Tutorial: Leveraging Expandable Thunderbolt Video Storage with the G-Tech G-Dock ev

RAID In the Field

The G-Dock provides a software RAID setup, via Apple’s Disk Utility software, so this means the drives can be used in RAID 0 or 1 configurations outside of the G-Dock dock as well.

For field work, this means you can connect both drives up to a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, and OS X will see the same RAID as it did when you used the G-Dock. You can also use the G-Drive modules in single-drive configurations.

Some readers have asked how the RAID 0 in the field, using USB 3, compares to the RAID 0 in the G-Dock, using Thunderbolt. We again used our disk speed test application with 4GB test blocks, and were pleasantly surprised. There was less than 1 MB/sec difference between the USB 3 and Thunderbolt RAID 0 configurations.

RAID 0 for the G-Drives in 10 Bit YUV 4:2:2, meant we could read and write 2K up to 25 fps, clearing every hurdle on the test except for 1080p50 and 1080p59.94 content (Figure 7, below).

Figure 7. Speed test results for individual G-Drives in RAID 0.

Now, if you plan to pop out the drives and use them on their own, don’t forget to replace the SATA connector dust cover.

SATA Connector

One quick note about the SATA connector. Based on the configuration of the SATA and USB 3 Super Speed connectors on the back of the G-Drive module, there’s clearly an offset SATA board inside the G-Drive. This means you can’t just stick a standard, bare SATA drive into the G-Dock slot if you’re in the field. Yes we tried it, just in case, so you wouldn’t have to.

The standard SATA sits on the far left but isn’t quite in the same place as the G-Drive SATA connector. Fortunately, if you need a spare, they are available from this article’s sponsor, Videoguys.com.

Look and Feel

What about the look and feel of the G-Dock? G-Tech has done a good job matching the look of the G-Dock to the laptops and other systems you’re most likely to use with it; the G-Dock screams “Mac-compatible product to sit alongside your Mac Mini, iMac, or even the older-style Mac Pro and not be aesthetically out of sorts.” Of course, it will work equally as well on any Thunderbolt-equipped Mac or PC.

The G-Dock ev measures just under 8 inches long, 5” wide, and 3.5” high. And that concludes our walkthrough of the G-Dock ev 2 TB expandable video storage solution.

For more information about the G-Tech G-Dock ev, and special limited-time expanded-storage options, contact this video's sponsor, Videoguys.com, at 800-323-2325.