Mobile eSATA (via ExpressCard) for MacBook Pro.Sonnet Fusion F2. Up to 1GB (when configured as Striped i.e. RAID0). Sustained Read/Write of 126MBps=1008Mbps.
- FireWire 800 bitrates (for comparison):
- Sustained 100 MBps (per bus) = 800 Mbps for a RAID0 drive [http://www.lacie.com/download/more/WhitePaper_FireWire_800.pdf].
- Not much less than the eSATA drive.
- Video Bitrates [http://www.march21.nl/learningzone/files/7a3bdb9c2f07c7e76be79ba6c3b34bc5-43.html]
- ProRes HD 1920×1080 @ 50p: Just under 35 MB/s. 126/35 = 3.6 such streams.
- Prores HD 1920×1080 @ 50i: 26MB/s. 126/26 = 4.8 such streams.
Links:
- http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/reviews/index.cfm?RSS&ReviewID=3203
- http://www.macvideo.tv/editing/reviews/index.cfm?reviewid=102494
- Includes a video of usage.
It connects via two eSATA cables to ExpressCard adaptor and also via a FireWire connector purely for the power (no bandwidth). The intention is that the FW bandwidth is still free for use by other devices e.g. “AJAs Io external capture and effects box which requires all of the FireWire bandwidth to itself”. [http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/reviews/index.cfm?RSS&ReviewID=3203]
- Note – for Sony EX1 and EX3 users the Fusion F2 uses th Express 34 slot on the MacBook Pro, meaning one would need to transfer SxS data to either a FireWire or USB drive and then across to the Fusion 2.
Thinks: It works as Software RAID for the Mac. Is there any practical way to also use it from Windows?