[TriLUG] Best 2TB drive for RAID-6 array

[Ron Kelley]

Greetings all,

I need to build a large storage array for our lab (16 drives in RAID-6) and have been looking into 2 TB SATA drives.  We need capacity over speed, so SAS drives won't be used.  So far, the current version of Seagate 2 TB drives don't seem to be reliable as the 1 TB drives, and the Western Digital drives appeared to be just as bad (according to the reviews @ newegg.com and other places).

From what I can tell, the best brand of high-capacity drives is Samsung. Specifically the "SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3EG" model (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152202).  I looked  the Hitachi desk star drives and they also appear to have decent ratings.

Does anyone have a good opinion on which are the best 2 TB drives in production currently?  


-Ron