Don't know your WD Red from your Seagate Ironwolf? Looking to populate a NAS Drive with the right media, but are cannot see the wood for the trees? Here we discuss the latest and greatest hard drive (and SSD of course) media for your network attached storage.
Best transcoding NAS for video editing?
Hi all, I need some advice on a NAS solution for our small video studio. I'm hoping to find a NAS that will automatically transcode 4k xavc-s files down to 1080p H264 files for editing as proxy files in Premiere. I'd like to create a simple workflow so a team member can remove SD cards from a camera. Plug them into a reader, change their filename (our sony A7Sii cameras do not have a very user-friendly naming system) and then copy the files to the NAS. Probably using an iMac as the workstation. I would like the NAS to then transcode the files to 1080p, and copy both the 4k files and the 1080p files to an external drive so the videographer can take the external drive back to their studio to edit with + keep a copy of all files on the NAS. We will have about 4TB of 4k footage for this project. But will need to hold more in the future. Redundant RAID in case of a failed drive is a must, incremental backup in case someone deletes the wrong file would be nice too.
MI Milkwood_nick asked on 04 September 2020, 02:16
1 answers / 0 votes / 136 views
Wd Red vs Seagate Ironwolf for Synology 220+?
Given all the great advice you have given over the years, I am about to buy my first "real" NAS, the Synology DS220+. My question is: should I buy WD Red or Seagate Ironwolf for the Synology? I was originally thinking that a pair of 6TB would be good for what I need the NAS to do, but with the WD SMR/CMR issue, I'm now looking at 8TB drives to eliminate that issue. Please can you give guidance on whether the 7200RPM Seagates are more reliable than the 5400RPM WDs? Do they make more noise (the DS220+ will be next to my router in the living room)? Use more power? For backup and media server, any differences? Any guidance would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
2 answers / 0 votes / 220 views
Synology vs. QNAP disk size upgrade?
On Synology vs. QNAP videos it was stated that you can use different size disks with Synology but not with QNAP, is this still true? How do you upgrade your QNAP RAID to larger disks? If you can't use various sizes do you have to rebuild from scratch?
1 answers / 0 votes / 108 views
Yet again WD Red 4TB FAX vs FRX?
Hi, I'm looking closely to Qnap TS-251D populated with a couple of WD Red 4TB HDD based on the following needs: - Family data storage solution (three persons with individual personal and professional data); - Multimedia storage and video player through HDMI to the living room TV; - Own cloud solution for on-the-move access. My choice for the WD Red was mainly driven by the lower noise level when compared with the Seagate Ironwolf, but considering my complete lack of experience, I'm not sure if that's a significant factor to consider in my case. Having this WD Red in mind, I've been following the CMR/SMR controversy and all the amazing NASCompares Youtube videos posted to test this novelty from WD. Even watching these videos, I'm still not sure if it pays to buy the new model (FAX), mainly because it is more expensive than the older model (FRX). Should I go for WD Red FAX, FRX or just go for Seagate (if the noise levels aren't that noticeable)?
2 answers / 0 votes / 396 views
4tb WD Red no longer compatible with synology?
Hi. Thanks for your site and videos. I have recently moved my 4tb wd red HDD from ds412+ to rs1219+. A check today on the synology site shows 4tb red HDD are no longer listed as compatible. They were on the compatible list yesterday I’m sure! My question is which models/serial numbers were compatible? Has WD published when they changed from CMR to SMR on hdd so we can check what we have? Regards
NA Nascompares_blog_push asked on 27 April 2020, 03:30
1 answers / 0 votes / 255 views
Help needed b/w 4TB WD Red Pro / WD Gold / Seagate Ironwolf Pro?
Hello, I currently own a QNAP TS-453Mini 8GB (original version) w/ 4x 4TB WD Red Pro (64MB cache) HDD's (all bought in 2016) 1 of HDD's failed this week and I'm looking to replace it ASAP. I was looking at the 4TB WD Red Pro vs the 4TB WD Gold vs the 4TB Seagate Ironwolf Pro HDD's. I'd need some advice on the following: - Can I mix HDD brands (i.e. 2x Seagate + 2x WD Red Pros) - Can I mix HDD's with different cache sizes? (Red Pro 64MB vs Gold 256 MB, or even Ironwolf Pro 128MB vs Red Pro 64MB, and so on) - Considering the recent SRM issues, are the WD Gold and Ironwolf models bound to be affected? - Is the WD Gold worth it for a 4bay NAS? All three drives are nearly at the same price right now, so that's not an issue. It's more on reliability. I replaced one of my drives 1.5 yrs ago already and now a 2nd one failed this week. That's 2 of the original WD Red Pro's in less than 4 years. Add the emerging SRM issues affecting WD 2TB-6TB HDD's... Thanks in advance!
