Ok I need help with storage

[KnishofDeath]

Here is my current storage setup...

Internal iMac drive 1tb

Time Machine backup 1.5tb Western Digital USB 2.0 External

Media Storage 1tb WD Green attached Via USB with Thermaltake BlacX Dock


Here is what I would like to do....

I plan on buying this enclosure ( I am open to other suggestions)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/575649-REG/PROAVIO_DVB_PRO_dvBOX_Professional_Hard_Drive.html

I will be using this as my main media storage (photos, music, movies etc.)

I need this to be as fast as possible. I will connect via firewire 800

My main question on this: Should I buy another WD green and use both of those in a Raid 0 config?

Or spring for two 1tb Caviar Black drives to use in a raid 0 config?

What would the performance difference between two WD Green in Raid 0 vs. Two Caviar Black Drives in Raid 0???

And would the difference be worth having to buy 2 new drives instead of 1?

Next...

I plan on using my existing 1.5tb drive as external storage for my apple tv

and buying this as my time machine backup drive... (again open to suggestions) This one does not need to be fast, just reliable.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/625843-REG/Western_Digital_WDH2Q40000N_4TB_My_Book_Studio.html

Ok guys thoughts???

 

[Dangman]

My main question on this: Should I buy another WD green and use both of those in a Raid 0 config?

Or spring for two 1tb Caviar Black drives to use in a raid 0 config?

Is this for your desktop or that enclosure? Do you actually need 2TB RAID 0?

What would the performance difference between two WD Green in Raid 0 vs. Two Caviar Black Drives in Raid 0???

Two WD Blacks RAID 0 would outperform two WD Green RAID 0

 

[KnishofDeath]

Is this for your desktop or that enclosure? Do you actually need 2TB RAID 0?


Two WD Blacks RAID 0 would outperform two WD Green RAID 0

I am worried it will over saturate the FW 800 bus and negate any performance difference, thoughts?

As far as space is concerned, I already have 1tb worth of movies on one drive, my intention is to rip my entire movie collection eventually, so yeah the more space the better.

 

[Dangman]

I am worried it will over saturate the FW 800 bus and negate any performance difference, thoughts?

As far as space is concerned, I already have 1tb worth of movies on one drive, my intention is to rip my entire movie collection eventually, so yeah the more space the better.

Well if you're doing RAID 0 from the enclosure, IIRC, the max average rate is 100MB/s give or take via firewire. A RAID 0 array would definitely be faster than that.

Ok, now I'm a tad confused: Why do you need "this to be as fast as possible" if it's just for "media storage"?

 

[KnishofDeath]

Well if you're doing RAID 0 from the enclosure, IIRC, the max average rate is 100MB/s give or take via firewire. A RAID 0 array would definitely be faster than that.

Ok, now I'm a tad confused: Why do you need "this to be as fast as possible" if it's just for "media storage"?

Because I am constantly making very large transfers and I am tired of waiting forever for them to finish. LOL

Sounds like buying another WD green will max out the FW 800 port, so I will go that route to save money.

thanx.

Anyone have any thoughts on my choice of external backup?

 

[leagle]

For the Time Machine disk, I think you are spending way more than you need to. Plus, you are buying a proprietary set up that depends on WD software to configure the drives. I have also read that the My Books have a tendency to shut off after 10 minutes of non-use, which is less than ideal for a Time Machine disk.

Here's my recommendation: Buy another one of the Proavia enclosures and install 2 1.5TB drives (I am partial to the Samsung Ecogreens, but WD will work fine*). 3TB is more than enough backup for you right now. Then, when 2TB (or bigger) drives reach a good price point, you can just swap out your 1.5s instead of buying a whole new system. Doing it this way, you will spend about $300 total ($200 on the 1.5TB drives and $100 on the enclosure) as compared to $430 for the WD My Book. Plus, you won't have to buy anything besides drives as your needs expand. You could even go with 2TB drives now and still come out cheaper than the My Book.



*I would stay away from the WD drives that are "Advanced Format" for the time being. You can recognize them by their model numbers that contain "EARS."

 

[KnishofDeath]

For the Time Machine disk, I think you are spending way more than you need to. Plus, you are buying a proprietary set up that depends on WD software to configure the drives. I have also read that the My Books have a tendency to shut off after 10 minutes of non-use, which is less than ideal for a Time Machine disk.

Here's my recommendation: Buy another one of the Proavia enclosures and install 2 1.5TB drives (I am partial to the Samsung Ecogreens, but WD will work fine*). 3TB is more than enough backup for you right now. Then, when 2TB (or bigger) drives reach a good price point, you can just swap out your 1.5s instead of buying a whole new system. Doing it this way, you will spend about $300 total ($200 on the 1.5TB drives and $100 on the enclosure) as compared to $430 for the WD My Book. Plus, you won't have to buy anything besides drives as your needs expand. You could even go with 2TB drives now and still come out cheaper than the My Book.



*I would stay away from the WD drives that are "Advanced Format" for the time being. You can recognize them by their model numbers that contain "EARS."

I like that idea, thank you.