RAID 0 Suggestions: LaCie 2Big vs OWC Elite Pro Duel

[FullerNikonMan]

Hello,
I am looking for some advice on external RAID arrays for my photo library. I have a late 2012 iMac with an internal 1TB 2.5” 5400 RPM drive. I use LR5 and PS CC mainly. I plan to use this array for my working files so speed is important. I plan to set up in RAID 0 with a local HD and CrashPlan backups. I believe I have my selection down to 2:
1. LaCie 2Big 6TB Thunderbolt backed up locally to LaCie d2 Quadra USB 3.0
2. OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual Multi-Interface Performance RAID Enclosure. B&H recommends these drives for it: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1042713-REG/wd_wd1003fbyz_1tb_enterprise_3_5_internal.html I will back this up locally with OWC Mercury Elite Pro External Hard Drive USB 3.
I have used LaCie in the past and like them. I have no experience with OWC.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joseph

 

[thedeske]

Setting up the exact same thing for a client. Currently uses 4TB USB drives, so we'll use those for
backup. We targeted the Caldigit T3 - 6TB version uses Toshiba DT01ACA200 drives.
Since the TB2 version was released, the original is going for a lot less. The newer version is not
that much faster in 50% full use.

Amazon is a dealer

 

[MCAsan]

I use my LaCie 2Big 6TB in RAID 0 mode and my TM backup does to a LaCie 6TB d2 that is chained behind the 2Big. I keep all my libraries (photos, music, videos, documents...etc) on the external drive. Lightroom on my rMBP's internal SSD does catalog backup to the 2Big.

In the field I import my raw photos to the SSD, cull, and maybe do initial edits in Lightroom. When I get home I complete the process and move the images to the Photos folder on 2Big. That frees up SSD space for the next field trip.

 

[100Teraflops]

I use my LaCie 2Big 6TB in RAID 0 mode and my TM backup does to a LaCie 6TB d2 that is chained behind the 2Big. I keep all my libraries (photos, music, videos, documents...etc) on the external drive. Lightroom on my rMBP's internal SSD does catalog backup to the 2Big.

In the field I import my raw photos to the SSD, cull, and maybe do initial edits in Lightroom. When I get home I complete the process and move the images to the Photos folder on 2Big. That frees up SSD space for the next field trip.

My setup is very similar. I have two Lacie thunderbolt drives daisy chained, one has raid 0 and the other as my backup in raid 1. I do not use my internal drive in my laptop. I like space available in my laptop drive.


OP,
I have two years plus from Lacie raids and I am very pleased thus far. I have a 2big and a little two big. I know my 2big has seagate drives and I think my little two big has western digital drives.

I have OWC ram, but would not hesitate to buy a raid system from them. Hope this helps.

 

[Apple fanboy]

We put a lot of back up solutions into different graphic designers etc at work and our technical team always choose LaCie.

 

[FullerNikonMan]

Thanks all for the great help and guidance! Still thinking about this one. Speed is the main reason I am looking into RAID 0. My 2012 iMac seems to be slow but maybe I should look at SSD or more RAM.
Thanks,
Joseph

 

[MCAsan]

If you have the need for speed...get a new Retina 5K iMac with 4k quad core i7 CPU, top GPU, 16 or 32GB of memory and a 512 SSD for plenty of room for OS, apps, and cache. Then put the data on LaCie 5Big Thunderbolt 2 running RAID 5. Don't forget drives for TM or CCC.

 

[Ray2]

Agree with the above. Put an ssd in the Mac. Keep your cache files on it. You'll see far better performance from that than fast external storage.

 

[ChrisA]

.... I plan to set up in RAID 0 with a local HD and CrashPlan backups. ....

You should know that RAID-0 is only half as reliable as a single disk. You should expect to periodically need to restore from a backup. The way RAID 0 works is that if either drive fails you loose the data on both drives

So you should seriously consider a local Time Machine backup of your RAID 0 system. Cloud backups like CrashPlan or BackBlaze are for "last resort" backups after your primary backup fails

You cause a slower and less expensive storage system for Time Machine

Have you actually used CrashPlan? I found the upload was intolerably slow. So slow it could not be used like you want because new data might remain not backed up for DAYS or longer. I have a fiber optic internet connection that runs at 10 megabits in both directions and still CrashPlan is throttling the connection. So when I would copy a 32GB SD card to my hard drive it would take days to get backed up. and worse CrashPlan is a Java app that sucks up LOTS of resources in my iMac and it has to run 24x7 Ok it works but not as a first level of backup.

You need a local Time Machine storage device.

 

[rock.star]

I would also suggest the T3 from CalDigit which is in the same market section with the two disk Raids like G-Tech Studio... just with one drive more.

Stay away from Lacie! Bad news!

 

[FullerNikonMan]

Hello All,
Thanks for the great feedback and guidance!

MCAsan and Ray2,
I will eventually invest in a new iMac with SSD, better processor and more RAM. But for now funds do not permit it. And since I need additional storage now that is why I am looking into external RAID.

ChrisA,
Yes, the RAID 0 does worry me with twice the risk of failure. Sorry I was not clear, I plan on using BOTH local back up and CrashPlan. I use Time Machine for my internal drive now and it works great. I am planning on backing up the external RAID to a OWC USB 3.0 drive with the included OWC back up software. Funny you should ask about CrashPlan... I just downloaded it Monday and started using it... I thought something was incorrect with my set up since the uploads are unbelievable slow. I plan to call CrashPlan and discuss this... if this is best case it will not work for me. I agree this is only for last resort back up and I plan to use a local HD to back up the RAID.... either with TM or OWC software.

rock.star,
I spent quite a bit of time reviewing the CalDigit enclosures and I really like them. Great price too for a 3 bay unit but a little above my price point. Thanks for the note on LaCie... I have heard mixed reviews on LaCie. Some love them and some hate them.

Thanks again all for the help here! I have been enjoying this education in the world of storage.

Regards,
Joseph