Need 4 drive enclosure for RAID 10

[Dr Strangelove]

I have been searching high and low for a nice enclosure to pair with my new iMac just purchased. The only thing that seems to strike me is the OWC http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/RAID/Desktop/

Is there anything else out there worth looking at? How far away are the Thunderbolt enclosures?

 

[r0k]

I would check out LaCie as well. They have already announced thunderbolt devices. I have a LaCie firewire drive and I'm very happy with it. I also have a LaCie NAS unit that I expect to be just as happy with (when I find the time to plug it in and copy my files over from the sorry old iomega).

 

[Hellhammer]

Thunderbolt enclosures should arrive within this quarter (i.e. in two months). Some 4-bay enclosures have already been announced so I would wait.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

Thunderbolt enclosures should arrive within this quarter (i.e. in two months). Some 4-bay enclosures have already been announced so I would wait.

Hmm, I am not sure i can wait. Is it really going to be that much faster for me?

 

[Hellhammer]

Hmm, I am not sure i can wait. Is it really going to be that much faster for me?

Depends what the external will be used but shortly, yes. FW800 can provide only 80MB/s in real world while two drives in RAID 0 can easily offer speeds of +250MB/s.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

Depends what the external will be used but shortly, yes. FW800 can provide only 80MB/s in real world while two drives in RAID 0 can easily offer speeds of +250MB/s.

Planning to use it for Final Cut Editing

 

[mwhq]

G-Technology G-Speed es or es Pro. Used widely in editing suites and studios.

 

[C00rDiNaT0r]

Depends what the external will be used but shortly, yes. FW800 can provide only 80MB/s in real world while two drives in RAID 0 can easily offer speeds of +250MB/s.

Sorry if this is a noob question.. If they can provide 80MB/s, then how come my WD My Book Studio II (2x1TB) hooked up to a early 2009 Mac Mini doesn't seem to read/write this fast? Am I missing something?

 

[Hellhammer]

Planning to use it for Final Cut Editing

I would wait for Thunderbolt then, more speed is always better. Shouldn't be more than a month left.

Sorry if this is a noob question.. If they can provide 80MB/s, then how come my WD My Book Studio II (2x1TB) hooked up to a early 2009 Mac Mini doesn't seem to read/write this fast? Am I missing something?

It can vary, depending on what exact drive you got. The kind of data is also important (compressed vs uncompressed). You can use AJA System Test to test what your drive can really provide.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

Thank you, I think I will see if I can hold out till June/July

 

[C00rDiNaT0r]

It can vary, depending on what exact drive you got. The kind of data is also important (compressed vs uncompressed). You can use AJA System Test to test what your drive can really provide.

I think they put those "green" drives into the enclosure, maybe that's somehow a bottleneck? I heard those drives spin at a lower speed (something like 5400rpm?) so they're slower.

 

[Hellhammer]

I think they put those "green" drives into the enclosure, maybe that's somehow a bottleneck? I heard those drives spin at a lower speed (something like 5400rpm?) so they're slower.

Even they should offer speed close to 80MB/s unless they are a few years old. If they are in RAID 0, then the speeds should definitely be around 80MB/s unless there are other bottlenecks (the FW800 controller in the enclosure for instance).