IDE and SATA setup w/ new build

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[H]ard|Gawd
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Mar 23, 2005
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I have bought a new rig, and have a question about how I want to configure my hard drives.

I have an IDE 80 GB HDD, and two 160 GB SATA II HDDs(RAID). Normally I have always felt that for performance reasons it is better to keep your windows install on a separate drive from your games. But w/ two SATA II's Im wondering if I should just put the windows install on the RAID w/ my games. I have also debated the possibility of having a dual RAID setup w/ 2 HDDs on IDE RAID and two HDDs on SATA RAID. Plugging in this w/ two CD/DVD burners too might be a huge headache, though, so Im not sure if its worth the effort. Im not sure if the IDE's will reach between the HDDs and the CD drives.

So should I go w/ Windows on its own HDD or put it on the SATA RAID array?

BTW-Im also wondering if I should maybe try putting the windows virtual memory on its own HDD, too. I have a perfect 10 GB drive for this, but its the same problem w/ connecting 2 IDE HDDs and two CD/DVD burners, I dont think the IDE's will reach.

Thanks for any replies.
 
Put the OS on the fastest drive or array.

Basically, my practice is OS/apps are on the fastest partition/drive/array.

Now, since you're running RAID0, any problems with that array, and your OS is screwed. If you live on that razor's edge, place the OS/Apps on the fastest drive, presumably your RAID0 array.
 
Thats fine if the OS gets screwed for me, I back up everything regularly and have no issue w/ a format. But do you think a dedicated drive for the OS would be better than a non-dedicated RAID 0 or visa versa?

Thanks
 
Depends on your access patterns. If you load Windows into memory, then load one application at a time, your RAID array is probably the way to go for both, then use your other drive for storing stuff like music/movies. If you multitask heavily with different programs accessing the disk(s) at any given time, then it would make sense to have your smaller drive perform some of that work to help reduce the load on the RAID.
 
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