Help with HDD setup

[webtechnz]

Hi,

I have 3 new drives in my system and was wondering what anyone can advise me on how to set up my OS, apps and storage.

Firstly I would like to have my OS (windows 7 64bit) by itself on the WD 150GB VelociRaptor HDD.

Secondly, I want to use the WD 300GB VelociRaptor HDD for all my applications.

And finally, I want to use the WD 1TB Black Caviar as storage/data etc.

I have an Intel Q9650 quad and gigabyte mobo with 4gb ram and a gtx275 GPU.

As far as the OS is concerned, what is the best way to format this drive for performance...i.e. do I partition off a section of the 150GB to use as a backup for my OS of windows 7? If so, how much do I need to partition?

Does anybody have any suggestions here as to the best way to go about this, is my idea above correct and will it work properly?

Thanks in advance for any help you good people can offer me, this is my first rig that I have set up myself and I just want to get it right.

[devit]

I would choose a partition for that 150GB - like 40GB for me is enough for OS and applications. Then i would choose the other partition and that 300 GB for Games(if you play) and the other driver for storage/data...

[cincyrob]

if your just going to use the 150gb for you OS there is really no need to parttion it. just put Win7 on it and leave it. then like you said use the 300gb for your app and then that nice 1tb drive for storage. but the way devit said is perfectly fine as well.
if it was me i would use the 150gb partition it at 40gb for your OS then the other 90gb+ for you apps(which is alot of apps) and use the 300gb for stuff you might use more frequently and then the 1tb for mass storage. you cant really go wrong either way.

[buburuza76]

90GB+ for applications??? What kind of applications, i think it`s too much!

[chrisram]

I do this all of the time for my own computers.

The 150GB Raptor is fast enough to do the OS on but you will get better performance out of the 300GB. You will also be wasteing a bunch of space but that is fine for most people.

Which ever drive you pick to install your OS on partition out 20-40 GB. This is not to install your OS on, this is for your swap file. So if you are using the 150 GB drive make part C 110GB and D 40GB.

Install your OS to C, then move the swap file to D. Now Install your other drives, in the control panel make them E and F, your optical drives after that. Format the drives and get them ready to go.

When you install programs use the CUSTOM or ADVANCED settings and change the drive letter to E. If you are like me then 300GB will be barely enough for your programs and games.

What this does is keeps your drives from getting fragmented by the end of the week and your system will run like new for longer.

[cincyrob]

Originally Posted by buburuza76

90GB+ for applications??? What kind of applications, i think it`s too much!

oh i agree with you. i was just saying to leave the 90+ for any apps you might want. not that you will use that much for apps alone.unless your a pack rat..lol

can you partition a drive that allready has a OS on it? i kinda like the idea chrisram has mentioned.

[Bigwill68]

Originally Posted by cincyrob

can you partition a drive that allready has a OS on it?

answer is No..cause you files spread all along the disc like morse code
and plus theres chances in deleting them files that's y at the beginning
of a install of a Os it ask's to you wanna partition your Drive

[wayout44]

Actually I'd never put the swap file on a separate partition of the drive that also contains the partition that has the OS on it (all this will do is slow the swap file's responce time), if you want a fast swap file then put it on another drive all together.