HDD configuration/partitioning

[infowarrior45]

Hi guys,

I'm working on my first build. This looks like an excellent forum for my question...you probably have been through this question a lot though...sorry.

Since they were on sale, I picked up 3 WD Caviar Black 750GB HDDs. All I was thinking about at the time was space, space, space, since I was always running out of space on my 160GB. I did less research/thinking on hard drives than any of my other components. Now that I look back, I probably would have done things differently...maybe a small SSD for OS/programs in place of two of of the 750GBs.

Anyways, how do you think I should set these three drives up for good performance? I will be storing a lot of videos/large audio files. I was thinking of setting up two drives for everday use, and keeping the third drive for backing up. I do have an external drive for safer backups.

I read that sometimes partitioning the drives, and putting the OS and programs on one partition is good...page files on another? Would there be any point for me to do RAID with the integrated motherboard controller?

Short stroking...any point of doing that?

Thanks! I really appreciate it.
infowarrior45

Core i7 920 w/ Sunbeam Core-Contact Freezer
EVGA x58 SLI
EVGA GTX 285 SC
OCZ Platinum RAM DDR3 1600 3x2GB
Corsair 750 watt PSU
CoolerMaster HAF 932
x3 WD OEM Caviar Black 750GB
Samsung SH-S223Q OEM
Vista Ultimate 64-bit OS

 

[DonDon]

This is one of those subjects where everyone has an opinion, so get ready.

Unless you are going to plunk down the cash for an Intel SSD, or maybe an OCZ Vertex, a single SSD may give you some performance issues when writing at times. I run 4 X 30 gig OCZ Solids into a Perc5i on my main system, and 3 X 60 GIG Patriot Warps on my newer system I am migrating too. They are both really quick.

With your current hardware, I would setup 2 of the drives in a RAID 0, and make the first partition about 100 gig or so, depending on how many games you play or other Apps you install. Setup the rest of the drive space in the array as a Raid 1. That should give you about 600 gig of redundant storage.

If you haven't opened the 3rd drive yet, I would try and return it as it is not really necessary since you already have an external drive for backup. I also do not recommend having a permanently installed drive for backups. You may want to look at a SATA Hotswap rack and use the 3rd drive for your backups. It will be much faster than a USB drive. Some people recommend putting the pagefile on a second drive. That can speed things up if you have a lot of programs opened up at once. But since you have 6 gig o ram and Win 64 already, I don't think you will benefit much. Heck, return the drive and use the money to buy 6 more gig o ram. Ram is much better than a page file.

Don

 

[infowarrior45]

Thanks Don!

Unfortunately, no I can't return that 3rd drive...but I was thinking, maybe I could run Windows 7 RC on that drive when it comes out in May? I thought about extra RAM, but who could find a way to use more that 6GB, unless having more DIMMS allows better simultaneous access?? I was on another forum a while ago, and the told me more RAM was way overkill.

To put the OS on the first partition, do I have to create that partition before I install the OS?

Do I need to purchase a partitioning software, or can I use Vista's partition manager?

Is there any way to put folders such as My Documents onto a partition different the the OS partition? Is is better to keep the OS partition as small as possible?
Here is what I was thinking for setup. I don't really want to do RAID since I don't have a dedicated RAID controller...I read that the RAID controller on this mobo offloads to the CPU.

1st 750GB drive. 100GB partition for OS and programs/games. Remaining space I can partition for data (videos, pictures).

2nd 750GB drive. X? space for page files. Remaining space for data.

3rd drive. 1st partition for Windows 7 RC. Remaining space for data.

Thanks!

 

[DonDon]

You will need to set the size of the partition when you build the RAID array. I am assuming you are using a MOBO with Intel Matrix RAID. When you get to the size box when setting it up, just enter 100 gig. Then insert the Windows install disk. It will see that as the only drive and Install there. After Windows is installed, then go back in a build data array with the rest of the space on those drives.

It is always advisable to get as much separation as possible if you are going to run RC OS's.

You can also stuff it into your external drive box and use it for even more backups.

The more RAM in your system, the less stuff should get paged out to the disks. But yea, you prolly wouldn't see any performance increase in day to day stuff.

Don