Partitions

[Guest]

I’ve read a few topics related to partitions and now I want to share my own experience.
Last week I bought new 80GB HD to make some exercises with partitions. I made 5 partitions:
- first - primary - 3GB NTSF for system (XP Home)
- second - 1GB FAT16 just for virtual memory (page file)
- third - 3GB FAT16 for temporary files (TEMP, TMP, Documents and Settings dir)
- fourth - 30GB FAT32 for programs
- fifth and sixth FAT32 for documents and media

After installing all drivers, service packs and windows updates, DirectX 9.0b, MS Office, other programs and games I’ve made a few trials and everything works faster than with my previous two FAT32 HD partitions. Faster for graphic acceleration (3Dmark2001) and for application (launching, saving).
Another value added is decreased defragmentation time – if you separate page file, temp files and user folders from system, then there is almost no movement on system drive. Why did I use FAT16 for page file and temps? It’s much faster than FAT32, page and temp files really don’t need advantages of FAT32.

Hmmm that’s all for now. I hope my experiences will help new users.
Sorry if I made writing errors – English is not my language

 

[Pop Rivet]

Interesting, and makes sense. Please come back in a week or so and let us
know how things are going.

How did you measure the increase in speeds? Was instrument measurement
necessary to see the difference or were the differences enough in magnitude
to "feel" them in real time?

Pop

I've read a few topics related to partitions and now I want to share my own experience.
Last week I bought new 80GB HD to make some exercises with partitions. I made 5 partitions:
- first - primary - 3GB NTSF for system (XP Home)
- second - 1GB FAT16 just for virtual memory (page file)
- third - 3GB FAT16 for temporary files (TEMP, TMP, Documents and Settings dir)
- fourth - 30GB FAT32 for programs
- fifth and sixth FAT32 for documents and media

After installing all drivers, service packs and windows updates, DirectX

9.0b, MS Office, other programs and games I've made a few trials and
everything works faster than with my previous two FAT32 HD partitions.
Faster for graphic acceleration (3Dmark2001) and for application (launching,
saving).

Another value added is decreased defragmentation time - if you separate

page file, temp files and user folders from system, then there is almost no
movement on system drive. Why did I use FAT16 for page file and temps? It's
much faster than FAT32, page and temp files really don't need advantages of
FAT32.

 

[David Candy]

What a load of shit. Fat partitions chew up memory. Fat partitions in the GB range are very slow to access.

 

[Guest]

----- Pop Rivet wrote: ----

How did you measure the increase in speeds? Was instrument measuremen
necessary to see the difference or were the differences enough in magnitud
to "feel" them in real time

For graphic performance measurement I use 3DMark2001SE. Previously, with the same hardware and drivers installed, I got hardly around 10800 points, now, with few repetitions, average 11300 points (depends if test is done just after PC is turned on, or after few hours of work +/- 100). The 500 points is really big difference
For other things like reboot time, save time (large photoshop files), defragmentation time - it's just my feeling. But anyway - it's normal that data on small partitions gets faster to defragment and to access

I'll come back here when I install more programs, power-absorbing games and make some mess on HD ;>

 

[Len Dolby]

You have succeeded in doing what I've been trying to do for some while now.
Your written English is totally clear and as far as I'm concerned, also
correct in spelling, syntax, grammar and idiom - no apology necessary (and I
AM English).
Questions -
How did you "instruct" XP to move the swap-file(page-file) to D: partition?
Would this procedure work with XP pre-installed, i.e. MODIFY an existing
installation?
I have Partition Magic 8, so can re-create partitions. I am a relative
novice, and have only a "restore" disk. I am therefore nervous about doing a
total re-install.
Sincerely, Len

I've read a few topics related to partitions and now I want to share my own experience.
Last week I bought new 80GB HD to make some exercises with partitions. I made 5 partitions:
- first - primary - 3GB NTSF for system (XP Home)
- second - 1GB FAT16 just for virtual memory (page file)
- third - 3GB FAT16 for temporary files (TEMP, TMP, Documents and Settings dir)
- fourth - 30GB FAT32 for programs
- fifth and sixth FAT32 for documents and media

After installing all drivers, service packs and windows updates, DirectX

9.0b, MS Office, other programs and games I've made a few trials and
everything works faster than with my previous two FAT32 HD partitions.
Faster for graphic acceleration (3Dmark2001) and for application (launching,
saving).

Another value added is decreased defragmentation time - if you separate

page file, temp files and user folders from system, then there is almost no
movement on system drive. Why did I use FAT16 for page file and temps? It's
much faster than FAT32, page and temp files really don't need advantages of
FAT32.

 

[Guest]

----- Len Dolby wrote: -----

Questions -
How did you "instruct" XP to move the swap-file(page-file) to D: partition?

- Go to Control Panel > System,
- Advanced tab,
- click "Performance options" button,
- click "Change" button,
- select C drive, type 0 (zero) in both initial and maximum size,
click "Set" button,
- select D drive and specify initial and maximum size and click
"Set" button. I recommend to set both the same, two times bigger
than RAM. Make sure that you have necessary space available on
the partition,
- click OK to confirm and you’ll be asked to reboot.

Would this procedure work with XP pre-installed, i.e. MODIFY an existing
installation?

Yes, you can modify / move the swap-file anytime you want.

I have Partition Magic 8, so can re-create partitions. I am a relative
novice, and have only a "restore" disk. I am therefore nervous about doing a
total re-install.

One thing is to change or create partitions, other is to change file
system of already existing partitions, especially primary partition
- I’ve never done this, but they say it’s possible - you should ask
an expert if there is no risk. I was also worried to make this
experiments that’s why I bought new HD and made everything from
beginning – partitions and file system first, XP installation next,
and finally modifications of system variables and page-file.

I’d be glad to know if you’ll succeed to do the change.

Regards,
Bostaf

 

[Sharon F]

How did you "instruct" XP to move the swap-file(page-file) to D: partition?

Len, if you only have one hard drive - shuffling the pagefile around does
not accomplish much. In fact, if all partitions are on the same drive, you
end up causing unnecessary head travel. If you have a second physical drive
available and have the urge to experiment, try moving the page file to the
first partition on that drive.

It's still wise to leave a small page file on the main Windows drive due to
memory dumps and a small handful of programs that may expect to find one in
this locatin. More info about memory management here:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Personally, I've done both. If there is a difference in performance (going
by how my programs behave with normal usage, not by technical benchmarks),
I haven't noticed it.

 

[yabbadoo]

I just spotted this reply by accident as it's separate from the original
post which I was watching. Apols for lateness of acknowledgment - aThanks to
bothyou and Sharon !
Sincerely, Len