Looking at Fantom G-Force3 External HD 4TB

DNG

DNG

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I am looking to get 2 new 4TB External HDs...

I am looking at the Fantom G-Force3 4TB.

Anyone use or know this brand, and reliability factor. ?

It has a 3 year warranty, limited.

http://www.fantomdrives.com/products/gforce3-usb3.html#.UWWNWFf_FcY

gforce-black.jpg

gforce3-usb3-back.jpg
 
For what purpose are you buying the drives?

Also, remember that all spinning platter drives will die sometime. It's not a question of if, but when.
 
to replace my 2TB External HD, that is about 2 years old.
For the reasons you say... a Q of when?

I have all my Photo folders (.9 TB worth), on WD Book Essentials, and a Backup of that on older IOmaga 1TB...

Wanting to replace both... I had another 2nd WD 2TB that just Quit, (That was the Backup Drive), and so I fired up the 1TB IOmaga to be the backup.... BUT, that is almost full.

I am also scanning LF negatives, and the files are between 150mb-200mb... (1000dpi..4x5 to 8x10 target (10,000x8,000), So, I am using more space faster!... Consider that I have a Converted JPG of 75mb also as my edited version.. so close to 300mb per 4x5 scan to edited version.
 
Gotcha. From Newegg, it looks like these drives are pretty awesome. It sounds like they would definitely work for your purposes. I would, however, buy 3 drives. One for your data and two for backup. Then, alternate the backups weekly (keep the other one in a fireproof safe). That way, in case of a flood/fire/etc., you'll at least have the backup from your safe. Just my $0.02.
 
I don't know anything about this manufacturer.. But just as an FYI.

Most non-HD manufacturers are going to put a HD in there that is the best cost effective for the target price. Sometimes it maybe a western digital next time it could be a seagate.. Etc. whatever fits that price point and specifications for that product.

If this you are storing things that are valuable to,u or for your work, u should really serious consider a raid setup.

For the rest of us, myself included, having an external HD for the primary and a different external HD for the back up is most likely good enough. I currently use your method of backup.. Since I am on a Mac, I also use a sw program call 'carbon copy cloner' which is setup to backup the contents of my photo external HD anytime it detects the presence of the backup drive mounted on the Mac. At the end of each year, I do a backup of only that years worth of photos to an HD drive which is not used again until the next yearly backup. This is probably more than is really needed, but about 3 years ago, I had the backup hd fail on me (all of a sudden clink clink clink).. Read/write head failure. That backup HD was only 2 years old or so. The yearly HD is stored someplace not at my house btw.

Gary
 
@Gary
The Fantom G-Force3 are RAID for the 4TB models...


@Hipser
Budget allows for $450 max.... so, only 2....

Seems good that those that have this brand are satisfied with them..
 
One last Q

If I get the model that is a Dock for 2 Drives, (hot swappable), and use RAID option "1", and one goes bad, can I use the other as main drive, and the replacement drive as the new Backup?
 
DNG said:
One last Q

If I get the model that is a Dock for 2 Drives, (hot swappable), and use RAID option "1", and one goes bad, can I use the other as main drive, and the replacement drive as the new Backup?
Click to expand...

Is there a raid hw controller on the docking station? Otherwise u are using sw raid.. I am not a big fan of sw raid.

Hot swappable support depends on the raid hw or sw capability if I remember correctly..

Gary
 
DNG said:
One last Q
If I get the model that is a Dock for 2 Drives, (hot swappable), and use RAID option "1", and one goes bad, can I use the other as main drive, and the replacement drive as the new Backup?
Click to expand...

Short answer: No

Long answer: please read on...

Normally hard drives in RAID system are machine coded as:

drive_0
drive_1
...and so on (if more than 2 drives)

So if the drive_0 dies then drive_1 takes over as the main drive. As soon as you replace/repair the dead drive_0 then it will resume position as main drive and drive_1 will be relegated as second drive.

This happen automatically (not user selectable) and you only see one drive from your computer, which is the main drive.

One thing to watch out for is fan noise, some enclosure uses cheap exhaust fan that is noisy (rattly) and will drive you nuts.

Hope this might help.
 
So, Yes and no...

Can I access these drives without RAID software?
That is, is the mirrored drive, just a copy without reading software needed?

