Maybe there are some hints in this thread.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=92029
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=92029
As far as #1, I just (as in last week) ordered this drive. It arrived yesterday, and is now operating with no problems. It doesn't have a fan, but these are reported to use the Western Digital Green Power drives, which are known for being cool and quiet. It is indeed very quiet, and barely warm. The Green Power drives seem to be the most commonly recommended ones. Unfortunately, this has gone up a bit since I ordered it last week... last week it was $175 with no rebate, now it's $203 less a $20 rebate. I used this 5% off coupon, which appears to still be good, and if you go through the Live Search Cashback program, you can get another 2% back.jdspencer said:Maybe there are some hints in this thread.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=92029
Any thoughts on this? I would like a 4 drive RAID enclosure that I can put 4 TB drives in for 2TB recording capacity.nickpoore said:3. A quiet RAID enclosure, so I can double my expansion with 2 drives and RAID0.).
Why buy 4 drives when you can just buy 3? Get this one with 3 1TB drives in RAID5. I can't confirm compatibility... maybe you could do that for us.Herdfan said:Any thoughts on this? I would like a 4 drive RAID enclosure that I can put 4 TB drives in for 2TB recording capacity.
I think the point is that you don't have to use RAID at all, if you're not interested in data redundancy. If you insist on RAID, then you might be better off choosing a different RAID configuration rather than mirroring striped drives. With RAID 5, you only lose the storage capacity of 1 drive.Herdfan said:Any thoughts on this? I would like a 4 drive RAID enclosure that I can put 4 TB drives in for 2TB recording capacity.
The problem is, that the RAID5 'stand-alone' drive enclosures (like the Thecus N3200 mentioned above) are very expensive (>$400) without the actual drives (although 1TB Seagate's are only $180/ea). So that the entire cost is, with 3 drives, > $950, whereas a Raid1 array (with 4TB drives at $720, wich an enclosure at $150 max), is a good $100 less at a minimum.bpjones said:I think the point is that you don't have to use RAID at all, if you're not interested in data redundancy. If you insist on RAID, then you might be better off choosing a different RAID configuration rather than mirroring striped drives. With RAID 5, you only lose the storage capacity of 1 drive.
Funny how prices can do things like this1948GG said:The problem is, that the RAID5 'stand-alone' drive enclosures (like the Thecus N3200 mentioned above) are very expensive (>$400) without the actual drives (although 1TB Seagate's are only $180/ea). So that the entire cost is, with 3 drives, > $950, whereas a Raid1 array (with 4TB drives at $720, wich an enclosure at $150 max), is a good $100 less at a minimum.
Until the RAID5 enclosures come down in price, going Raid1 (mirrored), with the continuing price falling of the 1TB drives themselves, make the Raid1 array's actually cheaper.
My math comes out differently than yours. The page I linked to has the Thecus @ $360, but that's not the lowest price it can be had for (this is not the lowest, but a good price from a reputable store, +free shipping). On the other hand, I can't find a 4 bay RAID0+1 capable enclosure that will work for $150. The price difference for the enclosures alone based on what I could find with some quick searching is closer to $125-ish, give or take (in favor of the 4 drive). That's about a $50 advantage for the RAID5 enclosure once you include drive prices. On top of that, once you have 3 drives compared to 4. 4 is going to increase the chance of drive failure, increase heat, increase noise, and increase power consumption.1948GG said:The problem is, that the RAID5 'stand-alone' drive enclosures (like the Thecus N3200 mentioned above) are very expensive (>$400) without the actual drives (although 1TB Seagate's are only $180/ea). So that the entire cost is, with 3 drives, > $950, whereas a Raid1 array (with 4TB drives at $720, wich an enclosure at $150 max), is a good $100 less at a minimum.