“Nit picking” my encode setup

[Lantry03]

For my encoding of XviD to Mpeg4s I use an AMD 3000+, with 1 gig or ram. I have one WD 200 gig, SATA, 8 meg buff HD, and one WD 80 gig, EIDE, 8 meg buff HD.

What would be the best setup and use of this config?

A.Install the OS on the SATA and use the IDE for storage. If so would it help to have the source file during encoding to be on the IDE and the destination on the SATA? Or reverse? Or just forget the IDE and do both source and destination on the SATA?

B.Have the OS on the EIDE and use the SATA for data and conversions.
Same second question as before, what would be the best source and destination during encoding? Or would it be better to just do it all on the same drive?

Finally in both of the scenarios which is the better place to keep the swap file? On the SATA or the EIDE?

Thanks a lot!

[guns1inger]

OS on the EIDE. Capture to the SATA, edit there, render or encode back to the EIDE once done. Put the swap on the SATA before you put anything else there, just to be sure it is contiguous.

My personal choice would be to buy a second SATA and pump the data backwards and forwards between the two. That's why I have 3 HDDs.

[Soopafresh]

OS on the SATA - Split it into two partitions

Captures and Encodes on the IDE - Both Source and Destination.

[proxyx99]

Encoding is so slow in terms of HD speed that whatever setup you choose in your current config. you will be OK. Your CPU will be sweating (!) not the HD. For capture, use your fastest disk. Your setup, OS on EIDE and scratch on SATA is just fine.

One remark, HD intensive jobs should be moving files (data) from one disk to another rather then read/write from/to the same physical (!) disk (2 partitions on the same disk will not act like 2 separate physical discs).

Use Sandra HD benchmark to determine your HD's respective performance and setup your routines accordingly. Benchmark your discs full and empty so you will know how data storage (amount) affects their speed. Todays HD's are plenty fast for encoding and won't affect your speeds. Editing and HQ effects rendering is more HD/processor intensine then encoding alone.