why a separate hardrive for an os?

[Spawn-Inc]

this is semi-related to os's but my question is as the title suggests.


1.why do/should you have a seperate harddrive for the os.
2. what is the best size/speed for the hardrive?
3. is just the os installed on it or the os and all the drivers and software?
4. can you recommend some hardrives good for this?

[.Maleficus.]

1. Why not (sorry, I really have no good answer for that).
2. Size, smaller the better probably, don't waste your money on a 250Gb HDD when you'll fill a fraction of it. Speed, preferably faster, like 10k or if you can, 15k.
3. Personally preference.
4. WD Raptors, Hitachi (?) Cheetah, anything with a faster rpm, read/write, and seek time.

[xRyokenx]

Certain programs use space on the main HDD for burning and such things, it's kind of dumb, that's why I have just one HDD with my OS on it and everything else. It's a pain, but that's the way it is...

[Indybird]

Many people get a separate HDD that is much faster for the OS so it loads everything faster. When getting a fast hard drive look at: seek time (<6ms), RPM(7200+ RPM) and cache (16+ mb).

Hope that helps,
Indybird

EDIT: While I was looking at hard drives I noticed this. What's the difference between these four drives?

[Spawn-Inc]

so if i get the 36GB raptor can i just install the os there and then install programs on my 250gb seagate?

[.Maleficus.]

so if i get the 36GB raptor can i just install the os there and then install programs on my 250gb seagate?

Sure.

And Indy, the difference is 1 is the regular Raptor, 2 is the Raptor X (Raptor with a window and black paint), 3 is a regular Raptor in retail packaging, and the 4th is a Raptor X in retail packaging. 1 and 2 are OEM.

[luciusad2004]

While the topic is open and in question i thought i would ask a lil something hear.

When it comes to OEM vs Retail, Is there really a reason to go with retail? Keep in mind I'm talking mostly about hard drives. Is there anything packaged with a retail hard drive that is necessary? What do i lose out on when i buy an OEM hard drive?

Thanks for any responses. : )

[Outlaw]

Not necessarily hard drives, but generally, a retail comes in a fancy box and most times bundled software or drivers and maybe cables if the company is feeling generous. Not really sure what else there would be.

[Spawn-Inc]

well unless it came with a $50 game or something (this particlar set of hdd's) then i wouldn just buy the hdd and no retail package. $40 is to much for a box, manual, and some cd's or cable.

[luciusad2004]

Yea i was just wondering what you guys thought. I personally don't mind buying the cables separately especially if i could save some money.