Storage Configurations: RAID and OS Disc
Druyan Byrne May 26, 2010 8:43 PMThanks for your help on the memory, guys!
Now my next question is about choosing options for configuring my storage.
Here are my system basics:
- Win 7 Pro 64 bit
- Asus Rampage III Extreme MotherBoard
- i7 980x CPU (no plans to overclock at the moment- will wait to see my results without first)
- 24gb 1333mhz RAM
- Primary Software Used: CS5--mostly PPro, AE, Photoshop, multiple plug-ins for all programs.
- GPU: Probably the GTX 480 (have not decided yet... I will post my questions about that in another discussion).
- RAID Controller: Undecided
My main goal with this system is the fastest possible video editing of various formats, multiple layers, and potentially heavy use of AE. I want this machine to be prepared for most anything that I might throw at it (within reason). I want to take full advantage of MPE.
At the same time, I am throwing money at it now so that it will be as future-proof as possible for upgrades (USB 3, SATA 6g, PCIe 2, hexcore, etc.).
So, my question today...
The Asus board has 2 SATA 6g ports and on-board RAID (Intel Matrix Storage Technology Support RAID 0,1,5,10 )
My first thought was to hook these up to 2 discs using the on-board RAID 0 to use as my scratch/pagefile storage.
If I did this, my OS/Programs drive would be a VelociRaptor.
Either way, my content will be on several discs with RAID 5 or 6, (using an as-yet to be determined controller)
(Backing up to external drives is part of my daily routine, so I am more interested in speed than redundancy).
Then I wondered... is it better to have the OS/Programs on a SATA 6g and the RAID 0 on SATA 3g? In this case I could have 3 discs instead of 2 on the RAID 0.
How much difference does that extra disc make in terms of speed of the RAID 0?
Which needs, or can take best advantage of, the higher throughput of SATA 6g-- the OS or the scratch disc?
I know that SATA 6g is so new that it may just take experimentation on my part... but perhaps not--is there a clear answer?
Also, there are not many options out there yet-- but I can feasibly wait a little while and buy a SATA 6g controller for my content discs--is it a good idea to wait?
Thanks, once again! (you guys are so great to help us all out like this!!!)


