Streamline data storage and protection with the OWC ThunderBay 8 160TB Thunderbolt 3 RAID 5 Arrayfrom OWC, which is optimized to handle raw, 4K, large format, and VR workflows. Utilizing 8 drive bays, each of which has a 20TB 7200 rpm SATA III hard, the ThunderBay 8 Enterprise features 160TB of storage. Preconfigured in RAID 5, this array also supports RAID 0, 1, 4, 1+0 (10), and JBOD modes and is capable of transfer rates up to 2586 MB/s. Compatible with 2.5 or 3.5" HDDs or SSDs, the ThunderBay 8 also supports hot swapping. Connecting to a host via a Thunderbolt 3 port, this RAID array features an extra Thunderbolt 3 port for accessories. A DisplayPort supports a monitor up to 4K while the Thunderbolt 3 port supports a monitor up to 5K.

A 92mm cooling fan ensures drives don't become overheated, while LED indicators allow for easy monitoring of drive activity and power. Utilizing an aluminum enclosure, the ThunderBay 8 sports a locking front panel and a lock slot on the rear panel for added security. OWC SoftRAID XT software is included, providing easy drive management. The ThunderBay 8 is compatible with Windows 10 and later and macOS 10.13 and later.

8 x 20TB Enterprise-Class HDDs    8 x 3.5"/2.5" SATA Drive Bays    2 x Thunderbolt 3 Ports    1 x DisplayPort 1.2    RAID 0, 1, 1+0 (10), 4, 5, JBOD    Preconfigured in RAID 5    Transfer Rates up to 2586 MB/s    1 x 92mm Cooling Fan    SoftRAID XT Software Included    Windows and Mac Compatible

With Thunderbolt 3 offering real-world transfer rates up to 2586 MB/s and the ability to RAID together eight SSDs or HDDs, the ThunderBay 8's rugged, field-tested aluminum design has the under-the-hood horsepower needed to conquer high bandwidth requirements. You can even configure multiple ThunderBay 8 solutions connected via multiple Thunderbolt 3 ports on your Mac or PC to achieve exponential speed increases. Whatever your set up, when you're racing against a deadline, ThunderBay 8 puts you in the winner's circle.

Need even more capacity? Daisy-chain up to six of these capacity behemoths together for up to a staggering 960TB. Now you can capture vast amounts of footage from multiple cameras or store vast libraries of production work with a unified and reliable storage solution.

Harness the full capability of your OWC drive array with the included SoftRAID XT, the most powerful, intuitive RAID management software on the market for macOS and Windows. SoftRAID's RAID creation and management technology has been finely tuned to perfection with over 20 years of development to provide rock solid protection of your data and optimize drive performance.

SoftRAID XT provides an unbeatable combination of speed, protection, and compatibility:

• Advanced: Create RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0 (10) arrays
• Protected: SoftRAID Monitor constantly watches your disks and alerts you if problems are detected
• Validated: Volume validation ensures sectors can be read and parity is correct
• Certified: Checks disks before use to ensure they are safe for data storage
• Vigilant: Error prediction helps protect against unexpected failure
• Universal: Move SoftRAID arrays seamlessly between Mac and PC2 with built-in OWC MacDrive technology

SoftRAID provides a level of storage performance that you simply can't get with hardware RAID. SoftRAID gives you increased power and control over your RAID drives and disks that hardware RAID can't deliver and doesn't lock you into technology that you can't upgrade or expand.

ThunderBay 8 makes it easy to keep large data sets organized for every project thanks to its eight hot swappable drive bays. Whether you're using 2.5" or 3.5" HDDs and/or SSDs, the drives mount in alphabetically labeled trays for easy identification and are secured by a thumb screw. If you want the freedom to access an extensive collection of drives quickly, you can create a drive "bullpen" with additional OWC drive trays (sold separately).

With a locking front panel and security slot on the backside, the ThunderBay 8 is like an ironclad vault for your data. Plus, with front panel LEDs indicating the status of each drive, you'll know at a glance if your data is secure.

Greatly reduce—if not eliminate—cable strain and accidental disconnects with the OWC ClingOn. These custom cable stabilizers (sold separately) screw into the ThunderBay 8's housing to secure your Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connections and prevent work session interruption and possible data loss.

The ThunderBay 8 isn't just about high-capacity, high-performance storage. It's about giving you all the options you need to work at your best. Attach a 5K Thunderbolt display or two 4K displays. Place a USB 3.1 device at the end of a daisy chain. With an extra Thunderbolt 3 port, you have the flexibility to add more devices to your workflow and master any task at hand.

Dual display support, including available resolution and refresh rates, is dependent on host hardware and drivers. Apple Silicon M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra Mac models, Apple Intel-based Mac models, and Thunderbolt 4 PCs can support up to two displays at up to 4K/60 Hz via Thunderbolt. Apple Silicon M1 and M2 Mac models can support one external display up to 4K/60 Hz via Thunderbolt.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Do I need to fill up all drive slots for it to function?

A: You could use any number of drives it would run in the JBOD configuration (meaning your data would not be redundant).

Q: 2. Can this work as a network attached storage device?

A: No, the OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array with SoftRAID XT is a DAS; it does not support a network connection.

Q: 3. What drive speed to you get when on RAID 5 configuration ??

A: RAID5 affords 2x read speed with 1x write speed and one drive redundancy loss capability.

Q: 4. Will it handle 18TB or even 20TB hard drive?

A: At the time of this answer, this OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosure would support a max of 18TB hard drive.

Q: 5. Will this enclosure handle the OWC 8TB U2 Shuttle One?

A: This enclosure does not support the U.2 form factor.

Q: 6. The serial number on the bottom does not work as for SoftRAID license. How do I get the license?

A: The OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosure, B&H # OWCTB38JBKIT, does not come with SoftRaid XT. Model OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array with SoftRAID XT. B&H # OWTB38SRKIT0, does include SoftRAID XT.

Q: 7. Do all drives have to be the same in speed and size for the Thunderbay 8 to operated in a RAID5 configuration? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

A: It is recommended to use hard drives with the same capacity and speed for raid 5, otherwise the hard drives will all be recognized at the capacity and speed of the smallest drive and you would wasting valuable storage space and performance.

Q: 8. Is SoftRaid XT also compatible with Windows? If not, what do I need to make it work with Windows? I want to configure this as RAID 5 on a Windows laptop. Thanks.

A: SoftRAID XT can be downloaded for Windows as well. You can use it with the OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array with SoftRAID XT.

Q: 9. I have 8 separate external hard drives that I want to take apart and insert into this Thunderbay 8 enclosure. I want to see the drives as separate drives, NOT raid drives. In other words, JBOD. If I do NOT install SoftRAID, is JBOD the default? Will I see my 8 separate drives mounted on my Mac with no further effort required? Thanks.

A: It can be used as a JBOD with out SoftRAID.

Q: 10. what's the maximum data transfer rate using hds?

A: The OWC ThunderBay 8 160TB 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID 5 Array (8 x 20TB Enterprise), BH #OWCTB38SRE16, can reach speeds up to 2586MB/s.