Does DCS World benefit from more than 16GB Ram?

Hi guys,

I am thinking on upgrading my system with more memory as Aerofly FS2 will beneft.

Does DCS world makes use of more than 16 GB? I thought of buying a 4*16GB 3200 MHZ Module.

I play with The OCulus Rift only iif thatz matters (i guess not).

I have a pretty high end system (watercooled 2050 MHZ Titan X Pascal 6700k at 2700MHZ Intel NVME SSD) so just checking if it helps evben if marginal.

Cheers,

Stefan

P.S: Love DCS!

I will be upgrading from 16gb to 32gb soon

 

Having more RAM is always a good thing, If you have more RAM DCS will use it

2.1 does not in my experience. I have 16gb but I only see 2.1 using half of that.

I have 16 GB of DDR3 in my current system, had considered adding another 16 GB but will be due a new system build probably in 2018 anyway so will likely just hold out for it and get all new ram at the same time.

I will be upgrading from 16gb to 32gb soon

 

Having more RAM is always a good thing, If you have more RAM DCS will use it

Do you have data for that? I'd be interested to see. I haven't seen anything showing performance gains above 16GB.

Recently upgraded my PC which previously had 8Gb and now has 24GB. Not seen it using more than 10GB when checking (that's with Normandy running in VR). So 16GB is sufficient for right now. Having said that, what's expected in DCS?

Do you have data for that? I'd be interested to see. I haven't seen anything showing performance gains above 16GB.

If the discussion were about a finished product it would be a different story. Given the direction ED is heading in, and the fact that the unit population of a given mission can vary a great deal, basing a decision on the current state of the sim would be silly.

Having 32GB of memory, which gives you headroom to allow for the future, is a wise move, IMHO. Keep in mind that the only reliable way to upgrade memory is to replace all of it instead of adding more.

16? 32? ... hot debate....

Mr BIGNEWY your opinion is interesting me ("if you have more ram DCS will use it") I also know BitMaster said he has a 22 GB ram usage in DCS when playing in populated MP servers.

But others say (like Mr Sukebe) they don't see that and personnaly I just checked a quick solo flight above vegas in DCS 2.1 with everything maxed out, vsync off, on my 1080p screen and I have 9.8 GB ram and 5.2 GB Vram usage in afterburner. (I will try to put the max units/planes I can just to see....let's crash the thing)

So it would be interesting to have some DCS Benchmark about 32 GB ram with the nice informations and graphs like Tiborrr did in his "hardware benchmark" thread.

Ok my test results..... On my first quick solo A10 flight above vegas heading center Airport/buildings in DCS 2.1 everything maxed out vsync off on 1080p screen I had 70-90fps.

First I did the same but with some US units/flights : 99 AAV + 99 M1A1 (all moving offroad) + 10 flights of 4 planes (mixed) + 2 bomber flights .... to shy .... DCS shows 13 GB video memory usage / afterburner shows 6.6 GB Vram and 9.2 GB ram usage (+12 GB virtual memory) / 50-60 fps. (little bit shocked by this result I thought it won't work at all)

Second I add russian opposite forces : 99 T80 + 99 BTR + 14 flights of 4 planes (mixed)... DCS shows 16.8 GB video memory usage / afterburner shows 8.8 Vram + 9.6 ram usage (+17 GB virtual memory) / this time fps was successions of pauses with picture changing between each pause. When pausing the game it shows 47 fps.

All units/flights in my field of view in vegas center - I think the "pause style" fps was due to ram overused but afterburner shows only 9.6 ram usage .... ?

If the discussion were about a finished product it would be a different story. Given the direction ED is heading in, and the fact that the unit population of a given mission can vary a great deal, basing a decision on the current state of the sim would be silly.

 

Having 32GB of memory, which gives you headroom to allow for the future, is a wise move, IMHO. Keep in mind that the only reliable way to upgrade memory is to replace all of it instead of adding more.

I'm not up to speed on the relationship between unit population size and system RAM usage. A primer would be appreciated. Personally, my philosophy about the future when it comes to PCs is to build the best system that you can for your present needs, while allowing a bit of headroom to further optimize with what will by then be cheap past-generation components a couple of years down the road. That's always given me the most bang for my buck.

Thank you for tersting this a bit toutenglisse. Looks like there is no real clarity of RAm above 16GB in the community and if it helps reducing studder or is not even used at all or necessary at this point.

Just done some reading following the comments here.

From what I can see, we shouldn't really be considering RAM in isolation, rather the RAM in your PC and also the VRAM on your video card.

Where the VRAM usage exceeds the amount on the video card, it pages the data to your main RAM, thus pushing up core RAM requirements. Looks like we should start thinking in terms of, "I have 24GB or RAM and 8GB of VRAM" (at least in my own case).

Thanks for the info ref the implications on VRAM of more objects in game.

Just tested it with Elite Dangerous, which was using nearly 6GB of VRAM whilst playing VR. Will test DCS tomorrow.

2.1 does not in my experience. I have 16gb but I only see 2.1 using half of that.

Do you have data for that? I'd be interested to see. I haven't seen anything showing performance gains above 16GB.

You have to have 32GB to speak a true word. Many say it doesnt need more than 16GB, some say even half is enough, that is all NOT TRUE.

I have run DCS across a number of system, from as low as 6GB, 12GB, 16GB and 32GB as of now.

With 16GB RAM it will never consume more than about 12GB, CAUSE YOU DONT HAVE MORE !!...not that it would not use more if there was more !!!

