Partitioning Disk for XP Performance ?

[janshim]

Hello,

I recently installed a new 5,400 rpm 16Mb cache 30GB Toshiba hard drive to my P-III 850MHz 256Mb RAM notebook (WinXP Pro SP1). I have searched the net for possible recommendations as to what is the best/ideal way to prepare a 30GB disk for use with XP Pro and the goal is here is outright performance. I have tweaked my XP Pro using methods recommended by Black Viper (http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm). I have even removed and disabled Windows Themes and no wallpaper.

The notebook is left running 24 x 7 and connected to the internet via ADSL. Main applications are: OfficeXP, Paint Shop Pro & Photoshop for digital photo processing, Trillian instant messaging, emails and Web surfing, none of which I would consider as resource intensive unless i run all of them simultaneously. Currently, drives are mapped as follows:

C: [10GB] WinXP Pro OS and 128Mb of swapfile
D: CD-ROM Drive
E: [3GB] SwapFiles: 384Mb Min, 768Mb Max
F: [8GB] Program Files
G: [8GB] Documents

I'm all ears if someone has sound ideas how I should re-configure my hard disk for better performance.

 

[papasmurf]

wow 16mb cache really? or was that a typo? I personaly have a 1gb partition for my swap file which gave me an extra 100 3dmarks over just having it on my windows partition and I have a 15gb partition for windows and games and the rest is devoted to my collection of music and movies. I am using a 60gb deskstar though so results may varry.

smurf A- I saw you leave with smurfette
smurf B- oh man as soon as we got out of the bar she started smurfing me
smurf A- shut the smurf up
smurf A- right in the smurfing pariking lot?

 

[janshim]

16MB no typo! Check it out here

http://www.toshiba.com/taissdd/products/features/MK3019gax-Over.shtml

http://www.toshiba.com/taissdd/products/spec/MK3019gax-Spec.shtml

When I was shopping for a disk to replace my 4,200 rpm IBM 20GB TravelStar, I found two good 5,400 rpm candidates: IBM 40GB or Toshiba 30GB both of these use Floating Dynamic Bearing motor drive. The Toshiba disks have the biggest cache in the industry but marketing has hardly made this an obvious feature, unfortunately. Between the IBM and Toshiba I chose the Toshiba for the cache alone.

 

[papasmurf]

I am awe struck. I think I will buy one and get a laptop to ide converter oh yes!

smurf A- I saw you leave with smurfette
smurf B- oh man as soon as we got out of the bar she started smurfing me
smurf A- shut the smurf up
smurf A- right in the smurfing pariking lot?