First Officer, B777-200
Joined on March 10 2007
50 State Club
Globetrotter
US Capital Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Piranha Club
Everett 250 Club
Six Century Club
Online Double Century Club
Cincinnati, OH
699 legs, 2,337.4 hours
202 legs,
807.0 hours online 697 legs,
2,327.7 hours ACARS 22 legs,
38.6 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
February 25 2009 20:37 ET by Khary Williams
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I noticed a difference when I went to that website that set FSX to actually use both processors and when it wasn't. I added 1GB of Ram from 2GB to 3GB and didn't notice much of anything. I think if I upgraded my Nvidia 9600 512mb to something with 1GB or more with a faster processor in the vid card I'd see a jump in FPS. Not sure if that answers your question or not lol. Just what I've experienced with changes.
CPU: Intel D 2.80 GHZ x 2
RAM: 3GB DDR2-4200
HDD: 270GB WD
OS: Vista 32 Bit
Vid Card: Nvidia GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB
Using FSX with tweaked settings from http://www.highflightsimulations.com/recommended.html
Khary WilliamsFirst Officer, B777-200
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DVA5426
Captain, B737-800
Joined on January 11 2008
Century Club
50 State Club
"Fly Safe, and Have fun!" Grand Forks, ND USA
140 legs, 263.0 hours
136 legs,
253.6 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
February 25 2009 21:41 ET by Tom Boutain
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I forgot to mention that I am running FSX, I'd be interested to know if anyone here runs a 64 bit OS with around 6gb of RAM. Thats what I most concerned about, I dont know how much of an effect the jump from 3 to 6 gb would make. I might go with a CPU for now, and then later maybe get Vista 64.
Khary, I think im going to try out those setting from that website, although I'll have to turn some traffic on.
Tom BoutainCaptain, B737-800
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DVA3908
Captain, B757-200
Joined on January 11 2007
"Landing Gear .... CHECK" Newport, KY USA
39 legs, 64.3 hours
38 legs,
62.7 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 08:02 ET by Benjamin Duerk
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I am running a 64 Bit OX but for me to provide a comparison between my old system with 2 GB's of ram and not is filled with too many other variables. I notices the big difference when i went to a multicore solution. I just upgrades to the I7 where as you know you should use all 3 memory slots to take full advantage. I thought about 3 GB's but decided i don't want to pay to upgrade later. I went from low detail on somethings and virtually no traffic to Ultra High settings for graphics and lots of traffic while maintaining around 25 - 30 FPS. I still have a few add-ons to put on but we should be good after that. The Affinity of FSX is set to use all 4/8 cores and comes no where close to maxing them out. I am also using a 9800 GTX graphics card and it doesn't even mave much of a temperature rise while running. If you have a socket 775 system i would see what dual or quad cores you can put into it. If it is too old you will have to spend more money on an upgrade.
CPU: Intel Core I7 920 2.66 OC to 3.6
RAM: 6GB DDR3-1600
HDD1: 300GB WD Raptor 10000 RPM
HDD2: 74 GB WD Raptor with FSX installed exclusivly and nothing else
OS: Vista 64 Bit
Vid Card: EVGA Nvidia GeForce 9800 GTX OC 512MB
Also refer to the flight sim commandments: http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1208959973/34#34
Benjamin DuerkCaptain, B757-200
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DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM
Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"I'd rather be flying!" Church Hill, TN USA
862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs,
165.2 hours online 299 legs,
485.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 09:00 ET by George Lewis
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Unfortunately we're in a transition period where 64 bit operating systems are the way to go, but they are frustrating with driver issues, software compatibility, etc. 32 bit on the other hand is slower but stable, for the most part.
If you change out to a faster CPU, you will probably need a new motherboard and new RAM - keep that in mind...
Another option - the one I have taken - is that I just fly in FS2004... I have had both installed on my PC but I am not willing to put up with all this on my flight sim PC, as I used it for other things as well, and stability and program compatibility is the most important thing for me.
If you don't mind the headaches, go to Vista 64 bit and work through the issues and see if your performance increases
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DVA2253
Senior Captain, DC-8-61
COMM
Joined on April 01 2005
Everett 250 Club
Online Century Club
Eight Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"I'd rather be flying!" Church Hill, TN USA
862 legs, 1,344.5 hours
108 legs,
165.2 hours online 299 legs,
485.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 09:02 ET by George Lewis
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Also, there is an XP 64 bit you could try... good luck
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DVA4169
First Officer, B777-200
Joined on March 10 2007
50 State Club
Globetrotter
US Capital Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Piranha Club
Everett 250 Club
Six Century Club
Online Double Century Club
Cincinnati, OH
699 legs, 2,337.4 hours
202 legs,
807.0 hours online 697 legs,
2,327.7 hours ACARS 22 legs,
38.6 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 09:40 ET by Khary Williams
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I would have stuck with FS2004 as well. But for some reason I have a problem where anytime I change a setting, I have to switch views in order to see if the setting change went into effect. Then switch back to the cockpit again. Too much to do in landings to have to constantly do that.
