Best configuration for multiple hard drives

kauffmbe

Member
Jun 18, 2001
97
0
0
Hey everybody, I recently got at 250GB Maxtor Daimondmax 10 (8MB cache) to add to my system that currently is using two Western Digital 80GB Caviar SE. I am really having a hard time coming up with the optimal way to set these drives up. The system is used for a little bit of everything, including steady use as a HTPC, but also commonly used for Photoshop work and mild video capturing and editing.

My first thought was to add the 250GB as a data drive, using one WD 80GB drive for OS/Apps and then adding the other 80GB for the swap file/ photoshop scratch disk and temporary files. This seemed ideal, except for the issue that I think the much newer Maxtor 250GB drive is signifigantly faster that the older WD 80se. If this is a noticable difference, it would therefore make sense to put the OS and other files on the Maxtor 250Gb drive. Plus being newer it may be more reliable. I thought of using the two 80GB drives in a RAID0 config, but from what I've read I don't think I'll actually gain much from trying that.

What would all of you out there do with these drives?
 

furballi

Banned
Apr 6, 2005
2,482
0
0
The average performance for most modern 7200 rpm drives is around 45 to 50MB/sec. Avoid RAID 0. If you want a little more speed (+10%), then look for a drive with the higher aerial density (>80GB/platter).