My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 7:25:02 pm

I have a 4 bay StarTech RAID enclosure (S354UFER) with 4x2GB Samsung Spinpoint Drives configured for RAID 10 (striped+mirrored). When I test the speed with Blackmagic speed test tool it shows 50-60 MB/s and if I look in system monitor I can get this. Thing is if I try to play HDV or prores off it event so ofter (i.e. 30 secs) I get a little jitter and the video stops playing briefly then resumes. HDV only needs around 3 MB/s. I have tried doing a clean install of Lion and Snow Leopard and it makes no difference. I am using FCP 7.0.3.

Any idea what is going on?
Ben

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Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 7:36:19 pm

I get better read/write speeds with my Caldigit VR Mini connected via FW800. I get 70-80MB/s. Your's seems slow.

HOw is it connected?

Shane
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Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 8:36:34 pm

FW800. but HDV is only around 3MB/s so is this relevant?

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Ben Edwards - Freelance Picture Editor
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Macpro1,1 2007 6GB RAM 2*2 3Ghz Xeon

Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 9:42:54 pm

IT's relavent...because even though the spec says 3MB/s...it's not really. You can't play 20 streams of HDV on 60MB/s drives. I don't get the math behind it, but it's not a real world number.

STILL...it should work.

Shane
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Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 9:56:54 pm

Indeed, but I am only playing one. Anyway talked to Startech and they say it may be because I am using green drives. something about the power management in the enclosure fighting with the power management in the drive. This could explain jittery playback and slow rate.

Now all I need to know if which enclosure will work with 4 'green' drives.

Ben

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Ben Edwards - Freelance Picture Editor
http://www.funkytwig.com

Macpro1,1 2007 6GB RAM 2*2 3Ghz Xeon

Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 10:02:49 pm

Ahhh...I was going to ask about that. GREEN drives are not good at all for video. They are green because they use less energy...meaning their spinning speeds aren't consistent. And video needs consistent. For video you need to be using Caviar BLACK drives.

Shane
Little Frog Post
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Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 10:12:58 pm

Ouch, they are a lot more expensive. Are there any other non green drives that are 'OK'?.

I am a student (so I guess I have no right to be using raid;) ).

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Ben Edwards - Freelance Picture Editor
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Macpro1,1 2007 6GB RAM 2*2 3Ghz Xeon

Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 21, 2012 at 11:07:27 pm

Hitachi Deskstar...again, look for 7200RPM.

A good raid isn't cheap. A decent firewire drive will be fine.

Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

on May 22, 2012 at 10:34:31 am

Thanks, are all the Hitachi drives not green. What about the Seagate Barracuda or Western Digital AV-GP (although the GP sounds suspicious).

Is there a list of non green drives anywhere. In terms of the spin speed thing it seems all the ones slower than 72000 are green so are doubly bad although with RAID 10 5500 still should be more than capable of a couple of HD streams.

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Ben Edwards - Freelance Picture Editor
http://www.funkytwig.com

Macpro1,1 2007 6GB RAM 2*2 3Ghz Xeon

Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

by Phil Balsdon

on May 21, 2012 at 10:16:40 pm

My initial Google search seems to show these are only 5400rpm drives, you need 7200rpm for optimum performance.

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Re: My RAID 10 Array wont even play HDV smoothly

by Christopher McDonell

on May 22, 2012 at 6:24:30 pm

Get a Lacie, Firewire 800. I use it for HDV, multiple layers, no problem. Like this one:

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10330

Chris