Storage with PCIe expansion in the same tower ???

[Nicos Ambatzis]

I wonder if anybody came across of this system ''Power Tower'' by FILM-SYSTEMS???????
Anybody uses it ???? I found it accidentally at : http://www.filmsys.com/pcie-expansion-chassis

[Elliott Balsley]

I haven't heard of that one. But it seems to be more expensive than the Cyclone 2707, which is recommended by DaVinci. I'm eager to find a product like this for under $1000.

[Dustin Cross]

Looks like a Cyclone 2707 with a big markup. Even uses pics off the Cyclone website.

Dusty

[Nicos Ambatzis]

It looks like Cyclone 2707, giving five slots two double and three single ones, but what is curious about, is that it has a storage within for 12 or 24 Tb. I asked for more specifications from FILM-SYSTEMS. Let see. It may be interesting and affordable as well.

[Jarek Zabczynski]

The Cyclone also has drive bays in it. I think some people put a raid card and drives in them.

Three 5.25 Inch External Drive Bays
Two 3.5 Inch External Drive Bay

You can fill those three 5.25 bays with about four or five 3.5" drives plus the two normal ones.

[Nicos Ambatzis]

Sorry this the right site : http://www.filmsys.com/color-correct...n-chassis.html

[Dustin Cross]

I put my Cyclone 2707 in a different chassis that has 9 5.25" drive bays. Add three 3x5.25 to 5x3.5 drive trays and an Atto R60F 16 channel raid card and 15 3TB Sata drives and you have have 45TB of high speed storage for about $7000, plus expansion for four more cards. Drive trays and 4u chassis was pretty cheap like $500. R60F is about $1000. 3TB drives are $150-200 each. If you have some basic computer knowledge this is very easy to do. If you do not have experience you are much better off paying these guys to do it for you. If you do it yourself, make sure you have enough power and cooling so you don't kill everything.

I highly recommend the Cyclone 2707 and much prefer it over the Cubix because of this design.


Dusty

[Nicos Ambatzis]

Hi Dustin,

You may be right, but I don't have the necessary computer knowledge to do it. The reason I found it interesting is, first because it gives you 5 x 16 slots and second no extra controller cable and card. On the other hand, I have disadvantage : I have an early 2008 Mac Pro with only 1 x 16 slot (taken by a Quadro 4500), which computer I have to use it until Apple announces something new next year. In this case I have limited options, either a Cubic with 4 x 16 with two G-Speed es Pro (as a good friend suggested and both I can buy them in Europe) or this Power Tower system more or less with the same cost. The thing is that I don't have any reference for the Power Tower ( how well it works, noise, etc) in comparison with the first Cubic / G-Speed option.

Nicos

[Dustin Cross]

Nicos,

If this is based on the Cyclone 2707 like it appears, it has three x16 PCIe v2 slots and two 8x PCIe v2 slots with x16 physical connector. The entire system is connected to your tower by a single x16 v2 card. My experience with the Cyclone 2707 is they are great. From the factory the fans are STUPID LOUD!!!! Replace them with good fans and that problem is easily solved.

I would hope these guys put acceptable fans in this Power Tower.

It comes with 8x 3.5" drive trays and those will need to be connected to some raid card for the storage to work. So that means one of the PCIe slots in the case is used up.

I can't remember if I ever connected my Cyclone to one of our older Mac Pros, so you might wanna verify it works on your system. It should. Mine is used mostly with 2009 Mac Pros (4,1) and runs great.


Dusty