ReadyNas NV+ v2 or Ultra 4 Plus?

Originally Posted by jakmal 

The NV+ v2 should be able to serve you well.
If you take a look at the performance graphs here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6100/netgear-nv-v2-and-lacie-2big-nas-a-second-look/3 , 4x HD playback has approximately 55 MBps of usable throughput. That translates to 440 Mbps. Most HD rips top out at 50 Mbps, and so, you have plenty of throughput available for up to 4 simultaneous HD movie streams out of the NAS.
The Ultra 4 Plus, I believe, has a transcoder app built-in. However, if you are set upon the PS3 Media Server solution, then, the NV+ v2 should be enough for your needs.

Originally Posted by Gingher 

I'm using the NV+ and Duo v2s and get 50-55MB writing to them from my desktop and about 90MB writing from them to the desktop. I'm using them to feed some Popbox 3Ds. Since I got the Netgear R6300s to use as router and bridges, I have been able to stream straight blu-ray rips to the bedroom and living room at the same time. If I get a chance tonight, I will throw in the one in the computer room (wired) as well and see how three goes but I expect it will be fine.

Originally Posted by SuddenDesigns 

I owned the original Duo when it came out (sold it because it was so slow) and currently rely on 4 D-Link DNS-323's (2 bays each), 1 D-Link DNS-343 (4 bay), and just installed a ReadyNAS Pro 2 as a Logitech Squeezebox media server. So I cannot speak firsthand to the NV2+, but... the Intel Atom dual-core processors in the Ultra 4 Plus / Pro 2 / Pro 4 / Pro 6 models, combined with the 1 GB of RAM (vs. 256 MB in the NV2+) makes all the difference in the world. That dual core flies! I'm going to be replacing all of my old D-Link's with two Ultra 4 Plus's in the next few months.
Western Digital has a new red series of NAS-optimized drives out too, I'm looking forward to those. Though my 12 1TB WD Caviar Greens have been working great, if slow, for 4 years.

Originally Posted by Charles R 

Unless you find a feature on the Ultra 4 Plus you can't live without I would go with the NV+ v2. Firmware wise ReadyNAS has been adding missing features (those found on the older models) such as TiVo archiving to its new(er) models and although less powerful one would think being newer they would be better supported down the road. Also, they have USB 3.0 ports which comes in handy if you want to transfer data. One issue (a big one) I have with them is the extremely small number of hard drives they support. Even worse at times a hard drive will disappear from the list entirely or be revised that the firmware has to be upgraded.

I used both NV+ v2 and DUO v2 units and after the drives I used were removed from the compatibility list I swapped them. Later on the ones I swapped to had to be updated... at that point I punted. As I got tired of having to swap my data back and forth between drives, not to mention drives I couldn't use any longer.

Originally Posted by jakmal 

I know it has a transcoding app (I think it is called Orb), but I am not sure whether it will have good enough performance to transcode 1080p HD material since it is software based and running on Atom processor. NV+ v2 is much cheaper and also consumes less power. Also, in 1 - 2 year time frame, we will have NAS SoCs come with in-built transcoder acceleration engine which will be even more power efficient. Since you already have PS3 Media Server set up, I suggest NV+ v2.