Best way to setup numerous HDD for flight sim and general pc usage

[Joshua Dean]

Hi,

I am going to be getting a new pc for uni (or when I am at uni) later this year. I have decided to get numerous HDD's and was thinking about the best way to set them up. I was thinking about having a 100GB HDD for the OS (or maybe a 50GB...), a 500GB HDD for my flight sim (FSS9) installation, and then another HDD for program files, etc etc. What would be the best way to set this up?
If I were to get an external HDD of perhaps 1TB, would I be able to store all my documents and music on there? Would iTunes (for example) be able to play music off an external HDD through a usb cable?

Thanks,

Joshua

[Tony Madge]

I run three hard drives, I have  XP on one and then other programs on the others. I also have Itunes on a USB external drive which plays music fine.
The ideal set up is to have a SSD drive for the OS and one for FS9/FSX that way the PC will load very quickly as well as FS9/FSX. But you would need very deep pockets as they don't come cheap and there are some SSD's to avoid as the controllers on some cause terible stutter!

[Joshua Dean]

Thanks for the quick response Tony. I assume that an 80GB HDD for my OS (it would be vista 64-bit) would be an adequate size. Also, having separate HDD's for everything should mean they are easier to defrag and keep defragged?
When I am at uni, I will not worry about pc loading times, as I will most likely leave the pc on all of the time... (all my bills would be paid for in my accomodation fee). As a student, expensive SSD drives probably won't be an option for me.

Joshua

[Tony Madge]

I agree regarding SSD drives

[Symon Long]

Any reason why you will use Vista and not Win7 on a new rig?

I use a 300GB WD VelociRaptor just for FSX - might be a cheaper (slightly) option to the SSD.

[Joshua Dean]

There is a reason for picking vista over windows 7. For everyone who hates/dislikes vista, there is somebody who loves it. I have had no problem with it, and do not wish to change to another OS atm. I have seen windows 7, and I did not think that it looked the nicest OS I have ever seen....

[Symon Long]

Your choice, of course.
I had no probs with XP so didn't change to Vista; but having tried Win7 I found it better for me.

[Joshua Dean]

I guess the OS is dependable on peoples choice, eh Symon?
Also, would an 80GB HDD be enough for an OS?

[Symon Long]

I guess the OS is dependable on peoples choice, eh Symon?
Also, would an 80GB HDD be enough for an OS?

OS is, of course, own choice.
80GB is plenty big enough for an OS; even less would do.
Just make sure the (internal) HD for your FS  is big enough to take all the extra scenery, mesh etc you may wish to add.
If adding an external HD  try to get a SATA2 version ( as long as you have a SATA port on the new rig) Throughput is much faster than USB