Need more Hard Disk dpace on G5 : Internal or external? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Apple / Mac Post Production Solutions > Final Cut Suite

Final Cut Suite
Discussing the editing of all formats with FCS, FCP, FCE

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 16th, 2004, 04:56 AM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 90
Need more Hard Disk dpace on G5 : Internal or external?

Hello All

I need more HD space and am considering an external 250gb Firewire 800 drive from Lacie.

Alternatively, I would consider getting a 2nd internal drive (looks like the G5 has a nice preprepared slot from one of these) The benefit here would be one less external device and power supply and cables.

Has anyone got a recommendation for an interal drive (manufacturer and type and re-seller in Europe)

When I ordered the G5, Apple were looking for circa $700 to fit the 2nd 250gb drive which I thought was too expensive (and still do)

Any comments/suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks P
__________________
Sony PDX10 by 2, DRS-11, Dual G5, FCX, DVDSP and Logic Plat.
www.VarsityMusicVideo.com
Patrick Grealy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 16th, 2004, 05:17 AM   #2
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 123
I would go with an external drive. It's nice to be able to move a large drive between different computers. If you have computer problems, your hard drive doesn't go down with it. I would also look for a triple interface drive that has the maximum compatibility with other computers in the event that you need to move to another one.
Cannon Pearson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 16th, 2004, 06:04 PM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Venice, CA
Posts: 346
Although measured for boot times, it might be a good idea for a second drive in general: http://www.barefeats.com/hard39.html

or

http://www.barefeats.com/hard38.html

External is really convenient if you don't need the speed of internal...
Mark Sloan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 16th, 2004, 08:41 PM   #4
Warden
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 8,287
If possible I would get an internal drive, less noise and desktop clutter. The size should be the same size and brand if possible. If you decide to set up a RAID in the future, it is easier with matched drives.
__________________
Jeff Donald
Carpe Diem




Search DVinfo.net for quick answers | Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors
Jeff Donald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 16th, 2004, 11:51 PM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: ny,ny
Posts: 52
Ideally, it's good to have both the internal and external HD. I have two internal drives and a firewire for back up and travel. The internal is faster when working with media, but I would never again work with a project and not have the protection of an external FW drive as back up.
Claude Isbell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2004, 02:36 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 90
<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : If possible I would get an internal drive, less noise and desktop clutter. The size should be the same size and brand if possible. If you decide to set up a RAID in the future, it is easier with matched drives. -->>>

Can I find out what make model my Apple drive is without taking it out? (via software)

Thanks P
__________________
Sony PDX10 by 2, DRS-11, Dual G5, FCX, DVDSP and Logic Plat.
www.VarsityMusicVideo.com
Patrick Grealy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2004, 05:08 AM   #7
Warden
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 8,287
Launch Disk Utility (it's in the Utilities Folder, inside the Applications Folder) and the Manufacture and model number will appear. For example one of my drives is an IBM-DTLA-307030.
__________________
Jeff Donald
Carpe Diem




Search DVinfo.net for quick answers | Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors
Jeff Donald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 17th, 2004, 04:05 PM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Chico, California
Posts: 357
I put in a Maxtor 250GB drive in the second internal slot. It's pretty quiet (maybe a little noisier at times than the Apple internal). Installation was about as simple as you could possibly get.

Basically -

1) Unplug computer and take the side panel off
2) There are 4 little plastic buttons right behind the open space for the drive - remove these
3) Screw those little plastic buttons into the screw holes on the drive
4) Slide the drive into the slot with the HD connectors facing toward you
5) Gently pull the connectors loose that are below the drive and plug them into the drive
6) Put the door back on and plug in the computer
7) Turn the computer on
8) It will recognize the drive and ask what you want to do, choose erase (this will format the drive)

All done! There are instructions in the G5 manual with pictures of all these steps. The only confusing part is that it talks about formatting the drive but there is no format button.

Just make sure you get a SATA drive. In the US I regularly see a Seagate 160 GB on sale for around $100. The Maxtor 250 GB is more but still substantially less than Apple.

