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I usually take a drive this size and make at least 2 sixty gig partitions, one for window and the other for "other" stuff. I might even go so far as to make a 30 gig for windows, and then 1 40 gig and 1 50 gig just to keep files seperated and if I have to re-install windows I only lose the first partition. The only thing is, I think I remember that using partitions slows down the system, anyone else come across this? I've also read that it can make data reads faster due to smaller partitions, anyone have any input? I'll most likely go 30/40/50 unless that would really kill performance. I might just go 30/90 since I am putting my 80 gig right behind it. That would give me 30/90/80, that should last a couple months .

Any input appreaciated.

glass

i have partition and if there is any slow down its so slight you will not even realize it .

Never ever heard of slowness due to partitioning. I believe that almost any "enthuaist"/tweaker/adventurious (sp?) should have a seperate partition for Windows so that if his/her system takes a plunge then minimal data loss is occured. I know in Windows you can change the location of My Documents and Favorites and such. As for any preformance issues, if anything a smaller windows partition could speed up Windows because there would be less head traffic to access the end of the partition. Plus defragging would be sped up. I personally partition my 320GB RAID array the following way: 6GB Windows + Apps, 10GB Games, 268GB Downloads, Music, Movies (almost to 100 ;-)), Programs, etc., 6GB or so to a personal partition where all my documents are stored and emails and other stuff I backup when I format and then like 10GB right now for Linux (not currently used). These aren't exact but ballpark, my computer is downstairs and not hooked up to the net right now (Xmas break from school)

I have mine partitioned as follows

C:\ 24GB
D:\ 34GB
E:\ 54GB

Go here for my detailed recommendations: http://www.pcabusers.net/forums/showthr ... post182444

Originally posted by FlyingPenguin
Go here for my detailed recommendations: http://www.pcabusers.net/forums/showthr ... post182444

poor guy might need another alphabet !

1 big honking partition
it makes no sense to multipart a drive unless u doing multi os
its less stable, if u get an drive error on the wrong sector you might be looking at a wiped partition someplace

Sov, the whole point is that multiple partitions are more secure. There are a variety of "soft" disk errors that can occur that can trash one partition without affecting any others. Moreover, if nothing else, it takes one hell of a lot less time to scandisk or defrag a 30Gb boot partition than a 120Gb one.

none of my HDs are partitioned into smaller sections. I keep them at the full size

I would never use 1 partition anymore. At the very least I would have 2 so I have a partition to save Ghost images of the primary partition to.

Moreover if you do any video editing at all, it's best to have a dedicated empty partition just for that, otherwise you have to defrag your whole drive every time you start a video project. That gets pretty tedious.

Even tho I was bustin' on FP for his number of partitions, I agree totally with him regarding not just using just one partition. I build and sell systems to people who are obviously not as big of enthusiasts as we are and I browbeat them into using the second partitions I create for them for saving their music, critical files, etc.

It saves me alot time as well since I can put all the drivers and secutiry software back there so when they come back to me with the C: \ partitioned all trashed, everything's there for me in case of a need for a fresh install.

I'm surprised ANYBODY in here would use just one partition especially if that's your only HDD! I run 3 partitions across a RAID 1.5 setup and there are no stability issues. Not mention it being OCed + 500 MHz as well.

FYI on RAID 1.5.......

write = same speed as a single drive
read= about the same as a RAID 0, maybe not quite as fast.
redundancy= same as RAID 1*

*
If one HDD dies you can rebuild the array ( unlike RAID 0) with no loss of data using a like HDD as long as you use the same controller. In this case, the o/b Hpt372N on my DFI Lan Party revision A+. This is the only mobo I've seen with this capability.

It's pretty sweet.

I have my system like so:

C:\ Windows & Apps (~4gig)
D:\ Win98 (1gig)
E:\ Music (20gig)
F:\ Games (30gig)
G:\ Movies (60gig)
H:\ MISC (12gig)

I HAVE to have my drives partitioned. It's a lot easier to manage files and it's a good way to keep organized. If anything its good to have atleast two partitions so if windows decides to go to hell, you don't lose everything. Makes it a lot easier to do ghost backups as well; my image files are just a little over a gig (OS & Apps).