Does the system drive need speed, or only the audio drive?

De chromium cob · 31st July 2003, 08:16 PM

Hey,
I've put together a new system and was wondering if a somewhat slower drive will effect a DAWs performance if its just used for the OS and programs while using a faster drive for audio. I'll be using WD Raptors for the audio- along with WD 7200 RPM drives for backup or audio.....should I just use another Raptor for the system drive or is that overkill? Would a Maxtor 5400 RPM do the job just as well for the system drive? This is a dedicated music system so I'm not looking for anything other than speed and reliability for audio if that matters. Thanks!

And if your interested- heres the new computer-
GigaByte GA-8IK1100 I875P Motherboard
Pentium 4 Processor @ 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB
Kingston HYPERX PC3200 2X 512MB DDR Ram
Toshiba SD-R5002 DVD-R/-RW Combo drive
WESTERN DIGITAL 120GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache
Antec True Power 380W low noise power supply
Creative 52X CDR drive
ViPower super drive removable drive bay
ATI Radeon VE dual head video card
2X NEC 1850E 18" Flat panel monitors
MOTU PCI 424 card
Win XP Pro
Nuendo 1.61

SaxonSound · 31st July 2003, 08:48 PM

Your audio software will be reading and writing temp files to the system drive, so I suppose speed matters.

The more RAM you have, the less your software will have to read and write from the hard drive. If you feel like your system drive is slowing your machine down, you can add more RAM and disable virtual memory.

Looks like a smokin system though.

Bob Olhsson · 2nd August 2003, 05:07 PM

I know that some configurations can be limited by the slowest drive on a bus.

tendril · 2nd August 2003, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob Olhsson
I know that some configurations can be limited by the slowest drive on a bus.

I don't believe that's true for serial ATA however, since SATA is one drive per port. IIRC the Raptor is a serial ATA drive.

bassix · 3rd August 2003, 12:38 AM

I think in nuendo you can select where your temp files go.

However why not get two fast drives. I don't think you should try and save a few nickles on one of the most vital parts of your box.

Windows' overall performance will be much better on a fast system disc.

Also think about having REALLY silent cpu fans and powersupply (http://www.zalmanusa.com/) in there and a vid card that has no fan at all. Some pc's sound like a bloody vacuumcleaner.

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31st July 2003, 08:16 PM	#1
De chromium cob Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,362	Does the system drive need speed, or only the audio drive? Hey, I've put together a new system and was wondering if a somewhat slower drive will effect a DAWs performance if its just used for the OS and programs while using a faster drive for audio. I'll be using WD Raptors for the audio- along with WD 7200 RPM drives for backup or audio.....should I just use another Raptor for the system drive or is that overkill? Would a Maxtor 5400 RPM do the job just as well for the system drive? This is a dedicated music system so I'm not looking for anything other than speed and reliability for audio if that matters. Thanks! And if your interested- heres the new computer- GigaByte GA-8IK1100 I875P Motherboard Pentium 4 Processor @ 3.0GHz 800MHz FSB Kingston HYPERX PC3200 2X 512MB DDR Ram Toshiba SD-R5002 DVD-R/-RW Combo drive WESTERN DIGITAL 120GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache Antec True Power 380W low noise power supply Creative 52X CDR drive ViPower super drive removable drive bay ATI Radeon VE dual head video card 2X NEC 1850E 18" Flat panel monitors MOTU PCI 424 card Win XP Pro Nuendo 1.61 __________________ "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives." Tolstoy Scott Benson www.syborgstudios.com

2nd August 2003, 05:07 PM	#3
Bob Olhsson Motown legend Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Songwriter Gulch, Nashville TN Posts: 5,271	I know that some configurations can be limited by the slowest drive on a bus. __________________ Georgetown Masters 615 254-3233 Bob's room 615 385-8051 Music Industry 2.0

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31st July 2003, 08:48 PM	#2
SaxonSound Gear Head Join Date: May 2003 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 65	Your audio software will be reading and writing temp files to the system drive, so I suppose speed matters. The more RAM you have, the less your software will have to read and write from the hard drive. If you feel like your system drive is slowing your machine down, you can add more RAM and disable virtual memory. Looks like a smokin system though.

3rd August 2003, 12:38 AM	#5
bassix Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 11	I think in nuendo you can select where your temp files go. However why not get two fast drives. I don't think you should try and save a few nickles on one of the most vital parts of your box. Windows' overall performance will be much better on a fast system disc. Also think about having REALLY silent cpu fans and powersupply (http://www.zalmanusa.com/) in there and a vid card that has no fan at all. Some pc's sound like a bloody vacuumcleaner.