32GB RAM Recommended

I noticed the recommended system requirements for "high" graphics settings specifies 32GB for heavy missions. I have three questions:

1. Is that sensitive to any particular levels of resolution (eg 1440p or above) or anti-aliasing

(eg MSAA 2x+)?

2. What qualifies a mission as 'heavy'?

3. Is this spec for single player as well as multiplayer?

Thanks

A heavy mission is a mission with a lot of units, triggers and scripts. In general SP should run better then MP, for the obvious reason that there are not a whole lot of other clients to render in SP.

So when I lose FPS with a lot of units around it's because I only have 16GB of RAM, and not because of my CPU?

My impression is RAM will take a hit if there are a lot of objects/units to render and the CPU will take a hit if many of those units actually do something (waypoints, engaging targets, etc)

At least that's what I noticed when creating a "Operation Desert Storm" like scenario involving around 200 tanks racing towards each other and engaging.

At first, for screenshots purpose, I didn't gave them waypoints. The FPS took a nose dive but it was still OK. Once I gave each group waypoints the FPS went to single digit and it got even worse when they started engaging each other

Yep, DCS engine is definitely not made for large engagements. I wish it was.

GPU 960m is my bottleneck, been told upgrade 16 to 3GB RAM wouldn’t help me much, but if it’s only for high object. Oust missions and I can get it for a nice price that would work

I went from 16gb of ram @3000mhz to 32gb @3000mhz which made absolutely no difference. Still the same stutters as before.

My impression is RAM will take a hit if there are a lot of objects/units to render and the CPU will take a hit if many of those units actually do something (waypoints, engaging targets, etc)

 

This.

I find ground based vehicles really slow things down when they are moving more than anything else.

I have suspended using those in missions for now.

I found 32 Gig very beneficial when I upgraded over a year ago. DDR3

My specs are old enough by today's standards but I notice no stutters generally.

Someday when My DDR5 equipped 48 Core CPU 4080Ti.

No wait. That is just a recurring dream.

This is the best I can do and still bounce off the 60 vsync with no stutters in th epic attached.

GPU 960m is my bottleneck, been told upgrade 16 to 3GB RAM wouldn’t help me much, but if it’s only for high object. Oust missions and I can get it for a nice price that would work

I also had a gtx 960 before and changed to a gtx 1060. It made a great differens. But I also only have 16 gb ram. It Works great when it is not so much going around in the mission, but with heavy missions it can feese up to 15 seconds suddently and then continue. Very irritation when the plane crash in the meantime. I Guess more ram would help some but also depending on the CPU. Mine is a i7 3770 so it is not the best...

I think the nr.1 important is to have as few programs as posible running in the background. At least it is for me.

I actually find multiplayer handles large missions much better than SP. The reason being, the multiplayer server handles all of the AI movement and calculations, so all the client PC has to do is render them.

I converted my old gaming PC (with an AMD FX8350) into a dedicated server. The mission that I run on the server has an F10 menu option to spawn a massive tank battle with hundreds of units on both sides, including attack helos, tanks, APCs, JTACs, etc. The player can then jump into this battle with any of the units available (though it lends best to A10, Harrier, Gazelle and eventually Hornet).

When I built and tested this mission on my gaming PC (specs below), as soon as I spawned the battle, DCS went into single digit FPS, despite 32GB or RAM (I think it was CPU limited). However, running it on the server, with less RAM and a weaker CPU, it actually has minimal impact on the FPS of client PCs. Even the server runs at decent FPS during this, as the load for calculating client physics and the like is on the client PC.

Should be pretty easy to check how much system ram you are using & if you need more.

Should be pretty easy to check how much system ram you are using & if you need more.

This, you can easily check your system memory as you play and see how much RAM the game is using during a given mission, I personally play with 8GB of RAM with all settings maxed out and haven't had any significant issues. Most issues I have I blame on my relatively weak CPU (i5-6400t @ 2.2GHz)

This, you can easily check your system memory as you play and see how much RAM the game is using during a given mission, I personally play with 8GB of RAM with all settings maxed out and haven't had any significant issues. Most issues I have I blame on my relatively weak CPU (i5-6400t @ 2.2GHz)

Where is the catch ?

I have 16 GB, but usually only 14 GB are used at max. My biggest performance drain has been my HDD, so I should migrate my game files to a SDD.

Ok, here's one: I have 16GB of system RAM, and another 8GB on the card (GTX 1070).

DCS only uses about 10GB max system memory, but 20GB pagefile. The bloody sim crashes if there's no pagefile, but doesn't use anywhere near all my system RAM!

So, dub tee eff is going on?!

AD

I have 16 GB, but usually only 14 GB are used at max. My biggest performance drain has been my HDD, so I should migrate my game files to a SDD.

You'll be glad you did , especially if you move the pagefile to SSD as well .

Ok, here's one: I have 16GB of system RAM, and another 8GB on the card (GTX 1070).

DCS only uses about 10GB max system memory, but 20GB pagefile. The bloody sim crashes if there's no pagefile, but doesn't use anywhere near all my system RAM!

 

 

So, dub tee eff is going on?!

 

 

AD

I'd like to learn the answer to that question as well !

Thanks to everyone for their comments and apologies for not getting back, I had thought I'd replied to this thread but I must not have. Maybe this is a down side to posting from my phone when I'm half asleep.

I play with 16 RAM at max graphic setting without any problems.

I don't find DCS ever uses more than 16GB RAM

I frequently see DCS utilizing more over 20GB of RAM. If you play in decent sized multiplayer groups 32GB is almost a must(I saw a huge leap in performance when I went to 32). I currently run 64GB and don't regret that at all.

Big missions in multiplayer are certainly the most demanding missions for your computer. However, 16GB are still good for singleplayer or smaller missions.

Its easy to answer your own question. Set up a Sp map, take off and monitor RAM and VRam usage. Then add loads of Ai units and fly the same task, again monitor RAM and VRam usage. You will have your answer.

Going to 32 was a big improvement for me in multiplayer. I fly with Greek, so same scenario. Actually I think his going on about it forever was what made me take the leap :)