Velociraptor - FSX or OS

[Rocky_53 1,579]

Quick but of advice please fellas. I currently run FSX on a 1Tb 7500 HD and my OS (Win7) on a 500Gb 7500 HD. I want to get hold of a 600Gb Velociraptor 10,000RPM drive, my question is, should FSX be installed on the Velociraptor or the OS? Or is it necessary to have 2 x Velociraptors to get the benefit of the faster drive? Thanks guys...

[CFIJose 5,485]

Howard, I think that you will achieve excellent results if you use a small SSD for your OS and use the Verap for FSX. Since you're going the traditional route, you can use any of the WD Black 1T or above. You will NOT see higher fps just because you have a separate drive for fsx. I think you will experience better performance and it will be easier to defrag the FSX drive.

[Rocky_53 1,579]

Howard, I think that you will achieve excellent results if you use a small SSD for your OS and use the Verap for FSX. Since you're going the traditional route, you can use any of the WD Black 1T or above. You will NOT see higher fps just because you have a separate drive for fsx. I think you will experience better performance and it will be easier to defrag the FSX drive.

Hi Jose, sure... that sounds like good advice. I know that there is a lot of conflicting arguments of having FSX on a separate drive, I'm just wondering whether I should have both FSX and the OS on a single Velociraptor. What do you think? EDIT: If I do what you suggest, is it possible to literally copy all the relevent files across to the new drives, or will it be a completely new install?

[CFIJose 5,485]

Hi Jose, sure... that sounds like good advice. I know that there is a lot of conflicting arguments of having FSX on a separate drive, I'm just wondering whether I should have both FSX and the OS on a single Velociraptor. What do you think?

FSX on a separate drive will run smoother and it will be easier to defrag. I have tried the one drive method and I did not see the same performance as with two drives.

[Rocky_53 1,579]

FSX on a separate drive will run smoother and it will be easier to defrag. I have tried the one drive method and I did not see the same performance as with two drives.

Thanks for your help Jose, much appreciated EDIT: If I do what you suggest, is it possible to literally copy all the relevent files across to the new drives, or will it be a completely new install?

[Krister 51]

José, Howard is setting up a system with two spinning disks. Have you any information or experience in the situation were you have a SSD and a spinning disk, ie if one should put EVERYTHING on the SSD (granted it's big enough) or if it's better to put the OS on the SSD and the applications incl fsx and fs9 on the, in my case, velociraptor? I'd assume everything on the SSD is better despite my Vrap 300 GB being a very quick disk. Personally I also thinks it's easier managing mirrors of the partition I have everything on one disk. It's not like there is consensus on these issues in the fs world! :D

[vgbaron 3,605]

Krister - if you HAD enough room - putting both on the SSD would be the way to go but the only SSD's big enough for that are VERY expensive. Even with SSD's running well up to about 90% full, you're still pushing it with both. Use the Vrap for FS and leave the OS on the SSD for now. Vic

EDIT: If I do what you suggest, is it possible to literally copy all the relevent files across to the new drives, or will it be a completely new install?

Depends - the main issue will be the registry. If you can keep the same drive letter on the new FS drive, it should be ok. If the drive letter changes - save yourself a LOT of trouble and just do a complete reinstall. Vic

[Krister 51]

Thanks Vic for the feedback and apologies to Howard for using your thread!

[CFIJose 5,485]

Thanks for your help Jose, much appreciated EDIT: If I do what you suggest, is it possible to literally copy all the relevent files across to the new drives, or will it be a completely new install?

The only way to do a save and restore would be if the windows drive is identical. You will have to create the same partitions, install windows, then do a restore from backed up files.

José, Howard is setting up a system with two spinning disks. Have you any information or experience in the situation were you have a SSD and a spinning disk, ie if one should put EVERYTHING on the SSD (granted it's big enough) or if it's better to put the OS on the SSD and the applications incl fsx and fs9 on the, in my case, velociraptor? I'd assume everything on the SSD is better despite my Vrap 300 GB being a very quick disk. Personally I also thinks it's easier managing mirrors of the partition I have everything on one disk. It's not like there is consensus on these issues in the fs world! :D

What Vic said.