RAptor or RAID

2006-06-04 10:24:53

#1

Timelord_: Member; +25|6838

Currently I am looking to get a slight speed boost when loading MAPS> Already running 2GB RAM.

WHat would be best to run 1 36GB RAID as MAIN OS and APP drive, with 500GB storage, OR

2x250GB WD in RAID 0.

I am not concerned about redundancy. Speed is the name of the game here.

2006-06-04 12:12:22

#2

Janus67: Tech God; +86|6896|Ohio, USA

the raptor would probably squeek by as a bit faster. personally I don't see a point in loading a map 2 or 3 seconds faster to be worth $100+

2006-06-04 12:36:56

#3

Timelord_: Member; +25|6838

Well, I also do some video editing and photoshop work too....... So 100 bones aint so bad.

2006-06-04 12:37:17

#4

stryyker: bad touch; +1,682|7021|California

Raptors in RAID

2006-06-04 12:55:15

#5

DrM: Member; +33|6922

Timelord_ wrote:
WHat would be best to run 1 36GB RAID as MAIN OS and APP drive, with 500GB storage, OR 2x250GB WD in RAID 0.

2x250Gb [7200 rpm] disks in RAID 0 will be faster than a single 10,000 rpm.

This is not a configuration I would recommend, not only because of the redundancy [I know you said this was not a concern], but because if you ever need to rebuild your PC [and a gaming PC should be re-built every 6 months, without fail, to get the most of it] you would lose all your files.

From the options listed I would have a single disk for the OS and a large disk for files.

If you want to get the most out of your rig, get a pair of WD Raptors [36Gb] in RAID 0 and a 500Gb disk for files.

Hope this helps.

DrM

Last edited by DrM (2006-06-04 12:56:20)

2006-06-04 13:01:20

#6

137[CSi]: Headshot Specialist; +104|7138|Woodland Hills, Ca

2x250 gigs as a main os drive is retarded.

2006-06-04 13:02:32

#7

{M5}Sniper3: Typical white person.; +389|7061|San Antonio, Texas

stryyker wrote:
Raptors in RAID

Yeah, that's what I'm going to be doing pretty soon...

2006-06-04 23:02:09

#8

slo5oh: Member; +28|6962

Timelord_ wrote:
Currently I am looking to get a slight speed boost when loading MAPS> Already running 2GB RAM.
WHat would be best to run 1 36GB RAID as MAIN OS and APP drive, with 500GB storage, OR
2x250GB WD in RAID 0.
I am not concerned about redundancy. Speed is the name of the game here.

No raptor, no raid, and I've yet to see someone load faster than me. It's all about the processor (IMO).

Last edited by slo5oh (2006-06-04 23:02:23)

2006-06-05 01:50:20

#9

Cybargs: Moderated; +2,285|7017

Raid, its faster and quieter

https://cache.www.gametracker.com/server_info/203.46.105.23:21300/b_350_20_692108_381007_FFFFFF_000000.png

2006-06-05 03:10:26

#10

jaymz9350: Member; +54|6878

slo5oh wrote:
Timelord_ wrote:
Currently I am looking to get a slight speed boost when loading MAPS> Already running 2GB RAM.
WHat would be best to run 1 36GB RAID as MAIN OS and APP drive, with 500GB storage, OR
2x250GB WD in RAID 0.
I am not concerned about redundancy. Speed is the name of the game here.
No raptor, no raid, and I've yet to see someone load faster than me. It's all about the processor (IMO).

not all true. i noticed an increase when i finally got my raptor back. granted i was using an older ata100 dirve

2006-06-05 03:30:21

#11

-101-InvaderZim: Member; +42|7145|Waikato, Aotearoa

Yep i agree - Raid 0

2006-06-05 09:17:06

#12

slo5oh: Member; +28|6962

jaymz9350 wrote:
slo5oh wrote:
Timelord_ wrote:
Currently I am looking to get a slight speed boost when loading MAPS> Already running 2GB RAM.
WHat would be best to run 1 36GB RAID as MAIN OS and APP drive, with 500GB storage, OR
2x250GB WD in RAID 0.
I am not concerned about redundancy. Speed is the name of the game here.
No raptor, no raid, and I've yet to see someone load faster than me. It's all about the processor (IMO).
not all true. i noticed an increase when i finally got my raptor back. granted i was using an older ata100 dirve

Sorry for the confusion.
I was saying I'm not running a raptor, nor raid, and I've yet to see someone pop up before me in BF2. I read somewhere that there's so much compression on the files in the game (maps) it's harder on your CPU than it is on your HDD.
I'm happy to go head to head with anyone in game as a simple race. To see who can load faster. In most cases I'll load a new map, click "connect" pick a kit, a spawn point and start. About 50% of the time as soon as I'm in I hit my tab key to see if anyone else is in. Everyone shows up as skulls (dead) until they load and start. There's been a couple times where I'm not paying attention and there's someone else on my heels, but there hasn't been a time yet when I was obviously beat.
There's a few people in here with super fast computers I've added to my "leader board" so I can catch them one of these days and see who loads first.

2006-06-05 09:29:11

#13

137[CSi]: Headshot Specialist; +104|7138|Woodland Hills, Ca

slo5oh wrote:
Timelord_ wrote:
Currently I am looking to get a slight speed boost when loading MAPS> Already running 2GB RAM.
WHat would be best to run 1 36GB RAID as MAIN OS and APP drive, with 500GB storage, OR
2x250GB WD in RAID 0.
I am not concerned about redundancy. Speed is the name of the game here.
No raptor, no raid, and I've yet to see someone load faster than me. It's all about the processor (IMO).

I the logitech g15 performance monitor tells me exactly whats being hit when I am loading bf2 maps and this pretty much is a nail on the head answer.

