rjd@faron.UUCP (Robert DeBenedictis) (01/10/86)
I would like to know what configuration of PC hardware will give me the best performance in running a large database application. By large I mean several thousand records, multiple files, multiple indices, etc. Cost is (almost) not an issue. In particular, I would like know about hard disk drives and memory expansion. It would seem as though hard disk speed will be the prime determinant of my system performance. I assume that additional memory will also improve the performance of my applications if the dbms system I use knows how to take advantage of it. Some more specific questions: - *Fast Disks*. Is there a big difference in the speeds of different manufacturers' hard drives? If so, which are the fastest? How do IBM's drives compare? - *AT memory*. If I run a program like dBase III on an AT, does the extra RAM capability (>640K) do me any good? - *RAM disks*. Is it possible to create a RAM disk and use it to store (non-critical) index files? Will this improve performance? Are there RAM disks which can use memory over the 640K limit? - *Processor speed*. Will using a faster non-standard processor speed have much impact on my performance? IBM equipment is preferred for administrative reasons, so long as there is not too much of a performance penalty involved in using it. How does the new intel memory standard affect these issues? Do any current popular dbms development systems (R:Base 5000, Kman, Dataflex, Condor, etc.) acknowledge and take advantage of this extra memory? I realize I've asked a lot of questions here. I would appreciate responses via mail and then I will post a summary. Thanks.
mikef@aplvax.UUCP (Michael A. Fallavollita) (01/17/86)
> - *RAM disks*. Is it possible to create a RAM disk and use it to store > (non-critical) index files? Will this improve performance? Are > there RAM disks which can use memory over the 640K limit? Dos versions 3.0 and later have a device driver, VDISK.SYS which can specify use of the higher memory for the RAM disk. (atleast on 3.1) Afraid I can't help you on the rest. Mike Fallavollita JHU APL (UMCP)