ways of improving performance even more?

[PhillyB]

i have a decent system now:

P4 3.0 @ 3.7
6800GT OC
2GB ddr400
asus p4p800s-x
dvdrw
80gb WD sata 8mb cache
500w PSU with file server tower - antec giant

would i notice a huge difference in going to the WD 10K raptor? or a different motherboard (same other parts) like the P4P800 deluxe. also using onboard sound, thinking of audigy zs for freeing up the cpu from making sound.

[Tahalee]

It should increase map load times and install faster but thats all I think it would help with. I have a raptor 10k drive with the same specs as you basically and I generally beat my friend in load times and he has a top of the line alienware with just a regular 7200 rpm drive.

[NoSoup4You]

No, the WD is not worth it. I have 2 in a RAID-0 config, and honestly, there isn't a huge difference. People will call me for ******** on this one, but I can honestly tell you there is little peformance increase, if any.

Your best bet would be as you said a Sound card. Consider getting the new X-fi sound cards. If you can get one with memory, which is either the Fatal1ty version or Professional I believe (check on Creative's website).

[neo265]

I agree. In "Custom PC" magazine here in the UK they did a massive Hard Drive benchmark and found the Raptor loaded a level of Far about 3 seconds faster than a 7200rpm Hitatchi.

Not worth the expence from this and other benchmarks Ive seen. The new Samsung spin point looks very good.

[JoeJJohnsonII]

i have a decent system now:

P4 3.0 @ 3.7
6800GT OC
2GB ddr400
asus p4p800s-x
dvdrw
80gb WD sata 8mb cache
500w PSU with file server tower - antec giant

would i notice a huge difference in going to the WD 10K raptor? or a different motherboard (same other parts) like the P4P800 deluxe. also using onboard sound, thinking of audigy zs for freeing up the cpu from making sound.

I cant really see you upgrading that system too much without doing a complete overhaul. A new sound card is going to be your best bet. It will take some load off of your cpu and improve your sound. Getting a new motherboard isnt going to imporve your system too much other than maybe getting new BIOS options that you can use to tweak your system. A new HD is going to cost a lot for very little speed improvement.

[PhillyB]

cool, thats kinda what i thought. i really wanted a sound card anyway, so i could do 5.1. this board is supposed to do it, but with a spdif or some port that none of the pc surrounds use.

[Clayton Gold]

Not worth it.