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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

WD My Book Studio USB3, Lacie or G-Tech

G

Gabor D.

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Hey all,

I'm looking for a hard drive for Prores editing in FCPX with a MBP 13". I need two drives...

I'm eyeing a WD My Book Essential USB3 4TB for BACKUP and thinking about a WD My Book Studio 4TB USB3 for editing. However I would like to know the drive speed in these products. Are they 7200 or 5400rpm?

Other options in my country: Lacie or G-Tech. G-Tech is the most expensive of the three brands here. Lacie has 1-drive systems with USB3 and USB3/Thunderbolt. Plus they have the "blade runner".

I know people tend to hate WDs here, but until this point (knock, knock, knock..) I didn't have a HD failure with them, so why shouldn't I go with them?

Is 3TB drives safer then 4TBs?
 
The 4TB TB/USB3 Lacie and G-Tech run about 160 MB/s, the WD might run 110 MB/s, the LaCie and G-Tech usually have a better warranty, are more durable, and run faster in every way. But if you're only editing 1 or 2 streams of proxy Prores files the WD is fine.
 
Thanks!

My problem with the D2 USB3/Thunderbolt Lacie is the single TB port. On my MBP 13" I have 1 TB port and I need to use that for external screen.... Of course, I could use the USB3 port on the drive, then what's the reason? :) However this is the only Thunderbolt drive which I can afford right now.

But I'm fine with USB3, just would like to know which one exactly....

What about Lacie Blade Runner 4TB USB3?
 
OWC :)

hahahaha LOL

I think you will be fine with the WD for sure. Many people have had problems with Lacie, I find the very reliable.

Whatever you pick will be the right choice.

David
 
Thanks David :)

Yeah, this topic, as many others, is kinda too mystified I think.... And I even tend to overthink it :D

Hell, that Blade Runner drive looks great... But couldn't find info on its speed...

David Battistella said:
OWC :)

hahahaha LOL

I think you will be fine with the WD for sure. Many people have had problems with Lacie, I find the very reliable.

Whatever you pick will be the right choice.

David
Click to expand...
 
you must make a difference in some of the 4TB models: there are single drive systems (max between 100-150MB/s transfer, usb3 or thunderbolt wont make a difference) or there are - as in some WD models and Gtech models, 2 drives in RAID0 in a housing. The price of 2x 2TB bare drives could be less than single 4TB bare drive, and speed will be probably even be better over usb3 and/or thunderbolt, think more about 200-300MB/s, BUT you have 2 points of failure with the 2 drives. Also keep in mind that some of those disk-housings are not made for intensive use, but are oriented to a an market who will use them for storing and looking at photo's, mp3 and dvd-rips.. which is not the same as a 8 hour editing session which involves playing back all the time files at 5-50MB/s... Cooling is very important at that moment, passive with good metal housing - lacie d2, or active temperature regulated ventilation . 2 drives in a housing will make more heat than a single drive : the lacie 2big has also a metal housing, but there is also a small ventilation. Also not all 2disk raid0 housing have fast controllers, especially when using lots of small files - arri/blackmagic raw files : a good controller costs money and that will be reflected in the price of the products. I see clearly differences in those situations between the lacie 2big thunderbolt and the 2big usb3.
 
Thanks Filip!

I'm eyeing single drive solutions because 1, that fits my budget 2, two drives double the risk 3,in raid 0 more risk.... in raid 1 less space...
 
So my options are (all are 3TB drives, except Blade Runner)

Lacie D2 USB3/Thunderbolt (my concern: it has only one TB port, just like MBP... so I could use only the USB3 right now)

Lacie D2 Quadra USB3 (i think its the same as the previous, but its just usb3)

Lacie Blade Runner (I love its look... it seems speedy according to tests..)

G-Drive USB3 (It's etalon among pros I think, but somehow I don't know... )

or... the cheapest :)
WD My Book studio USB3
 
Go with the G Drives. USB3 is plenty fast for what you are doing.

David
 
Between the G-Drive 3TB USB3 and the Lacie D2 3TB USB3/Thunderbolt there's only 15-20 euro price difference. So basically they are they same. However Lacie gives me a TB option which I can't use right now because of the single TB port I have, but its more future proof. So the question: used with USB3 is it better than G-Drive USB3?

UPDATE: went with the G-Drive for editing, and WD My Book Essentials USB3 for backup. I think this is the best solution and combination.
 
Last edited:
How should I format my drives?

Currently I only use Macs, edit in FCPX, but previously I formatted all of my drives in NTFS format so I could transfer and share files easier between PCs and Macs. Right now I bought this G-Drive solely for editing in FCPX and the WD My book to back it up (as well as all my camera footage).
So what format should I format my drives to?


Thanks,
 
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