Techie question re. hard drives

[wtom]

Here's one for the TM3 techies;

I've been one to always split up my hard drives to multiple partitions. For one I like to keep the System drive (C: ) to itself only (Windows and Program Files). Here's my current set up;

Disk 0; 190GB all storage (downloads)

Disk 1; 20GB System C:
Disk 1; 100GB photos and MP3s
Disk 1; 345GB storage


I plan to pick-up 2 x 1TB hard drives to replace the above setup completely (can only physically fit two 3.5" drives).

Question is ... should I bother partitioning it out at all? Maybe just set aside 50GB for system and leave the rest as is? Or just leave it as two drives, 1TB each (or whatever Windows will read it as ... probably like 950GB total)?

I'm asking for an efficiency/stability opinion rather than personal opinion. TIA!

[whiteomega]

I personally haven't split up my 150 gb WD raptor into smaller partitions and I haven't really had a stability or reliability issue.

From personal experience I would split it off, only so that you know where all the system stuff is and you can upgrade windows more easily without as much risk to your data. From a performance perspective it really won't make a lot of difference unless you get into micro-managing which partition is where on the disk.

[wtom]

Thanks, Justin!

I shoulda googled first. Found a bit of info that way including this site; http://partition.radified.com/

[whiteomega]

From a quick glance at the site, I agree with the author's major points. obviously how you use the machine influences how you partition. If you wanted to keep your existing setup, what about using an external hard drive or NAS (Network Attached Storage)?

My future upgrade is either going to be an SSD ($$$$) or RAID-5 setup for both performance and reliability. The problem with RAID5 is you need three disks, minimum.

[wtom]

Wow hard core! I don't care for top notch performance and stability (not gaming nor rendering graphics/video).

Now I'm stumped. Don't know which brand/line of HDD to go with. When I posted the initial msg, I was eyeing the Seagate Barracuda 1TB (ST31000528AS). Then I saw a post here on TM3 in the deals section, someone selling two Western Digital 1TB Greens. Reviews of both off Newegg.ca are not that promising, albeit 62 out of like 700+ reviews gave 1 egg (8%) and the Seagate had like 14% of 1-egg rating. :(

[S.F.W.]

WD is a great brand, but stick to the WD black drives. A little more money, but better warranty and stability.

[whiteomega]

the WD Greens are solid drives, as are the later Seagate Barracudas (avoid the 7200.11 1 tb..they have a firmware issue that could cause you to end up with a bricked drive). You may also want to look at the Samsung Spinpoint F1s; similar reliability and performance to the WD Green, but they're relatively new to the HD market.

[omalak]

I prefer WD Drives, i just picked up a wd scorpio black for my laptop recently.

Seagates are pretty good as well, which is what i run in my desktop.

my desktop is running 7200 rpms drives and 16mb cache, laptop is running 72--rpm with 32mb cache.

I partition my hard drives ff as well i tend to keep about 3 partitions

C:\ Usually about 80-100 gigs: I keep windows there of course, and all critical apps i installed to C:, such as office nero, system apps etc..

D:\ is kept for games, and other programs (program files)

E:\ is always kept for downloads. i like to meticulously sort my dump drives as i call them :)

Summary of Computers

1. Desktop runs 2x Segate (forgot model) 720rpms 16mb cache, 320gb and 640gb

2. Laptop runs 320gb scorpio black

3. Secondary laptop runs 120gb western digital 7200 rpm drive 8mb cache

4. Secondary Desktop runs 1x 500gb seagate drive 7200rpm 1x WD 250gb 7200rpm drive

5. Netbook 1x WD 120gb 5400rpm drive no clue on other specs

Portable Drives
1. 2.5" 120gb 4200rpm Seagate
2. 2.5' 160gb Fujitsu 5400rpm

i think i'm done lol


OH yeah.. and at times i still feel short on space!:gone

[whiteomega]

I like my WD raptor...10,000 rpm sataII..only criticism I have is that it's kind of noisy (and somewhat small)

[DumpInfo]

OH yeah.. and at times i still feel short on space!:gone

You gotta delete that pr0n you have...that takes up way too much space :whoa

[RedRaptor]

I've been running WD drives for about 5 years now. Two WD Raptors (36GB in RAID) and one 250GB WD. Old school I know but they haven't quit on me just yet.

[Fuman]

look into external E-sata or a NAS.
Although, external HDD does require external power, it does give you flexibility.
If you do go the external route, see if you get can an enclosure
with both e-sata and USB for additional flexibility.

hope you get what you are looking for