HoneyBadger
Mushroom! Mushroom!
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2014
- Messages
- 2,091
I've had similar experience with reliable USB 2.0 drives. A non-Micro Sandisk has been happily running my "home photos" box for years now.But what's the reliability on those cheapo SSDs? Any time I've gotten a cheap SSD they've failed more than the USB drives I've gotten.
In the four years I've been using FreeNAS on USB drives, I've killed a total of one, and that one was a used one anyway. Get good quality USB drives, you'll be fine.
Of course, a decent SSD will be better than a USB, but if you'd rather not spend the money, I don't think its a big deal.
If by "cheapo" you mean any of the questionably branded clones originating out of Shenzhen, then yes, those drives are suitable only for skeet shooting. Drives like the 40GB Intel 320s that are frequently recommended are "inexpensive" but not "cheap" - they'll be fine. I've even started to see DC S3500 80GB drives becoming available for under USD$20. Those will be fine and way, way faster.