Overview

Terabytes of Power 

The LaCie 4big Quadra is the most complete 4-bay RAID solution for professionals who demand exceptional performance from a storage device. Offering up to 12TB of capacity and amazing bandwidth speeds through eSATA 3Gb/s and FireWire 800, it also features FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 ports for maximum compatibility with any Mac® or PC. Featuring seven RAID modes to customize performance and data protection levels, the 4big Quadra fits most speed-demanding applications and backup needs for today's workstations and small servers.

 RAID Performance 

Taking advantage of a native RAID controller that preserves computer resources, the 4big Quadra offers superior support for the most demanding applications. Pre-configured in RAID 0 for full speed and capacity, it can reach up to 260MB/s through eSATA 3Gb/s. Alternative RAID modes—such as RAID 5—can be configured in seconds on startup to manage speed, security, and available capacity. 

RAID Protection 

Thanks to the secure RAID modes, including RAID 5, RAID 3 and RAID 10, the 4big Quadra enables you to keep data access even if one disk fails. The hot-swappable disk trays even allow maintenance without affecting your workflow. "Spare" modes allow a second level of protection; a sort of "automatic maintenance" that will immediately start rebuilding the RAID protection in case of a disk failure. Extra spare disks are also available as an option for immediate replacement. 

Audio/Video Streaming 

With the capacity to store hours of A/V streams, the 4big Quadra has been developed to suit the demands of digital content creators, such as editors who work with Apple® Final Cut Pro®. It comes with eSATA and FireWire 800, so you can get the highest bandwidth. FireWire or iLink DV cameras can be chained via FireWire, helping you make the most of your equipment if your number of open ports is limited. When used in RAID 0 or RAID 5, the 4big Quadra supports multiple audio, DV, SD, and HD streams, and up to one stream of uncompressed 10-bit NTSC video in playback. Greater performance can even be achieved when connecting several units together to a multilane eSATA four-port host adapter, in order to support multi-stream uncompressed 10-bit 1080i HD post-production. 

Photography / Pre-Press / Imaging 

Configured in secured RAID mode, the 4big Quadra can archive and protects hundreds of thousand of raw photos with comfortable speed for imaging experts, such as Apple Aperture® and Adobe Creative Suite® specialists. This makes it a fantastic tool to produce and manage professional projects and artwork. The LaCie Shortcut Button on the front of the 4big makes it even easier to open or back up your favorite libraries with a push of a button. 

Backup, Restore, and Recover 

The 4big Quadra comes with Genie® Backup Manager Pro for Windows® and Intego® Backup Manager Pro for Mac. This software enables you to reliably and efficiently back up your documents, emails, settings, or other digital assets. With its ease of use, you can schedule and customize the type of backup you create. Ideal for creative professionals, the Genie and Intego programs can easily find previous versions of your documents and restore them. With computer recovery options, professionals will be able to restore their configuration and to go right back to work in the event of a disaster with their workstation. It's easy to back up directly from your Mac with the native solution, since the 4big is compatible with Time Machine®. 

Quiet and Reliable Operation 

For the best and most reliable cooling system for the 4big Quadra, LaCie has chosen the Noctua and the NF-P12 fan technology, designed in Austria, and automatically thermoregulated by SMART commands. The nine-blade design and the vortex-control notches of the blower provide superior pressure and airflow performance, all at a volume fewer than 19dBA. The best-in-its-class Noctua is rated at 150,000 hours MTBF, and its ultra-quiet design makes it perfect for even the most noise-sensitive creative environment. This attention to detail allows the 4big Quadra to be from 30% (seek) to 46% (idle) quieter than traditional comparable systems.• 

Versatility and Space-saving 

With the 4big Quadra, your options for storage are near limitless. Designed with a sturdy aluminum body by industrial designer Neil Poulton, the 4big Quadra has been developed to be stackable, and enhance any work environment with its space-saving abilities. Thanks to the FireWire bus, it can be daisy-chained fewer cables connected to your computer. By using a four-port eSATA multi-lane host adaptor, you can connect up to four 4big Quadra and reach up to 48TB and speeds up to 600MB/s using programs such as Apple Disk Utilities to add an extra level of RAID 0 performance. 

Power Savings 

Traditional RAID systems can consume a lot of power, but the 4big Quadra is different. LaCie has reduced power consumption by 30%• compared to the previous 4-disk RAID generations. Moreover, with the "Auto" mode of the triple position power button, the 4big is able to automatically go into standby mode—synchronized with the computer activity—and reduces the power consumption by up to 80%. For maintenance, the 4big can optionally be disconnected from the computer during a RAID protection rebuild—the 4big will complete the task in standalone mode, and you can switch off your computer!