New computer hd setup

**deathknight** · 05-31-2007, 08:37 PM

I'm setting up a new pc and was wondering how i should set up the hd partitions?

I have (2) 320gb hard drives sata 3gb/s and (2) 80gb hard drives older sata (not sure speed). I'm not too sure I'm going to use the older 2 drives, don't see much use for them right now but I am not sure what partitioning I should use?

If anyone can let me know if there is any real advantages/disadvantages to using the different raid setups on Windows XP Pro I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

**Sabre Six** · 05-31-2007, 09:43 PM

There are at least a million very valid answers to your question. A lot depends on what you are going to do. If it were me, I would not subdivide the physical drives. I would put the OS on one of the 80s and put the paging file on the other. Then use the 320 for all data.

Good luck!

Edit 250 for 320...oops. I need to learn to read the question.

If you have HW raid capability you can certainly use it again how depends on what you intend to do and why you want to raid: performance or reliability. I'm not keen on SW raid implementation.

**deathknight** · 05-31-2007, 10:23 PM

i'm just going for gaming performance and for reliability for the os - want to make sure the important stuff like check book, pics etc don't get lost if hd dies but to have best performance option for gaming

MagnaCentipede · 05-31-2007, 10:47 PM

For best performance, you want your page on the first partition and your game data on a different disk. How I would probably partition it:

1.1: 4GB Swap
1.2: 20GB Windows (Only so large because I drop a lot of junk on my desktop.)
1.3: MostGB Application data, Media.
1.4: 4GB Excess (I do this in case I want to avoid a directory path.)

2.1: Most/AllGB Game data.

If you use imaging tools, and you do because you're a wise member of the 21st century and you take pride in being protected from digital catastrope, you'll know the power of ordering your partitions so each can hold the image of another partition/drive-image like a matryoshka doll.

**Anospa** · 06-01-2007, 01:27 AM

You could set the 80s up in a RAID 0 for your OS and Game install file, and use the other disks for file storage/backups. With RAID 0, you really wanna back stuff up. I don't, but I don't have anything important I'm worried about losing on there. With the RAID 0 setup, you'll get a quick load times for files and transfer of files/etc.

As you can tell, there's a bunch of answers to this and all sorts of options to take.

05-31-2007, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
deathknight Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Age: 33 Posts: 354	New computer hd setup I'm setting up a new pc and was wondering how i should set up the hd partitions? I have (2) 320gb hard drives sata 3gb/s and (2) 80gb hard drives older sata (not sure speed). I'm not too sure I'm going to use the older 2 drives, don't see much use for them right now but I am not sure what partitioning I should use? If anyone can let me know if there is any real advantages/disadvantages to using the different raid setups on Windows XP Pro I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

05-31-2007, 09:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sabre Six Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Age: 37 Posts: 720	Re: New computer hd setup There are at least a million very valid answers to your question. A lot depends on what you are going to do. If it were me, I would not subdivide the physical drives. I would put the OS on one of the 80s and put the paging file on the other. Then use the 320 for all data. Good luck! Edit 250 for 320...oops. I need to learn to read the question. If you have HW raid capability you can certainly use it again how depends on what you intend to do and why you want to raid: performance or reliability. I'm not keen on SW raid implementation. __________________ Last edited by Sabre Six; 05-31-2007 at 09:47 PM. Reason: Being dumb

05-31-2007, 10:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
deathknight Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Age: 33 Posts: 354	Re: New computer hd setup i'm just going for gaming performance and for reliability for the os - want to make sure the important stuff like check book, pics etc don't get lost if hd dies but to have best performance option for gaming

05-31-2007, 10:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
MagnaCentipede Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,957	Re: New computer hd setup For best performance, you want your page on the first partition and your game data on a different disk. How I would probably partition it: 1.1: 4GB Swap 1.2: 20GB Windows (Only so large because I drop a lot of junk on my desktop.) 1.3: MostGB Application data, Media. 1.4: 4GB Excess (I do this in case I want to avoid a directory path.) 2.1: Most/AllGB Game data. If you use imaging tools, and you do because you're a wise member of the 21st century and you take pride in being protected from digital catastrope, you'll know the power of ordering your partitions so each can hold the image of another partition/drive-image like a matryoshka doll. __________________

06-01-2007, 01:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
Anospa Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeastern University (Boston) Age: 21 Posts: 4,160	Re: New computer hd setup You could set the 80s up in a RAID 0 for your OS and Game install file, and use the other disks for file storage/backups. With RAID 0, you really wanna back stuff up. I don't, but I don't have anything important I'm worried about losing on there. With the RAID 0 setup, you'll get a quick load times for files and transfer of files/etc. As you can tell, there's a bunch of answers to this and all sorts of options to take. __________________ 3rd SFD \| 2142 Guide Index \| Check out my live broadcasts! \| Submit a Ribbon Nomination Proud to have been an IRRegular!

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