Raid vs dedicated drive for games, OS, etc?

bonefish5 · 04-10-09, 10:36 PM

Ok I thought I saw an opinion on this way back sometime ago, but can't locate it.

Currently I am running a raid 0 setup thinking it would improve my speed. I have become more concerned with some security so I have attached a NAS system to my network which includes a raid configuration so my data is backed up with a mirror copy for safety.

On to my question: Is setting up multiple drives with the OS on one, games on another and other apps on another a stupid idea? I'm getting ready to blast my system and reinstall the OS. So I thought I might try something different. Opinions? positve or negative...

Thanks
Mark

tuskenraider · 04-10-09, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonefish5

On to my question: Is setting up multiple drives with the OS on one, games on another and other apps on another a stupid idea? I'm getting ready to blast my system and reinstall the OS. So I thought I might try something different. Opinions? positve or negative...

Thanks
Mark

I've broken up two 2-drive RAID0 arrays in the past to test such a setup and never found a benefit vs. everything on a single drive or compared to the RAID0 arrays. To say it another way, while I haven't seen an improvement in everything I do with a RAID0 array, and even some of the improvements are very small, I've never timed a quicker response with a single or two seperated OS/app drives in any type of usage.

Mr.Guvernment · 04-11-09, 12:04 AM

raid 0 may make some games load faster,. other then that they offer no performance games once a game is running.

i say just use the 2 seperate drives, i have done it all, raid, single, games on OS drive and with drives these days being good, i now run my Steam games from my OS drive and things load just as fast as they did on a seperate drive and not much slower then when i had raid 0, but now i dont have the worry of data lose as bad as before.

Kreel · 06-07-10, 08:53 AM

so, according to your words single HDDs setup is more reliable then running on RAID? So what about performance with office applications and network file sharing? Does it work faster in RAID when someone download something from this hdds?

Coreyoliseffect · 06-07-10, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kreel

so, according to your words single HDDs setup is more reliable then running on RAID? So what about performance with office applications and network file sharing? Does it work faster in RAID when someone download something from this hdds?

The thought behind a single drive being more reliable is that there is only one weak spot. With RAID you have more drives which means that there is more possibility of one of those drives failing and taking the entire setup with it. Thought it is faster to have a RAID setup. Programs that are being used from your computer will load faster if they are stored on a RAID. As far off of the network there are many factors that play in but if you set all of those aside once the info gets to your HDDs they will read/write the information faster. To answer your questions outright: yes, faster, yes.

Headstand · 06-07-10, 09:23 AM

You can have your cake and eat it too. Look at RAID 1+0(10), or 0+1(01). Also, raid 100, 50, 60, even just RAID 5 or 6.

I personally will RAID0 for load times on the OS drive(s). I then RAID1 my files on the storage drive(s). In addition, I have a NAS which copies the storage drive(s). I don't care if the OS drive bites it, I put all the backups for the OS drive on the storage drive.

Kreel · 06-08-10, 02:43 AM

Thank you!

I think that ill do the following/ I will run 2 hdds in raid, and 1 single for data backup)))

ChanceCoats123 · 06-08-10, 12:54 PM

^^^ Technically, Raid 0 is not Raid. Raid is Redundant Array of Inexpensive/independant Disks. The whole point of actual Raid is Data security and backup. But with a Raid 0 setup, the drives are mirrored and you get no redundancy. So technically, running all your data off a single depends on that drive for reliability, where as Raid 0 has to count on both drives working.

Kreel · 06-09-10, 02:20 AM

As for me performance is a main target))) so ill put applications, games and OS onto RAID drives. distribs and other valuable data to a single drive.

CompuTamer · 06-09-10, 10:31 PM

I put my OS and large programs that i use a lot (Adobe Suite, Office Suite, conversion programs, ect) onto my fastest drive. (SSD). Then my games go onto the next fastest drive (That 5 year old 250GB drive... faster than my 320) and then Media (Music, videos, pictures, installers, ect) onto the slowest/largest drive.
I've honestly found this to work better than a RAID of two 320's... idk why, but that RAID was just SLOW at loading some games, and boot times weren't improved much. Loading Crysis off of one drive is faster than my RAID was for some reason, so i just run it like this.

