To test the HDD transfer speed a program called DiskBench was used. DiskBench tests the actual transfer speed of files compared to a rated transfer speed. With the 12TB setup in a RAID 5, the NAS was able to write files at 16 MB/s and read at 33 MB/s. Had the system been configured as a RAID 0, the speeds would have been greater. In comparison, standard write speeds are anywhere between 20MB/s and 40MB/s.

For those who don't want to go through the hassles of building and setting up a NAS, buying this pre-configured setup is the next best thing. Not everybody needs to use 12TB worth of data. There are 4-bay NAS units that sell anywhere between $500 and $2000. For other people 12TB can quickly be filled up with video and other media files.

There are not that many 8-bay NAS units available and many of them are very pricey. This unit is one of the cheapest 8-bay 12TB setups we've seen. If you need to store a lot of data that you do not want to lose then this is the product for you.

For individuals concerned about losing important data or a business looking for a way to control and share data the Netdisk 8000V is a great solution. Not only is it cheaper than the competition but it's easy to use. The only major downfall is the slower than average data write speed.

HDD Tested Write Speed: 16 MB/s
HDD Tested Read Speed: 33 MB/s
HDD Model: Seagate ST31500341AS
HDD Support: 8 Internal
LAN: 2x 1000Mb/s (125MB/s)
CPU: 1.5GHz Via Esther
RAM: 512MB DDR2
OS: Linux kernel 2.6
RAID: 0, 1, 5, or 10
Motherboard: VIA NAS-7800
Interface type: Web GUI
Cooling: 120mm Fan
Power Supply: 300W Delta Electronics
Dimension: 5.9" W x 13.4" H x 13.4" D
Weight: 26.5 lbs.
Warranty: 3 year limited warranty

• Internal Power supply
• Easy to swap drives
• Stylish
• Built to last

• Low Read/Write speeds

The Polywell Netdisk 8000V is cheaper than standard 8-Bay NAS units, easy to use, and a stylish addition to your desk.

Lance Olinger is Videomaker's IT Assistant.

Polywell Computers, Inc.
1461 San Mateo Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94080
www.polywell.com
Price: $2999