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New RAID-G-Speed ES Pro. Am I doing the right thing?
I’m a FCP editor and for what it’s worth, I work in L.A.
My media storage is currently a 14-drive, rack mounted Apple RAID 2.7tb which is as fast as I’ve ever needed, via fibre-optics. It hasn’t let me down in its four years – but very soon it will be up for sale.I need more storage space and an upcoming change in the shape of my studio suggests a need to place my next RAID in a unit which sits right next to my 8-core Mac Pro where I work mainly in ProRez 422, HDV and DV.
I need much more quietness than the Apple RAID provides, I think it was designed for a dedicated machine room. I am also wary of any proposed new RAID set-up generating too much heat.
I’m considering a G-SPEED ES Pro, connected via mini-SAS port and PCIe controller. I plan to set it to RAID 5.
Apparently it’s fast and “whisper quiet” which is very important to me as I need operational quietness.
I understand that earlier fan noise is no longer a problem – and that a little more than $3k will buy 6tb of storageThe other candidates, as far as I am aware, are:
Drobo Pro (probably not fast enough)
CalDigit VR (not big enough)
Sonnet D800 (costs 50% more)So I wonder if anyone out there would either encourage or discourage me in my planned purchase.
Please tell me – is there something I’m unaware of?Godfrey Pye
Mulholland Bays – in the Hollywood Hills -
11 Replies
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Forget DROBO..not meant for video.
Look at CalDigit HDOne (I have one, my computer is louder) and at the MaxxDigital EVO HD 2. That’s pretty quiet too. I hear it, but it isn’t a fan-storm like the XSERVE RAIDS.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Since you already have a fiber card, you might look into the G-Speed FC. We’ve had a 1.2 TB for about 3 years, and it simply works. Not quite “whisper quiet” but nothing like the blowers in an Apple Xraid
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Shane, I am certainly appreciative of your suggestions but the CalDigit RAID website says that “2TB systems start at just $3999”.
And the EVO HD2 is similarly priced.
So in terms of bang for buck, the G-Speed ES Pro wins hands down.
Thanks again though.Godfrey Pye
Mulholland Bays – in the Hollywood Hills -
Aaron, thank you too for responding so quickly.
I looked at the G-Speed FC and it is considerably more expensive than the ES Pro.
And a friend just called saying how happy he is with his ES.
So far, it seems to be winning.
You’re right about the Apple X-RAID being so noisy – but shhh!
I’m going to have to sell it soon.Godfrey Pye
Mulholland Bays – in the Hollywood Hills -
Right in the same price range as the ES Pro is the CalDigit HDElement. They’re essentially the same technology, but right now, CalDigit is giving away a 3TB VR drive with each HDElement. CalDigit is a great company too. (not that G-Technology isn’t!)
-Russ
Russell Lasson
Colorist/Digital Cinema Specialist
Color Mill
Salt Lake City, UT
http://www.colormill.net -
Thanks Russell, that’s interesting and a good price.
I’ll check it out to see if anyone has anything to say about its quietness.
I see there’s something else I hadn’t heard of – Micronet Raid Bank.
Seems to offer 8tb for $3k-ish.Godfrey Pye
Mulholland Bays – in the Hollywood Hills -
We’ve got 2 G-Speed ES’s humming along here, and they are pretty great, but they aren’t super quiet. I’ve got a 3GB one next to me right now and the fan noise is definitely audible. It’s nowhere near as loud as some of the firewire drives I have, and it’s not particularly distracting. I think if it were under the desk, I probably wouldn’t really take note of it, but it’s on my desk about 3′ away from me. The AC unit in the room is louder. Hope that helps 🙂
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Nicole, that helps a lot thank you.
I will have my new RAID sitting about 3′ away from me but in a cupboard with a glass door.I know It’s difficult to answer ‘how noisy is noisy?’ – it’s like asking how long is a piece of string?
However, would you mind telling me how old your units are as I understand the fans were quietened down a few months ago. So would you say that your drives are more or less noisy than your (I assume Mac) computer? Mine’s a Mac Pro.
Many thanks, GodfreyGodfrey Pye
Mulholland Bays – in the Hollywood Hills -
We just purchased the one I’m using right now about 2 weeks ago, and the other one maybe 2 months ago?
I would say it’s a little noisier than the Mac Pro, but like I said, this is pretty close to my ear. It’s noisier than the firewire G-tech G-Raid drives I have, but quieter than some of the Cal-digit and other firewires. If the drive is going to be in a cupboard with a door, I really don’t think you’ll notice it.
But I guess it all subjective- when I shut my system down for the night, I’m always amazed at how much quieter everything sounds, even though I hardly notice it during the day 🙂
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I understand what you mean so thanks Nicole.
You have also taught me that G-Speed is apparently quieter than Cal-Digit drives. Good stuff to know.
You’ve been very kind and I believe that G-Speed will be the option I’ll settle for.
If only I could get their sales people to answer the supplementary questions I asked earlier today.
They must be very busy selling stuff.
Have a nice weekend.
GodfreyGodfrey Pye
Mulholland Bays – in the Hollywood Hills
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