So, hard drives DO affect in-engine performance

[futurefields]

Check out how close the benchmarks are running just the 3TB

1) FPS 34.1, Score 860, Min FPS 19.0, Max FPS 73.4
2) FPS 34.1, Score 860, Min FPS 19.0, Max FPS 73.5
3) FPS 34.1, Score 860, Min FPS 19.0, Max FPS 73.5

^
This is why getting the 820 scores with both HDD attached is so disturbing to me, it simply shouldn't vary that much on a benchmark like this, and it doesn't as long as everything is working correctly.

 

[futurefields]

With only 500gb HDD installed

1) FPS 33.0, Score 831, Min FPS 18.5, Max FPS 71.9
2) FPS 33.0, Score 831, Min FPS 18.5, Max FPS 71.7
3) FPS 33.0, Score 831, Min FPS 18.6, Max FPS 71.9

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If the benchmark is sensitive to storage performance, that makes sense - the 500GB is presumably older and slower than the 3TB. (And is maybe bottlenecking the 3TB somehow when both are installed?)

 

[VirtualLarry]

The solution, of course, to HDD performance variations, is ... SSD!

 

[futurefields]

let me know when they reach the price/size off hdd

 

[dave_the_nerd]

let me know when they reach the price/size off hdd

I'm sympathetic to your cost consciousness, but it does look like you've isolated your problem. That's good, right? :wub:

 

[futurefields]

I've got the 500gb drive performing at the 860 level in Unigine Heaven 4.0 now. I think I may have had a borked Windows 7 install previously. Running some more tests, will post another followup tomorrow.

Really appreciate all the people chiming in with their ideas!

 

[therealnickdanger]

I've got the 500gb drive performing at the 860 level in Unigine Heaven 4.0 now. I think I may have had a borked Windows 7 install previously. Running some more tests, will post another followup tomorrow.

Really appreciate all the people chiming in with their ideas!

Depending upon how many games you regularly play, you could just add a 64GB SSD for ~$50 to install your three favorites on. It's a great way to not spend a lot of money, but still get some excellent IOPS for games that need it. Even less performance oriented brands are going to be multitudes faster than a mechanical drive.

I still have every old SSD I ever owned in my computer to store random games and applications. Whenever I upgrade my primary SSD, I just wipe the old one and add it as another drive in my tower. Until we get affordable 2-4TB SSDs, it's my way of coping.

 

[futurefields]

Everything is working fine now after reinstalling Windows with UEFI: Asus DVD drive selected instead of AHCI: Asus DVD... makes a pretty big difference apparently.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Everything is working fine now after reinstalling Windows with UEFI: Asus DVD drive selected instead of AHCI: Asus DVD... makes a pretty big difference apparently.

There won't be any performance difference during the operation of the system. Just whether or not you can boot a > 2TB HDD or not. If you are seeing a performance difference, then it is due to something else. (Fresh install?)

 

[futurefields]

no there is a clear performance difference

before I was getting 820-830 on Unigine Heaven 4.0

now I am back up to 850-860

 

[futurefields]

looks like I spoke too soon

last night it was benchmarking fine but this morning booted up, ran benchmarks again, and they are down to 830 again

i also notice instead of 100% gpu usage I am only getting 97% gpu usage, which correllates with the 3% lower scores

i think i am done guys, going to dissassemble and sell the pc components and switch back to console, thanks for the help, just dont have time for this stuff anymore

 

[MongGrel]

Have fun.

 

[futurefields]

thanks buddy, sure my misfortune has boosted your spirits

dat schadenfreude