Hard drive configuration at DVinfo.net

Dave LaNasa · September 30th, 2009, 10:31 AM

Hi all, I have searched this and I can not get a definite answer, I am building an HDV editing workstaion, I realize that I need 3 drives, 1 for OS, 1 for media and 1 for renders (correct me if I'm wrong). My dilemma is if I need a Raid0 or Raid3 controler( 5 disks total, 2 drives per raid), or can I get just a solid state for the OS and two fast (10,000 +) drives, thanks.

Harm Millaard · September 30th, 2009, 12:38 PM

Depends on your storage needs. If you can get by with 200 to 250 G max on one of the Velociraptor disks for media, there is no need to create a raid system. It may even be better to use 7200 RPM disks with 32 MB+ cache with size of 1 TB or larger.

Remember that the performance of mechanical disks - in contrast to SSD's - rapidly deteriorates when the fill rate goes over 70%.

Raid 3 or 5 requires at least three physical disks in an array and - depending on the raid controller used - may result in only 150-170% performance gain in comparison to a single disk.

Shaun Roemich · September 30th, 2009, 04:01 PM

Dave: you NEED two drives - one for OS, one for media and renders. PERSONALLY, I like having media and renders on different drives. You DON'T need a RAID for throughput on an HDV system. You WOULD need a RAID for data redundancy if you deemed that to be important. HDV is SO processor heavy that you would probably run out of realtime processing power BEFORE you ran out of multi stream throughput. Of course, as processor speeds increase, the previous statement will be rendered inaccurate.

I pull 1GB/minute (4 times HDV data rate) off of FW400 external drives right now no problem.

September 30th, 2009, 10:31 AM	#1
Dave LaNasa New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 12	Hard drive configuration Hi all, I have searched this and I can not get a definite answer, I am building an HDV editing workstaion, I realize that I need 3 drives, 1 for OS, 1 for media and 1 for renders (correct me if I'm wrong). My dilemma is if I need a Raid0 or Raid3 controler( 5 disks total, 2 drives per raid), or can I get just a solid state for the OS and two fast (10,000 +) drives, thanks.

September 30th, 2009, 04:01 PM	#3
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Dave: you NEED two drives - one for OS, one for media and renders. PERSONALLY, I like having media and renders on different drives. You DON'T need a RAID for throughput on an HDV system. You WOULD need a RAID for data redundancy if you deemed that to be important. HDV is SO processor heavy that you would probably run out of realtime processing power BEFORE you ran out of multi stream throughput. Of course, as processor speeds increase, the previous statement will be rendered inaccurate. I pull 1GB/minute (4 times HDV data rate) off of FW400 external drives right now no problem. __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

September 30th, 2009, 12:38 PM	#2
Harm Millaard Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 1,832	Depends on your storage needs. If you can get by with 200 to 250 G max on one of the Velociraptor disks for media, there is no need to create a raid system. It may even be better to use 7200 RPM disks with 32 MB+ cache with size of 1 TB or larger. Remember that the performance of mechanical disks - in contrast to SSD's - rapidly deteriorates when the fill rate goes over 70%. Raid 3 or 5 requires at least three physical disks in an array and - depending on the raid controller used - may result in only 150-170% performance gain in comparison to a single disk.