New SSD. Should I keep RAID0?

[dan_plus_o]

Hey guys, I got a new OCZ Vertex 2 60GB SDD for my Windows 7 OS and am now wonder if I should keep my RAID0 setup.

I have 2x1TB WD Caviar Black HDDs. One is Sata2 and the other is Sata3.
I am getting a PCIe sata card that will give me two Sata3 ports. One of them will be used for my SSD and then I have one free Sata3 port. So should I keep the RAID0 running at Sata2 speeds or just use the one Caviar Black at Sata3 speeds?

I assume the Sata2 RAID0 will be faster but is it worth it? In RAID0 there is obviously 2x the risk of losing data from a single drive failure.

How much of a difference is a single Sata2 HDD compared to a single Sata3 HDD?

The 1TB HDD will be mainly used for installing my games on. I will probably short stroke it to at least half with a 500GB partition and leave the rest untouched. I assume with the games on the single HDD it will mainly affect loading times. Once the game is loaded into RAM and the page file (located on SSD) I assume the system wouldn't need to go to the HDDs until it loads a new level or something. I'm also planning on upgrading to 4GB of ram soon.

 

[ElenaP]

SATA 1 throughput is 150 MBytes per second.
SATA 2 is 300 MBytes per second.
SATA 3 is 600 MBytes per second.

Rotational hard drive can output about 100 MBytes per second at best. SSD can deliver in excess of 250 MB/sec.

So, the port speed is only a factor with SSDs, not with rotational drives. So you'd better keep your RAID 0 at SATA 2 ports.

 

[diduknowthat]

I'm pretty sure you're not suppose to put any page files on an SSD. Currently I have my OS and a few other vital programs on my SSD and the rest (games included) installed on my secondary 400GB hard drive.

 

[dan_plus_o]

I know the RAID0 will be faster but just thinking since I have a SSD which will run the OS and maybe a few of my main games, is it worth keeping the RADI0 setup. I am using my EVGA 680i onboard sata controller for the raid and it adds like an extra 4 seconds to system boot because of the RAID screen it displays after POST. Boot time is obviously going to increase with the SSD but having the RAID0 screen displayed for so long just feels like a waste. Since my OS and main games will be on the SSD I am thinking its not worth keeping the RAID0 setup. FYI I haven't installed the SSD yet and am waiting on a PCIe sata card that supports AHCI.

As far as the page file.. I'm not too sure as I have heard so many different stories about whether the page file should be on the SSD or a separate HDD.

 

[Twist86]

Disable the raid unless certain programs require the speed. If they don't knock it down and use them as storage HDDs with SSD primary.

Also move pagefile to HDD for the simple fact it takes up space and with 60GBs and games you will want to save all the space you can. I turned mine to 200mb as I have a program that demands it but even it doesn't use it. Otherwise I would have disabled it as I have 4GB of memory and no programs use all of it at once.

Keep in mind if you run a STOCK Windows 7 install your looking at only 40GBs or so free space after. So you gotta cut the fat anywhere you can.
If your a advanced member and like to test the waters I know a good guide to shrink a Windows 7 x64 install to 2GBs (not including pagefile/hibernation file). You can shrink pagefile down or remove it if you have more then 4GBs of memory. Also you can delete the hibernation file easily enough.

Just my 2 cents. I have not bought a SSD yet but I am prepared when I do

 

[dan_plus_o]

Hey thanks for the tips.

I only have 2GB now so I am worried about disabling the page file. I guess I could make a small 2-4GB partition on my 1TB caviar Black for the page file.

That would be great if you could hook me up with that guide. I would also be interested in deleting the hibernation file as I never go into hibernation or standby. With a SSD there really is no need to as it will boot up so fast anyways.

I've been debating whether I should get an extra 2GB. I'm in the process of trying to sell my CPU, Mobo and RAM so I have been putting off the 2GB upgrade as I would need DDR2 and I would rather sell my current stuff and put the money towards DDR3. No point in buying 2GB of DDR2 when I'm trying to sell my current board and CPU.