But unfortunately its also a miss while hitting that nail because bf2 relies on your RAM more than anything. I currently have 2 gigs of ram myself running in dual channel ddr 400 at stock timings 3-2-3-5 OCZ Platinum and when a map loads itself through the ram is being utilized about 50 percent while the cpu is actually being used 100 percent.

But it switches priorty really fast when it goes to verifying client data. Then it goes to about 20 percent cpu and all ram which I most likely will dedicate a 2 gig hunk meg to bf2 when my additional 2 gigs arrive.

The raptors imo slightly help, I run two 36 gigs in Raid 0, this really only helps my performance when I am ripping dvd's and playing bf2 at the same time.

a single 79 gig raptor is faster than two 36's in raid 0

the new 150 gig raptor has a larger buffer than the two drives at 16mb but with a hefty 300 dollar price tag for a single drive last I checked. (It's release announcement)

IMO a hard drive with a 16mb buffer for data prefetch will load the game faster than a hard drive with an 8mb prefetch. Its not really all the rpm's or the access time. As most SATA 2 drives access data 1.00-3 MS slower than raptors do.

FYI.

2006-06-06 15:15:46

#14

Timelord_: Member; +25|6838

Thanks for all the helpful advice in this thread.

Cheers!

2006-06-06 15:25:32

#15

137[CSi]: Headshot Specialist; +104|7138|Woodland Hills, Ca

You're welcome.

2006-06-06 15:32:38

#16

senor_fulff: Member; +25|7061|Yorkshire, UK.

i got 6 x 160gb deskstars in a RAID 1+0 (mirrored striped for the kids ) and a RAID 1 (striped) , all partioned up into 4 drives. 30gb for windows, 100gb for temp stuff, 180gb for programs, 170gb for games... GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! beastiebeastiebeastie.... loads maps in seconds and great for mucking round with videos and picz...

2006-06-06 18:22:16

#17

senor_fulff: Member; +25|7061|Yorkshire, UK.

should really say I edit videos, design websites and generally muck about with huuuuuge files so that be why i need a stupidly fast hard disk setup

2006-06-06 20:37:35

#18

Stealth42o: She looked 18 to me officer; +175|6973

stryyker wrote:
Raptors in RAID

Yup, do both :-)

2006-06-06 21:07:34

#19

Defiance: Member; +438|6972

Raptors in RAID would be good, but some less then known news.

RAID 0 did not post a significant boost in game load times, and only very minimal boosts in applications.

This testing was done by MaximumPC, a very credible magazine.

I can find the article if you wish, but if you need to buy a RAID card to get RAID, don't bother.

2006-06-07 00:32:03

#20

acdc: Member; +37|6877|SEATTLE, WA

Two 150 Raptors in RAID would be really nice. Expensive though!

2006-07-13 07:58:37

#21

LockerFish: Member; +47|7007

senor_fulff wrote:
i got 6 x 160gb deskstars in a RAID 1+0 (mirrored striped for the kids ) and a RAID 1 (striped) , all partioned up into 4 drives. 30gb for windows, 100gb for temp stuff, 180gb for programs, 170gb for games... GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! beastiebeastiebeastie.... loads maps in seconds and great for mucking round with videos and picz...

GROSS!

2006-07-13 08:03:24

#22

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|7037|Salt Lake City

DrM wrote:
Timelord_ wrote:
WHat would be best to run 1 36GB RAID as MAIN OS and APP drive, with 500GB storage, OR 2x250GB WD in RAID 0.
2x250Gb [7200 rpm] disks in RAID 0 will be faster than a single 10,000 rpm.

This is not a configuration I would recommend, not only because of the redundancy [I know you said this was not a concern], but because if you ever need to rebuild your PC [and a gaming PC should be re-built every 6 months, without fail, to get the most of it] you would lose all your files.

From the options listed I would have a single disk for the OS and a large disk for files.

If you want to get the most out of your rig, get a pair of WD Raptors [36Gb] in RAID 0 and a 500Gb disk for files.

Hope this helps.

DrM

Doesn't everyone have a file server? I used old spare parts to make one. Comes in quite handy for pushing all the files I need to store while I restore my system, which I in fact just started last night.

2006-07-13 08:10:50

#23

BigglesPiP: Whirlybird Guy; +20|6849|Windermere, GB

I'd say 2 250Gb Seagate Barricudas on RAID 1

They're Quicker than 250Gb WD Cavairs.

But If you can afford a 150Gb WD Raptor as a games + Page File drive, it's the one to go for.

Last edited by BigglesPiP (2006-07-13 08:15:11)

2006-07-13 08:18:25

#24

PuckMercury: 6 x 9 = 42; +298|6828|Portland, OR USA

stryyker wrote:
Raptors in RAID

I'd put a partition in there for your OS drive vs your app drive, maybe different containers altogether, but absolutely raptors in RAID

2006-07-13 08:19:29

#25

Mr.Clifford: Member; +2|6801|In teh cupboard

If you really want to up your performance, do like I am about to do. Buy the fastest 7200 rpm drive you can find in relevance to a raptor, and up your RAM to 2.5 or 3 gigs. You would be saving money and it would be much much quieter. The xtra RAM would help alot also.

Last edited by Mr.Clifford (2006-07-13 08:20:28)

BF2S Forums RAptor or RAID

Timelord_ wrote:

stryyker wrote:

Timelord_ wrote:

slo5oh wrote:

Timelord_ wrote:

jaymz9350 wrote:

slo5oh wrote:

Timelord_ wrote:

slo5oh wrote:

Timelord_ wrote:

stryyker wrote:

senor_fulff wrote:

DrM wrote:

Timelord_ wrote:

stryyker wrote:

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