Need some help selecting hardware!

[KenPruitt]

It's probably enabled if no one has fooled with the setting. Speaking of defaults, your drive controller may be in IDE mode, which can cause decreased performance. I've never bothered to change this without reloading the OS, though.

No matter the upgrade path you eventually pursue, a drive dedicated to fraps should be included. In fact, I'd add it first. Since you want to record at 1080p, a capture card is not feasible anyway.

I've already got a HDD installed. All I would have to do is wipe it clean (easy enough), but how would I record to it? Also, how would I change the Drive Controller mode?

 

[crashtech]

So you want to use that little 160GB as your fraps drive? I'd assume, given the size, that it is old and slow if it is not a Velociraptor. This may not be the best thing to try.

You change the drive controller mode by looking in the bios for something like "SATA Controller Mode" or something like that, There will usually be three choices, IDE, AHCI, and RAID. IDE is an old compatibility mode that allows SATA drives to appear as PATA to the OS. If AHCI or RAID is already selected, you are good to go. If IDE is selected, and you change it to AHCI, your OS will not boot. There is supposedly some way to get around that by installing certain OS drivers, and then going in and changing the setting, but I have never wanted to bother with it.

 

[Makaveli]

So you want to use that little 160GB as your fraps drive? I'd assume, given the size, that it is old and slow if it is not a Velociraptor. This may not be the best thing to try.

You change the drive controller mode by looking in the bios for something like "SATA Controller Mode" or something like that, There will usually be three choices, IDE, AHCI, and RAID. IDE is an old compatibility mode that allows SATA drives to appear as PATA to the OS. If AHCI or RAID is already selected, you are good to go. If IDE is selected, and you change it to AHCI, your OS will not boot. There is supposedly some way to get around that by installing certain OS drivers, and then going in and changing the setting, but I have never wanted to bother with it.

actually all you need to do is make a registry tweak then on reboot go into the bios and switch it.

i've done this on numerous systems that were IDE and decided to switch to SSD.

 

[Arkaign]

actually all you need to do is make a registry tweak then on reboot go into the bios and switch it.

i've done this on numerous system that were IDE and decided to switch to SSD.

This is true :

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

I've done it a number of times myself.

Running without it is really slow. Enabling it enables Native Command Queue, burst speeds beyond 100+, etc. The full slate of AHCI SATA enhancements.

 

[KenPruitt]

So you want to use that little 160GB as your fraps drive? I'd assume, given the size, that it is old and slow if it is not a Velociraptor. This may not be the best thing to try.

You change the drive controller mode by looking in the bios for something like "SATA Controller Mode" or something like that, There will usually be three choices, IDE, AHCI, and RAID. IDE is an old compatibility mode that allows SATA drives to appear as PATA to the OS. If AHCI or RAID is already selected, you are good to go. If IDE is selected, and you change it to AHCI, your OS will not boot. There is supposedly some way to get around that by installing certain OS drivers, and then going in and changing the setting, but I have never wanted to bother with it.

I just checked it, and come to find out my Drive Controller is in IDE mode, but when I tried to change it to ACHI, it wouldn't boot up. It would Blue Screen really quick, and then it would restart.

 

[Makaveli]

I just checked it, and come to find out my Drive Controller is in IDE mode, but when I tried to change it to ACHI, it wouldn't boot up. It would Blue Screen really quick, and then it would restart.

Read the post above yours.

 

[KenPruitt]

Read the post above yours.

I tried that. It didn't work at all.

 

[crashtech]

This is true :

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/61869-ahci-enable-windows-7-vista.html

I've done it a number of times myself.

Running without it is really slow. Enabling it enables Native Command Queue, burst speeds beyond 100+, etc. The full slate of AHCI SATA enhancements.

Thanks Makaveli and Arkaign. I'm not sure why I never tried to learn to do this, other than most installs that are on a improperly configured controller need flushing anyway. but this could come in handy.

To the OP, if you can't successfully achieve the switch to AHCI, you may wish to simply re-install your OS.

 

[KenPruitt]

Thanks Makaveli and Arkaign. I'm not sure why I never tried to learn to do this, other than most installs that are on a improperly configured controller need flushing anyway. but this could come in handy.

To the OP, if you can't successfully achieve the switch to AHCI, you may wish to simply re-install your OS.

How could I reinstall my OS in a way that would allow me to boot in AHCI?

 

[crashtech]

You set the controller to AHCI, then reload the OS using your Windows installation media, after you have saved all your important stuff, of course.

 

[Arkaign]

You set the controller to AHCI, then reload the OS using your Windows installation media, after you have saved all your important stuff, of course.

Yeap.

If your installation media is old and missing SP1 (or worse yet, 32-bit!), then go get the digitalriver Microsoft ISO for your product :

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/th...t-links-Multiple-Languages-X86-amp-X64/page60

You'll most likely need the X64 English version of whatever you have now. Make sure you find your existing key first.

I can tell you from experience that these ISOs *will* work in place of retail discs with a retail license (or OEM, or OEM sticker from big-box vendor), but in some cases you can to call the automated phone support after installation to verify that you're just reloading the OS on the same PC.

Anyhow, going with an official MS SP1 disc will save hours over a non-SP1 disc depending on internet speed. There will still be ~100+ updates after installation, but that's only about 1/3rd of the hassle in waiting for the first megapack of updates + SP1 to install (not to mention this way will result in a dramatically less bloated Win7 install!).

 

[AtenRa]

I dont believe the HDD is the problem.

Edit: What games do you record ??

 

[KenPruitt]

I dont believe the HDD is the problem.

Edit: What games do you record ??

Once I recorded myself playing Batman Arkham City, but I want to start recording myself playing Borderlands 2 in full 1080p. Of course, I can already record it in 1080p, but the recording is horrible when I play it back. That's my real problem with recording, but to be honest, even if I solve this without the massive hardware upgrade, I'm going to upgrade anyway. Hell, it couldn't hurt.

 

[KenPruitt]

I've bought the following;

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...039&CatId=7248

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...04561&csid=_61

I'm only a couple of hours away from having it delivered! I can't wait!

 

[crashtech]

Happy upgrading! That mobo should have AHCI on by default, but you should check before loading your OS.

 

[Makaveli]

I've bought the following;

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...039&CatId=7248

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...04561&csid=_61

I'm only a couple of hours away from having it delivered! I can't wait!

Nice purchase I hope that processor was your bottleneck.

Once I recorded myself playing Batman Arkham City, but I want to start recording myself playing Borderlands 2 in full 1080p. Of course, I can already record it in 1080p, but the recording is horrible when I play it back. That's my real problem with recording, but to be honest, even if I solve this without the massive hardware upgrade, I'm going to upgrade anyway. Hell, it couldn't hurt.

I have both of these games can you let me know what you were recording with fraps?

and how long and I will try to create on myside to see if my playback is also choppy.

 

[KenPruitt]

Nice purchase I hope that processor was your bottleneck.





I have both of these games can you let me know what you were recording with fraps?

and how long and I will try to create on myside to see if my playback is also choppy.

I recorded this a few months back. I couldn't record in any HD because the recording would be choppy and laggy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gnB3fLwMCM

Now, however, with my new upgrade, I think I have the problem fixed. I had to format my entire drive to get it to work though. My system has been possessed by a friggin' speed demon! I don't have this game anymore (the disc got scratched) and I don't have Borderlands 2 yet. I also recorded this here recently. I couldn't record in true HD for obvious reasons. With this game, however, I have personally verified that the problem has been fixed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeNYxNVJQLs

I think that old, outdated CPU was my bottleneck.