Why PC RAM?

[c85airman]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Oct-22-01 AT 10:15PM (EDT)[/font][p]Quite often when I see screenshots of FS2002, and than the system specifications of the machine used to take them, the RAM is PC RAM (as opposed to RDRAM, DDRRAM, et cetera). It is my understanding that PC RAM is far from the best choice if your a game buff (particularly flight sims), thats why its so cheap compared to it's alternatives. I use 256 MBs of 266Mhz DDRRAM. I use that because I researched it to be a good choice for gamming, especially since Microsoft warned us months ago that this new sim would be RAM intensive.

Now to the point. I see alot of these pictures don't have the greatest framerates, although the numbers in the system specs are higher than those of the PCs MS used to test the beta (wich, according to Peter James never went below 25fps with high scenery settings).

Users ask why this is, I would like to give a simple response: Use better RAM. Theres a reason DDRRAM is about twice as expensive as PC RAM! I assume most people using PCRAM use it because of the nice price. So I would like to give a warning to anyone planning on building or buying a new PC: Stay away from the tempting low prices and high numbers of PCRAM. Alot of Mbs don't mean squat if there is a 'PC' in front of the letters R-A-M. Just pay for the good stuff.

I don't have FS2002 yet myself, but will have it either tommarrow or Wednesday, and when I get it, I will be sure to post what kind of performance I get.

Comments?

-Justin

[pacallen]

Yes, but to use DDR Ram, I would have to change my MB and that is kinda pricy... I'm happy enough with my 384 ram. Honestly, if I get around 8+ FPS in high-scenery areas, I'll be happy.

Peter Allen
http://flyvanguard.homestead.com

[helo_av8or]

DDR RAM, or Double Data Rate Random Access Memory is faster than other RAM. Mainly, the BUS speed of the mother boards that will accept DDR is faster. 266 MHZ as opposed to 100, or 133. Many people only look at processor speed when comparing computers. This is a bad way to do things. A 2.0 GHZ processor is fine and dandy if you want to pay for it (AMD chips are cheaper and faster) but if you are running that chip through a 133 MHZ System BUS, then you are bottlenecking your system. You could consider it the equivalent of putting a 450 HP engine in a Toyota Corolla. Sure, it's a big engine, but it still has to run through the Corolla's transmission. If you followed my reasoning throughout this, I congratulate you. Alas, it is late, and I have consumed an exorbitant amount of Pepsi.
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No Kitty, Bad Kitty!

[insane]

PC-Ram is quite honestly a waste of money. A mother board can only have so much memory on it, before it becomes useless. So filling up on less powerful ram is stupid. I'm quite happy with 128S-RAM on my AMD 700 with the Nvidia Geforce 2 32mbDDR. It is a really nice setup. Custom built Compaq's rock! DDR-RAM is the best value, it is not that badly priced, and is alot faster.

[mith]

Hi Peter...

If you're using fs2k2, try unchecking the Terrain Texture Detail option... you're fps will skyrocket...

The cost:... you lose your water reflections and details.. but it's a well worth trade-off considering what an fps hog is is.

Mith :-jumpy

[c85airman]

Mith, helo, insane, thats exactly the point I was trying to make! Im sorry if I wasnt clear, your responses seemed like they were trying to correct what I said - we're in perfect agreement. I was just surprised at how many people have PCRAM when there is so much better alternatives.

[helo_av8or]

I wasn't disagreeing with you, far from it in fact. I just like comparing Pentium chips with their sorry bus speeds to a corolla transmission...

Jeff
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http://flightsimmers.net/helipad/fs2...ry/cartman.gif
"No Kitty, Bad Kitty!"

[pelleplutt]

This is not true.
Do you know what speeds we are talking about within these memory-chips, its not seconds I can assure you, try nano-seconds.
The actual performance-difference will also be in that nano-second field.

I can guarantee you this: take 2 similar computers, one with lets say the good ole SIMM (hypothetical I know, since its not applicable in todays machines), just for argument´s sake, and one with your SSDDSSRRAM or what was it? This is also why AnandTech and Toms Hardware focus more on CPU:s and Video-cards, since it is more relevant when it comes to REAL performance.

So in my own humble opinion it IS a waste of money to throw twice the money on something that MIGHT be some nano-seconds faster.
CPU:s and video-cards however are that much more important when handling textures and do tough calculations.

So guys, listen to an old computer-buff (my first computer was the Texas Instruments TI99-4A, 1MHZ I think, fast!)

To achieve really good performance in the sim focus on this:
1. CPU, the faster the better(733->, my estamation).
2. Lots of RAM (SDRAM is fine, min 128)
3. A decent video-card with at least 32 MB RAM.

Regards
Per Ivarsson

[helo_av8or]

No, you missed the point of my post altogether. The DDR ram is actually almost twice as fast as the other RAM. Think Bus speeds here people. My computer uses a 100 MHZ system BUS, some use 133. Many of the new motherboards have a 266 MHZ System Bus. A big processor is fine, but if the system board can only move the information to and from the processor at slower speeds, it still bottlenecks. Making faster bus speeds would help alleviate this problem, but in the meantime, get the fastest bus speed that you can. Alas, 266 Mhz, and DDR Ram.

Jeff
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http://flightsimmers.net/helipad/fs2...ry/cartman.gif
"No Kitty, Bad Kitty!"

[c85airman]

Pelleplutt, I also think you missed the point. DDRRAM will make a huge performance difference when compared specifically to PCRAM. I do agree that stepping up to DDR is not worth the money if you already have RD or SD, put PCRAM is by far the worse. Switching to any other type would be a big step up, DDR being the best of the lot, albeit not by much.