How should I install my two SSD's and my HHD?

[grimreaper1014]

Hello,

I have two SSD's. One is a OCZ Solid 3 60gb. The other is a 120gb Vertex 4. I also have a 750 sata II platter. I was told to that I should use the 60gb as a cache to speedup the platter. Should I install my OS to the OCZ Vertex 4, and games and bulk storage to the platter with the OCZ Solid as a cache? Would that be the best way to do it? My board is a ASRock z77 Extreme6. Therefore, I would want to use the Intel Smart Caching I believe? I have never done it before though. Is it done through the BIOS or via the chipset software or both? I figured I would ask so I could get the correct info from someone who knows about this kind of stuff as I have never done it.

Thanks,
Rocky

[chrisram]

Install your OS on the Vertex 4. I wouldn't worry about building a cache for your spinner. Just install to the Vertex 4 first and keep the other two out of the system while you get it all installed. Then after you have your drivers loaded and such install the Solid and use it as a scratch drive. Download to it for fast Zip and Rar access. Then put in your spinner and use it for 'nearline' storage, music, movies, large files and such.

What you are doing it creating a tiered storage system. If I get time this month I'll write an article on it. I've wanted to do so for a long time.

[grimreaper1014]

Cool thanks for your help. I appreciate it greatly. Someone on another forum recommended using the Solid 3 as the cache drive. I wanted to get some more opinions on things so I figured I would ask over here. I will set things up as you said. Sounds like a good plan to me. I will be looking forward to your article.

[profJim]

The most important thing is to install your operating system with the ssd as the only installed drive as Chris said.

I gained about 20MB/s with my win2k hard drives when I aligned all hard drive partitions with 4K alignment.
This is a non-issue if all of your partitions were created using win7's Disk Management.
I use a 3TB external drive that is only connected to my system when I'm backing up folders or partitions.