ASK NC

Hi NAS Compares,
I'm a videographer and I'll be using the M.2 slots as a separate volume to edit my videos from, over 10Gbe. I think I'll need at least 8TB in that volume. My ideal scenario would be to get one 8TB drive for now (like the Corsair MP600 Pro XT), which will leave a slot free so I can get another 8TB down the track. The NAS will be on almost all of the time (often sleeping). Do you recommend that Corsair drive in this use case? Are they reliable?
QNAP doesn't list any 8TB drives as compatible and they only recommend one 4TB drive - the WD Red SN700. I'd prefer to get a Gen4 drive though. My computer is a 2019 iMac 27", which has an NVME SSD built in. I think my current setup would benefit from having a Gen4 drive, yes? Gen4 would future proof it for when I upgrade my computer too.
My other notion is to get 2 x Firecuda 530 4TBs.
Thanks!

Hi there! Based on your use case, I would recommend going for a M.2 NVMe SSD that has high endurance and is specifically designed for sustained heavy workloads, such as the Samsung 970 PRO or the Seagate FireCuda 530.

The Corsair MP600 Pro XT is also a good choice and should perform well, although it's worth noting that it's a consumer-grade drive and may not have the same level of endurance as the Samsung or Seagate drives. That being said, if you're not doing extremely heavy editing workloads, the Corsair drive should be sufficient for your needs.

Regarding the compatibility with your QNAP NAS, it's always a good idea to check with the manufacturer's compatibility list before purchasing a new drive. While the QNAP compatibility list may not have listed the Corsair drive, it should still be compatible as long as it meets the M.2 NVMe interface and size requirements for your NAS.

In terms of future-proofing, it's true that Gen4 drives will provide faster speeds than Gen3 drives, especially if you have a Gen4-compatible computer. However, keep in mind that the speed improvement may not be significant enough to justify the higher cost of Gen4 drives. Additionally, if your NAS doesn't have a Gen4 PCIe interface, then you won't be able to take full advantage of the Gen4 drive's capabilities.

Overall, both the Corsair MP600 Pro XT and Seagate FireCuda 530 would be good options for your needs, and you can't go wrong with either choice. Just be sure to check the compatibility list for your NAS before making your final decision.