Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

WD 4TB Studio vs 4TB G-Drive vs WD 6TB Duo

P

PatrickNSF

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 24, 2011
672
368
Does anyone have any experience with the WD 4TB Studio USB 3 (bit.ly/dOtPpS) for about $250, the 4TB G-Drive USB 3 (http://bit.ly/27ZydU) for about $350, and/or the WD 6TB Duo Thunderbolt (http://bit.ly/z2UA9b) for about $525+?

I'm looking for a external for my 2012 iMac allocated to iTunes media, Aperture libraries, and digital video footage. I'm a hobbyist (i.e., not a professional), so the absolute "best" performance isn't critical, though reliability is. I back up data from 3 laptops and some data from the iMac via Time Machine to a networked Time Capsule, and the rest of the iMac data via Firewire 800 to a (slow) Drobo.

Any alternate suggestions would be appreciated also. Thanks.
 
P

PatrickNSF

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 24, 2011
672
368
Thanks for the tip on the G-Raid. It's expensive, but looks to be a fast performer. Are you planning to use it striped?
 
Mr. Retrofire

Mr. Retrofire

macrumors 603
Mar 2, 2010
5,064
519
www.emiliana.cl/en
PatrickNSF said:
Apparently a discussion about hard drives for the new iMac warrants less importance than the "when did you iMac ship" threads.
Click to expand...
Please read the forum descriptions! Thank you! :)

External RAID enclosures, external harddisks and so on have nothing to do with the iMac hardware. You can use the same enclosures/HDDs on other Macs, not only iMacs.
 
Mr. Retrofire

Mr. Retrofire

macrumors 603
Mar 2, 2010
5,064
519
www.emiliana.cl/en
Ice-Cube said:
I'm thinking of getting the Lacie 2big thunderbolt. Just haven't decided if I really need thunderbolt just for backing up files.
Click to expand...
If you have “older” eSATA enclosures, you can use the LaCie Thunderbolt Hub:
http://www.lacie.com/ie/products/product.htm?id=10574

iThink i will use the hub + 2 x WD Red 3 TB (WD30EFRX) in a RAID 0 configuration. The expected transfer speed is 200-250 MByte/s. I use this enclosure:
http://www.inxtron.com/multi-bay-raid-enclosures/taurus-super-s3-lcm

Other necessary parts:
One double shielded eSATA cable (not too long), and one 2 m Thunderbolt cable (Apple).
 
M

mawyatt

macrumors member
Aug 27, 2012
46
0
I have the LaCie 2Big 4TB Thunderbolt, very happy with it. I just ordered another from MacMall, so now have 2 of the LaCie 2Bigs. They use the Seagate 7200rpm Barracuda drives. I have run Black Magic on them as RAID 0 and they are fast about 330/380M W/R I recall. I was trying to setup a more complex RAID between the 2 LaCie's but not sure if this can work. I did run both LaCie's in a RAID 0 with 4 drives just for fun. Black Magic indicated 497/515M if I remember. I will probably setup as a pair of RAID 0 with one LaCie for Time Machine when I get some time today or tomorrow.
 
D

dinggus

macrumors 65816
Jan 17, 2012
1,309
63
Oh, I wouldn't need it then.

I have a 2TB, 2x3TB and 1TB portable on my desk :( To many enclosures!
 
P

PatrickNSF

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 24, 2011
672
368
So, I ended up with the WD Studio 4TB USB3. It seems OK. Not sure if the 4TB G-drive would have offered better performance, but this was about $100 cheaper.
 
mmomega

mmomega

macrumors demi-god
Dec 30, 2009
3,879
2,089
DFW, TX
Have 2 WD Thunderbolt Duo's and I like them. WD has always been a solid performer to me. (Except for their NAS drives, slow slow slow...but reliable)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom