The Multi-Boot Configuration Handbook

Fast and Slow Portions of Hard Disks

All other things being equal, we all prefer faster hard drives to slower ones. Hard disk speed is, however, an often-misunderstood topic, for several reasons. Determining how best to place an OS's partitions can be as much an art as a science because so many variables are involved in how a given OS or person uses the disk, making prediction difficult. I therefore present some general principles and rules of thumb in this section that should help you make appropriate decisions.

Hard Disk Design Consequences

Any discussion of hard disk speed must refer first to the design of hard disks. Hard disks contain many components that interact in ways that are sometimes complex. Fortunately, a few principles suffice ...