What configuration of HDDs should I use for this setup?

[blackrain]

I have an HTPC (Silverstone LC13B-E) that I use for gaming, media center, and high-def home video storage.

http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-LC.../dp/B001NPEB7E

The gaming part puts me in a small predicament because I had to remove the middle 3.5 HDD drive cage because of extra long video cards, which leaves me with 1 drive cage that can store 3 HDDs.

I am running windows 7 x64 for media center. Because of win 7 x64 game incompatibilities, I feel like I still need windows xp.

So I was thinking of using this setup

1 boot HDD for winXP games
1 boot HDD for win7 x64 + media center + games
1 very large storage HDD for storing games, home videos, movie backups, etc

I can select which boot HD I want from the bootup/bios.


Is 3 HDs in the case going to create too much heat in this case? Is 3 HDs in one cage too cluttered and going to create too much heat in the drive cage that affects the stability of the drives themselves?

I guess what I am getting at is whether the very large storage drive should be an external drive? And would playback from an external drive affect performance of high def playback (e.g., high def home video or movie backup playback in media center)

Other options?

 

[Modelworks]

An external USB drive can easily play back HD video . Drives in usb enclosures usually top out around 20-25MB/sec and Blu-ray is only 5-6MB/sec . That is what I use for storing movies, makes it easier to add/remove content too because I can just connect it to any pc I want to transfer content from then put it back on the main tv. Faster than using networking.

 

[pjkenned]

An external USB drive can easily play back HD video . Drives in usb enclosures usually top out around 20-25MB/sec and Blu-ray is only 5-6MB/sec . That is what I use for storing movies, makes it easier to add/remove content too because I can just connect it to any pc I want to transfer content from then put it back on the main tv. Faster than using networking.

Intel NICs + a decent switch give you ~100MB/s and you do not have to physically move files. Network attached storage does have advantages.

 

[blackrain]

I have one of these blacx docking stations:

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82e16817153066

They seem to have pretty good reviews. Hopefully, these are good for 24/7 media center usage versus just backup and shutoff use. Would a stand alone external drive be better?

Don't really want to endeavor into a networked system