SSD for FC2.0/DCS

[*Rage*]

What does everyone think of SSD (eg Intel X25-M G2) for gaming/OS.

 

 

Thinking of getting one to install Windows 7, Steam and DCS/FC2.0 on but keep reading very different reports about what to expect. From amazing performance to slight better than conventional.

 

Anyone have any experience with them?

 

Thx

[Pilotasso]

What does everyone think of SSD (eg Intel X25-M G2) for gaming/OS.

 

 

Thinking of getting one to install Windows 7, Steam and DCS/FC2.0 on but keep reading very different reports about what to expect. From amazing performance to slight better than conventional.

 

Anyone have any experience with them?

 

Thx

 

Thinking about the same purchase however will wait for the release, possibly lower prices or better drives by then.

 

Lets hear form those braves who already took the plunge :D

[*Rage*]

Im guessing main advantages would be lesser load times and perhaps less micro stutters?

 

 

Edit:- wowza quick check reveals:

Vista 18gb

Steam 30GB

DCS 10GB

FC 2gb

 

80GB drive as a minimum.

Edited December 16, 2009 by ///Rage

[159th_Falcon]

Well, i always wonder why everyone seems to use only one harddrive for the OS, GAMES and other DATA (including myself:huh:)

Wouldnt it be much better to use for example an 100GB (give or take a few) for the OS and maybe some data depending on how much you need to store.

A seperate for DATA if ya need to store more then lets say 50 GB of data

And a seperate drive for your GAMES ?

 

Anyways, i think the Intel SSD's are way faster then the normal harddrives BUT

if you only use your computer for browsing the internet and emailing you wont notice it.

Things where you are going to notice it is when there are large amounts of data required from the hard drive (eg loading games or BIG foto's in to fotoshop, editing/converting movies)

 

So the question shouldnt be if there is a difference in speed but if you would notice the difference in the tasks you are doing on your PC.

In the case of DCS, as posted above probably shorter loading times and less stutter when alot of units spawn on the map at the same time or similar things.

[Pilotasso]

Your right about what your talking about however 1 SSD is not in the reach of the common of mortals let alone 2.

 

Buying one SSD usualy forces you to put OS and the game of your choise. Otherwise you wont see much improvment.

[kam]

Im guessing main advantages would be lesser load times and perhaps less micro stutters?

 

 

This. I used to get a micro stutter when a cannon round hit the water for example but no more with the ssd. Loading times are noticeably quicker.

 

If you get an ssd the only regret you will have is that you should have got a bigger one, my steam folder is over 100gb, my ssd 74.4gb (80gb in marketing speak).

 

SSD for windows, programs and a select few games = win.:thumbup:

[Shaman]

Could be much cheaper to avoid stutters, if these kind of "common" effects were preloaded into RAM before the mission... ED?

[sobek]

Could be much cheaper to avoid stutters, if these kind of "common" effects were preloaded into RAM before the mission... ED?

 

Just why do you think they are working on a 64bit .exe? ;)

[Pilotasso]

the impact stutters you guys seee have always been there and have nothing to do with SSD's

[*Rage*]

Just why do you think they are working on a 64bit .exe? ;)

 

Are they?

[sobek]

Are they?

 

There was a statement by Wags in some interview some time ago.

[Feuerfalke]

Yes, they are. But DCS:BS can already make use of more than 2GB. You just have to increase preloading-ranges manually.

 

My DCS:BS usually runs with 3.6GB of RAM usage. Doesn't kill loading-stutters, though, as the soundengine and how sounds are loaded is still the problem.

[*Rage*]

Yes, they are. But DCS:BS can already make use of more than 2GB. You just have to increase preloading-ranges manually.

 

My DCS:BS usually runs with 3.6GB of RAM usage. Doesn't kill loading-stutters, though, as the soundengine and how sounds are loaded is still the problem.

 

What benefit would 64bit give? Why are the team working on it?

[Pilotasso]

Bigger maps and more objects on screen. think also going 64 bit allows to allocate more memory for the SIM

[sobek]

What benefit would 64bit give? Why are the team working on it?

 

As pilotasso stated, possibility to allocate MUCH more RAM.

[*Rage*]

ok and....

 

I thought CPU limitation was the greatest factor?

[Pilotasso]

It is...but you cannot have too much CPU requirements to play it without multiple upgrades for years... :D

Edited December 17, 2009 by Pilotasso

[sinelnic]

ok and....

 

I thought CPU limitation was the greatest factor?

 

It is, but CPUs need data to process, and when that data is not in the RAM, they need to go look for it in the HDD, and wait...

 

It´s like having a Ferrari with a 10 gallon fuel tank, it´ll go real fast... for two blocks...