 

[Benny Boy]

Just my 2 cents. I have not bought a SSD yet but I am prepared when I do

I'm just the opposite. I've had one for three weeks and haven't had time to learn enough to go for it. I've read all these articles and posts(and more)but need to sift thru the info and come up with a plan.

I'm pretty sure you're not suppose to put any page files on an SSD.

^ According to what I've read, the page file will fragment the ssd.

Points to ponder:
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?63273-*-Windows-7-Ultimate-Tweaks-amp-Utilities-*
http://ssdtechnologyforum.com/archive/index.php/t-781.html
http://www.overclock.net/ssd/664738-how-setup-ssd-boot-drive-secondary.html
http://gskill.us/forum/showthread.php?t=913
http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/servicecfg.htm
^click on a column header to remove that column^

And this. But i've also read it will fragment the ram but not hinder it. So I'll need to investigate that.
http://www.ghacks.net/2010/06/10/use-a-ram-disk-to-reduce-writes-on-solid-state-drives/

http://memory.dataram.com/products-and-services/software/ramdisk
^free up to 4gb.
(a little off base but when i seen that page file on the ssd i thought
dan might want to look at these.)

 

[dan_plus_o]

Hey thanks for the links! I will be sure to give them all a read. Give me something to do while I wait for my PCIe Sata card to come in.

As I said before I have heard mixed opinions on the SSD Page File issue. All the stuff I have read saying not to have the page file on the SSD makes more sense though. Since the page file is always being changed it would make sense not to have it on the SSD to prolong the life of the SSD.

 

[Benny Boy]

I have heard mixed opinions on the SSD Page File issue. All the stuff I have read saying not to have the page file on the SSD makes more sense though. Since the page file is always being changed it would make sense not to have it on the SSD to prolong the life of the SSD.

same here dan.
a ramdisc may be a way for us to go. sounds like a speedy alternative vs moving some things to hdd. lemme know what you come up with.

 

[Twist86]

Here is the link Dead0 is very helpful and will get you on your way.
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/137163-windows-7-ultimate-x8664-not-so-extreme-removal/
Download the VERY BOTTOM of the first post x64 or x86 for your copy of windows. All versions of Windows have bee covered far as I know but later down he will only be doing x64 and R2 I believe.

Also there is a "patch" list you will need to manually download unless he all ready has them posted. Also make sure to test this before you put on SSD to fix any issues you might have with it. I installed on a crappy 40GB WD I snagged outta the garbage at my last job


Here is another good read for SSD tweaks.
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6567364&postcount=3

They make 1 click programs...but yet to see one or read anything good on them.


*edit*
Found it
http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?49779-SSD-Tweak-Utility

Might wanna sift through the posts to make sure there are no issues. Should work with any SSD as most the fixes are to Windows and not the SSD.

 

[dan_plus_o]

Hey thanks!

Yeah not too sure I feel safe using a program to do all that. I never did like using programs to do tweeks and felt it safer if I just did them manually.

I'm really liking this guide: HERE.
Its got good info and setup in a really easy to read format. I just went through the "General Performance Tweeks" section and was happy to learn that I already do pretty much everything listed there.

Will give the W7 shrinking guide a read over! Thanks!

Reading all this is making me want to hurry up and get my SSD running. I need to get a PCIe Sata card that supports AHCI but don't want to buy one right away as I am trying to sell my CPU/Mobo/RAM so I can just upgrade to something better that already has AHCI support.

 

[Twist86]

Strange that the 680i doesn't have it. My board is older I believe and even it has AHCI :/

 

[dan_plus_o]

I've been screwed! Dam you 680i!! lol

Currently trying to sell the CPU/Mobo/RAM in my signature to replace with an Asus CrossHair Formula IV, AMD Phenom II X6 1090T, and 2x2GB of DDR3.

So far it seems kinda hard to sell a barbones kit locally.