SATA HDD set up for graphics

[dwburman]

I'm trying to trick out my supermicro 5xDA8 workstation.

I'm using this for DFX+, Lightwave and Aura and not for a VT host. I'm asking here because you all understand performance.

Here's what I'm thinking.

Get a cheap PCI 2 port SATA RAID card and two 10,000 RPM Western Digital Raptor SATA drives striped together to use as system drive.

Get a PCI-X 133Mhz 8 port SATA RAID controller (I know you guys like 3ware, but I'm thinking of one from highpoint) and 4 or more drives to use for the work drive

The PCI-X slot is on a separate bus than the other slots. Would having the system drives on a separate bus than the data drives really make a difference?

Thanks,
Dana

[David Curle]

I'm trying to trick out my supermicro 5xDA8 workstation.I'm using this for DFX+, Lightwave and Aura
(I know you guys like 3ware, .....Thanks,
Dana

Get a 3Ware as they use patented technology that leaves the others for dead.
Use the one 3ware card in the fast slot.
Make two of the drives Raid 0+1 (System drive security)
Make the other six drives (or four) Raid five for video
(3ware will allow you to make these different sections.)
If you want performance for 3D work etc you need a very fast GPU. (drives are not as important)
In your case you need the fastest AGP card you can find.
(a pity you dont have PCIe- the nVidia 7800 is perfect)
3Dlabs 200 is the best AGP - worth every penny.

For your info, the fastest machine for this kind of work is a Tyan K8WE with dual dualcore 275s, Areca PCIe controller, 74GB raptor drives, Two Quadro 4400 in SLI.
Tested to beat every 3D bench test - cut them in half!

See here for 3D bench marks on the 275 Opteron/ Dual Quadro combination!
http://www.3dprofessor.com/review.asp?id=114

[dwburman]

Thanks for the info Dave.

I decided to do the upgrade in stages and wait until I actually need the space and speed of the drive array. I bought a cheap SATA RAID card and two 74GB Raptors but it turned out that it wasn't a RAID card at all so my plans of putting XP on a superfast striped drive didn't work out quite right. At least I have a faster work drive/scratch disk.

I was thinking about replacing the GPU but I'm not sure if I'd go for a pro card or just a fast gaming card. The latter would probably be fast enough for what I do. I currently have a 3D Labs Wildcat VP 800 or something like that.

I'd love to go with an opteron system, but a new workstation isn't in the budget atm :)

Thanks again.
Dana