I have a EVGA 9300 motherboard in my HTPC that has worked good since I built it. I'm getting the itch to upgrade but don't want to spend money for nothing. I have not been following the latest hardware and GPU's that are out now. Just wondering if I will gain anything by adding a separate GPU to my current set-up. Here is what I am using now.
C2D E8400 CPU
EVGA 9300 motherboard (onboard video only)
750 GB storage drive
80 GB OS drive
4 GB ram
My Denon receiver does not decode DTSHD or TrueHD so no need to bitstream. Also all my rips are converted to .flac anyway.
I am thinking of adding an external graphics card and a SSD drive for the OS. Also a ceton or HDHR for recording cable.
Does it pay to upgrade from the onboard graphics? If so can anyone recommend a good fanless card? Full height is ok.
Guys I need help! So I installed the ssd and updated firmware while in my current install. I then unplugged everything except the ssd and ran windows 7 install. It got to the point where it couldn't find my drive and I loaded my motherboard SATA drivers. It still didn't find it.
I went to the repair screen and loaded drivers and still nothing.
I switched SATA ports, turned on ahci, turned off SATA-ide combined, did the cmd window clean command also.
The BIOS sees it but windows install does not. Also the cmd window sees it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cigga24 /forum/post/21933749
Guys I need help! So I installed the ssd and updated firmware while in my current install. I then unplugged everything except the ssd and ran windows 7 install. It got to the point where it couldn't find my drive and I loaded my motherboard SATA drivers. It still didn't find it.
I went to the repair screen and loaded drivers and still nothing.
I switched SATA ports, turned on ahci, turned off SATA-ide combined, did the cmd window clean command also.
The BIOS sees it but windows install does not. Also the cmd window sees it.
BIOS is January 09. I just ran firmware update and utility said no ssd requires update. Running BIOS update now, online tool says It's the latest bit I downloaded a beta.
I went back and created partition also. Did all the above again and nothing. But the drive shows up as an option to find the driver, this is weird.
Should I install with motherboard set to ide?
In my BIOS I have my ssd and a SATA hdd and they are both listed as IDE with ahci enabled and SATA IDE combined disabled. Even my bluray drive is listed as IDE when It's SATA.
If I choose native IDE as opposed to ahci and SATA-ide combined mode enabled then my drive shows up as SATA.
It asks for drivers and then it continues and says no new device was found.
BIOS sees the drive and previous windows install sees it as well. I called Staples for a replacement.
When I updated the firmware, the tool ran and rebooted the machine then the update took place and said press key to finish. Windows started and before the desktop showed the firmware tool started again and asks if i would like it to run. I said no and the desktop appeared.
After you suggested to update again, the tool said no drive was available that needed the update. During booting it listed the firmware version. Of 000f which was correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cigga24 /forum/post/21936077
It asks for drivers and then it continues and says no new device was found.
BIOS sees the drive and previous windows install sees it as well. I called Staples for a replacement.
When I updated the firmware, the tool ran and rebooted the machine then the update took place and said press key to finish. Windows started and before the desktop showed the firmware tool started again and asks if i would like it to run. I said no and the desktop appeared.
After you suggested to update again, the tool said no drive was available that needed the update. During booting it listed the firmware version. Of 000f which was correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cigga24 /forum/post/21933749
Guys I need help! So I installed the ssd and updated firmware while in my current install. I then unplugged everything except the ssd and ran windows 7 install. It got to the point where it couldn't find my drive and I loaded my motherboard SATA drivers. It still didn't find it.
I went to the repair screen and loaded drivers and still nothing.
I switched SATA ports, turned on ahci, turned off SATA-ide combined, did the cmd window clean command also.
The BIOS sees it but windows install does not. Also the cmd window sees it.
Well new drive same issue. Windows install does not see the drive at all. When it asks me for a driver, I point to my usb and select the amd driver that I got from the motherboard driver webpage. The driver shows up as compatible then it says no new hardware has been found.
Just to be clear: I updated firmware with original windows 7 install (so the drive does work), made sure ahci was on in BIOS, ssd was only drive connected.
Man what am I missing?? Do I have to wait for windows 8...
Well new drive same issue. Windows install does not see the drive at all. When it asks me for a driver, I point to my usb and select the amd driver that I got from the motherboard driver webpage. The driver shows up as compatible then it says no new hardware has been found.
Just to be clear: I updated firmware with original windows 7 install (so the drive does work), made sure ahci was on in BIOS, ssd was only drive connected.
Man what am I missing?? Do I have to wait for windows 8...
Odd problem. Sometimes can you let it search or run a long time ??? I had an issue like that... I just walked away and went to bed. In the morning the screen came up. Who knows how long it took... lol.
Or-
Can you install the OS on another PC then remove after the first reboot and install it to complete in your desired PC ?
Just an update, after all my apps and settings and updates and such. My OS install size is 11gb. I did disable Restore, Hibernation and Pagefile but i'm really surprised to see it this small.
As far as performance, the boot time is nice but i never reboot and just put to s3 sleep. Media Center does seem more zippy but i dont really see the performance benefits that everyone is speaking of, maybe because i'm have nothing to install like games and such.
When i open things like computer and control panel it may be 1 or 2 seconds faster. Not sure if this is worth it considering how fast the prices are dropping recently. I may re-buy and do a rebuild in the fall.
In any case you guys taught me a lot and i learned a lot through the process so thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by cigga24 /forum/post/21966384
Just an update, after all my apps and settings and updates and such. My OS install size is 11gb. I did disable Restore, Hibernation and Pagefile but i'm really surprised to see it this small.
As far as performance, the boot time is nice but i never reboot and just put to s3 sleep. Media Center does seem more zippy but i dont really see the performance benefits that everyone is speaking of, maybe because i'm have nothing to install like games and such.
When i open things like computer and control panel it may be 1 or 2 seconds faster. Not sure if this is worth it considering how fast the prices are dropping recently. I may re-buy and do a rebuild in the fall.
In any case you guys taught me a lot and i learned a lot through the process so thanks!
Don't bother changing pagefile or hibernation. It's not worth it at all.
That is all rubbish.
leave it alone and just use the SSD. Moving a page file and all those strange hacks are just hungry attempts at mystical nonsense.
As far as windows restore- I use it. I like that feature. I only disable or modify it to back up to a server or another disc when space is an issue. If space is not an issue don't worry about it. Sounds like you have a small basic install and plenty of room.
You can disable it if you want- or relocate it to another HDD.
But the feature itself should not be disabled. If you have room enable it.
Second- restarting your PC is good on occasion. Very important in a new install.
Tons of behind the scenes windows updates and stuff require restarts.
I like to restart every once in a while... not everyday. But don't be afraid to do it.
Sounds like you might not have drivers and stuff installed right if you can't see a difference. To me it's night and day.
OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-60G 2.5" 60GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
THE 90GB SIZE IS $64. 120GB IS UNDER $100 !
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