Should my PC be able to run at max?

[Mega Gengar]

Feeling a bit bummed as I tried playing Metro 2033 for the first time since my new PC, and I couldn't even run it on anything higher than high with AA turn on at the AAA setting, anything higher and it lags like crazy. I can't even run DA2 with the texture pack on max and it doesn't look all that amazing really x.x

My specs are:

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850)
Motherboard: Gigabyte P67A-UD3R
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz (4 CPUs), OC'd to ~4.1GHz - Noctua D14 cooler
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Page File: 3533MB used, 12815MB available (Is this correct? :s)
Video Card: Gigabyte HD 6950 1GB running at 1920 x 1080
PSU: 750W Zalman

If I'm not supposed to be able to run it at max then I will move on and not be too worried but I feel like it should be able to perform better than that. Would reformatting windows help at all? Done it so many times I really don't mind doing it.

Was thinking about getting a SSD but I dunno, would it help? The HDD I'm currently using is a WDC WD10EADS-00L5B1 aka WD Caviar Green, at 1TB

Thanks <3

---------- Post added 2011-10-12 at 05:15 PM ----------

I just ran a SMART test using HDDScan and it came back with everything being ok except:
197 Current Pending Errors Count 192 192 0000000000-05B9 000
199 UltraDMA CRC Errors 200 200 0000000000-0004 000

Now I have no idea what this means, so if it means anything let me know xD

[Deleted]

One word. Temperatures

[vesseblah]

Metro 2033 will not run maxed out with your card, it needs at least two of those in crossfire so it's normal. Also IIRC the DA2 texture pack does not work properly unless you have more than 1GB of RAM in graphics card.

S.M.A.R.T. errors could be a symptom of failing HDD, SATA cable or motherboard. Especially if you have one of the first P67 motherboards (bought before April) that has the SATA bug it shows up exactly that way... UltraDMA CRC error count rises steadily, until one morning the disc will no longer be recognized in the port. Happened to me for two SATA ports.

[Mega Gengar]

It's taking longer and longer to boot up windows, so I need a new MB and HDD? Thanks for clearing that up, if I do need a new MB what one would you recommend? Also my temperatures are fine, I constantly monitor the GPU and CPU and they never go higher than 65C.

On average it takes atleast 5 - 10mins just to fully boot up windows :<

---------- Post added 2011-10-12 at 05:58 PM ----------

If I do need a new MB/HDD I was looking at:

HDD - http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=12711
MB - http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=18137

[vesseblah]

If your motherboard is old, ie. before April and not the B3 revision, you can get it RMA'd for free. Probably faster to return to the store you bought it from and say it has the P67 SATA bug. It's well known manufacturing defect and will be replaced fast without much qq from the store.

Also if the board is suffering from the P67 SATA bug there's nothing wrong with your HDD. Easy way to check it out is plugging the HDD into SATA3 port from SATA2. Might need to change boot order from BIOS, but no other changes needed and it will let you diagnose if that was the problem or not.

[Gringgotts]

I have a similar setup, but my 6950 has 2gb of RAM. I can run the game on Max settings with playable frames, but it's not buttery smooth. Crank it back to just high and turn off the AA and I can get 60 fps. I'm also running my i5 2500k at stock clocks.

[Mega Gengar]

Yeah the motherboard was bought in feb, but I bought it from a PC market that is on every second weekend or so here, so I'm not sure how I would go about doing that xD. Eh, I need a new HDD anyway but atleast I can just get a new MB now and worry about a second hdd later xD

[Deleted]

Definitely yes. You shouldn't have any problems running wow with max detail.

[Mega Gengar]

Lol, didn't say WoW. I know I can already run it at max xD

[Mega Gengar]

I do that atleast once a week..

[vesseblah]

95% sure the HDD errors and extremely slow booting are caused by the SATA2 bug in the motherboard. Switch the HDD into SATA3 port now and try if that makes any difference.

On the other hand Caviar Green is painfully slow and should never be used as a boot disc.

[Mega Gengar]

It's already in a SATA3 port but yeah It's a pretty terrible HDD wish I never got it xD. I think I will just get a new mobo and hdd in a couple of weeks, thanks all