eGPU SPECS
Prototype Build | AMD VEGA 64
Future Builds | AMD RX 5700 XT
Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C
Thunderbolt 3 Daisychain Compatible via 2nd Internal eGPU USB-C Port
Power Delivery (PD) up to 3A at 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V. 60W Max.
SSD INTERFACE SPECS
4x 2.5" SATA III Bays
2x 2.5" SATA III Bays Allocated Per USB-C Connection
SATA III with UASP Support
USB 3.2 Gen 2 via USB-C
Compatible with Thunderbolt 3
1250MB/s Max Theoretical Transfer Speed via USB 3.2 Gen 2
Can Mount 2.5" SATA HDDs and 2.5" SATA SSDs
FAN SPECS
2x 80mm Noctua NF-A8 Fans
2200rpm
18dB Per Fan
*eGPU Fans as per eGPU Model*
POWER SPECS
Dual IEC Input via Y-Cable
One IEC for eGPU (500W)
One IEC for SSD Interface and Fans (<40W)
DIMENSIONS
Size: 460mm x 350mm x 170mm
Weight: 9.5km
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Thunderbolt 3 Equipped MacBook Pro
15" MacBook Pro | Late 2016 Model or Later
16" MacBook Pro | 2019 Model or Later
13" MacBook Pro | Late 2016 Model or Later with 4x TB3 Ports
macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 or Later
*Different Data Deluxe Top Plate for Different MacBook Pro Size*
ORIGINAL CONCEPT
Data Deluxe was designed to tackle the data management demands of large format cameras.
When the Alexa Mini LF came onto the scene it was clear that traditional spinning disk hard drives would no longer cut it. The best solution is to use SSDs or SSD RAIDs. The problem for many productions was cost. Is it possible to enjoy the speed benefits of SSDs while keeping costs in check? Yes, I believe so.
Maintaining and re-using SSDs is the best way to minimise the cost to production. Data Deluxe achieves this by creating an easy way to utilise bare bones SATA SSDs on-set. These SSDs can be purchased, used with Data Deluxe on-set and sent to editorial with a portable enclosure. Between jobs the contents of the SATA SSDs would get backed up to cheaper media, that being HDD RAIDs or LTO. They would then undergo a maintenance procedure and go back into rotation for another job.
Our original intention was to partner with Camera Rental Houses having Data Deluxe as a rental item. SSDs would come back to the rental house and we’d have a workflow setup to backup the rushes to HDDs and recycle the SSDs for the next job. We started posting about Data Deluxe on social media and talking to a few people about the concept, it became clear that people just wanted to purchase Data Deluxe outright. So we decided to put the rental concept aside and focus on having it available as a standalone purchase.
DEVELOPMENT
After many months of R&D and prototyping we had settled on a design. A fully functional prototype was assembled and sent out on a few jobs to be put through its paces. Everything went great, the feedback was positive from everyone that saw it, many people expressed interest in purchasing a unit and had requests for custom modifications. Things were looking good.
During this testing phase Data Deluxe went out on a 15 Day Job with Film Drives founder Bradley Andrew, during this job we discovered one chink in the armour. The SATA SSD Readers on the rear of Data Deluxe can only function at top speed when SSDs are setup as a Hardware RAID 0, not a Software RAID 0.
What does this mean? It means that you can insert SSDs into slots A1 and A2 of Data Deluxe, set them up as a Software RAID 0 on macOS and have them function at 550MB/s. This is 300MB/s short of the speed they should function at which is 850MB/s.
If you want to achieve full speed you can, you just need to setup the SSDs in slots A1 and A2 as a Hardware RAID 0. This is done by flicking an internal switch on Data Deluxe. The problem with a Hardware RAID 0 is that it’s based on hardware. This means you will need Data Deluxe to read the SSD RAID 0 Partition on the other end. If editorial has two USB-C Enclosures or a SATA SSD Docking Station the SSDs simply won’t work as the RAID Partition is bound to Data Deluxe.
THE PROBLEM
Given that the idea of Data Deluxe is to mount SSDs on-set and send them off elsewhere to be used in any SATA Device, this was a problem.
There were three choices:
1. Use Data Deluxe as a SW RAID with a 550MB/s speed cap, this gives compatibly with other SATA Devices.
2. Don’t use RAID Functionality. You get full speed from the SATA SSDs and can utilise four seperate SSDs at once rather than two RAID Sets.
3. Re-design Data Deluxe with new hardware that allows for full speed Software RAID 0.
We didn’t like the idea of compromising speed or functionality. It goes against our core principle of delivering the best possible product, thus we chose Option 3. Redesigning Data Deluxe essentially meant starting again, this is a mammoth task. Like many mammoth tasks, it fell onto the back burner and was then put on the shelf. We did intend to return to the development of Data Deluxe but other projects took priority. As it stands the Data Deluxe Project is on standby.
CURRENT SITUATION
Recently we’ve had inquiries about the progress of Data Deluxe and expressions of interest to purchase a unit. We created this page to show the original design of Data Deluxe as a proof of concept. Above we detail the tech specs of the prototype unit and detail what would change if we were to do a small production run of the Original Data Deluxe Design.
If you are interested in purchasing a Data Deluxe, please let us know via Support → Contact Us.
If we get enough interest we’ll do a small production run of the Original Data Deluxe Design.
If the speed compromise is a dealbreaker for you and you want a Data Deluxe re-design, please let us know via Support → Contact Us.
If we get enough interest we’ll consider reigniting the Data Deluxe Project.