Choosing between USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt RAID storage for video editing on a MacBook Pro

Gear

ZephyrCan I fly my Alexa or RED on a Zephyr?389

Master SeriesIs a used Master Series rig worth buying as a first big rig?191

BFDHow do I power my BFD receiver from my camera or sled?186

VoltCan I retrofit a Volt onto my existing sled or gimbal?168

ArtemisHow do I power my camera and accessories from an Artemis sled?166

MDRWhere can I mount my Preston MDR on my rig?143

ModulusIs there a Modulus option for HD wireless video?141

G-70Will my G-70 fit my vest, gimbal or sled?126

FI+ZCan I control iris and zoom wirelessly, not just focus?60

HU3Where can I get my HU3 repaired, refurbished or repainted?60

CineLiveHow do I pack and case my CineLive rig for transport?54

G-70XHow does the G-70X compare to Pro Titan, Xarm and other arms?46

Trinity 2Is Trinity 2 SUP 3.0 firmware safe to install or buggy?46

Ultra VestWhich vest should I choose for my body size, comfort and operator type?39

2013Off Topic forum

13 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.

USB 3.0 RAID arrays offer more total storage capacity but may introduce speed bottlenecks during video editing compared to Thunderbolt solutions.
Thunderbolt RAID enclosures provide faster performance but at higher cost and with lower total capacity when comparing similar price points.
For video editing workflows, isolating scratch disk operations to a separate internal SSD drive reduces bottlenecks compared to relying solely on external storage.
Removing the optical drive from a MacBook Pro and installing a second internal SSD as a scratch disk is a straightforward process that improves editing performance.
RAID 5 configuration with parity provides both speed and redundancy for primary storage, while archival backups should be copied offline to separate external drives to minimize ongoing fault risk.
G-Technology Thunderbolt drives have shown reliable performance in mobile and frequent plug/unplug scenarios based on extended field use.
Western Digital Red drives offer good price-to-performance ratio, though the enclosures may feel less robust than premium alternatives.
Daisy-chaining multiple Thunderbolt RAID units allows for future capacity expansion without replacing the entire array.

Recommendations are based on 2013 hardware and USB 3.0 specifications; higher-speed USB standards were anticipated but not yet released.
The discussion assumes specific use case of occasional video editing rather than professional production workflow.
Drobo systems received negative reliability reports in this thread but lack detailed technical analysis of failure modes.
Lacie products were dismissed without specific technical reasoning.
Predictions about future USB 3.0 speed improvements (10Gbps parity with Thunderbolt by 2014) were not verified.