Hi there,

my 6TB unraid Server ist running out of space again, so i have to ask myself the question what is the best way to upgrade it.

Should i go and buy another 2TB drive, or should i buy a 3TB drive, take that as new Parity and than use the old Parity drive as data drive?

 

Also if i would choose to take the 3TB option which drive would you recommend? I am running the newest unRaid 5.0rc so from the Software Side there should be no problem with drives bigger than 2TB. Also my MB (Asus M4A78LT-M) isn't that old.

Though it may not be as cost effective, there do exist 4TB drives.

Yeah i know but the cost a little bit much compared by price per TB.

 

 

$169 for seagate 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache 1TB per platter.\

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844

 

 

$119 for seagate 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache 1TB per platter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834

 

 

With $20 off w/ promo code EMCNCNG42, ends 7/4

$99  for seagate 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB cache 1TB per platter.

 

 

 

 

If it's about cost, go for the $99 job.

If you want a lil extra performance and preparedness for the future, go for the 3TB.

 

 

It all depends on how you use your server. If it's read mostly, the extra performance will not be noticed.

I do allot of writing and torrenting (Since it's my /home server).

There will be many statements seen that there is little performance benefit from a faster parity drive.

If you do allot of writes to multiple drives, it does help.

 

 

For normal parity sync, check, create, it's not that noticeable.

Your performance is related to the slowest drives that are being accessed, unless you are accessing multiple drives, then the faster spindle speed comes into play.

 

 

Personally I have not jumped into the > 2TB drives yet. I'm just going to wait it out until 4TB drives are the norm.

However if my parity drive did die, I would jump on the 3TB 7200 RPM drive.

Thanks for the helpful response.

From what i see now i will go for the 3TB drive. It only costs 30€ more but give me the ability to go onto 3TB data later on.

 

Btw. What would be the procedure to change my parity drive?

1. Preclear new parity drive

2. Stop Array

3. Unassign old Parity drive and assign new one

4. Start array to rebuild parity

5. Preclear old parity drive to use it as new data drive

 

Is this correct that far?

no need to run a preclear on the old parity, you can if you want.. but not required.. just add it as a new data drive and format. steps 1-4 are correct