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RN214 or RN424 for RN104 user
Greetings.
I am not a new user but it seems like this is the right place to post this question hopefully. I am a RN104 user that needs expansion and it looks like the RN104 does not support external expansion.
I have read just about every post on the current model line so am somewhat up to speed. I have narrowed it down to the RN214 or RN424. Unless something new is coming out I missed?
I use the NAS primarily for backup and for storing and playing HD and 4k self produced video files non-transcoded over gigabit Ethernet to a Minix device to a 4K TV. The RN104 works pretty well but does bog down at times copying large 4k video files from a memory card.
I access the NAS shares via Windows explorer on a PC.
Will the RN214 suffice or should I consider the RN424? I know about the X86 difference on the 424, but trying to figure out what the differences mean in my case.
Would the RN214 be faster than my RN104?
It looks like they both support up to 10TB drives? What are the preferred drives these days?
I value the counsel of the forum and also the Netgear crew who I am pleased to still see posting here. The support from that group is the reason I am looking at another Readynas vs. another brand.
Thanks,
BJB
I am not a new user but it seems like this is the right place to post this question hopefully. I am a RN104 user that needs expansion and it looks like the RN104 does not support external expansion.
I have read just about every post on the current model line so am somewhat up to speed. I have narrowed it down to the RN214 or RN424. Unless something new is coming out I missed?
I use the NAS primarily for backup and for storing and playing HD and 4k self produced video files non-transcoded over gigabit Ethernet to a Minix device to a 4K TV. The RN104 works pretty well but does bog down at times copying large 4k video files from a memory card.
I access the NAS shares via Windows explorer on a PC.
Will the RN214 suffice or should I consider the RN424? I know about the X86 difference on the 424, but trying to figure out what the differences mean in my case.
Would the RN214 be faster than my RN104?
It looks like they both support up to 10TB drives? What are the preferred drives these days?
I value the counsel of the forum and also the Netgear crew who I am pleased to still see posting here. The support from that group is the reason I am looking at another Readynas vs. another brand.
Thanks,
BJB
BJB wrote:
I have read just about every post on the current model line so am somewhat up to speed. I have narrowed it down to the RN214 or RN424. Unless something new is coming out I missed?The RN400 series is the newest desktop platform, so you haven't missed anything.
BJB wrote:
Would the RN214 be faster than my RN104?Yes. The RN214 large file transfer speeds (read and write) are > 100 MB/sec.
Your RN104's speeds are about 80 MB/sec read and ~40 MB/sec write.
BJB wrote:
Will the RN214 suffice or should I consider the RN424?If I understand your usage correctly, either will do. If you want more bays, then that would tilt you to the RN400 series. Note that Netgear is beginning to roll out SSD tiering, which will improve small file transfers and directory browsing - right now that requires 2 slots for the SSDs.
Warranty is longer on the x86 NAS. There are some business features (ReadyDR backup, some performance graphs) which are limited to business NAS.
Also, the current family of x86 NAS (400-600 series) all ship with drive trays that support the alternate mount points that are common on large capacity drives. The RN200 series trays didn't include those newer trays at first release, I'm not sure what trays they include now.
BJB wrote:
It looks like they both support up to 10TB drives? What are the preferred drives these days?Personally I use WDC Reds (largest is 8 TB). They are fast enough for my purposes, and I like the cooler temps and lower power usage. Seagate Ironwolfs are equivalent.
Folks who want enterprise-class seem to like WDC Red Pro or gold, Seagate IronWolf Pro. I haven't seen many posts on the Seagate Exos yet, though they were just launched.
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BJB wrote:
I have read just about every post on the current model line so am somewhat up to speed. I have narrowed it down to the RN214 or RN424. Unless something new is coming out I missed?The RN400 series is the newest desktop platform, so you haven't missed anything.
BJB wrote:
Would the RN214 be faster than my RN104?Yes. The RN214 large file transfer speeds (read and write) are > 100 MB/sec.
Your RN104's speeds are about 80 MB/sec read and ~40 MB/sec write.
BJB wrote:
Will the RN214 suffice or should I consider the RN424?If I understand your usage correctly, either will do. If you want more bays, then that would tilt you to the RN400 series. Note that Netgear is beginning to roll out SSD tiering, which will improve small file transfers and directory browsing - right now that requires 2 slots for the SSDs.
