Physical memory is faster then virtual memory! RAM>HDD.
Personally aside from partitions, which alot of gamers recommend, using a smaller faster drive and then a larger(sometimes slower )one for storage, I went ahead and striped (RAID 0) two raptor X drives for performance sake. (I don't know how RAID 1 would comapre vs 1 with xp 64 and now vista though).
Disabling services is not the end of the world... omg don't go there, thatn is what I say about the registry.
Disabling services via msconfig, or services.msc is not really dangerous, if you have qualms, just google it. Google RPC Procedure call to see, or Print Spooler, whatever.
I don't know if you mentioned this, but even if you did, allow me to restate this....
When you hit Ctrl Alt Del, and look at processes, you will see what is running.
When you look in your sys tray (the icons by your clock, lower right) you will see some loaded programs/apps!
I highly recommend Using ctrl alt del, googling if unsure, and then..
Start(lower left windows start)
Run
Msconfig(type it in)
Selective startup(check it)
Startup Tab(click it)
And go through here, and uncheck most everything. If unsure, google it! Some of it will be self explanatory, Quicktime stuff, uncheck, Itunes, Ipod, and so on. YOu aren't deleting or removing anything so dont panic. When you start itunes, the appropriate things will load, no worries. If you absolutely must have antivirus stuff running, it is your choice, as anythnig else here is. Just understand it will load upon startup, and eat resources doing so.
Start
Run
Services.msc (type it in)
Some of it you do not need! google if unsure, if scared, make them start manually as opposed to automatically.
But don't freak, you can't "break" your computer unless you are just completely reckless, or start jacking around in your registry.
Also understand that different systems handle things differently. Someone with two 8800 gtx in sli may notneed to disable all the in game video that he mentioned. It will help fps lowering eye candy to be sure, and help if you multi box.
anyway
Personally aside from partitions, which alot of gamers recommend, using a smaller faster drive and then a larger(sometimes slower )one for storage, I went ahead and striped (RAID 0) two raptor X drives for performance sake. (I don't know how RAID 1 would comapre vs 1 with xp 64 and now vista though).
Disabling services is not the end of the world... omg don't go there, thatn is what I say about the registry.
Disabling services via msconfig, or services.msc is not really dangerous, if you have qualms, just google it. Google RPC Procedure call to see, or Print Spooler, whatever.
I don't know if you mentioned this, but even if you did, allow me to restate this....
When you hit Ctrl Alt Del, and look at processes, you will see what is running.
When you look in your sys tray (the icons by your clock, lower right) you will see some loaded programs/apps!
I highly recommend Using ctrl alt del, googling if unsure, and then..
Start(lower left windows start)
Run
Msconfig(type it in)
Selective startup(check it)
Startup Tab(click it)
And go through here, and uncheck most everything. If unsure, google it! Some of it will be self explanatory, Quicktime stuff, uncheck, Itunes, Ipod, and so on. YOu aren't deleting or removing anything so dont panic. When you start itunes, the appropriate things will load, no worries. If you absolutely must have antivirus stuff running, it is your choice, as anythnig else here is. Just understand it will load upon startup, and eat resources doing so.
Start
Run
Services.msc (type it in)
Some of it you do not need! google if unsure, if scared, make them start manually as opposed to automatically.
But don't freak, you can't "break" your computer unless you are just completely reckless, or start jacking around in your registry.
Also understand that different systems handle things differently. Someone with two 8800 gtx in sli may notneed to disable all the in game video that he mentioned. It will help fps lowering eye candy to be sure, and help if you multi box.
anyway