I think i really screwed up that RAID though too, so don't take my word for it haha

thor17usa · 06-10-10, 07:04 AM

I'd go with RAID 0 if you are backing up data to another location on a regular basic. The speed increase my not be dramatic, but it is there. If you dropped in twin Raptors, then you would really see it fly. Even a single 600GB Raptor is pretty fast. I've done both the single drive setups and RAID 0, but settled on RAID 0 since I do video editing.

As long as you have good drives for your RAID setup you should see a speed boost in RAID 0.

EarthDog · 06-10-10, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headstand

Also, raid 100, 50, 60, even just RAID 5 or 6.

What is RAID 100, 50, and 60????

Joeteck · 06-10-10, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Headstand

I personally will RAID0 for load times on the OS drive(s).

I agree with you. My RAID 0 boots rather fast, considering its two 300 gig Vraptors, short stroked @ 30 gig each.

Not too bad; 5.3ms access time! 252MB/s Average read!

04-10-09, 10:36 PM	Thread Starter #1
bonefish5 Registered Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NC	Raid vs dedicated drive for games, OS, etc? Ok I thought I saw an opinion on this way back sometime ago, but can't locate it. Currently I am running a raid 0 setup thinking it would improve my speed. I have become more concerned with some security so I have attached a NAS system to my network which includes a raid configuration so my data is backed up with a mirror copy for safety. On to my question: Is setting up multiple drives with the OS on one, games on another and other apps on another a stupid idea? I'm getting ready to blast my system and reinstall the OS. So I thought I might try something different. Opinions? positve or negative... Thanks Mark
	QUOTE Thanks

04-11-09, 12:04 AM	#3
Mr.Guvernment Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Costa Rica - and toronto sometimes	raid 0 may make some games load faster,. other then that they offer no performance games once a game is running. i say just use the 2 seperate drives, i have done it all, raid, single, games on OS drive and with drives these days being good, i now run my Steam games from my OS drive and things load just as fast as they did on a seperate drive and not much slower then when i had raid 0, but now i dont have the worry of data lose as bad as before. __________________ ¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸© Poor Planning On Your Part Does Not Constitute An Emergency On My Part ©¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸ ¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸© The trouble with life is there’s no background music ©¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸ ¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸© Life isnt short, you're just dead for too long©¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸ ADD YOUR STEAM ID TO THE LIST FOR HOURS OF FUN!
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06-07-10, 08:53 AM	#4
Kreel New Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minsk	so, according to your words single HDDs setup is more reliable then running on RAID? So what about performance with office applications and network file sharing? Does it work faster in RAID when someone download something from this hdds?
	QUOTE Thanks

06-07-10, 09:23 AM	#6
Headstand Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Western Germany(misplaced Texan)	You can have your cake and eat it too. Look at RAID 1+0(10), or 0+1(01). Also, raid 100, 50, 60, even just RAID 5 or 6. I personally will RAID0 for load times on the OS drive(s). I then RAID1 my files on the storage drive(s). In addition, I have a NAS which copies the storage drive(s). I don't care if the OS drive bites it, I put all the backups for the OS drive on the storage drive. __________________ HAF 932 with lots of fans GA-P55A-UD6 i7 860 GTX460 768MB GT240N 1GB H50 push-pull 2 x 2GB G.SKILL Trident DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) 60GB OCZ Agility 1 x WD 500 AAKS 2 x WD Caviar Black 1TB SATAIII - RAID1 4 x WD Caviar Green 1.5TB HEAT
	QUOTE Thanks

06-08-10, 02:43 AM	#7
Kreel New Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minsk	Thank you! I think that ill do the following/ I will run 2 hdds in raid, and 1 single for data backup))) __________________ GB ep45ds3l, q8400, 4GBRAM, Sapphire Radeon 3870 TOXIC, //now building a new system
	QUOTE Thanks

Raid vs dedicated drive for games, OS, etc?

