Typical Video Editing Storage Setup

[Geekazoid]

Hi guys,

I've got a quick question that I hope ya all can answer.

How is a typical Video Editing PCs storage set up? I know there's one drive for this, one drive for that and one drive for something else but I just would like some clarification on this.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[SAV1OUR]

normal ssd and probably a few tb of storage  

[WoodenMarker]

SSD for os + programs.

Hdd raid 0 for scratchdisk. Hdd raid 1 for mass storage and backup.

Offsite backups for whatever is important.

[ANUPLUCIFERGAMER]

250GB of ssd and 2tb of storage?

[Geekazoid]

SSD for os + programs.

Hdd raid 0 for scratchdisk. Hdd raid 1 for mass storage and backup.

Offsite backups for whatever is important.

So are we talking 1x SSD and 4x HDD?

[wpirobotbuilder]

An SSD is pretty useful for programs. If you want maximum uptime and have the budget, you could go with a RAID 1 SSD boot drive.

 

Depending on the intensity of your video editing and how much RAM you have, you might be able to get away with something like a 120GB Samsung 840 Pro for a scratch disk. If you need a large scratch disk, a RAID 0 of hard drives will work, although I'd recommend a RAID 10 to give you increased throughput as well as redundancy.

 

RAID 1 is a good way to keep on-site data safe, but having a backup drive you plug in regularly is a better option for backups.

[TheProfosist]

Like for the editing? I have a RAID 10 array of single platter 1 TB discs. Raid 10 so I have speed and redudndany and the single platter drives for lower access times.

[TheProfosist]

Oh yes should mention I do have raid 0 ssds for os and programs, and do t forget the butt ton of ram.

[WoodenMarker]

So are we talking 1x SSD and 4x HDD?

Depends on your preference. You could generally go up to 2-4 hdd's in raid 0 for a faster scratchdisk and 2 hdd's for the raid 1. Raid 10 works too. 

1 ssd is generally fine. 

[TheProfosist]

So are we talking 1x SSD and 4x HDD?

if you have that I would go SSD as OS and programs and basic files then throw those 4 drives in RAID 10 and use them as a temp, scratch disc, editing drive.

[Geekazoid]

Depends on your preference. You could generally go up to 2-4 hdd's in raid 0 for a faster scratchdisk and 2 hdd's for the raid 1. Raid 10 works too. 

1 ssd is generally fine.

  

if you have that I would go SSD as OS and programs and basic files then throw those 4 drives in RAID 10 and use them as a temp, scratch disc, editing drive.

Okay, well thanks guys. I had read and seen on YouTube, I think I saw Dave Dugdale, when he did his Ultimate PC Build for video editing, mentioned about how he had his drives set up and how many but I had just forgotten. But thanks to you guys I now know again. Your help is very much appreciated. :D :D

Big thanks!

[TheProfosist]

NP @Geekazoid let us know what you go with!

[Geekazoid]

NP @Geekazoid let us know what you go with!

I think I have decided to go with a 500GB SSD + 2x 2TB HDD. Reason for this setup is because with my current PC I have, obviously, a 500GB HDD and so I feel that I would prefer to go with an SSD of the same capacity. I know many people would say "No. Save the money and go with a 250GB SSD and get another HDD or something". But I kind of prefer to go with a 500GB SSD. I actually also am planning to get an external 2-4TB HDD or two 2TB external HDD so I won't need any more than 2 HDD in my rig anyway.

As you will see in my sig, my build has been updated with my preferences as well as some other slight changes.

I did come across an eSATA equipped motherboard when I was making changes but decided that USB 3.0 will suffice. There's no point spending extra on something that I might not use anyway.

I also have looked into going with a GTX 780/780 Ti GPU, but after a long thought process I decided I would just stick with the GTX 770 as I REALLY don't think there is any huge benefit in going with the GTX 780/780 Ti. I mostly video edited and looking at benchmarks between the GTX 770, 780 and 780 Ti there's really only a 10 second diffence in rendering time in SVP all up and I don't want to pay about AU$200 more for 10 less seconds rendering time.

Okay, so they are my decisions that I'll be sticking to. But once again a big thanks to everyone who helped.

[TheProfosist]

I think I have decided to go with a 500GB SSD + 2x 2TB HDD. Reason for this setup is because with my current PC I have, obviously, a 500GB HDD and so I feel that I would prefer to go with an SSD of the same capacity. I know many people would say "No. Save the money and go with a 250GB SSD and get another HDD or something". But I kind of prefer to go with a 500GB SSD. I actually also am planning to get an external 2-4TB HDD or two 2TB external HDD so I won't need any more than 2 HDD in my rig anyway.

As you will see in my sig, my build has been updated with my preferences as well as some other slight changes.

I did come across an eSATA equipped motherboard when I was making changes but decided that USB 3.0 will suffice. There's no point spending extra on something that I might not use anyway.

I also have looked into going with a GTX 780/780 Ti GPU, but after a long thought process I decided I would just stick with the GTX 770 as I REALLY don't think there is any huge benefit in going with the GTX 780/780 Ti. I mostly video edited and looking at benchmarks between the GTX 770, 780 and 780 Ti there's really only a 10 second diffence in rendering time in SVP all up and I don't want to pay about AU$200 more for 10 less seconds rendering time.

Okay, so they are my decisions that I'll be sticking to. But once again a big thanks to everyone who helped.

If your going for externals build them yourself using a internal drive and a external enclosure. That way you know exactly what drive your getting and you can get a enclosure that exactly fits your needs. If you plan to use it for more than back up and leave it on all the time I really recommend getting one with a fan.

[Geekazoid]

If your going for externals build them yourself using a internal drive and a external enclosure. That way you know exactly what drive your getting and you can get a enclosure that exactly fits your needs. If you plan to use it for more than back up and leave it on all the time I really recommend getting one with a fan.

Hmm...hadn't thought of that. Okay, well if I do that, which out of these external drive enclosures would you go with and/or recommend?

http://search.pccasegear.com/search#w=Enclosure

[TheProfosist]

Hmm...hadn't thought of that. Okay, well if I do that, which out of these external drive enclosures would you go with and/or recommend?

http://search.pccasegear.com/search#w=Enclosure

I think this is the only single drive one on that site with a fan.

[Geekazoid]

I think this is the only single drive one on that site with a fan.

Ah okay. I will have a good look at that, thank you. Do you know if I'd still be able to use something like Western Digital's backup software to do automatic regular backups or would I have do go with some other backup software? If you don't know that's alright, I can do some research myself and find out.

Does buying an internal drive and putting in an external enclosure work out cheaper or not really?

[TopSpeed]

SSD for os + programs.

Hdd raid 0 for scratchdisk. Hdd raid 1 for mass storage and backup.

Offsite backups for whatever is important.

What is and what is the purpose of a scratchdisk? 

[WoodenMarker]

What is and what is the purpose of a scratchdisk? 

It's temporary storage to work off of. In the OP's case, it's being used to edit off of. Heavy editing can benefit from a faster scratchdisk which is where raid 0 comes in.

[tek inpektor]

I built a video editing PC.

 

The setup was 1 500GB SSD for OS and programs.

 

2 2TB HDDs. One was for photos and one was for videos.

 

1 4TB HDD. For backup.

[TopSpeed]

It's temporary storage to work off of. In the OP's case, it's being used to edit off of. Heavy editing can benefit from a faster scratchdisk which is where raid 0 comes in.

Oh ok. I thought it was to store cache and temp files in.

[TheProfosist]

Ah okay. I will have a good look at that, thank you. Do you know if I'd still be able to use something like Western Digital's backup software to do automatic regular backups or would I have do go with some other backup software? If you don't know that's alright, I can do some research myself and find out.

Does buying an internal drive and putting in an external enclosure work out cheaper or not really?

Cheaper sometimes but not usually since external drives around here are the same price about as internal. But your getting a 5400rpm and a crap enclosure at least when you build your own you get your choice of dive and interface and some cooling or at least better air venting. In the US you can get cheaper enclosures than that though, or if you spent that much it would have USB 3.0 and eSATA at least.

As for backup software windows has some or download some free stuff at least you wont be tied to WD for their software.

[TheProfosist]

Oh ok. I thought it was to store cache and temp files in.

you can do that too if you want

[Geekazoid]

Cheaper sometimes but not usually since external drives around here are the same price about as internal. But your getting a 5400rpm and a crap enclosure at least when you build your own you get your choice of dive and interface and some cooling or at least better air venting. In the US you can get cheaper enclosures than that though, or if you spent that much it would have USB 3.0 and eSATA at least.As for backup software windows has some or download some free stuff at least you wont be tied to WD for their software.

Hmm...so are you saying that most external HDDs you buy are only 5400RPM? That kinda sucks. I would definitely want a 7200RPM external HDD. I guess those companies are doing the exact same thing that you can do yourself in regards to getting an internal HDD and whacking it in an enclosure that they also manufacture themselves. I will definitely consider doing that. In fact I will do more than consider it, I'll do it.

Thanks for your help mate! Much appreciated!

[Geekazoid]

Just a thought to anyone, does Windows 8.1 have trouble recognising the full capacity of a 4TB HDD? Just in the past

I've heard there were some issues with this, keen to hear anyone's thoughts on this.