 

As for SDDs, their main advantage is their zero seek-time, which means a random read is executed immediately, whereas a normal HDD has to spin and position its head over the correct place before it can read. Now so far I understand that their (SDDs) sustained data transfer rate (sequential read) is smaller than normal HDDs, so for some applications you´ll notice no difference, or even a degraded performance. For flight sims, though, despite longer load times, you should get much less stutter, which normally happens when a particular object needs to be displayed but its data is not still in RAM.

[Slayer]

What does everyone think of SSD (eg Intel X25-M G2) for gaming/OS.

 

 

Thinking of getting one to install Windows 7, Steam and DCS/FC2.0 on but keep reading very different reports about what to expect. From amazing performance to slight better than conventional.

 

Anyone have any experience with them?

 

Thx

 

You pay for what you get...don't buy an SSD just to get an SSD. If you buy the cheapest, well its not going to be much faster than a standard hard disk. Bottom line, go on NewEgg..read reviews with a grain of salt and compare transfer rates/price.

 

You don't have to get the fastest intel drive for $700.00 to notice a difference either. I bought a Corsair P128 for about $285.00 6 months ago (prices have gone up) It is blazingly fast loads Windows in seconds and load times for DCS were cut in half. The single Corsair P128 was more than twice as fast as my previous setup of 2 - 10K RPM WD Raptors in RAID. It is only a 128 gig hard drive but I dont have tons of games installed so it really doesnt matter. I store all my music, photos and downloads on a secondary SATA drive where performance doesn't really matter because its just storage.

 

Overall I'm extremely happy with the purchase. It is an upgrade where you can actually "feel" the difference. Never looked back or regretted my purchase. The only downside is that any time I use someone else's PC its agonizingly slow.

[*Rage*]

You pay for what you get...don't buy an SSD just to get an SSD. If you buy the cheapest, well its not going to be much faster than a standard hard disk. Bottom line, go on NewEgg..read reviews with a grain of salt and compare transfer rates/price.

 

You don't have to get the fastest intel drive for $700.00 to notice a difference either. I bought a Corsair P128 for about $285.00 6 months ago (prices have gone up) It is blazingly fast loads Windows in seconds and load times for DCS were cut in half. The single Corsair P128 was more than twice as fast as my previous setup of 2 - 10K RPM WD Raptors in RAID. It is only a 128 gig hard drive but I dont have tons of games installed so it really doesnt matter. I store all my music, photos and downloads on a secondary SATA drive where performance doesn't really matter because its just storage.

 

Overall I'm extremely happy with the purchase. It is an upgrade where you can actually "feel" the difference. Never looked back or regretted my purchase. The only downside is that any time I use someone else's PC its agonizingly slow.

 

Thing is im more concerned about stuttering issues and how to prevent them rather than just game/mission load time.

[bengo]

Yes, they are. But DCS:BS can already make use of more than 2GB. You just have to increase preloading-ranges manually

How and where do you increase these preloading ranges ?

 

My DCS:BS usually runs with 3.6GB of RAM usage. Doesn't kill loading-stutters, though, as the soundengine and how sounds are loaded is still the problem.

Would using a separate soundcard solve this problem ?

[mrbinkels]

I picked up a 30gb OCZ the other day($129 on newegg dot com w/30MIR). I wanted to put BS on it and ARMA 2. Loading times are faster however did not make any other improvements. I've never had a micro-stuttering issue in BS (that I can tell).

 

What did make an improvement, albeit small(1 fps) was going from a AMD 720BE three core o/c to 3.4ghz to a AMD 965BE 3.4 quadcore.

 

Now the interesting part is when I run the 965 o/c at 4.0ghz. There is a 4-5 increase in FPS, which I suspected.

 

I picked up a 5870 as well, not specifically for BS, but that made zero difference, which I suspected.

 

Going back to the ssd drive, I did quite a bit of research and if you go over to the OCZ forums, there seems to be a lot of maintenance required to keep these ssd drives up to speed. Using TRIM, GC(garbage collection) and firmware updates, which wipes all your data off the drive. I'm sure in time they will get better and the prices will come down.

 

If you're pure geek and like fiddling with hardware you'll find nirvana for sure.

 

As I always like to say YMMV. This is just my personal experience.

Edited December 24, 2009 by mrbinkels
spellin errors lol

[Pilotasso]

LOL how can you measure 1 FPS difference???

[mrbinkels]

LOL how can you measure 1 FPS difference???

 

With FRAPS

[Wags]

I did have an X25 SSD for about a month until the thing died on me. Even the installation gave me fits. I will probably hold off a year or two before getting another to let the tech mature and the costs come down.

 

While loading times were certainly improved, simulation runtime was not much different. I did not suffer any stutters before or after the SSD.