I'm building a new system and I've never used SSDs drives. I heard the OS's swap file could wear out SSD over time due to the rewrites. I heard you could then turn off the swap file for SSD protection if you had a larger RAM of say 8Gb, but still there were many programs including games that might call up the swap file potentially no matter of how much extra RAM there were, including even FSX or at least some addons for it. I read FSX on SSD helped launching time only, then I read FSX on SSD did not only help launching time but did cure most of the inherent FSX's stutters to almost no stutters etc. I keep reading and scratching my head as to how I should plan the SSD/HDDs for my new system. What is the current consensus on combining SSDs and HDDs under one boot? What are the SSDs main specs I should look at in the first place (after Gbs)?System specs: Win7 x64, i7-2600k, 8Gb RAM, ASRock P67 PROFESSIONAL FATAL1TY(B3) etc, .Much thanks,Dirk.

If you had a Z68 mobo you could make an SSD cache drive with the HDD for both OS and FSX...As I see it there are many opinions - as you probably know now - on how to use an SSD with FSX.Try experimenting, that´s what I do, nobody has the right answer, only yourself can judge what works for you with the specific FSX set-up that´s yours!Re: Pagefile, look here:http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/05/how-to-maximise-the-life-of-your-ssd/http://thessdreview.com/ssd-guides/optimization-guides/the-ssd-optimization-guide-2/

I do not recommend disabling the page file. The time it takes to degrade the SSD, if with TRIM support it even would degrade, is like forever (more than 10-years). Not worth worrying about.If you disable the page file, with or without an SSD, you incur page faults which will slow performance.

Is it easy to 'move' and exsisting FSX install to a new drive? (Thinking about adding an SSD myself)

I do not recommend disabling the page file. The time it takes to degrade the SSD, if with TRIM support it even would degrade, is like forever (more than 10-years). Not worth worrying about.If you disable the page file, with or without an SSD, you incur page faults which will slow performance.

Gary, how big is your page file on SSD? Did you move any system folders, files, like Users etc., off SSD to HDD?Thanks,Dirk.

If you had a Z68 mobo you could make an SSD cache drive with the HDD for both OS and FSX...

PFL, the mobo I indicated is not carved in stone yet. I'm trying to find links and references to 'SSD cace drive with HDD'. I would appreciate if you could direct me to the resources.Much thanks,Dirk.

If you had a Z68 mobo you could make an SSD cache drive with the HDD for both OS and FSX...

PFL, do you mean one SSD cache for 1 HDD (OS+FS)? Or can it be used as cache for 2xHDD (non-Raid): 1 for OS, 1 for FS? Did anyone try it already for FSX?Thanks,Dirk.

Is it easy to 'move' and exsisting FSX install to a new drive? (Thinking about adding an SSD myself)

I am very fussy on my installations, just me personally but I do not like ghosting an image or simply swapping drives and copying over. I am a firm believer in fresh installs especially when W7 does not natively install support for SSD (ya you can mod the registry blah-blah blah, not the same). I have zero CTD's, zero issues with anything FSX related or not and I believe it a result of my meticulous care and nature.Having said that if you are not in the mood for a complete reinstall and are looking for a quick swap now and later perform the whole spiel, you can copy FSX (if it is on a dedicated drive or partition), to the new drive, then change the drive letter of the new drive to the same letter as the previous installation. However, I have experienced weird and unexplainable things with pay ware when doing that. It works but not my preferred method.

Gary, how big is your page file on SSD? Did you move any system folders, files, like Users etc., off SSD to HDD?Thanks,Dirk.

Hi Dirk, I am not using a SSD, no need as I have a Raid0 set fully dedicated to FSX on a professional raid controler. I have all the room I want and can kick pretty much any SSD on transfer rates (however they beat me on access time.) If I was buying a SSD I would buy one large enough to support my application, without need to move system files e.t.c or else I wouldn't buy one. You could dedicate the SSD to FSX to save room and keep files not required to install on the program, in a seperate drive. Or you could keep all files not required for the program on a seperate drive without dedicating it to FSX. I would run a minimum 200MB pagefile on the same drive as my OS, SSD or HDD the same. On my setup I let windows manage my pagefile and I swear I get snappier response in other applications over setting it to 3072MB.SSD isn't worth the expense and bother to me if you have to start getting creative on where to store files and worry about space not to mention the cost. Unless you are on an antiquated HDD now I doubt you will see any notable performance increase over a dedicated 600GBVrap or even a 1TB or 2TB HDD for FSX. Sure it will oload quicker but man at what cost. SSD is pure decadence and not a requirement for FSX performance. If you are going to play with the Royals, play all the way or live within your means (all SSD or all HDD). my 2-cents.