I also use three external drives. I use the internals for capture and editing and use the externals for storage.
__________________
Jeff Price
Flickerflix Nature Videos
flickerflix@yahoo.com
Jeff Price is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 18th, 2004, 02:31 AM   #9
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 90
Thanks Jeff & Jeff

Have found that my original Apple drive is a Maxtor so I will get one of these.

Regards P
__________________
Sony PDX10 by 2, DRS-11, Dual G5, FCX, DVDSP and Logic Plat.
www.VarsityMusicVideo.com
Patrick Grealy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 23rd, 2004, 10:48 AM   #10
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina/ Upstate NY
Posts: 40
Well I just got one of the new generation dual 1.8's with the dinky 80gig drive, I would love to upgrade to 250x2 raid0 setup.

My question is since my os and everything would be loaded on the 80gig, and there is only 1 free slot if I put in 1 250gig drive, formatted it and moved everything over. Then pulled out the 80gig and installed the second 250 would I still be able to take advantage of raid0.

I was guessing you still could, but would you still beable to do disk mirroring if I choose not to do the raid0 route (which I believe is raid 1)
Steve LaClair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 23rd, 2004, 11:30 AM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Chico, California
Posts: 357
Do you actually have the new machine or is it just on order? If it is just on order you could get them to put in a bigger primary drive.

Ptherwise the answer is yes, but make sure when you put the new 250 in you format it and install OSX (or clone your 80 onto it). Once you are sure the new drive is operating well then you can remove the 80. And then put in a new 250 in its place.

If you can find a firewire enclosure that can take a SATA drive then you could use it as an external.

It is tempting to just keep the 80 for programs, use the new 250 for projects and not RAID. I'm not sure how RAID works in terms of the adage of keeping FCP program and projects on separate drives.
__________________
Jeff Price
Flickerflix Nature Videos
flickerflix@yahoo.com
Jeff Price is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 23rd, 2004, 12:15 PM   #12
Warden
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Clearwater, FL
Posts: 8,287
Steve are you doing mission critical work that requires the redundancy of RAID 1 vs. the speed advantage of a RAID 0? In a RAID 0 configuration the stripped drive is thought of as one drive and applications, OS and media all are on the same "drive." RAIDS can be partitioned also, but it is not the same as a separate drive.
__________________
Jeff Donald
Carpe Diem




Search DVinfo.net for quick answers | Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors
Jeff Donald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 24th, 2004, 03:13 AM   #13
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina/ Upstate NY
Posts: 40
I was under the impression when you did disk mirroring that the drives had to have identical data on them. Like lets say I already had a 250gig drive in with the OS and Programs on it and then I just threw in a fresh drive does it still work from there? Or do you have to clone the drive and enable? Sorry for the dumb questions, I'm learning. Thanks.
Steve LaClair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 24th, 2004, 09:31 AM   #14
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Chico, California
Posts: 357
Steve, Back to Jeff's original question - what do you need RAID for?

There are some external RAID solutions (Medea makes one that looks like a mini-G5, much nicer looking that the similar Huge IMHO). Many of these use hardware to run the RAID. One advantage is that you are not using RAID on a disk with OS - just your data.

Raid 0 - Striping. Treats the two disks as one, may be faster. Downside - any failure and you lose ALL your data. SOme don't consider this to be a true RAID at all since it is not fault tolerant.

Raid 1 - Mirroring. All data stored on both drives. The redundancy gives you a measure of protection but at a cost in terms of overhead in a software solution (OSX).

If you just want a backup but don't need a real-time backup solution then you can clone to an external drive. If you need speed and safety then you probably want a hardware solution.
__________________
Jeff Price
Flickerflix Nature Videos
flickerflix@yahoo.com
Jeff Price is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 24th, 2004, 09:45 AM   #15
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina/ Upstate NY
Posts: 40
Good point, I really don't have a real demand for real time backup, The external drive is probably a better route. Thanks for all the info, I just get curious and like to know all my options I can take and what it takes to achieve them.
Steve LaClair is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Apple / Mac Post Production Solutions > Final Cut Suite

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:29 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network