The reds are not for running the actual server, but more for a NAS type system. Reds are brand new as of a month or two ago from WD, and offer the best reliability when using them as a backup server. Normal Drives i fully agree, they are not as fast at all...
Very nice BTW. I currently have a full size server cabinet in my basement hosting many game servers (Gaming nerd here)
Consists of 3 Dell R510 servers, dual 4 core xeon hyper threaded, 32 gigs of ram each, 4 gig ports and 8 slots of pure 15k SAS sweetness in them. I run quite a bit.
1 Older Gateway runs PFsense firewall\NAT\Router
1 Older Microcomputer that runs a NAS server with 4 TB
and a R510 runs another NAS full of 600gig 15k SAS drives
Ive also got 3 R510's for sale right now! got 6 in total, only use a few for all my virtual machines, UPS backup and the like.
So im aware reds are not as great for speeds, but they far surpass in reliability on the NAS server side which they are built for. Not speed
Im looking to get 8x 4tb Reds in to max out my nas with quite a few (32) gigs for storage...
Plus your up near ChiTown... Im below you a few towns =) I have a local fiber company and sitting on gigabit fiber with a static connection. I did not make mine as pretty as you did in your basement but mine was on a budget, gotta pay the bills and feed the family on my measly income!