I am planning a new server build with 10 to 20 2TB drives. I now need to choose which model to go with.

I already have 4 samsungs and like them (outside of the firmware debacle).

 

I have no experience with Hitachi and do not like Seagate (for a lot of reasons - too many to type here)

 

reliability and noise are most important - I do not care about performance.

 

Samsung: noise is ok, the ones I have are still going after 6 months (even though one of my 1TB samsung died after 1 year), performance is ok - big minus is warranty and support now that the HD business was sold.

 

wd: I heard that it is the best noise wise so I would love to hear how they are vs the samsung / I do not like the parking issue and did not hear too many good things about their reliability.

 

any other thoughts?

 

thanks

My preference is Hitachi CoolSpin, WD Green, and Seagate LP, in that order.  I still won't buy the Samsung F4s as the firmware thing just seems like too much of a pain to deal with.  Hitachis and WDs run cool and quiet.  Seagates are also quiet, but run a bit hotter.  Hitachis are the current best offering, in my opinion, but there's nothing wrong with the WD Greens either.

 

A beta that supports 3 TB drives was just released: unRAID Server Release 5.0-beta7 Available.  Depending on how soon you need to build your server, you might want to hold off for a bit and buy a smaller number of 3 TB drives instead of 10 - 20 2 TB drives.

I recently started back to using Samsung F4's, if I can get the latest May builds (they do have the new firmware already installed).  However, there is one thing I don't like about them, which will probably keep me from using many.

 

I have 5 MB SATA ports and the rest come from a SASLP.  When I run the latest pre-clear script, all my Samsung F4's will give me a SMART error if I am preclearing with them attached to the SASLP.  But I can preclear EARS drives or Hitachi's with no errors.

 

Once they are in unRAID, they work fine with the SMART commands and I've had no trouble out of them.

When I run the latest pre-clear script, all my Samsung F4's will give me a SMART error if I am preclearing with them attached to the SASLP.

 

Have you tried adding the '-D' switch to the preclear command?

I was keeping clear of the 3TB because I thought that on top of unraid, I also needed a special bios, mb, and disk controller. I haven't bough any of these core components so I could go that route but I am concerned that 3TB disks might add too much aggravation.

When I run the latest pre-clear script, all my Samsung F4's will give me a SMART error if I am preclearing with them attached to the SASLP.

 

Have you tried adding the '-D' switch to the preclear command?

 

Yes, that is what I have to do to get them to pre-clear.  Not necessary with any of the other drive models that I use.

When I run the latest pre-clear script, all my Samsung F4's will give me a SMART error if I am preclearing with them attached to the SASLP.

 

Have you tried adding the '-D' switch to the preclear command?

 

Yes, that is what I have to do to get them to pre-clear.  Not necessary with any of the other drive models that I use.

 

I have to use '-D' on WD EADS and EARS drives attached to a USAS2.

 

The problem is that, by default, preclear tries to force the drive to respond as an ATA drive, rather than allowing it to behave as SATA.  The '-D' switch allows the drive to operate in its auto mode.

I'm in the same situation.

 

What drive did you end up going for? I'm really not liking the WDEARS20, so many mixed opinions.

 

 

cainer,

still not decided yet even though the samsung will prob be my choice.

 

I currently own 4x2TB F4s, 2x2TB F3s, 1x1.5TB F3? (all 5400 rpm) and 2x1tb f3s (7200 rpm).

I had one 1.5TB fail (just died one day within the 1st year of ownership, thankfully was in raid1 so no data loss)

 

the firmware rev to apply to the F4 2tB is a real pain though.

 

as you are most likely aware, Samsung sold their drive division so we'll eventually have to find another vendor at some point in the future but for now I believe they are the best choice.

 

FYI, stay clear of the 2TB F3s (not even sure if they are still sold), they are noisy and vibrate a lot more than the 2TB F4s.