Khary WilliamsFirst Officer, B777-200
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DVA5426
Captain, B737-800
Joined on January 11 2008
Century Club
50 State Club
"Fly Safe, and Have fun!" Grand Forks, ND USA
140 legs, 263.0 hours
136 legs,
253.6 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 10:37 ET by Tom Boutain
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Alright Thanks for all the replies guys!
Benjamin: You're right about the variable in your system, theres quite a bit different than mine, that sounds like a pretty solid setup you have. I do have a socket 775 system, so there are a good number of options for dual or quad core CPUs The computer itself isn't too old, I custom built it about 2 or 3 years ago, but I have made a lot of upgrades since then.
I shouldn't need to upgrade my motherboard or RAM to upgrade the CPU, like I said before, its a socket 775 system, and there are a lot of options for dual and quad cores for that system. I knew that XP 64 existed, but I figured I would go the vista direction because from what I had read, I'd be better off, maybe I'm wrong though. I would run 2004 instead, but I don't have it, I went from 2002 to FSX, and Im not going to buy it now, although its probably pretty cheap these days.
Tom BoutainCaptain, B737-800
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DVA3908
Captain, B757-200
Joined on January 11 2007
"Landing Gear .... CHECK" Newport, KY USA
39 legs, 64.3 hours
38 legs,
62.7 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 10:40 ET by Benjamin Duerk
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What motherboard do you have?
Benjamin DuerkCaptain, B757-200
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DVA5426
Captain, B737-800
Joined on January 11 2008
Century Club
50 State Club
"Fly Safe, and Have fun!" Grand Forks, ND USA
140 legs, 263.0 hours
136 legs,
253.6 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 11:01 ET by Tom Boutain
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Asus P5K-E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131196
I do realize now that a quad core would require a Motherboard upgrade, but I could upgrade to a Core 2 Duo with keeping the same MB.
Tom BoutainCaptain, B737-800
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DVA3908
Captain, B757-200
Joined on January 11 2007
"Landing Gear .... CHECK" Newport, KY USA
39 legs, 64.3 hours
38 legs,
62.7 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 11:12 ET by Benjamin Duerk
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According to the website it will support some of the quad core chips i see alot of Q6600's in the reviews.
Benjamin DuerkCaptain, B757-200
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DVA5426
Captain, B737-800
Joined on January 11 2008
Century Club
50 State Club
"Fly Safe, and Have fun!" Grand Forks, ND USA
140 legs, 263.0 hours
136 legs,
253.6 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 11:21 ET by Tom Boutain
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I dont know what I was thinking, I looked at the CPU type in the specs, and for some reason missed the Core 2 Quad that was listed first. Im going to do a little research and find out exactly what my options are for Dual and Quad core CPUs. Maybe I'll just get a new CPU and vista 64. haha.
EDIT: I've started reading a little about Overclocking, and from the sounds of it, the CPU that I have now can easily be overclocked to 4 ghz, and more with the right cooling. I think Im gonna give vista 64 a try. There is so much to learn about this stuff...I could spend all day reading, but then I wouldn't have time to fly.
Tom BoutainCaptain, B737-800
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DVA3908
Captain, B757-200
Joined on January 11 2007
"Landing Gear .... CHECK" Newport, KY USA
39 legs, 64.3 hours
38 legs,
62.7 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 12:26 ET by Benjamin Duerk
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I do believe that if you are staying with FSX that a core 2 processor will help out plus they overclock easy.
Benjamin DuerkCaptain, B757-200
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DVA5426
Captain, B737-800
Joined on January 11 2008
Century Club
50 State Club
"Fly Safe, and Have fun!" Grand Forks, ND USA
140 legs, 263.0 hours
136 legs,
253.6 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 26 2009 14:59 ET by Tom Boutain
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It sounds like its a coin toss...too bad I can't take the processor out of my laptop and put it in my desktop. I have a laptop that has a Core 2 Duo, but its worse than the desktop because other areas aren't as good.
Tom BoutainCaptain, B737-800
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