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06-08-10, 12:54 PM	#8
ChanceCoats123 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Illinois	^^^ Technically, Raid 0 is not Raid. Raid is Redundant Array of Inexpensive/independant Disks. The whole point of actual Raid is Data security and backup. But with a Raid 0 setup, the drives are mirrored and you get no redundancy. So technically, running all your data off a single depends on that drive for reliability, where as Raid 0 has to count on both drives working. __________________ Ed - "Aight it's pulling down... Thing is really tuned for LN2 though." This is the team you are looking for... 1EeNkR3VPihwHCGt2VKSjJHetiKHZt9U1e
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06-09-10, 02:20 AM	#9
Kreel New Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minsk	As for me performance is a main target))) so ill put applications, games and OS onto RAID drives. distribs and other valuable data to a single drive. __________________ GB ep45ds3l, q8400, 4GBRAM, Sapphire Radeon 3870 TOXIC, //now building a new system
	QUOTE Thanks

06-09-10, 10:31 PM	#10
CompuTamer Member with Some Fancy Text Under His Name Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brandon Mississippi	I put my OS and large programs that i use a lot (Adobe Suite, Office Suite, conversion programs, ect) onto my fastest drive. (SSD). Then my games go onto the next fastest drive (That 5 year old 250GB drive... faster than my 320) and then Media (Music, videos, pictures, installers, ect) onto the slowest/largest drive. I've honestly found this to work better than a RAID of two 320's... idk why, but that RAID was just SLOW at loading some games, and boot times weren't improved much. Loading Crysis off of one drive is faster than my RAID was for some reason, so i just run it like this. I think i really screwed up that RAID though too, so don't take my word for it haha __________________ Intel Core i7 C0 @ 4.01GHz with 1.388 vCore ..........................................Intel C2D T8100 Intel DX58SO Motherboard IOH + QPI @ 1.250 Volts..............................HP 6910p Notebook Sony Optiarc Blu-Ray Drive.................................................. ...............DVD-RAM 8 GB G-Skill Sniper DDR3 1600 @ 1.65 Volts ...........................................4GB Hyundai DDR2 800 60GB OCZ Solid 3 + 320GB WD Blue+ 1TB WD Green...............................Intel 320 80GB Antec 900.................................................. .......................................Titanium Lid BFG GS-650.................................................. .....................................Various HP AC Adapters XFX Radeon HD 4850 (660/1060 53C Idle 62C Load) @ 1.31 vCore............ATI X2300 Pro Dual Dell E2311H LED 1920x1080.................................................. .......14.1" 1440x900 Windows 8 ProMC.................................................. .............................Windows 8 ProMC Those specs up there? They're silent. Silence is good. Very good. Your Core 2 Quad is based off of the Pentium pro in a few ways.
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06-10-10, 07:04 AM	#11
thor17usa Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: GA	I'd go with RAID 0 if you are backing up data to another location on a regular basic. The speed increase my not be dramatic, but it is there. If you dropped in twin Raptors, then you would really see it fly. Even a single 600GB Raptor is pretty fast. I've done both the single drive setups and RAID 0, but settled on RAID 0 since I do video editing. As long as you have good drives for your RAID setup you should see a speed boost in RAID 0. __________________ Main Rig (PARTING OUT): Intel Q6600 2.4Ghz, GA-EP35-DS3P, 4x 2GB DDR2 800MHz, Nvidia GTX570, 2x 300GB WD VelociRaptors in RAID 0, 2x 1TB WD Black for storage, Removable 320GB, Blu-ray Combo, DVD Drive, 750W PSU, Dual Dell 2311 IPS Monitors Server: Synology 1812+ with 8x 2TB Hitachi drives in SHR Mobile: Macbook Pro (Early 2011), i7 2.2Ghz, 16GB DDR3, 240GB intel SSD, 500GB (Swap Bay), ATI Radeon 6750M 1GB, Mountain Lion Heatware
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