I copy/paste now, to a backup drive, so , no special software is needed to read it as a backup.

I don't use backup software because it seemed every brand had limits on what files it would copy...and I shoot RAW with my Olympus E-M5..
 
Instead of random hard-drives I'd suggest getting a couple of home NAS units then putting them in your home network and in another location. Using two NAS units with one of them off site, regularly rebuilt with a drive from the home unit, will give some protection from drive failure as well as fire, flood, theft and so on.

The software needed for network-access (it can appear as a normal network storage drive if you wish), media-streaming, internet-access and so on is built-in to the unit (using a web-interface for control) and there should be no problem using major vendors (eg. Netgear) software in the future, if it becomes necessary, as they are Linux-based boxes and standard interfaces.

And, definitely, remember ALL hard-drives are 100% guaranteed to fail (as mentioned in post #2, above).
 
DNG said:
So, Yes and no...

Can I access these drives without RAID software?
That is, is the mirrored drive, just a copy without reading software needed?

I copy/paste now, to a backup drive, so , no special software is needed to read it as a backup.

I don't use backup software because it seemed every brand had limits on what files it would copy...and I shoot RAW with my Olympus E-M5..
Click to expand...

The RAID software is only used to configure the RAID system (initial setup), and possibly a small software (driver) might have to be installed in your computer. The Operating System itself (Windows or Mac) working in conjunction with the storage unit controller will only let you see the storage unit as one entity, lets say E: drive.

Any time you need to copy a file then you just copy from the source and paste it in the storage drive, (ie. E: drive).

If you have time I think you should try the backup software that comes with the storage unit. Most of them has "synchronize" feature that let you set a "rule" to synchronize XYZ folder in your laptop to XYZ folder in the storage unit. Synchronize saves time by backing up files that has been modified/added since last synchronize run.

I agree with what Martin said. Effective lifetime of a hard drive is 3 years and usually less for external storage, 2 years lifetime would be a safe expectation.

A RAID 1 (mirror) storage is pretty safe, normally only 1 drive fail out of two, never at the same short period of time. Nevertheless in the event of fire or severe electric shock definitely both drives will get fried.

Hope this might help.
 
Last edited:
I tried several 3rd party backup programs... One one them crashed after 200gigs of backup....

And all had problems with ORF files on occasion ... not all ORF, random files...(never Older Canon or Panasonic RAW files. and a few JPGs now and then. I may decide to exclude those, ORF). I do have JPG conversions of the ones I have edited. From my Raw Converter, and the Finalized ones from CS5.

I wander if the Built-in backup program will be more stable and R/W more files types and sizes..?

Copy/Past seems to work fine... I can do 100gig at time, and it takes about 3 hours. and in a few days, I get it all backed up. So, If I have other stuff to do away from home, I can, once it it done with the 100gig paste. I need to monitor it because it may need me retry a file that could not be copied or pasted... retry usually works, rarely do I need to Skip a file. But, If I leave, and a file needs my interaction, I come back thinking it is done, and, it has paused instead.

EDIT:
I plan on allowing the RAID 1 software (as you suggested) to add files on the fly after I C/P my 1TB of current photography folders to the new drive array.
That Way I don't have to C/P anymore to make backups...... :)


I do have small safe, for Documents that is fire safe...
  • My Plan was to take a full Drive and store it there.
  • Replace it with another drive, and start over...
  • The Stored Drive becomes my stored Archived Volume 1
    • The next full drive becomes my stored Archived Volume 2, Etc..
  • If I need to access that stored driver, I could plug it in a USB port as a stand alone.
  • I will NOT use any compression of for RAID1 copy, so I can access it as a stand alone as needed.
Just not sure on how long a Stored/Rarely accessed drive will hold it integrity.


I thought about Blue-ray as a more permanent archive... but the 128gb disks are expensive per TB (90 disks)

I may do 2TBs drive instead of 3TB. because they will fill faster.
 
Thanks all for all the input...
Here is what I got after all, and will do what I want as stated in post #19

OK... Pulled the Trigger on this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=invoice&A=details&Q=&sku=891610&is=REG

891610.jpg


I chose 2TB x2 because I will have a faster turn around of the backup drives...
the full drive goes to storage in a fire proof safe, and I get a replacement 2TB as my next 2TB Volume..Format Drive 1 and start all over....
 
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