Can anyone recommend a good DAS for under $700?

[itpromike]

Ok so up until now I've been using a Drobo 2nd Gen (4bay) DAS as my storage array for movies (I have over 5TB's of 1080p content). Back when I first got it, it was fine however over time it's starting to slow down over all and I need more speed for copying large files as well as better operation for my home theater in general when queuing up the movies for play. Also it's been acting strange lately so I think I should take the the hint and replace before all my data is lost at some point from the array failing (had it since 2008). I was thinking about going the NAS route so I could truly use it as a home server and store other things including backups of other computers however it's main purpose is movies and I have an issue in my house where I can't run CAT5 through the house so I'm relying on Wireless from the wireless router for internet in everywhere in the house except my office (where the router is located); streaming high profile 1080P content over wireless is a no go. So now I'm back to using a DAS but I don't know which to pick...

I've looked at the newest Drobo units but they have AWFUL reviews and I don't want to risk my data when I see many many people saying they are horrible. Who else makes an affordable (under $700 diskless) DAS? I wish that Synology units could be used as NAS or DAS but they are NAS only and I like the flexibility of being able to mix and match drive sizes that Drobo and Synology offer. Are there any units out there you guys would recommend?

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Just to clarify, by DAS, do you mean an enclosure that is ran and managed by the host machine? Or do you still mean a stand-alone appliance (a NAS or SAN)? If you are wanting a DAS, can you say what interface you are looking for? USB can be pricey (I still recommend a Drobo 5D as a pretty good Home and SMB DAS, especially since it's one of the few Home systems that allows you to install SSD caching), but if you have a Desktop, simply connecting a SATA backplane enclosure and letting your Desktop manage the array can be far cheaper

 

[itpromike]

Just to clarify, by DAS, do you mean an enclosure that is ran and managed by the host machine? Or do you still mean a stand-alone appliance (a NAS or SAN)? If you are wanting a DAS, can you say what interface you are looking for? USB can be pricey (I still recommend a Drobo 5D as a pretty good Home and SMB DAS, especially since it's one of the few Home systems that allows you to install SSD caching), but if you have a Desktop, simply connecting a SATA backplane enclosure and letting your Desktop manage the array can be far cheaper

The for the response mate. Yeah I mean a stand alone device like the Drobo or Synology... I'm looking for USB 3 or thunderbolt... Either would work for me. I'd build my own for cheaper I know but I'm really looking for hassle free... i.e. I don't want to have to use the same sized drives and the drobo/synology options are small, compact, and professional looking so I can tuck them away.

 

[Cerb]

As a sort of left-field thought, since you don't seem to need mobility (a take-away from using DAS, unless you cart it around the house), have you considered trying a 2-point powerline ethernet adapter kit? Their performance is highly variable, like wireless, but 1080P doesn't take much bandwidth, and that would open up NAS options, if it worked.

 

[nk215]

What I did was moving my computer to a server case which has 10 HD bays and use hardware RAIDcards to setup 2 different RAID5 arrays (5 HD each). My boot and temp drives are SSD and I just tape those to the side of the case.

In my experience Power adapter is much slower than AC wireless. I use 2 ASUS APs to bridge 2 parts of my second floor. Everything seems to work out well.