I "SELDOMLY" fly with less than 16-17GB RAM used, swap 12-14GB usually.

Some servers even press 20-22GB RAM.

Go for 32GB ! It makes a difference.

Others who say "No" should make a 32GB test first, I have from 6-32GB !

Much talk and little knowlwedge comes to my mind, sorry.

and evidence I have. YT video or any screenshot, I will flood you with 16GB used screenshots :) 1.5x and 2.1x DCS btw

Hi Bitmaster, it's tricky for us wondering about 16 or 32Gb ram to have a clear answer.

Do you see 22Gb usage in DCS "fps" display ("ctrl pause"x2 display ?) wich is ingame called "video memory" (and I don't really know what it shows in fact) or do you see that in for exemple afterburner (wich shows Vram usage and ram usage that doesn't correspond to what DCS shows in its own display) ? .....

I know official ED position exists and would remain the same (16GB ram recommended) so I'm really curious about a clear answer from someone that knows ^^....

(and I don't want to mess with you 'cause you've already said your opinion more than 1 time on this subject ...)

I've seen DCS used 14Gb of my RAM in Afterburner but that was pretty long play in 3 server (BF, 104th and OC). I have 16Gb RAM BTW...

Just done some reading following the comments here.

From what I can see, we shouldn't really be considering RAM in isolation, rather the RAM in your PC and also the VRAM on your video card.

Where the VRAM usage exceeds the amount on the video card, it pages the data to your main RAM, thus pushing up core RAM requirements. Looks like we should start thinking in terms of, "I have 24GB or RAM and 8GB of VRAM" (at least in my own case).

 

Thanks for the info ref the implications on VRAM of more objects in game.

Just tested it with Elite Dangerous, which was using nearly 6GB of VRAM whilst playing VR. Will test DCS tomorrow.

Agreed. Not only that, it's hard to know what is causing the RAM usage without seeing benchmarks and knowing the system configuration and what processes might be running in the background. Seems like most of the DCS specific evidence is anecdotal.

Aside from that, my own question with regard to 16GB v. 32GB is, does more RAM result in perceptible performance gains. If not, why bother, IMO.

Hi Bitmaster, it's tricky for us wondering about 16 or 32Gb ram to have a clear answer.

Do you see 22Gb usage in DCS "fps" display ("ctrl pause"x2 display ?) wich is ingame called "video memory" (and I don't really know what it shows in fact) or do you see that in for exemple afterburner (wich shows Vram usage and ram usage that doesn't correspond to what DCS shows in its own display) ? .....

I know official ED position exists and would remain the same (16GB ram recommended) so I'm really curious about a clear answer from someone that knows ^^....

(and I don't want to mess with you 'cause you've already said your opinion more than 1 time on this subject ...)

It is System RAM occupied while flying "ONLINE", all statements are for the core Online Servers with "good" missions. In SF this might be lower but I dont fly SF at all.

Everything measured in MSI-Afterburner and TaskManager

I've seen DCS used 14Gb of my RAM in Afterburner but that was pretty long play in 3 server (BF, 104th and OC). I have 16Gb RAM BTW...

With 14GB your are scratching on the top ceiling and more just wont go, as there is none.

None of my flights online on ANY server results in less than approx. 16GB RAM used.

On the other hand, how do we know when ED will start to raise the overheads further? 14Gb may be the ceiling right now, but how long will that remain the case?

I have 64 Gb in my machine, and of course that is way way over the top. The question is however, will that remain true in the medium and longer term?

If you have the resources, why not stay ahead of the game if you can?

Just tested DCS on Normandy. Single player, only 6 or so other aircraft in the air, 10 ships, 20 vehicles and 30+ static. That required 8Gb of ram (including my OS) and 6gb of VRAM.

Without even entering the scene....15.429MB on 1st. server tested

then 13GB just after entering the cockpit in the Mi-8 on server #2 , then around 16GB on the 3rd server with Ka-50. All those servers had less than 15 players online.

thanks Bitmaster for this precision and for screenshots - so in MP the ram usage clearly goes up and 32GB seems to worth it. (that Oceandar said to)

Ghostdog you're right perceptible performance gain or not is the point.

I watched several YT videos titled 16GB vs 32GB in gaming and apps. Games tested were AAA classic games (no DCS...) and the results were always the same : with 16GB test you have let's say 5GB Vram and 8GB ram usage - while with 32 GB this increase to 5.9GB Vram and 8.9GB ram usage (it was that kind of scaling always) - But the FPS were always remaining the same.

If a game like xplane 11 was tested I'm sure 32GB would have make difference (cause dev. recommand 24-32GB ram in this crazy demanding game).

In these videos the clear performance gain always shows only in apps (after effect - cine bench etc...)

So now with all that was said I think in DCS 32GB clearly worth the money but probably mostly for MP servers. But that probably concerns most of us...

Without even entering the scene....15.429MB on 1st. server tested

 

then 13GB just after entering the cockpit in the Mi-8 on server #2 , then around 16GB on the 3rd server with Ka-50. All those servers had less than 15 players online.

What other processes are running?

What other processes are running?

None, bare system, even without TS, TiR5 and SRS those all OFF too, so add these 3 on top.

NV Exp OFF

AV OFF

CloudServices OFF

Corsair Link OFF

CoreTemp OFF

Asus Suite OFF

Asus EZ OFF

but tbh, with or without, those few tools are only half a gig of memory meanwhile. I only deactivate them so they dont work/sync/scan/index while I game. Memory wise it's a minor issue.