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Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:32:30 -0800
From: Steve Crawford <scrawford@pinpointresearch.com>
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To: Michael Friedl <linux@nicce.at>
CC: pgsql-performance@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: Advice sought : new database server
References: <20120304095838.GA3064@campbell-lange.net>
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On 03/04/2012 03:50 AM, Michael Friedl wrote:
> Hey!
>
> On 04.03.2012 10:58, Rory Campbell-Lange wrote:
>>      1U chassis with 8 2.5" disk bays
>>      2x Intel Xeon E5630 Quad-Core / 4x 2.53GHz / 12MB cache
>>      8 channel Areca ARC-1880i (PCI Express x8 card)
>>        presumably with BBU (can't see it listed at present)
>>      2 x 300GB SAS  2.5" disks for operating system
>>        (Possibly also 300GB SATA VelociRaptor/10K RPM/32MB cache
>>        RAID 1
>>      4 x 300GB SAS  2.5" storage disks
>>        RAID 10
>>      48.0GB DDR3 1333MHz registered ECC (12x 4.0GB modules)
>>
> Sorry, no answer for your question and a bit offtopic.
>
>
> Why do you take SAS disks for the OS and not much cheaper SATA ones?
>
>
>

Here's Intel's (very general) take. Your OS disks may not justify SAS on 
performance alone but other aspects may sway you.
http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-031831.htm

Cheers,
Steve