New Vista 64 install Advice Please.

Hi All, I am brand new here so let me just say hi to everyone first off. I would like to get some opinions as to the best way for me to install and utilize my various hardware for Vista 64 installation. I will be using my new rig for Digital Photography Workflow, mainly using PhotoShop CS4 and Nikon Capture NX2. I will be printing with an Epson Stylus Pro 3800.

I will list my hardware below for this new rig and just basicly would like your thoughts for configuring where I should put my OS, Programs, Windows Paging File, Photoshop Swap File, User Files, Working Image Files from a Nikon D300, Nikon D700, any other files that should be placed on seperate disks- partitions. If you will please help guide me to what would have to be better than what I could do without your help I will really appreciate it. I need to get a grip on how to configure my files for back-up as well as performance. I have had a few suggestions from some folks but I would like some more ideas from those who will probably know this far better than me. Thanks,


MOBO: ASUS M2N32 SLI DELUXE WIRELESS ED.

CPU: AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W

Graphics: BFG 8800 GTS 640mb X 2 (Can run in SLI if needed)

Memory 8Gb: Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT25664AA80A High Performance, Two Dual Channel Kits

Memory Option 2 8Gb: Crucial CT2KIT25664AA800 Two Dual Channel Kits, If these would be a better way to go for stabillity, I am not sure but can use either set.

HDD'S X 5 Totol:

HDD X 2: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s

HDD X 2: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 250-GB Hard Drives

HDD X 1: WD1800JB 180GB Special Edition EIDE Drive A spare that I had from a rig I tore down, but it is in great shape.

Of course I also have my media drives and will be using my 24" Gateway LCD calibrated with a Spyder 3 Elite.

Please give me something to chew on, something that has been tried and trued. I would also listen to just an idea that maybe you haven't tried but is logical. I am not the best at configuring the OS System for maximum performance is why I need your help.

Thansk so much,
jeffdbodean

 

There's not a lot of magic to it. The PS swap file ought to go on your fastest non-OS drive. Putting the Windows swap file on a fast non-OS drive is not likely to make a noticeable difference...but since you have 5 drives, go for it.

If it were me, well, first of all I wouldn't put 5 drives in a single box...but if it were me, I would create RAID 1 arrays of the 2 sets of identical drives...use the smaller array/drives for the OS partition, and the larger array/drives for data and your swap file. I would probably only use the extra drive to store a backup image of the OS drive (and of course, feel free to occasionally make a backup image of your data drive).

Lately I've been using Macrium Reflect for backup/recovery. There's a good free version, and doing a backup/recovery to another local hard drive, like you'd be doing, is very simple. I recommend the BartPE option for their boot disk (although I believe you'd have to create it on an XP machine insted of Vista). But feel free to use other tools as well - Ghost, Acronis, etc.

 

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I have indeed already gotten most of my hardware.

jeffdbodean

 

Hi Motoman, I've heard that putting the PS Swap file on a seprerate drive is a good thing, even PS website suggest this also. Interesting configuration you have offered up and I will be taking this under advisement as well. I wish to thank you and Chai for both of your post to my question.

Thanks Guy's,

jeffdbodean