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Optimal operating system for my DAW?
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Honguito
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
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Posts :
286
Posted : Sep 5, 2007 16:49
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Alright, after a system crash I'm not ready to reinstall the operating systems on my desktop computer. I need your help though. I have these three harddisks:
Western Digital, 200GB, 7200rpm (sata)
Seagate Barracuda, 80GB, 7200rpm
Seagate Barracuda, 10GB, 5400rpm
I'm gonna install both WinXP (for normal use) and tinyXP (for DAW).
So, what do you think would be the best option for me when it comes to where each operating system should be installed? Should I also make any partitions? How would you do?
Thanks a million 4 the help!  |
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Dharma Lab
Started Topics :
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342
Posted : Sep 5, 2007 19:19
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Well, the solution is not going to necessarily be neat an clean. Given the following:
1) The 'first part' of the hard drive is the fastest, so the OS should reside there, and the 'later parts' are a little slower.
2) Systems can run better when the paging file is on another physical drive.
3) DAW programs can frequently run better when using multiple drives. There is some differences in opinion on how to break this up.
Each setup can vary depending on your production style as well, as a more sample based setup might benefit from breaking things up as much as possible, while one that uses virtual instruments might not make much of a difference.
Also, knowing your CPU speed & memory sizes might also change opinion on things.
I would recommend perhaps something like this:
1) Save all your files from the 2 smallest drives onto the largest drive.
2) Reformat the 2 smallest drives NTFS. Install music system on 80 GB drive, & normal use one on 10GB drive. Set virtual memory for both imeediately after all your hardware & OS is installed, but before you start installing programs. Be generous so as to only set it once in the OS's lifetime. Reboot, run defrag, and your paging file should be all set.
3) I would probably install my music program to the 80GB drive, but put all my samples & DAW projects on the 200 GB drive.
The more often you are maxing out your ram memory, the more you will benefit from additional paging file on a seperate physical drive. So for example, the music OS could have virtual memory on 80GB drive, and 10 GB drive. The normal OS could have paging file on 10 GB drive and either of the other drives. Yeah, it can get a little complicated.
For ideas about virtual memory settings, check out this: http://forum.isratrance.com/viewtopic.php/topic/113268/forum/2/start/0
 Keep The Faith,
Christian K. |
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Honguito
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
286
Posted : Sep 5, 2007 23:34
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cheers Dharma Lab! Thanks a lot for your reply!
Based upon your post and other "research" I've done tonight, I think I'll set up my system like this:
200GB hdd - Partition1: Samples and DAW project files. Partition2: regular programs (photshop, office, etc), movies etc
80GB hdd - Partition1: TinyXP. Partition 2: Cubase, VSTs etc
10GB hdd - WinXP (for regular usage)
Would there be any point to put the page file from tinyXP on another partition on the 80GB hdd?
Regarding using a fixed virtual memory, I've read in forums and so far I can't really conclude if it's best to use a fixed value or just let Windows dynamically change it. My understanding is that the Windows 9x series didn't handle it very well dynamically and therefore DAW users were recommended to set a fixed value. Windows XP, on the other hand, does the job better than the previous versions though, and because of that it's not really sure if there are any benefits in fixed virtual memory values. Here is a statement from RME about this topic:
"Changing the virtual memory configuration (swap file) in regard of size and location (System, Performance, Advanced Settings, Virtual Memory, Let Windows do it all.) Windows handles this perfectly, any changes include a lot of risks but no advantages. The main argument is: In case Windows REALLY begins to use this file (swaps) it doesn't matter whether the used storage device is a ZIP or Barracuda - you can't use your PC any longer for several minutes. The only serious advice: Buy more RAM."
So, unless someone proves me the opposite, I'll just stick with the standard setting of letting Windows dynamically change the value.
By the way, would there be any point to put the page file from tinyXP on another partition on the 80GB hdd in my system?
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neuromantik
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
28
Posts :
593
Posted : Sep 6, 2007 01:00
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If I were you I would check out this guide:
http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
It's really well written, simple and to the point. What works for gaming also works for making music, trust me. |
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Dharma Lab
Started Topics :
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342
Posted : Sep 6, 2007 21:07
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Setting a large static paging files does the following:
1) Prevents page file fragementation. 3rd party utils can defrag page file, but I generally find this unecessary when I give it plenty of space.
2) Prevents page file resizing garbage that windows has to allocate & deallocate, which means it's doing work when I feel it's doesn't need to. If you have a ton of RAM, maybe this never happens, but if you get close to running out, this happens more.
I have a ton of drive space, and so it's worth it to me to possibly waste 1 GB of space in order to not have to worry about windows sizing, resizing, and fragmenting the paging file.
Best thing to do, run a heavy music session on your machine. When your done, go to the task manager, performance tab, & check the # under Commit Charge->Peak. This number represents the total of RAM & virtual memory your computer peaked at. If you subtract the amount of RAM you have from this number, you get a quick & dirty way of seeing how much virtual memory your machine peaked at using. (Note- this isn't exact, since some system files get pages, some are always paged, etc, etc, but this give you a quick idea).
General rule of thumb is that if the peak is near or exceeding your RAM, then you should get more memory. This is much more accurate than just looking at the physical memory available alone, since it show you how much swapping might be going on with the page file.
Putting a page file on a seperate drive can increase performance since you have 2 drives that can do stuff simultaneously. It can help a little if your in agony, & have no money for RAM. If you have plenty of RAM, and your OS is paging very little, the effect is negligable, in my experience. Keep The Faith,
Christian K. |
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Honguito
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
286
Posted : Sep 7, 2007 16:21
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Alright Dharma Lab, thanks 4 your advice and help! And thanks to you too Neuromantik for pointing me to that THOROUGH guide 
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On 2007-09-06 21:07, Dharma Lab wrote:
Putting a page file on a seperate drive can increase performance since you have 2 drives that can do stuff simultaneously. It can help a little if your in agony, & have no money for RAM. If you have plenty of RAM, and your OS is paging very little, the effect is negligable, in my experience.
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Yeah but in my situation I have no extra hdd to put the page file on. Cus when I'll produce music I'll run cubase, VST's, and the OS (tinyXP) from the 80GB hdd. Meanwhile the 200GB hdd will be used for samples and running/saving cubase projects. So putting the pagefile on this 200B hdd isn't good to do. I have one more hdd though (10GB) but it's only 5400rpm so I think I should avoid to have the page file on that one too. Instead, I think it'll be best to just have the page file on the same hdd that tinyXP is on (80GB hdd). BUT, should I make an own partition for the page file? Would there be any performance benefits from doing so? |
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Dharma Lab
Started Topics :
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Posts :
342
Posted : Sep 7, 2007 19:18
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Just keep the page file on the 80 GB drive (the same drive that tinyXP is on). Putting a page file on a seperate partition helps only if you are using a dynamic page file, as it will not get fragmented (provided that nothing else is one it).
Keep The Faith,
Christian K. |
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Dharma Lab
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
342
Posted : Sep 8, 2007 22:16
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Honguito
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
286
Posted : Sep 9, 2007 13:21
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Dharma Lab - you're the man! Thanks for everything! I'll take your advice into serious consideration and also read that page file guide, before I FINALLY have my system up and running again  Expect tunes from me within shortly! |
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