Re: [linux-audio-user] AMD64 question: update

Mark Knecht wrote:
> On 7/17/06, Dave Phillips <dlphillips@email-addr-hidden> wrote:
>> Mark Knecht wrote:
>>
>> > On 7/11/06, Dave Phillips <dlphillips@email-addr-hidden> wrote:
>> >
>> >> The final pieces are coming together for the new iron here at
>> Studio
>> >> Dave. I have two last questions (well, for now) :
>> >>
>> >> Is this a good selection for the hard disk:
>> >>
>> >> Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3400633A 400 GB 7200 RPM 16MB cache
>> >> EIDE Ultra ATA100, new with Seagate warranty, $166
>> >
>> >
>> > Being ATA100 it's not the fastest drive out there but 400GB is
>> > certainly nice storage.
>> >
>> > QUESTION: Are you going with a single drive or will there be separate
>> > system and audio drives?
>>
>> Ach, I must answer your question with another question: Assuming I want
>> two drives, what special considerations should I make for them ? If one
>> is for audio work alone, does that mean it merely needs formatted and
>> I'll use it as recording space ? Sounds simple enough, but I've never
>> set up a system like this one.
>
> Yes. That's the idea. /dev/hdaX would hold Linux on multiple
> partitions. (root swap boot, etc.) /dev/hdc would be one large
> partition for nothing but the audio files and supporting stuff.
> (Complete Ardour song directories, etc.)
>
> Extra power from the power supply so don't skimp on that. Extra space
> in the case if you go internal. 1394 adapter, if one isn't built in to
> your motherboard, if you decide to go external. IF you buy a 1394
> adapter then try for 1394b instead of 1394a.
really ... i would go for eSATA instead if 1394b. usb+eSATA external
cases are cheaper
than 1394b external cases, eSATA capable SATA controllers are cheaper,
and it is faster
than 1394b.

ok, you might now say 800Mbps is as good 150MB/s, BUT: firewire uses a
totally different
(scsi-like) protocol to access mass storage devices, so the enclosures
use a rather high-level
firewire <-> ATA bridge. this one increases _disk access_ latencies, and
limits the bandwidth.

a ATA <-> SATA or SATA <-> SATA bridge is a fairly lowlevel bridge on
contrary, so you have no
problem with _disk access_ latencies and bandwith. it's just as fast as
if the disk was internal.

the only drawback is that linux currently doesn't support hotplug for
SATA. so you have to
plug / unplug while your PC is powered down. alternatively, you can load
/ unload the whole
SATA driver, this should give you some hotplug capabilities.
>
>>
>> At this time I'm planning for only one drive, but I can consider
>> purchasing a second disk.
>
> I'm not sure it's necessary if you have enough RAM in your machine and
> you don't do anything other than Ardour when doing Ardour, etc.
> However, if you are recording with Ardour and running other apps at
> the same time that are accessing the drive, then for brief periods you
> will have apps seeking to different places on the drive and
> potentially causing problems.
>
> One thing might be to go with a single drive and buy the second if you
> decide it will solve some problem you run into later.
>
>>
>> I'm still mulling over the distro possibilities. I may install a few
>> before deciding on one.
>
> Yeah, big choice. I'm cursing Gentoo this weekend as I try to make a
> more than major upgrade to my home network of MythTV boxes. I've been
> at that 2 days now...
>
>>
>> Btw, I've assembled the mobo (added CPU, RAM, and ominous Zalman fan)
>> and installed it in the case. The Antec Sonata II looks great, it's just
>> waiting on its hard drive now.
>
> sounds exciting. Good luck!
>
> - Mark
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> dp
>>
>>
>
>
Received on Mon Jul 17 20:15:04 2006