RAID 0 block size?

[memo]

What is a good RAID 0 block size. 4x250GB Western Digital Serial ATA's. Large databases and spreadsheets are going to be transferred. Daily backups.

 

[cptCuervo]

What about for gaming performance? I've been looking for info on this too.

 

[Arsynic]

I heard 32K for games and 128K for apps with large files. So I took the middle road and chose 64K. So I'll just suggest 64K, it's a happy medium.

 

[tweeve2002]

I was reading my Maximum PC and with their tests the 16k stripe size is the fastest all around...And from what I can tell it is...they took 2 250GB Maxtors in RAID 0 config and the fastest was the 16K for medium files and large files but only slightly slower for small files, If you are going the have alot and I man alot of small files go 32k stipe

Small file 20k-35k
Medium file 4MB-6MB
Large file 749MB

 

[imported_Nacelle]

I read that article. I tried out 16k. It seemed slow. But, I work with large movie files. So, I went to 128k.

 

[memo]

Originally posted by: Nacelle
I read that article. I tried out 16k. It seemed slow. But, I work with large movie files. So, I went to 128k.

hm.. interesting, seem to have conflicting opinions here. i am going to be moving around > 1GB databases, would you recommend 128k?

 

[imported_Nacelle]

I would have tried higher. Mine goes up to 2mb blocks. But, I also have my games on there too. I guess, just mess around and try out differant stuff.

 

[PhlashFoto]

From my limited knowledge and experience, the 16KB block size is great for benchmark performance. But when you think about it, data file sizes very so much... I say if you are working with a mix of large and small data sizes, Id go with 32 or 64KB blocks. If you are working with video and or larger database files, then i would say start at 128KB or higher depending on the file sizes you will be working with.