If you can, try and get a motherboard with a built in RAID controller... (or buy a seperate RAID controller)
RAID is a mechanism for using 2 or more identical hard drives as one big one... Not only does this double (or more) the total bandwidth between the PC and Hard drive (eg. 2x ATA100 EIDE Hard drives on a RAID array will give a total transfer speed of 200mhz!), but if you use more than 2 disks, not only do you get the increase in bandwidth but you also have the option of sacrificing one of the drives as a backup (actually a third of EACH drive if you have 3 disks).. This means that you have a permanent online backup system.. If one of the disks gets destroyed there is enough info on the other 2 to rebuild it!!! I've just setup a 2 disk array using IBM Deskstar 60's (7200rpm ATA100).. And the speed is insane!!! I don't know if you can do a similar thing with SCSI but if you could it would (I guess) be a little faster still (not that you'd probably need it!).. Nick -----Original Message----- From: David Gover [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 10 December 2001 12:27 To: Drum & Bass Arena Discussion List Subject: [dnb-prod] Re: Computer Check: Need your advice > SCSI issue: this type of hard drives are a much better technology for audio > jobs, but for musicians is really not necessary. When you run a studio you > can't afford to loose some clients takes, and there is were SCSI get's in; > is a more reliable storage medium. It seems like some people really get caught up in this SCSI nonsense. There's so many lies, rumours etc going around. I think it's time to clear up some of the stuff I've heard. 1. A drive being SCSI does NOT make it more reliable. SCSI simply refers to the interface between the PC and the drive but says nothing about the way which the drive stores data onto the platter. 2. As with Hard Disk's above.. a CDR/RW being SCSI does mean it is better quality. I've heard from so many people 'dont buy an IDE CDR/RW because it will be dead within 1 year, buy SCSI because it'll last you a lifetime!'. It's absolute bullshit.. again it's just the interface. If you go buy for example a 24x Plextor SCSI and then buy the 24x IDE equivelent the ONLY difference you will see are in the interface.. everything else will be identical. > if you have a 7200 IDE from a good manufacturer (IBM, Seagate, etc.) you > will have a good drive fast enogh for several simulataneos track recording. Very true. 3. SCSI does not necassarily mean faster. I've got a 7200rpm Quantum Atlas IV here (with SCSI Ultra160 interface) that runs a tad _slower_ than my Western Digital WD300AB (which is IDE). Anyway. SCSI does have it's uses of course. If you want the fastest HD's around (I don't think there are any 10k rpm IDE drives yet?) then SCSI is probably your choice. If you want the fastest Interface around (which will help when you have a lot of devices) then SCSI Ultra 160 (vs ATA133 which is not quite implemented yet?) is your choice. But saying this, most people can get by with IDE and save enough cash to buy some extra music hardware. ;) > one thing to have in mind is to provide a perfect comunication between the > motherboard and the disk check for recomended manufacturers between them. True, checking a *wide variety* of benchmarks on-line can help you choose a hard disk that works well with the motherboard or controller you have. > but... i think the best you could do is to choose a sound card that really > covers your needs and ask the manufacturer for a good PC setup for it. i did > that and i am very happy. Unfortunately most places have absolutely no idea what a good setup is for anything other than Games / MS Office and even when they do, they'll try to get you to buy the most expensive stuff anyway. -dave --- Drum&Bass Arena Producers Discussion List http://www.breakbeat.co.uk You are currently subscribed to dnb-prod as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] This document should only be read by those persons to whom it is addressed and is not intended to be relied upon by any person without subsequent written confirmation of its contents. Demica plc accepts no liability for the consequences for any person acting, or refraining from acting, on such information prior to the receipt by those persons of subsequent written confirmation (by letter or fax). If you have received this email message in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone. Please also delete the message from your computer. Any form of reproduction, dissemination, copying, disclosure, modification, distribution and/or publication of this email message is prohibited. The contents of this email message do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Demica plc. Citadel is the registered trademark of Demica plc. Copyright Demica plc. All rights reserved. --- Drum&Bass Arena Producers Discussion List http://www.breakbeat.co.uk You are currently subscribed to dnb-prod as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
