MP 7,1 External TB3 options for Mac Pro

[choreo]

Looking at purchasing new 12 core Mac Pro, but need to research external storage options for this machine. I am considering a couple RAID 5 options so far...

16.0TB OWC ThunderBay - Enterprise Hard Drive Models

The "just right" RAID for all external storage needs. Powered by SoftRAID advanced RAID management software. Includes Thunderbolt cable.

eshop.macsales.com

Hard Drive Arrays | B&H Photo Video

Your source for Hard Drive Arrays including popular models like T4, MiniPro, TeraStation III iSCSI TS-RIXL/R5, Rugged RAID, Fusion DE400 and 5051.

www.bhphotovideo.com

Any thoughts? I have lots of Client data files and video footage - mostly Adobe CC files.

Also the Mac Pro TB3 specs say up to 40 Gb/s, but what external drives would take full advantage of that?

 

[joevt]

Max TB3 PCIe performance is ≈ 2750 MB/s (22 Gbps). The rest of the 40 Gbps can be used for DisplayPort.

 

[Schismz]

Spinning rust * 4 drives, isn't going to saturate a TB3 connection. Out of the two units above OWC doesn't have hardware RAID, you have to install SoftRAID which -- in my opinion -- has gone downhill off a cliff since OWC acquired them. Search SoftRAID in these forums, or Google to see the collection of angst. Here's Lloyd ranting about SoftRAID, bearing in mind that he gets paid by OWC to promote their products:

Major Data Loss Today — But Luckily I Had Just Made Several Backups

Promise has hardware RAID, and in my experience Just Works (so long as you plug it in and don't install random drivers). It's great for archival storage, had no problems with it. The only issue I'm aware of is that like many companies, they use those soft zinc screws to screw the drives into the sleds, so if you ever have to replace one, they purposefully make it more expensive than necessary and you'll often end up stripping them and having to replace screws, get stuck drives, buy replacement sleds, etc. (See also: iMac Pro VESA mount, etc, etc, ad nauseum.)

I've owned both products, still use the Promise with MP.

 

[daveedjackson]

I have a LaCie 2big, which is my archive where I offload complete projects. Ironically it's a tb2 drive, but it's due an upgrade and I've not had any issues with it since I purchased over 6 years ago. Also I'm probably gonna upload to the 20tb raid 1 it and replace the one I have.

 

[funkahdafi]

Have you considered a NAS? With 10 gigabit Ethernet, you can get pretty decent read/write speeds, and some models from QNAP even come with Thunderbolt 3. Added bonus: You have a server in your network that other clients can access as well. You're all around much more flexible than with a direct attach storage solution.