I’ve done research on this for two days, and all of my questions are cleared except those ones listed in this discussion. A couple simple conclusions about optimal RAID 0:
1. smaller stripe size for random access (OS, applications), larger stripe size for data (large files, storage).
2. you would get better performance if stripe size = cluster size, or (# of drive * stripe size) = cluster size
The default cluster size for Windows OS is 4k and I believe it stays like that since Win 2000 to now for a reason, the MS engineers must have determined this is the best way. OK then let me assume I don’t change that, although a lot of ppl suggest changing it to 16k.
My question is, why had I never seen anyone suggesting 4k as stripe size? From all resources I’ve read, they are saying either 16k or 32k.
If the concept of “stripe size = cluster size” is correct, wouldn’t it be optimal to set 4k strip on a disk which is formatted by Windows installation CD, with 4k cluster?
If 4k option is available from the RAID controller (I have ICH9R), is there any reason I don’t want to do 4k? Is there any downside on performance to do 4K? Is it considered TOO SMALL and will increase the burden of RAID controller and thus reduce the overall performance?
