NLE - What's best cluster size for striped NTFS array?

[db]

Machine is solely for a/v editing (video, photoshop,etc);. The striped array is mainly for a/v capture.
I'm having a hard time discovering what the best cluster size should be for formating the NTFS array--I saw the info *somewhere* but can't find it now, I just remember the size was large.

Any help much appreciated!

 

[Richdog]

Umm... video card section?

 

You shouldnt have to choose the cluster size of the array if your creating the array inside the OS. Let windows choose the default cluster size.

 

[db]

It will partition and format both drives as one when I install the IDE RAID card with the two HDDs attached.
The cluster size is important b/c of necessity of capturing/manipulating very large files quickly.

 

[rbV5]

I use 65k clusters on my capture array since I'm only concerned with performance.

 

[TourGuide]

The relative size of your clusters is of less importance (my opinion here) if you only intend to use it as a capture device. In this case, the files you're working with (most of the time) are large enough that a few K lost here and there are of minor concern. I would go for the 64K option if you're only concerned about performance.

IMO a RAID array is MASSIVE overkill for capturing vid. I'm using a single 80 gig SE Western Digital on the primary channel (as a slave) without problems. That's my $.02

 

[rbV5]

IMO a RAID array is MASSIVE overkill for capturing vid. I'm using a single 80 gig SE Western Digital on the primary channel (as a slave) without problems. That's my $.02

Well, I had 2) 40GB 2MB cache Maxtor drives and Native onboard RAID on my IWILL board. Even using Huffy, a 2 hour movie won't fit on 40 GB hardrive capturing full resolution uncompressed AVI, so I had to span the drives anyway...why not use RAID? You start slowing down when the platter gets full, and dropping frames is not good, so I wouldn't call it overkill. I never dropped frames with my RAID array, but sometimes would using my 60 GB Primary OS drive for captures.

With my current rig, I just use my SE WD and no RAID for captures, and I agree, it works great. (did I say 65? I meant 64)

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: rbV5

IMO a RAID array is MASSIVE overkill for capturing vid. I'm using a single 80 gig SE Western Digital on the primary channel (as a slave) without problems. That's my $.02

Well, I had 2) 40GB 2MB cache Maxtor drives and Native onboard RAID on my IWILL board. Even using Huffy, a 2 hour movie won't fit on 40 GB hardrive capturing full resolution uncompressed AVI, so I had to span the drives anyway...why not use RAID? You start slowing down when the platter gets full, and dropping frames is not good, so I wouldn't call it overkill. I never dropped frames with my RAID array, but sometimes would using my 60 GB Primary OS drive for captures.

With my current rig, I just use my SE WD and no RAID for captures, and I agree, it works great. (did I say 65? I meant 64)

Touchez - very good point there. I can see how RAID would make perfect sense if you're going to be filling most of the drive up.

Also - what's this doing in video?

 

[TourGuide]

Well, I had 2) 40GB 2MB cache Maxtor drives and Native onboard RAID on my IWILL board. Even using Huffy, a 2 hour movie won't fit on 40 GB hardrive capturing full resolution uncompressed AVI, so I had to span the drives anyway...why not use RAID? You start slowing down when the platter gets full, and dropping frames is not good, so I wouldn't call it overkill. I never dropped frames with my RAID array, but sometimes would using my 60 GB Primary OS drive for captures.

Capturing using the primary OS drive is not a really good idea. For the rest here you're probably right.

My solution to your dilema would be to snag a 200 gig WD SE in one of those Hot Deals specials. Space would then be a non-issue and you would have some space to play with. Even at their stock prices at less than a $1 per gig it looks like a pretty good deal to me.

Also - what's this doing in video?

You're right luber, this should be in gen hardware probably.

 

[rbV5]

Capturing using the primary OS drive is not a really good idea.

I agree, I was just illustrating that you don't necissarily have alot of overhead working with video. Using the primary OS is kind of a worst case scenerio, I use much smaller clusters on my Primary OS...and typically have it more than half full.

 

[db]

Thanks everybody for the input.

(The RAID array will also be used for analog capture, which is notorious for capture speed problems).