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View Full Version : raid 0 array, should i break it?

magnusr
09-13-2004, 06:31 AM
I have a64 3200+, 1gb ram, abit kv8-max3 (k8t800), x800 pro.
IDE DISKS for storage: 2x segate 200gb, 120gb maxtor

sata disks: 2x 36gb raptor in raid 0. The are plugged into the via south bridge (not the pci bus). The raptor array has been divided into: c: winxp, d: paging file, e: games.

I wonder if this is a stupid setup for games. Maybe the disk heads has to move around to much during games (loading, paging and xp in the background)?

But then again it shouldnt be so much paging with 1gb ram i should think?

Maybe I should do one of the following:

1. keep the raid array like it is, and move the paging file to one of the slower 200gb segate drives?

2. keep the raid array like it is. Have half the paging file on the d drive still. And put the other half of the paging file on one of the segate drives?

3. keep the raid array and move the games to one of the slower 200gb segate drives?

4. break the raid array. And use raptor 1 for winxp and games, and create 2 partitons on raptor 2 (one for paging file and the other for documents)?

5. break the raid array. Use raptor 1 for winxp and paging file. And use raptor 2 for games?

6. Keep the setup like it is now?

Which one would be the best? Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Would one 74gb raptor be better than the two 36gb raptors I have? I have heard its faster and more silent...
Leadman584
09-13-2004, 11:53 AM
The least volatile solution, is probably to keep data as is. You have enough RAM to disable Virtual Memory, and force the system to page to RAM. Both of my boxes run in this manner with no ill effect. Very likely very little data is being paged to HD, but 0 is better. There is one huge drawback to this arrangement. If you're system crashes regularly, the crash dump is being stored in VM. For later recovery and analysis. Disabling VM is not for everyone, but as I said, I've had no ill effect.
magnusr
09-14-2004, 02:56 AM
my system has never crashed yet.
magnusr
09-14-2004, 07:33 AM
I placed the paging file on the two segate drives. Half on one and half on the other. I deleted the d drive. Extended the c: drive to fill the available space left from the d drive.

It`s not recomeneded to remove the paging file entirely. Even if you have enough ram. Se here: http://www.theeldergeek.com/locating_the_page_file.htm
djnes
09-14-2004, 09:52 AM
I placed the paging file on the two segate drives. Half on one and half on the other. I deleted the d drive. Extended the c: drive to fill the available space left from the d drive.

It`s not recomeneded to remove the paging file entirely. Even if you have enough ram. Se here: http://www.theeldergeek.com/locating_the_page_file.htm

There's no downside to removing the page file, unless you have an application that requires it, like Photoshop. It's also not recommended if you do have a page file...not to split them up. The Raptor is the fastest drive you have, so I would keep that for the OS drive, and use the others as storage in non-RAID0 configurations.
unhappy_mage
09-14-2004, 12:48 PM
I know this has been beaten to death, but when I saw this, I immediately thought, "Oh, it'll break itself. raid0? pffft."

A 74 raptor will be faster/nicer than 2 36's. If you can trade with someone, that'd be good. Otherwise I'd go with option 5, r1:winxp and page file; r2: games

or just leave it. just make sure to make backups!
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