SPARK XT: Unleash Your full potential with Mach.2 Drives

In the world of storage solutions, the SymplySPARK XT has emerged as a true game-changer. At first glance, it may appear similar to its predecessor, the SymplySPARK 8-bay Thunderbolt 3 Shuttle RAID, with its durable all-metal enclosure, integrated carry handle, dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, a whisper-quiet fan, and premium replaceable power supply, all bundled in a customized NANUK 950 impact-resistant wheeled carry case. However, the real magic lies within the SPARK XT’s hard disk drive technology, featuring the groundbreaking Seagate MACH.2 drives.

Unparalleled Performance

Prepare to be amazed by the remarkable performance delivered by the Seagate MACH.2 hard disk drives featured in the SPARK XT. These drives redefine the boundaries of what traditional hard drives can achieve, boasting staggering sustained speeds of over 500MB/sec, comparable to Solid State Drives (SSDs). With a spinning speed of 7,200 RPM and impressive capacities of 14TB or 18TB, the SPARK XT, with the help of its hardware RAID controller, achieves real-world read speeds of 2,500MB/second and write speeds of 2,000MB/second when configured as a RAID 5. Undoubtedly, the SPARK XT currently holds the title of the fastest high-capacity 8-bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID available on the market.

The Marvels of MACH.2 Technology

At the heart of the Seagate MACH.2 drives lies an innovative multi-actuator technology, which sets them apart from their predecessors. Traditionally, hard drives have relied on CMR (conventional magnetic recording), employing perpendicular magnetic recording on circular disk platters to store data. These platters, made of a glass substrate, consist of concentric grooves housing countless tiny magnetic grains representing the binary language of computers. The platters spin rapidly, facilitated by helium gas to reduce friction and accommodate multiple platters. An actuator arm equipped with a read/write head flies closely over the platters to change or retrieve data.

Seagate’s MACH.2 drives introduce a ground-breaking advancement by incorporating two actuators instead of one. This design change addresses the performance limitation inherent in hard drives as their capacities increase. Physics dictates that performance in terms of input-output operations per second per terabyte tends to decrease with rising capacities. By doubling the number of actuators, Seagate effectively doubles the IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) performance per terabyte of their MACH.2 drives, resulting in an astonishing boost in performance. This brilliant concept showcases the remarkable engineering behind Seagate’s technology.

Empowering Performance and Capacity

In practical terms, the performance of a MACH.2 hard drive is effectively twice that of a comparable single-actuator hard disk drive. These drives provide performance akin to SATA SSDs while offering capacities of 14TB and 18TB per drive. What’s more, the price point of MACH.2 drives align with regular enterprise hard drives, making them an attractive choice for users seeking high-speed, high-capacity storage solutions without breaking the bank. The combination of speed and capacity makes the SPARK XT an unparalleled solution at Symply.

The Perfect Fusion

In essence, the SPARK XT seamlessly integrates Seagate’s MACH.2 technology into its Thunderbolt 3 storage solution, delivering ultra-fast, high-performance, and high-capacity capabilities to users. The SPARK XT not only provides exceptional bandwidth but also sustains performance levels as the RAID fills up with content, resulting in a superior user experience. Many users have transitioned from competing high-performance SSD Thunderbolt RAIDs to the SPARK XT for its cost-effectiveness and higher capacity without compromising performance. In fact, the SPARK XT’s RAID controller efficiency outshines SSD-based RAID systems in real-world, concurrent read/write workflows.

The SymplySPARK XT is available in two capacities: 112TB and 144TB. These configurations are perfectly suited for a range of demanding applications such as creative on-set workflows, DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) setups, post-production environments, and other data movement tasks that require top-notch performance.

Conclusion

With the SymplySPARK XT, the possibilities for high-speed, high-capacity Thunderbolt 3 storage solutions have been revolutionized. The integration of Seagate’s MACH.2 technology propels the SPARK XT to the forefront of the market, offering unmatched performance and reliability. Whether you are a creative professional, a post-production expert, or anyone requiring lightning-fast data storage, the SPARK XT is the ideal solution to fulfill your needs. Explore the power of SymplySPARK XT and unlock a new level of storage excellence.

For further information, please visit our website or contact us at hello@gosymply.com