RAM / memory question

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heavenlywild

5060 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#16530 14-Oct-2007 11:36

Hi there,

This topic has a bit to do with this thread:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=64&TopicId=15656

My games aren't performing well on my Quad Core Vista Premium destop machine. I have a 256MB 8800 graphics card installed with the latest drivers. 2GB RAM. 320GB hard drive.

What happens is that the frame rates are very low, like on Flight Simulator X.

When I check my RAM usage (in Task Manager) the bar graph shows 1.0GB (it does register below I have 2GB of RAM installed).

Question is, if I am using 1GB of RAM without any major programmes open, does this mean I am left with only 1GB for gaming? Would this be insufficient to run games like Flight Simulator X properly?

Thank you in advance.

MikeGayner

183 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#91045 14-Oct-2007 22:37

Is it just FSX that has issues? FSX is a particularly intensive game, especially on RAM usage. Sadly, Vista is a high memory OS, so yes, it means you have only 1gb left for your games. I dont know what your standards are as far as "low framerates" go, but your system should be sufficient to maintain at least a playable frame rate, if not a great one. A RAM upgrade would certainly help.

H3L0

51 posts

Master Geek

#92465 25-Oct-2007 23:58

no ram is enough. /egamer rant

its likely you have a working page file of equal if not more set by the OS running to your HDD

tips for serious performer in online gaming is to max the ram, reduce the page file to nothing if possible and kill all background processes. that way you keep all the activity in the ram with loads of capacity. read up on tweaky

run everst to id the background processes and lock out.

interesting problem though.

personally I think your rig is under grunted in the psu space. you can comfirm that using a google for pc power consumption calculator - loads about.

its like a safety net, having more pwer than you need but its there when you need it. plus is you get a quality psu its about steady unfluctuating power.

go with silverstone or enermax - 550w plus. I run 620 and I wouldn't go lower.

the second thing I would do is run 3dmark06 or 05. benchmarking using a benchmarking tool..sounds too easy.

I think your problem is somewhere in the GPU or drivers. fps is generally affected by the complexity of the rendered image. explosions and bright light kill fps. Nukes and carpet bomb runs, artillary , jet and chopper scenes especially over water with reflected light surfaces.

if you run the same test using the 7950 card and the 8800. see what you get.

run the test using different drivers - vista was a dog for gaming when it first came out. I still refuse to use it for that reason. drivers were rubbish.

there is a good set of nvidia drivers pumped out by Xtreme-G
http://www.tweakforce.com/

these guys make good stuff.

if none of that works, buy another gpu and go sli.

heh.. mow powa!