Need advice on hard drive use

I am also building a PC just for Sonar, but I am doing almost the opposite!  I am using the SSD for the operating system and all root program files (Windows), a WD 500 GB HDD for Sonar X1, all application files, permanent audio folders, and all engines for VST and DXI instruments.  Then I am going to set up the WD 1TB HDD for libraries, soundbanks, and temporary audio folders.

Craig, I might lean toward your set-up configuration except that the SSD is only 80 GB.  The one concern I have about the SSD is that I am a relentless de-fragger.  I don't know how I am going to contain myself!  Right now, I am waiting on Intel to fix the SATA chip problem on my motherboard (Sandy Bridge).  I will have to let you know how it works out after I get this new system up and running.  I am also going to be testing a multiple input configuration (a pen/tablet for editing, and a touch pad w/slow tracking for Console View.  Let me know what you think!

Tom

Thornbird


Craig, I might lean toward your set-up configuration except that the SSD is only 80 GB.  The one concern I have about the SSD is that I am a relentless de-fragger.  I don't know how I am going to contain myself!  Right now, I am waiting on Intel to fix the SATA chip problem on my motherboard (Sandy Bridge).  I will have to let you know how it works out after I get this new system up and running.  I am also going to be testing a multiple input configuration (a pen/tablet for editing, and a touch pad w/slow tracking for Console View.  Let me know what you think!

Tom

Tom, it's interesting that you want to install the OS on the bigger drive because you feel that the SSD is too small, yet you want to use it for your Cakewalk projects?
 
In my opinion, you'll fill that SSD up pretty darned quick if your projects are anything like mine.
 
You'll be much better off using the SSD for the OS ( remember, you don't have to install any of the Cake libraries there (Dim Pro etc), you get the option to specify where they go).
 
Just my thoughts.

+1 Herb

SSD's were simply made for Operating Systems to run on.

As of today, the price/size ratio isn't conducive for using them as your main audio drive, or streaming samples.

All IMHO of course

SSD for OS, Sonar & VST (.dlls) for sure...

@Guitarhacker: The only thing stopping you using an SSD for music / video production is their size (thus cost). They are out perform mechanical drives in every way.

Tom, it's interesting that you want to install the OS on the bigger drive because you feel that the SSD is too small, yet you want to use it for your Cakewalk projects?

 

I think it was Craig that mentioned the OS on the other drive.   I mentioned the 1TB drive for temporary audio folders because of their size.  Once a project is finalized, and the audio has been pared down I suggested putting the permanent audio folders on the 500GB drive.  Still, the OS and the Sonar root directories are the only thing on the 80GB SSD.  I have to stop now, I'm confusing myself!


Tom 

... (Only Crucial Real SSD is SATA3 that I know of - more will soon come).

The reason I settled on Intel's Sandy Bridge (1155) was for that very reason.  I'm 90% sure it is SATA III ready.  You'll have to slap me if I am wrong!


Tom

Sorry for the confusion, of course, it was barrychap that wanted to use the SSD in that way.

Do it like this:
1.  OS/Apps (SSD if that's your fancy) this includes your vst's (the program, not the samples)
2.  Audio
3.  Samples
4.  Studio data / Sonar picture cache
5.  Storage;  this could be an external drive

4 drives will be handling "tasks" during any given session. 3 really, if you're not using "streaming" vst's

Tom

Hard drives can fail at any time. There is no guarantee they will not fail in a week, month, year or five years. The best thing you can do is get one with a long warranty. Some drives come with one year warranty, some with three and some even five. All pre-assembled external drives I've seen come with a year.If length of the warranty is important to you, I recommend you have an external enclosure and a hard drive sold separately. This way, you can select the disk that has a security that satisfies you.

Thanks for all of your replies. I have decided to go with my original plan for the drive assignments. Here are the reasons:
 
1. OS Drive: This drive will be doing a lot of read/write for bootup, logging, loading, and saving application data. It needs to be fast, so I decided to use a 10,000 RPM drive in a smaller size. This VelociRaptor drive has great performance and only needs to hold the OS and a few applications, so 320 GB is plenty of room. The drive runs hot so it has a heat sink. It is also loud due to structure-borne vibrations, so I will suspend it using a special drive bay with O-ring suspension to get the noise within limits.
 
2. Data Storage Drive: This drive will be used to store files and some large applications. I decided to use a 7,200 RPM drive with 1 Terabyte size. This drive should easily hold all of my projects and files.
 
3. Production Drive: This drive will be used to hold the Sonar X1 application and current project files that I will be using. I decided to use an SSD with 120 GB to provide the best performance while recording or mixing. The OCZ SSD is a special SSD that plugs into the PCI-e slot on the PC to avoid the SATA bottleneck of 3Gb/sec. The PCI-e slot allows the SSD to operate in a RAID configuration (within the drive). It has a special controller that overcomes the problems with write speed (writing to 512 KB blocks). The result is a very fast read/write of 540 MB/sec (impossible to get with SATA) and 75,000 IOPS (I/O operations per second). I will be capturing 24 bit/96KHz audio in 16 simultaneous channels and writing to disk, so I will need all of the write speed I can get. The fast read speed will let me mix more tracks.
 
All of the 1st generation SSDs had horrible write speeds, which made them unsuitable for audio recording. The Windows 7 TRIM command helped with that, along with newer controllers and internal RAID configurations. The 2nd generation SSDs are much better. Be careful of bargain SSDs; they may be the older 1st gen models.
 
Why did I not use the SSD for the OS Drive? Because SSDs use Flash memory which has a service life of around 10,000 write cycles. This is why most SSDs have a write management system that spreads the write operation around the memory cells to maximize service life. The OS usually is writing to logs and other files a lot and that would shorten the drive life.
 
Again, thanks for the replies, and I welcome any comments on my thinking above. I would like to hear from Cakewalk on what they think of this setup and the best place for sample files.
 

its seems like  pretty cool at all.