Streamline data storage and protection with the OWC ThunderBay 8 96TB 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 12TB 7200 rpm SATA III hard, the ThunderBay 8 Enterprise features 96TB 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 12TB 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. Does it work with USB-C if my computer doesn't have Thunderbolt?

A: Yes, the the connector also transmits data via USB 3.1 at up to 10 Gb/s.

Q: 2. Are 20TB drives supported?

A: Currently (11/22), the OWC ThunderBay 8 16TB 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID 5 Array supports up to 18TB drives in the unit.

Q: 3. Is there any way to set this system up to be "hot-swappable", meaning adding a larger capacity drive(s) to increase space without re-formatting? Something similar to Synology's SHR or Drobo's BeyondRAID?

A: No, the OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosure BH #OWCTB38JBKIT does not support that functionality.

Q: 4. 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: 5. What is the warranty on this product?

A: On the OWC website it says 5 year warranty https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/TB38SRE144/ (B&H site says 5 years as well) Btw if this enclosure houses 8 X Seagate IronWolf Pro 18TB each BH #SEST18000NE0 then is would be more economical to but the NAS Box (BH #OWTB38SRKIT0) and the drives separately and save some $438 at current prices.

Q: 6. Can I run this as RAID 6 with a 3rd party software as softraid currently does not support RAID 6 ?

A: Yes, the OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosure will support RAID 6 via another external software.

Q: 7. 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: 8. at raid 5 how much usable storage is there on this 32tb model?

A: This configuration of the OWC ThunderBay 8 32TB 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID 5 Array has 8 drives, that each hold 4 TB. There is 28 TB capacity for storage, with 4 TB dedicated to parity, in case of drive failure.

Q: 9. Does anyone know if the Apple Silicon compatibility issues have been solved with these units?

A: Yes, OWC has fixed the communication issues with the OWC ThunderBay 8 128TB 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID 5 Array (8 x 16TB) as well as all other OWC Thunderbolt drives/docks.

Q: 10. If I have a USB 3.1 type a to USB-C cable, and plug this into a USB 3.1 port, is it backwards compatible? I'm asking because I will be upgrading my computer in the not too distant future, but the one I have now tops out with USB 3.1 Type A (the square port) ports.

A: No, the OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosure BH #OWCTB38JBKIT requires that your computer has Thunderbolt 3.