FSX: 2GB RAM vs 4GB

For what it is worth. Posted at NewEgg.com

Microsoft Flight Simulator X (Service Pack 2)
 
Microsoft Flight Simulator X is a highly realistic and extremely resource-hungry flight simulator. The latest Service Pack (SP 2) adds support for DirectX 10 graphics card (support is still in BETA) and the game is heavily optimised for multi-core processors.
We tested using the ‘Caribbean Landing’, ‘Telluride Landing’ and ‘Swiss Outing’ missions, which are simple and easily repeatable missions that last about 10 – 15 minutes. We recorded the frame rate using FRAPS, timing from the point at which the mission begins to immediately after touchdown on the runway. We repeated each test three times, rebooting after each test, and took the average of the three runs.
Results
512MB GeForce 8800 GT
1,920 x 1,200, Ultra High, DirectX 10
Microsoft Flight Simulator X 
Caribbean Landing 
Telluride Landing 
  
2GB 
4GB 
2GB 
4GB 
Average frame rate 
28 fps 
28 fps 
28 fps 
28 fps 
Minimum frame rate 
14 fps 
15 fps 
19 fps 
20 fps 
Initially, we tested using the ‘Ultra High’ in-game settings and found that there was relatively little difference in performance between 2GB and 4GB. However, the level of detail can actually be enhanced above the ‘Ultra High’ setting by customising the detail options. We tried increasing the Ground Scenery detail settings to see if increased detail levels resulted in higher memory usage. AN804:Gaming Performance Analysis – 4GB vs 2GB Page 7
 
512MB GeForce 8800 GT
1,680 x 1,050, anti-aliasing enabled. Ultra High, DirectX 10
Plus 'Ground Scenery' maximum, Ground Scenery Shadows enabled
Microsoft Flight Simulator X 
Swiss Outing 
  
2GB 
4GB 
Average frame rate 
23 fps 
26 fps 
Minimum frame rate 
15 fps 
16 fps 
With the ‘Ground Scenery’ sliders set to maximum the extra level of detail led to additional memory requirements. In the ‘Swiss Outing’ mission the performance difference between 2GB and 4GB was subtle but noticeable, averaging a 3fps gain with 4GB.
Flight Simulator X memory usage
2GB system memory installed
The above screenshot was taken during the ‘Swiss Outing’ mission at the test settings listed above. Nearly 1.5GB of memory is in use (Private Bytes), although only 1.1GB was comprised of physical memory. The exclusive memory usage for the Flight Simulator X process (fsx.exe) peaked at just over 1.5GB.
AN804:Gaming Performance Analysis – 4GB vs 2GB Page 8
 
4GB system memory installed
With 4GB of system memory installed the Flight Simulator X process was using over 1.3GB of memory (Private Bytes), which was mostly comprised of physical memory. In contrast, with 2GB installed, nearly 400MB of data was stored in the paging file. The peak memory usage (including data held in the paging file) was just under 1.4GB.
Flight Simulator X Analysis Flight Simulator X generally performs well with 2GB of system memory. However, for enthusiasts looking to achieve the highest possible details settings, installing 4GB provides the extra headroom needed to get the most out of the CPU and graphic hardware so that the game continues to run at peak performance.

I would like some information on using a USB key drive to enhance paging performance. Does anyone have any information in this?

Oops!<br /><br /><!-- editby --><br /><br /><em>edited by: Robert_Thompson, Sep 16, 2008 - 11:23 AM</em><!-- end editby -->