• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

3 Spinning Drives - 1 SSD and a PC - Config help

I

imported_millerduck

Junior Member
Hey all,

I ordered the 60GB OCZ Agility on BCB & Rebate and it should be here next week. I now need to figure out the best way to configure my existing drives.

My current system config:
Core i7 920 @ 3.6GHz
Asus P6T
6GB DDR3 - 1600
GeForce 8800GT 512MB (G92)
2x 80GB Seagate 7200.9 drives in RAID 0 on ICH10R (OS, apps and pagefile)
1x 300GB Seagate 7200.8 drive (photos / videos / music)
Windows 7 Ultimate x64

I know the storage is awfully outdated, but I needed the budget for the CPU / MB / RAM first. Next is storage and then a new video card and monitor.

So my question is how should I configure the new system with the 60GB OCZ in the mix? My first thought was to keep the 80s RAIDed but my understanding is that running the ICH10R in RAID mode will prevent any TRIM commands from reaching the SSD even if it isn't in an array.

So, that being said I think my next choice is as follows:

OCZ 60GB Agility SSD (OS, Apps and pagefile)
300 GB Seagate (Photos, videos, music)
80 GB Seagate (uTorrent / downloads Drive)
80 GB Seagate (ISO host drive - for use with PowerISO to mount them)

That leads me to the following questions:
Do I point my browser cache or Temp folder(s) to one of the spinning drives?
I don't store Music, etc. in my profile so can it stay on the SSD?
Does moving the pagefile to a spinning drive make any sense at all?

I am open to any suggestions the group may have.

Thanks in advance,
MillerDuck
 
Naaa, you paid good money for the SSD's performance, might as well use it for your cache and pagefile. Make sure you get rid of the hibernation file though.
 
OCZ 60GB Agility SSD (OS, Apps and pagefile)
300 GB Seagate (Photos, videos, music)
80 GB Seagate (uTorrent / downloads Drive)
80 GB Seagate (ISO host drive - for use with PowerISO to mount them)

This sounds reasonable as long as you don't have too many applications. 60GB should be plenty for the OS and several large programs (Office, Photoshop, etc.) but don't expect to install 10-15 suites like that.

Unless you're seriously hurting for space on the OS drive (and aim to keep 10-15GB free if possible) then don't play around with moving the pagefile, temp files, etc.
 
Yuriman said:
Naaa, you paid good money for the SSD's performance, might as well use it for your cache and pagefile. Make sure you get rid of the hibernation file though.
Click to expand...

That is kind of my thinking as well. I will be using OCZs guide for setting up Win 7, which includes the disabling and removing the Hibernation files.

Thanks,
MD
 
CurseTheSky said:
OCZ 60GB Agility SSD (OS, Apps and pagefile)
300 GB Seagate (Photos, videos, music)
80 GB Seagate (uTorrent / downloads Drive)
80 GB Seagate (ISO host drive - for use with PowerISO to mount them)

This sounds reasonable as long as you don't have too many applications. 60GB should be plenty for the OS and several large programs (Office, Photoshop, etc.) but don't expect to install 10-15 suites like that.

Unless you're seriously hurting for space on the OS drive (and aim to keep 10-15GB free if possible) then don't play around with moving the pagefile, temp files, etc.
Click to expand...

I only have Office 2010 x64 and a few small Video-editing programs. I also have no more than 2 games installed at one time. I have been managing 160GB of C: drive for a very long time, so I am pretty frugal with space already.

Would their be any up/downside to using Windows to RAID the 80s? I obviously have excessive CPU horsepower to manage it..thoughts?

MD
 
I'd just ditch the two 80GB drives entirely. They just aren't big enough to make up for the extra power draw, noise, and heat output. Boot from the SSD and use the 300GB for storage.
 
Binky said:
I'd just ditch the two 80GB drives entirely. They just aren't big enough to make up for the extra power draw, noise, and heat output. Boot from the SSD and use the 300GB for storage.
Click to expand...

I have been considering that as well. I kind of like the idea of having dedicated (isolated) uTorrent / Downloads / ISO host locations though.

Maybe a new spinning drive of >300GB for storage and move the 300 to that role...I'll keep thinking about this. It looks like the Caviar Green drives may even be faster than my 2x80 RAID 0 (sad...)

MD
 
Pick up a 500GB Caviar Black and run the SSD for OS, Apps and pagefile
use the 300 for Utorrent and other crap and use the 500 for storage

very similar to what im about to set up with a 160 GB SSD + 500 and 640 Caviars
 
Anubis said:
Pick up a 500GB Caviar Black and run the SSD for OS, Apps and pagefile
use the 300 for Utorrent and other crap and use the 500 for storage

very similar to what im about to set up with a 160 GB SSD + 500 and 640 Caviars
Click to expand...

If it is purely for storage, is there really strong argument for the Black series as opposed to the Green or Blue?

If I am removing the old 80s for power / heat reduction as suggested above it seems the Green may be a better choice.

MD
 
imported_millerduck said:
If it is purely for storage, is there really strong argument for the Black series as opposed to the Green or Blue?

If I am removing the old 80s for power / heat reduction as suggested above it seems the Green may be a better choice.

MD
Click to expand...

yea the green would be the better choice in your situation
 
imported_millerduck said:
If it is purely for storage, is there really strong argument for the Black series as opposed to the Green or Blue?

If I am removing the old 80s for power / heat reduction as suggested above it seems the Green may be a better choice.

MD
Click to expand...
Yeah for a storage drive I'd go for the green drive as well, less noise, heat and it's not as your pictures/films/whatever would profit much from beeing loaded 0.xms faster.
And seriously just ditch the 80gb drives, totally not worth the meddling if you consider you can get a TB drive for almost nothing these days..
 
Thanks everyone for the help.

I am going to ditch the 80s and use the 300 for storage until I can afford a couple of new Green drives. (hopefully not too long)

MD
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top