3 tiers of drives ?

[richardjb]

Hi, I am about to build a new Gaming/VR PC and would like input on storage design. Can anyone help or recommend solution

1. For resilience, Im thinking I would mirrored OS disks with 2x M.2 NVME devices RAID1'd - Will this reduce performance, enhance performance or be exactly the same as 1x M.2 NVME (I dont want cost / MTBF taken into the consideration, just performance and impact on overall system)

2. If I went with the solution above, is it normal to then have 2 tier of storage using more traditional SSD and then third tier of storage for large volumes using spinning disks

Rich

 

[richardjb]

Hiya, thanks for feedback
I am basically looking for OS resilience without a performance hit, rather than a performance gain.
I have automated onsite and manual offsite backups so not at all worried about data loss, just os protection.

Why does the limted number of M.2 slots make it not sensible, what else would I use them for in a gaming/vr PC?

 

[richardjb]

I am aware of Microsoft Storage Spaces only coincidentally to managing a Nutanix solution
How do you use it, what disks do you use it with, does it need a microsoft server licence?

 

[richardjb]

Thanks guys, that's all really useful
I think what ill do is have a play with Storage Spaces and Tiered Storage Spaces, and check some performance figures, then decide.

Btw if I mirror two NVMEs at BIOS level I assume storage spaces wouldn't see the two drives? is that correct?

 

[richardjb]

Sounds too complicated setting up RAID in the BIOS. You'll then have extra drivers etc. Just put everything in a Storage Pool and manage the drives there.
You can get very creative with the setup of your Storage Spaces if you are willing to use the Powershell. Not got to the hardware to play around with the more advanced options myself. Still, I can't see any reason why you couldn't set your Fast Tier to 2x NVMe drives in a Mirror and your Slow Tier to 3x HDD's in a RAID5-like arrangement. Or even both Fast and Slow Tiers in RAID0-like mode for mind-boggling speed. Then let Windows move data back and forth between the Tiers depending on what files you use the most.

FWIW, I'm working on the assumption, quite probably wrong, that it would be quicker at hardware level than a software level, bear in mind I'm also talking from hands on experience 10+yrs ago when my assumption was correct. its possibly not relevant now, or so insignificant as to not bother. As for Powershell, I am happy to be creative with it, and like what you're suggesting is possible re fast tiers and slower tiers. It sounds like i just need to buy some bits and get my hands dirty. thanks!

Unsure what you are trying to achieve.....seems quite pointless to mirror an OS drive. Windows is pretty quick to install these days. Could just backup the os drive now and again.

I dont really want to have to rebuild a PC OS with all the applications and configuration if i can help it. If you're saying there is a simple application I can use to take a perfect backup of my OS, registry & apps etc and be able to restore (over the network?) without too much trouble, what would you suggest?

 

[richardjb]

I'm so out of touch its silly, but massive appreciation for you guys putting me on the right track, Ill probably have more questions
Ill certainly take a look at Macrium, and also allocate some time performing testing of mirroring, failures, macrium, etc before using it in anger.
I feel a spending spree coming on !

 

[richardjb]

Check the number of PCIe channels available for this. You don't want to impact other aspects of the system.

Ahh this is something I don't yet understand, when do I hit a limit and what is the impact ie
If I have an 3950x on Aorus Extreme with

2x NVME PCIe v4
1x 2080ti PCIe v3
1x 10GB Fibre NIC​

I hope this isnt moving too far from storage.