Installing Raptor SATA HD

[Ted Harris]

I want to install a second hard in my present system which will be a WD Raptor SATA Hard Drive. I run flight Simulator which is fairly demanding. I will then install Flight simulator FSX on the new drive and use it strictly for that. Here is my system:
Intel e6600 Core 2 Duo @ 4.00GHz
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]ASUS P5Q Pro[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]OCZ Reaper 2X2GB DDR2 800 (PC 6400)[/FONT]
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 640 MB
WD 250GB GB SATA II
Corsair CMPSU 550W
I suppose that I should plan on setting it up on Raid 0. If someone is familiar with this board, I would like to know if there is any reason that I can't install this HD, and should I set it to Raid 0?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Why not buy a solid-state-disk (SSD) instead? Read times are faster and seek times are much faster since there are no moving parts.

How much disk space do you need for FSX? Good 60 GB SSDs are under $150.

 

[mfenn]

You realize that you need 2 matched drives for best performance in RAID0, right?

Also, I'm not sure that your HDD is what's holding you back in FSX. Do you see the HDD being constantly accessed?

 

[Ted Harris]

Actually my problem is that when running FSX it would freeze after about 5 minutes then eventually restart and then refreeze. I have tried everything. Squeeky clean re-install. Runs 3D Mark forever - no problems. Run Prime95 and nVidea Stability Test - no problems. Ran Memtest86 on both memory sticks for 11 hours - no problem. I was considering the Raptor just more or less trying to find a solution.

 

[mfenn]

Actually my problem is that when running FSX it would freeze after about 5 minutes then eventually restart and then refreeze. I have tried everything. Squeeky clean re-install. Runs 3D Mark forever - no problems. Run Prime95 and nVidea Stability Test - no problems. Ran Memtest86 on both memory sticks for 11 hours - no problem. I was considering the Raptor just more or less trying to find a solution.

If your HDD activity light isn't on during those freezes, a new one probably won't help.

 

[Slugbait]

The hard drive isn't going to do anything to help you.

Most common variable for FSX freezes is nVidia. Not much you can do here except get an AMD video card. So let's try some other stuff...

A couple of people have resolved the issue by killing the O/C. I think O/C also impacted previous versions of FS as well.

Got ASA? Disable High Priority Access.

Pull a stick of RAM. Some people have issues with FS when using more than two gigs.

Check for a newer mobo BIOS. Asus doesn't go into detail anymore with BIOS updates, but the readme file sometimes calls out specific games.

 

[Ted Harris]

Thanks Guys, I will try your suggestions. I have about given up in fixing FSX and everything is uninstalled right now.

 

[somethingsketchy]

I'm thinking the issue could lie with the CPU. Since I haven't really played FSX, but have heard what the game is about, I would imagine that a faster CPU (perhaps a quad-core CPU) could help you a little bit.

 

[Slugbait]

I'm thinking the issue could lie with the CPU. Since I haven't really played FSX, but have heard what the game is about, I would imagine that a faster CPU (perhaps a quad-core CPU) could help you a little bit.

Quad-core won't help, FSX is single-threaded. And the game was released only two months after the original Conroe hit the market, so his proc should be powerful enough.

 

[TC91]

That is a mighty impressive OC on the e6600

 

[Ted Harris]

I thought so also, however I usually run the default unless I am running FSX. Cooler is Noctua NH-U12P and heat has not been a problem.

 

[Slugbait]

Cooler is Noctua NH-U12P and heat has not been a problem.

It's not related to heat, it's the O/C itself. Several FSX players have resolved their freezing issue by killing the O/C.

 

[Ted Harris]

I have run FSX with the default clock several times and it does exactly the same thing.
I am always open to more suggestions.

 

[Ted Harris]

What is the latest Intel CPU what I can run on this board without having to upgrade the board?

 

[mfenn]

What is the latest Intel CPU what I can run on this board without having to upgrade the board?

Something like a Q9550 would probably be the best bang for you buck, but that's not even a great deal.

 

[TC91]

What OS are you using? Have you checked the SMART status of your HDD as well?

 

[Ted Harris]

Using XP Home and SMART shows everything fine. Please continue to contemplate my problem.

 

[Sp12]

Using XP Home and SMART shows everything fine. Please continue to contemplate my problem.

Found your problem. Err, at least a decent place to spend money if you want an upgrade.

 

[Zap]

How is changing the OS going to fix anything?

Ted Harris, what are you wanting? Make FSX run better, or make it run without crashing/locking? If it is the latter, then let's try a shotgun approach. Clock your CPU down to default 2.4GHz at default FSB. Underclock your RAM as low as the motherboard will allow. Underclock your video card a bit, especially if it is factory overclocked. Fresh install, and try again. Also, see if you can monitor PSU voltages (mostly +12v) with a multimeter while FSX is running.

 

[Ted Harris]

Actually FSX was running about as well as it could on my setup (my opinion). I would like to stop the freezing. At the same time I would make incremental component upgrades as I am able.FSX uninstalled for now and I have house guests. As soon as I can I will reinstall and follow Zap's suggestions. Thanks for the help.