The_Surgical_Spirit wrote:
Nobody seems to be suggesting RAID arrays. I run a RAID 0 and it loads quick as anything with 2 80gb SATAs - just a bit of a pain in the arse to set up when you're putting the OS on for the first time. Clearly the ultimate would be a SATA II RAID 0 with 10 000rpm raptors.
OK.. finally someone with a knowledgable response.
Correct, THAT would be "more" ultimate than my current configuration.
The fact that a SATA 3Gb/s (what you referred to as SATA II) has a constant (transfer) rate of 60Mb/s per HD. In a RAID configuration w/ 2 HDs, 88.28Mb/s. The RAID Array should provide faster and more stable performance, since the data is spanned over several HDs & can be read and processed more efficiently.
You must also take into consideration your processor & BUS speed. Even though you have a top-end RAID disk Array, if your other components can't keep up, you'll be "bottle-necking" at your CPU.
With my current PC specs, I will not get an improvment in performance for better game play, regardless of what hardware I "add".
My current SATA drive constant rate is approx. 70 Mb/s; approx: 10 Mb/s less than if it they were redundant. The only benefit of configuring a RAID Array is that the application{s} will "open & close" quicker, reading from your HDs, but that's why I have 2 Gigs of memory.
Initially, I was going to set up a RAID ARRAY with 2 SATA HDs (not SATA 3Gb/s HDs) but I spent that $$$ on a better video card (GeForce 7800).
In other words, I would NOT suggest going the RAID "route" (especially if the PC is only for BF2 and your not familiar with building custom rigs)...
Off-topic: I want to build another one now and utilize the SLI dual video capabilities on that one. Anyone test use this function on the ASUS A8N-SLI MoBo? Is it just "over-kill"? hahaha
Last edited by Curious_Soldier (2005-12-20 16:00:58)