HDD config options/Smart Responce Technology?

**blackgold** · 05-17-12, 10:30 AM

Hey, I've got some questions.. I really haven't done much with or had a need for any advanced storage configs. I've got a new case with a LOT of space. I've got 5 hot swappable hdd bays now.My MB has an MSATA slot, I have a 120 gb corsair force 3? 2 750 7200 seagate HDDs and 4 160 GB velociraptors. As of now, I have my OS on the ssd. Wondering what config I should go with. I was looking at the SRT config but don't think I can configure it to cache the storage drives and keep the ssd as OS. ALso don't know that I'd get that much of a bump caching storage drives LOL. I also have a 2 gb NAS in the house that I store most things I don't want to lose. Do I go with the 2 750s, 4 160s? config? 2 160s, 2 750s? Move the SSD out of the swappable area and do 3 raptors, 2 750s, 4 raptors, 1 750

So many options....
Brian

**SapiensErus** · 05-17-12, 10:40 AM

THE SSD is faster than any combination of the others... I am phasing out HDDs myself.

here is how I am running:

2 180GB SSD in RAID0 for my gaming rig, my other computers each have a 120GB SSD and then my "file server" also has two 2Tb mechanical HDDs set up in RAID1 to protect important data. Then I also have an external 1.5TB drive...

I have a pile of HDDs ranging from 160GB to 500Gb piling up now because this solution has solved all of my storage needs.

Mechanical HDD's use power and generate heat. The fewer drives you have running the cooler and more efficient the rig.

I would use the 120GB SSD for my main programs, OS and such and put all your documents and other goodies on one of those other disks and just clean up a bit by getting rid of all those others. Since you have a NAS just use that for storage... Also, that many drives is loud!

I was running my rig with Windows 7, a bunch of games, office and stuff on a single 180GB SSD and I had room for lots of debris to pile up in my downloads and documents... 120GB should let you put your OS and almost all your software on that drive but with little room for documents and such.

**RhysJD3** · 05-17-12, 12:40 PM

Partly depends on how much space you want/need, how much redudancy you want and how much speed you want.

SRT sounds interesting but I've heard mixed things about it. Depending on the motherboard and implementation, it will basically use an SSD as a cache (most will only allow up to 60 GB). As I understand it (I don't have it), it works in one of two modes. Also, I've read you don't need the fastest SSD as it doesn't make as much of a difference.

Mode one is a write back option. It will basically write everything back to the original drive(s) from the cache as a redundancy feature. I don't know when it does it but I've heard it causes slowness and crashes for some people (that was also towards the initial implementation so it may be patched now).

Mode two basically writes the cache data to the SSD and leaves it there until it decides to completely move it back to the original drive. So, if you played BF3 a lot, parts of it would probably end up on the cache drive. If you stopped playing it for awhile to play Diablo 3, eventually the BF3 data would be moved back to the original hard drive and Diablo 3 would be moved to the SSD. This is an oversimplification because I haven't completely read up on how exactly it works. This mode supposedly is much more stable but if you "lost" the SSD, you've lost what it's written to it. However, you're more likely to lose the HDD than an SSD...

Here's my current setup:

Primary drive is an 180GB SSD. I have Windows 7 Ultimate, BF3, Batman Ark. City and a few other small applications on it. It uses approximately 90 GB of the 180 for this.

Secondardy data/program drive is a 300 GB Raptor. I have a Program Files (x86) directory for the small applications or applications that I don't want to burn through the SSD space for. I'll be installing Office 2010 to this secondary drive since I don't use it all the time. I also have manual folders (not using the default folders in Windows 7) for Downloads, Documents and Photos. I'll put my music and video there when I start putting those back. I've set a Fraps folder for this drive so I can record my screenshots and videos to it (accidently didn't set it originally and burnt out 40 GB of Fraps videos on the SSD).

I have a third drive which is a 149 GB SAS drive (15.5 K RPM). Probably going to use this as a backup drive. It's where all my files are from my original installation which blew up last week.

I have an external dock which I put my fourth drive into when I want to clone my SSD/boot drive. Having a current backup is nice.

What motherboard do you have and does it support setting the SRT cache drive to specific drives or folders? Does it support more than 60 GB? If so, I'd use the SSD as your cache drive. If it only supports 60GB but you can select various drives or folders to cache, let me know. I have a 60 SSD original generation sitting around.

I've stop bothering with software raid since it really doesn't make that much of a differnce for files I don't care about.

So I'd either use the SSD as a the primary drive or use it as the cache drive. If you want it as a cache drive, it'd set three of the raptors in raid striping.

I'd use whatever is left from the raptors as a "slow" secondary data/program drive.

I'd use the two large drives to keep a complete backup of your entire system and all drives. Use them in a monthly rotation.