Your Thoughts On HDD Space Utilization

[1Tanker]

I'd like your thoughts on how much space to use on todays large HDDs. I know that MS used to suggest to leave ~ 15-20% of the available disk space.. for defragging, swap-file, etc. I'm specifically talking about a storage-only disk.

This is a two-pronged question, in that it's for 2 different disks...two different setups..let me elaborate. The disks in question, are being used for large files...max - 4.35GB(a folder made up of smaller files..max - .99GB {i'm sure you can figure out what kind of files these are }). Keep in mind that my mobo (chipset) doesn't support RAID.

OS is XP Pro(SP2) formatted w/NTFS-default cluster size(4KB)

1. Disk 1 is a 1TB(7200rpm/3-platter)

2. Disk 2 is a 1.28TB comprised of 2x640GB(7200rpm/2-platter) in JBOD, in an external enclosure, using USB 2.0 connectivity (the backup of the 1TB drive).

I'm thinking that the ~15% reserve may be lowered, as drives were much smaller when MS set this guideline. ATM, the 1TB has 94/931GB free and the 1.28TB JBOD has 355/1192GB free. That's only around 10% free for the 1TB, but still 94GB for Windows to swap files around during a defrag, etc. Even 5% free would still leave 46GB free.

Anyways, any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated.

TIA

Tanker

[wuzy]

1TB is like drinking water to me. If you need more (which sounds like you do) then buy one for ~$88 now.
For purely storage only w/o the OS i.e. no pagefile, about 20GB is needed for defragment. Some defragmenters like PerfectDisk even tout being able to defrag a drive 99% filled.

With just one HDD you did remember to keep your OS+app in a separate small partition from your storage didn't you?
It would be insane if you didn't.

[1Tanker]

1TB is like drinking water to me. If you need more (which sounds like you do) then buy one for ~$88 now.
For purely storage only w/o the OS i.e. no pagefile, about 20GB is needed for defragment. Some defragmenters like PerfectDisk even tout being able to defrag a drive 99% filled.

With just one HDD you did remember to keep your OS+app in a separate small partition from your storage didn't you?
It would be insane if you didn't.

Yesss, i always partition my boot drive... here's my setup:

In My Case:
- WD 640GB Black- (C)60GB-OS (D)36GB-Small storage(E)499GB-backup of (F)
- Hitachi 1TB 7K1000.B - (G)1TB partition
- WD 500GB AAKS - (F)500GB partition
- Seagate 500GB 7200.12 - (P)500GB partition (putting W-7 on this in the next day or 2)
- Hitachi 250GB 7k250(IDE) - (Q)250GB partition

- External drive - 1.28TB partition(back-up of G)