SSD isn't worth the expense and bother to me if you have to start getting creative on where to store files and worry about space not to mention the cost. Unless you are on an antiquated HDD now I doubt you will see any notable performance increase over a dedicated 600GBVrap or even a 1TB or 2TB HDD for FSX. Sure it will oload quicker but man at what cost. SSD is pure decadence and not a requirement for FSX performance. If you are going to play with the Royals, play all the way or live within your means (all SSD or all HDD). my 2-cents.

Hi Gary, I'm getting Z68 mobo to take full advantage of SRT, thanks to PFL who opened my eyes on it. I'll get a 120Gb Vertex 2 (as Vert3 is too expensive and kinda superfluous) and will use it as SSD cache, provided by Z68. In combination with Os's 300GbVrap + 600GbVrap it should give me great bang for the buck. Another way use SSD's 64Gb for cache and the remaining ~40Gb for OS. I'm waiting for PFL's comments about his tests in FSX, but from the gaming community the results are extremely positive aleady.Thanks,Dirk.

Well, I think I'll get me 120Gb OCZ Vertex 3, unless I learn it is overkill for my SSD cache needs.Dirk.

Well, I think I'll get me 120Gb OCZ Vertex 3, unless I learn it is overkill for my SSD cache needs.Dirk.

From the Asus P8Z68-V Pro manual:"The maximum caching size on the SSD is 64GB. If the SSD exceeds 64GB, storage capacity left out of caching can still be identified by the system for normal storage"

From the Asus P8Z68-V Pro manual:"The maximum caching size on the SSD is 64GB. If the SSD exceeds 64GB, storage capacity left out of caching can still be identified by the system for normal storage"

Yes, but I wouldn't really care about extra ~40Gb left on SSD in context of using it primarily as cache.Dirk.

I have the asus z68 and my original idea was to use a 128G SSD as the OS drive with the left over for the RST cache. FSX would go on a 1TB reg drive.Found out it wont work that way. The SSD cache can not be on the same drive with the OS, even if they are partitioned.I currently have the SSD as the RST cache with both Win7 and FSX on the same drive.Performance is good but I am getting the stutters pretty bad.Thinking about redoing the whole think with Win7 on the SSD and FSX on the 1TB.Would this help with the stutters?

Well, I think I'll get me 120Gb OCZ Vertex 3, unless I learn it is overkill for my SSD cache needs.Dirk.

Good idea,don't buy the Vertex 2, I found this out after I bought two!http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ocz-vertex-2-25nm-ssd,2867.htmlMy set-up:Win 7 64 bit on a 60 Gb Vertex 2FSX on a 1 Tb WDC:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533Connected to the 6 Gbs Sata port...SSD Cache:64 Gb - the max. allowed - on a 120 Gb (111 Gb effectively...) Vertex 2- the rest - app. 47 Gb for various programs etc.Performance?Fast, and fast loading of FSX!

PFL, did you notice if it helped in terms of usual FSX microstutters, hiccups?Heads up at the additional info I got from a knowledgeable professional on another boards:

B) despite the possible 64GB max ... various test indicating that 20GB SSD cache is the sweet spot and that there is virtually no performance gain if the SSD cache is increased beyond 20GB...; c) for effective SRT, you want to have your cache disk as fast as possible, especially with *writing*. Virtually all SSDs are quicker than HDDs when it comes to *reading*, but a cache SSD needs to be *written* quickly as well when data is transferred from the HDD to the SSD. Hence, grab a *small* but fast SSD and do NOT only look at the read speed. d) the consumer-level, MLC-based SSDs were designed to be used for writing rarely, and used for reading all the time. Even though the number provided e.g. by the Vertex2/3 are impressive, there is one *huge* drawback: they are still MLC-based. Why is this an issue? Because lifetime of MLC-based SSDs can NOT be reliably determined and is *significantly* decreased by heavy writing operations. And exactly those will occur when used as cache. What's the alternative? Using an SLC-based SSD, because here the lifetime is predictable and significantly higher. e) resulting from the knowledge above, Intel itself designed a 20GB SLC-based SSD *specifically* for use as Z68 SRT SSD cache, the SSD 311. If I were to build a Z68 system with SSD cache, I'd go for exactly this model and nothing else (unless a cheaper small SLC-based SSD becomes available).

So the key here is to have SLC-based instead of MLC-based SSD (like Vertex is). I've checked SSD 311 it's not as expensive.Cheers,Dirk.