ME Menvedidos asked on 21 April 2020, 18:52
1 answers / 0 votes / 184 views
WD Red vs WD Red Pro ?
All of the Media coverage is regarding the WD Red HDD's and the shingling used in these drives to increase storage capacity. Does any of this controversy extend to the WD Red Pro drives as well?
1 answers / 1 votes / 154 views
QNAP TS231P2 :How to clean up / format working old disks from RAID1 after replacing both? Ex by going 2x2TB->2x6TB?
Hello! I am new to NAS, so apologies. Let's say, I'd like to extend my current RAID1 in my Qnap NAS by replacing smaller disks with larger ones. 2x2TB - 2x4TB or 2x6TB. I checked qnap manual and understand the procedure "replace disk one by one" but it does not say in what state the old disk will be? I understand the data will remain there? What if I would like to resell them to a friend? I also have a desktop PC, do I need, after replacement insert them one by one to my PC and format/clean up them? Will any software be able to read them? Is it possible perhaps to do this procedure while they are still on my NAS? I mean, clean disk one, replace, wait for raid rebuild, clean disk 2, replace, wait for raid rebuild? Thank You and stay in good health during those awful times!
1 answers / 0 votes / 184 views
Hard drives' choice for modern Plex oriented NAS?
Hi! I'm going to buy my first NAS aimed to be both a file server and a Media Server. My question is: what hard drives should I choose if NAS's main purpose is seamless 4K UHD playback (I know this is not widespread at the moment but I'd like to be a bit future-prone). So, should I go for: 1) A pair of 4TB WD Red's (or Red Pro's?) in a RAID. This is a good option cost-wise but I'm not sure if it will be robust enough given HDD's relatively low random read speed. 2) A pair of 1TB SSDs 3) Even though I plan getting a TS-251D (once it is available in my country), I don't think that getting an add-on card with SSD for caching purposes will help me in 4K playback, but pls correct me if I indeed should consider this option. Many thanks!
MA Makumazan84 asked on 29 March 2020, 23:00
2 answers / 0 votes / 211 views
WD Red 6TB using SMR omg?
I have a Qnap NAS and two WD Red 6TB hard disks. Trying to decide between static/thick/thin. I know there is a performance hit but quite like the flexibility of thin as would setup three volumes with snapshot on one and over-provision. I can't get a handle on how much the performance hit might be. Also I was horrified to find out my WD Reds are using SMR. As I will setup as a RAID1 I wondered if thin would be a problem with these drives versus static. Cheers...
1 answers / 0 votes / 467 views
Qnap compatible hard drives (HDD)?
Hi, I am looking into getting my first NAS QNAP TS230 with 2x 4TB HDDs. My question is- QNAP has a "recommended" NAS HDD drives list on their website, does it mean it wont work as efficiently from something outside that list? I was thinking of getting the Seagate Ironwolf ST4000VN0008 which is not a part of the recommended list on QNAP's website.
NC Nc enquiries asked on 02 March 2020, 23:03
1 answers / 0 votes / 199 views
Seagate ST6000VN0041 Vs ST6000VN0033 Can I Mix Two Different Drives In A RAID?
Mixing very similar drives Immediately after purchasing 2 drives configured in RAID 1 for my new Numbustor-4 (BTRFS) with plans to later get 2 more identical drives to fill up the NAS and go to either RAID 5 or 6, I learned I purchased a lesser drive which I fear may be eliminated from Seagate’s product line by the time I get two more (very little difference in cost – I feel like a dummy for not noticing there were two types!). My question is if the lesser drives do go off the market and only the better ones are available, can I still do my plan? If not, I think I am going to beg forgiveness from the wife and get 2 more. (In the system now) Seagate 6TB IronWolf NAS SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM NCQ 128MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Hard Drive (ST6000VN0041) (Better ones) Seagate IronWolf 6TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 7200 RPM 256MB Cache for RAID Network Attached Storage – Frustration Free Packaging (ST6000VN0033)
NA Nascompares_blog_push asked on 28 February 2020, 17:11
1 answers / 0 votes / 296 views
The Most Reliable Hard Drives For NAS?
I have a 216+2 and a 216J (both from you). Both coming upto 3 years old. the +2 runs 24/7 and the 216J runs once a day backing up from the +2. the +2 is in a rack in the house and the j on the wall in the garage in a locked box. All have 3TB WD reds. The J still has its original drives. The +2 is now on its 3rd complete set, all fail with sector errors. WD always replace them but now the guarantee is out, who makes reliable drives these days. I’ve seen you video comparing the different drives, but longevity seems an issue these days.
NA Nascompares_blog_push asked on 28 February 2020, 16:07
1 answers / 0 votes / 171 views