Warranty is longer on the x86 NAS. There are some business features (ReadyDR backup, some performance graphs) which are limited to business NAS.
Also, the current family of x86 NAS (400-600 series) all ship with drive trays that support the alternate mount points that are common on large capacity drives. The RN200 series trays didn't include those newer trays at first release, I'm not sure what trays they include now.
BJB wrote:
It looks like they both support up to 10TB drives? What are the preferred drives these days?Personally I use WDC Reds (largest is 8 TB). They are fast enough for my purposes, and I like the cooler temps and lower power usage. Seagate Ironwolfs are equivalent.
Folks who want enterprise-class seem to like WDC Red Pro or gold, Seagate IronWolf Pro. I haven't seen many posts on the Seagate Exos yet, though they were just launched.
- Thanks for all that info! Copying a 20 GB file from a USB3 memory card reader on windows 10 copies at around 30MB/s. Would this increase with either of those choices? I saw your speed spec. increase noted above, just wondered if I would actually see it through the windows, memory card and Ethernet gigabit combination in my example.
It seems like the extra capacity on the RN424 is due to its ability to use an expansion chassis, correct?
I actually thought when I got my RN104 it supported that too. But based on what the age of my new unit might be by the time I fill it up, not sure if that would be the deciding factor. In short, I don't need that extra capacity now. Am I correct they support the same capacity in the 4 bays?
Would be good to know if the RN214 has those new mount trays as I will be using the larger drives.
I probably would not use 2 bays for SSDs just for faster browsing, would want the extra capacity.
Still unsure which way to go...
Thanks,
BJB
BJB wrote:
Thanks for all that info! Copying a 20 GB file from a USB3 memory card reader on windows 10 copies at around 30MB/s. Would this increase with either of those choices?Memory cards (and memory card readers) often aren't that fast. So you might be partly limited by that (copy speed depends on the source device, destination device, and the network connection speed).
NAStester is a useful performance measurement tool ( http://www.808.dk/?code-csharp-nas-performance ) that can also check your card reader.
CrystalDiskMark is another useful tool, and you can measure NAS performance with it if you map a NAS share to a PC drive letter. One advantage it has is that it can test the devices directly. NAStester will copy from your system disk to the test folder, so the system disk performance can sometimes factor into the results.
- I am leaning toward RN424. If the most demanding use I have is streaming NON transcoded 4k video, does that push me towards the enterprise class drives? I have read everything I van and still not clear on that or which drive RPM to focus on. In looking at the ironwolf, even the non PRO seems to be 7200rpm in the 8gb and 10gb I am looking at. I do know RPM is not everything but still...
Thanks,
BJB
BJB wrote:
If the most demanding use I have is streaming NON transcoded 4k video, does that push me towards the enterprise class drives?No. Streaming video basically puts the same load on the NAS as large file transfers. AN RN424 with NAS-purposed drives (ironwolf or WDC Reds) easily maxes out an ethernet connection, delivering over 100 megabytes/s.
A 4K video stream is just a fraction of that. A UHD Blu-ray disk is about 10% (108 megabits/second), normal streaming 4K generally is limited to 5% or less (~50 megabits/second).
In general, enterprise-class drives give better performance on small file transfers/directory browsing, because the faster RPM translates into faster seek times. If you are doing large file transfers, it doesn't matter.
Stephen,
I see the WD Red 10TB WD100EFAX is still not listed on the compatibility chart which gives me pause.
In your travels have you seen users begin to install and use these? Any feedback as to noise, heat, speed, etc. vs. the Ironwolf 10TB or Ultrastar which is listed?
Thanks,
BJB
BJB wrote:
I see the WD Red 10TB WD100EFAX is still not listed on the compatibility chart which gives me pause.
I'll see if I can find out more on that. Possibly they just haven't tested it yet.
The ironwolf has a faster peak transfer rate (210 vs 178 MB/sec), spins at 7200 rpm, and has enterprise specs for URE. It also uses more power than the Red (7.8 watts vs 5.7 watts).
The Ultrastar is similar to the Ironwolf, but uses somewhat less power (6.8 vs 7.8). It might be a bit noisier. The picture of the ultrastar shows a side-hole, so the tool-less mounting insert can be used. The Ironwolf doesn't (so you'd need to remove the insert and screw the drive into the tray).
Certainly folks are using the Ironwolf. I suspect some are using the Reds also, but I don't recall posts on that off-hand.
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